1.4 Describe Media Representation of crime
There are many ways in which the media represents crime. This is done in many ways such
as: Newspaper, TV, Film, Electronic Gaming, Social Media and Music
Newspaper
The newspaper is used to represent crime in the media as it is often highly influential and
can attract many people if written and done correctly. There are many factors that may
influence the readability of a story such as: high social status of the offender/victim, shock,
violence, victim focus, if there is a human element to it, drama, simplification, current day
events, etc. These factors are important to determining the readability to the story, and if not
successful, may not draw in as many people to read the story. Cases need to have a
newsworthy story in order for people to read them. An example of a newspaper story is the
Manchester area bombing. In this story, the newspapers labeled the victims as ‘Angels’ and
‘Killing our kids’ and labeled the offenders as ‘Pure evil’ and ‘Homegrown radical Islamic
terrorists’. This is evidently focusing on the negatives of the case, and the reporting of the
case is used to evoke a sense of fear and scaremonger within the community
TV
Rough 25% of all TV shows which are broadcast in the UK are dedicated to crime. Roughly
⅔ of all American TV shows are about crime and punishment. This shocking factor highlights
how crime is an exciting thing which the general public is interested in. There are also factual
and non-factual TV shows which play a role in the crime TV show genre. An example of a
factual crime show is police interceptor, which portrays more interesting and severe crimes
as it brings more attention to the show. An example of a non-factual crime show is Death in
Paradise, which portrays the characters solving crimes and criminals getting caught every
time. Tv shows are able to give some moral lessons about crime, however, they still
dramatize and glamorize crime to some extent. Some TV shows make crime about being
exciting and being fast-paced, however, this is not a true representation of all crime.
Film
Films often glamourize and portray crime to be exciting and thrill-seeking. An example of this
would be a James Bond movie - the crimes in the movies are sensationalism and
glamorized. They are marketed to be all about fast cars, drugs, women, money, etc,
however, this is not a true representation of crime. The usage of famous actors is also to
encourage the general public to watch the movies. However, it is not a realistic
representation of crime.
Electronic Gaming
Electronic games are used to represent crime in a thrill-seeking and exciting way. Electronic
games ever sensationalize crimes and portray them as a fun way to go against the police
and government. An example is GTA, which has had over 90 million copies sold of the game
worldwide. In the game, players commit different crimes for money and run away from the
police. Despite the age restriction of 18+ from the game, young people still play the game
and can be easily influenced by the game's design and mechanics. The game rewards the
player for committing crimes such as theft, robbery, bribery, murder, etc. This evidently
shows how electronic gaming glamorizes come and glorifies it to be a thrill-seeking and
rewarding adventure.
There are many ways in which the media represents crime. This is done in many ways such
as: Newspaper, TV, Film, Electronic Gaming, Social Media and Music
Newspaper
The newspaper is used to represent crime in the media as it is often highly influential and
can attract many people if written and done correctly. There are many factors that may
influence the readability of a story such as: high social status of the offender/victim, shock,
violence, victim focus, if there is a human element to it, drama, simplification, current day
events, etc. These factors are important to determining the readability to the story, and if not
successful, may not draw in as many people to read the story. Cases need to have a
newsworthy story in order for people to read them. An example of a newspaper story is the
Manchester area bombing. In this story, the newspapers labeled the victims as ‘Angels’ and
‘Killing our kids’ and labeled the offenders as ‘Pure evil’ and ‘Homegrown radical Islamic
terrorists’. This is evidently focusing on the negatives of the case, and the reporting of the
case is used to evoke a sense of fear and scaremonger within the community
TV
Rough 25% of all TV shows which are broadcast in the UK are dedicated to crime. Roughly
⅔ of all American TV shows are about crime and punishment. This shocking factor highlights
how crime is an exciting thing which the general public is interested in. There are also factual
and non-factual TV shows which play a role in the crime TV show genre. An example of a
factual crime show is police interceptor, which portrays more interesting and severe crimes
as it brings more attention to the show. An example of a non-factual crime show is Death in
Paradise, which portrays the characters solving crimes and criminals getting caught every
time. Tv shows are able to give some moral lessons about crime, however, they still
dramatize and glamorize crime to some extent. Some TV shows make crime about being
exciting and being fast-paced, however, this is not a true representation of all crime.
Film
Films often glamourize and portray crime to be exciting and thrill-seeking. An example of this
would be a James Bond movie - the crimes in the movies are sensationalism and
glamorized. They are marketed to be all about fast cars, drugs, women, money, etc,
however, this is not a true representation of crime. The usage of famous actors is also to
encourage the general public to watch the movies. However, it is not a realistic
representation of crime.
Electronic Gaming
Electronic games are used to represent crime in a thrill-seeking and exciting way. Electronic
games ever sensationalize crimes and portray them as a fun way to go against the police
and government. An example is GTA, which has had over 90 million copies sold of the game
worldwide. In the game, players commit different crimes for money and run away from the
police. Despite the age restriction of 18+ from the game, young people still play the game
and can be easily influenced by the game's design and mechanics. The game rewards the
player for committing crimes such as theft, robbery, bribery, murder, etc. This evidently
shows how electronic gaming glamorizes come and glorifies it to be a thrill-seeking and
rewarding adventure.
