AC1.4: Describe media representations of crime
Newspapers
Newspapers are typically biased in the way they report crimes. They often concentrate on
serious violent crimes, compared to many crimes being minor. Therefore, partaking in
deviance amplification to catch viewers’ attention. The demographics of crimes that are
reported are quite biased also. Victims in newspapers are, by a majority: white, middle-class,
elderly, and children. The offenders are usually male (which is proven by statistics) and in
some cases are of a specific ethnicity, despite there usually being no correlation between the
two. Furthermore, newspapers tend to focus on the outcome of the crime rather than the
cause, which creates room for them to be biased and promote their implicit ideology. In
addition to this, they exaggerate the success of the police and only portray their crimes as
being from ‘one bad apple,’ which further emphasises that usually right-wing ideology. The
front page also plays a significant role in the representation of crime. Newspapers,
specifically tabloids, include large titles with alliteration or oxymorons to catch the reader's
attention and portray someone or something in a biased way. For example, The Sun’s front
page covering the Barcelona attack stated that the perpetrator was “fleeing calmly.” The use
of this oxymoron is there to promote a sense of anger towards the readers and to portray the
man as unempathetic.
Television
When portraying crime, TV shows either broadcast nonfiction or fiction crime shows. They
also focus on the more violent crimes as it is more intriguing for viewers, which increases
profit. The different formats it uses to depict crimes are factual reporting, dramas based on
real crime, and fictional crime. Fictional crimes are a popular genre of television that
interests the public. However, it can often alter our perception of crime. Some examples of
fictional crime include Luther, Line of Duty, Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders and Brooklyn-99.
Within these TV shows crimes are often portrayed more dramatically with the use of
theatrical non-diegetic sounds or the use of the camera shots and editing which could also
make it humorous. TV shows like Breaking Bad for example might portray crime, such as
drug dealing in a light-hearted manner and not focus on the victims that stem from such
crimes, you could even argue that they could potentially be glamorising crime. However, TV
shows such as Line of Duty focus more on realism, by excluding those familiar, dramatic
soundtracks and often focusing more on the dialogue, or diegetic sound. In comparison,
nonfiction crime dramas mostly focus on the realist aspects of crime and explore its
equivocal nature. They also focus more on the victims’ side of the situation to connect with
the audience and educate them on the real sides of crime, instead of glorifying it.
Films
Films often promote an unrealistic representation of crime, despite it having a significant
impact on how people view it. In films such as ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ and ‘Legend’ crimes
are majorly glamourised, specifically white-collar crime. Both films portray crime as
something individuals can partake in to move themselves up the social ladder and become
successful. They even go as far as presenting it as something enjoyable to associate
yourself with, something that will gain you access to a luxurious lifestyle, with yachts and
supercars and never-ending parties. Overall presenting it as a business or a ‘side hustle.’
The film industry continues to promote crimes in the way they do to gain profit. Most people
Newspapers
Newspapers are typically biased in the way they report crimes. They often concentrate on
serious violent crimes, compared to many crimes being minor. Therefore, partaking in
deviance amplification to catch viewers’ attention. The demographics of crimes that are
reported are quite biased also. Victims in newspapers are, by a majority: white, middle-class,
elderly, and children. The offenders are usually male (which is proven by statistics) and in
some cases are of a specific ethnicity, despite there usually being no correlation between the
two. Furthermore, newspapers tend to focus on the outcome of the crime rather than the
cause, which creates room for them to be biased and promote their implicit ideology. In
addition to this, they exaggerate the success of the police and only portray their crimes as
being from ‘one bad apple,’ which further emphasises that usually right-wing ideology. The
front page also plays a significant role in the representation of crime. Newspapers,
specifically tabloids, include large titles with alliteration or oxymorons to catch the reader's
attention and portray someone or something in a biased way. For example, The Sun’s front
page covering the Barcelona attack stated that the perpetrator was “fleeing calmly.” The use
of this oxymoron is there to promote a sense of anger towards the readers and to portray the
man as unempathetic.
Television
When portraying crime, TV shows either broadcast nonfiction or fiction crime shows. They
also focus on the more violent crimes as it is more intriguing for viewers, which increases
profit. The different formats it uses to depict crimes are factual reporting, dramas based on
real crime, and fictional crime. Fictional crimes are a popular genre of television that
interests the public. However, it can often alter our perception of crime. Some examples of
fictional crime include Luther, Line of Duty, Breaking Bad, Peaky Blinders and Brooklyn-99.
Within these TV shows crimes are often portrayed more dramatically with the use of
theatrical non-diegetic sounds or the use of the camera shots and editing which could also
make it humorous. TV shows like Breaking Bad for example might portray crime, such as
drug dealing in a light-hearted manner and not focus on the victims that stem from such
crimes, you could even argue that they could potentially be glamorising crime. However, TV
shows such as Line of Duty focus more on realism, by excluding those familiar, dramatic
soundtracks and often focusing more on the dialogue, or diegetic sound. In comparison,
nonfiction crime dramas mostly focus on the realist aspects of crime and explore its
equivocal nature. They also focus more on the victims’ side of the situation to connect with
the audience and educate them on the real sides of crime, instead of glorifying it.
Films
Films often promote an unrealistic representation of crime, despite it having a significant
impact on how people view it. In films such as ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’ and ‘Legend’ crimes
are majorly glamourised, specifically white-collar crime. Both films portray crime as
something individuals can partake in to move themselves up the social ladder and become
successful. They even go as far as presenting it as something enjoyable to associate
yourself with, something that will gain you access to a luxurious lifestyle, with yachts and
supercars and never-ending parties. Overall presenting it as a business or a ‘side hustle.’
The film industry continues to promote crimes in the way they do to gain profit. Most people
