CRIMINOLOGY AC1.4
media representation of crime: newspaper - -newspapers focus on sensational stories and treat them as
'infotainment' (cross between factual info and fictional entertainment).
-the kinds of crime, criminals and victims shown in news reports are the opposite of those within official
crime stats.
-one in eight news reports are about crime and almost two thirds of news crime stories feature violence,
whereas in official stats the vast majority of crimes are minor property crimes (e.g. shoplifting). -
newspaper focus on serious violent crimes and sexual crimes and give these more prominence.
-in press reports offenders and victims are typically older and of higher status than those who actually
turn up in courts
-reports over represent children, women, middle class, white and older people as victims
-newspaper stories focus on the particular incident rather than the causes e.g. crimes involving rioting
are often reported with no political background info of the crimes
-press reports tend to exaggerate the success of the police in solving crime, however when its a police
offence they are presented as 'one bad apple' rather than anything more widespread
-popular press- daily mail, quality press- the guardian, daily papers, sunday papers- the observer, local
and regional papers- evening standard (London), free papers- the metro
media representation of crime: television - -tv broadcasts both crime news (real) and crime fiction
(fictitious)
-crime new focuses on violent crime, portrays both offender and victims as older and middle class
however, 'reality' shows focus more on stories involving young suspects
-about a quarter of all tv output is dedicated to crime dramas
-violence: 2/3 of all U.S crime shows consist of murder, assault or armed robbery; the motive for murder
is often greed and calculation whereas in reality most homicides result from domestic conflicts between
young men; sex crimes are shown to be committed by psychopathic strangers whilst in reality they are
mostly committed by someone known to the victim
-property crime: on tv it is often portrayed as tightly planned, high-value thefts accompanied by
violence, this is a much exaggerated and more serious depiction than most offences actually are
-offenders and victims: crimes dramas portray offenders as high status, white, middle aged males and
victims are portrayed as similar just with a higher proportion of females; recently victims have become
more central & audiences encouraged to identify with them
media representation of crime: newspaper - -newspapers focus on sensational stories and treat them as
'infotainment' (cross between factual info and fictional entertainment).
-the kinds of crime, criminals and victims shown in news reports are the opposite of those within official
crime stats.
-one in eight news reports are about crime and almost two thirds of news crime stories feature violence,
whereas in official stats the vast majority of crimes are minor property crimes (e.g. shoplifting). -
newspaper focus on serious violent crimes and sexual crimes and give these more prominence.
-in press reports offenders and victims are typically older and of higher status than those who actually
turn up in courts
-reports over represent children, women, middle class, white and older people as victims
-newspaper stories focus on the particular incident rather than the causes e.g. crimes involving rioting
are often reported with no political background info of the crimes
-press reports tend to exaggerate the success of the police in solving crime, however when its a police
offence they are presented as 'one bad apple' rather than anything more widespread
-popular press- daily mail, quality press- the guardian, daily papers, sunday papers- the observer, local
and regional papers- evening standard (London), free papers- the metro
media representation of crime: television - -tv broadcasts both crime news (real) and crime fiction
(fictitious)
-crime new focuses on violent crime, portrays both offender and victims as older and middle class
however, 'reality' shows focus more on stories involving young suspects
-about a quarter of all tv output is dedicated to crime dramas
-violence: 2/3 of all U.S crime shows consist of murder, assault or armed robbery; the motive for murder
is often greed and calculation whereas in reality most homicides result from domestic conflicts between
young men; sex crimes are shown to be committed by psychopathic strangers whilst in reality they are
mostly committed by someone known to the victim
-property crime: on tv it is often portrayed as tightly planned, high-value thefts accompanied by
violence, this is a much exaggerated and more serious depiction than most offences actually are
-offenders and victims: crimes dramas portray offenders as high status, white, middle aged males and
victims are portrayed as similar just with a higher proportion of females; recently victims have become
more central & audiences encouraged to identify with them
