Practice exam question
Unit AC1.4 and AC1.5
Prepare a report that describes how different media represent crime (AC1.4) and explain how these
representations influence public perception. (6 marks)
One representation of crime represented in the media is newspapers. One type of newspaper is a
tabloid newspaper which uses more flashy images, exaggerated stories, and a larger print to draw in
people to read the newspaper, for example The Sun. However, these stories can be factually
incorrect, portraying the crime stories in a way that did not happen. Another type of newspaper is a
broadsheet, an example is the Daily Telegraph. These papers tend to be more factual and written in
fine print with very few pictures, and these can portray crime as the events happened with more
correct facts and statistics.
Another representation of crime in the media is TV (This includes both fictional and factual TV
programmes). An example of factual TV is The Night Stalker documentary. It gives a factual report on
past events and can educate the public on how it happened and how to protect themselves. This can
have a positive impact as it raises awareness and can provide advice on what to do in certain
situations like where to go when a crime happens or who to call. An example of a fiction TV
programme is Midsomer murders. This type of media can dramatize crimes or situations involving
crime and create an image that is far from what crime really is like. This can create a negative impact
as it creates an image of what crime is like when it can be far from what is being shown on
screening, leading people to believe wrongly.
A third representation of crime in the media is both factual and fictional films. An example of factual
crime films is Zodiac. This film can educate the public on past events so that they can understand
how these crimes occurred and a positive effect of this can be that people can understand what
signs to look out for so that they can help and report crime to then prevent it. An example of a
fiction crime film is Joker. A lot of crime films can glorify crime by making the criminals relatable
main characters. A consequence of this is that people may normalise crime in society and not
attempt to prevent it.
Additionally, crime is also represented through gaming. An example of this is Grand Theft Auto.
Games like this can glorify crimes like assault, murder and burglary which can encourage people to
commit crimes. This has a negative impact on society as the way crime is portrayed may seem
desirable and an okay thing to do, however this can cause a decline in society.
Also, social media can represent crime. This can have positive outcomes from representing crime
such as it can encourage people to be on the lookout for information on a crime that has occurred or
to give the public updates on events. However, it can have negative effects as the existence of social
media enables cybercrimes like computer fraud and hacking to exist and these crimes are very hard
to detect and prosecute.
A final representation of crime in the media is through music. Music such as criminal by Eminem
paints the singer as a criminal. This can be negative as many people will look up to the artist and may
follow actions that they do. For example, people may listen to the song and believe that committing
crimes is an okay thing to do as their role model is promoting it through their music. This can
increase crime rates and create a negative impact on society. Another example of this would be “I;
fought the law” by The Clash as this can make crime seem desirable and normalised.
Unit AC1.4 and AC1.5
Prepare a report that describes how different media represent crime (AC1.4) and explain how these
representations influence public perception. (6 marks)
One representation of crime represented in the media is newspapers. One type of newspaper is a
tabloid newspaper which uses more flashy images, exaggerated stories, and a larger print to draw in
people to read the newspaper, for example The Sun. However, these stories can be factually
incorrect, portraying the crime stories in a way that did not happen. Another type of newspaper is a
broadsheet, an example is the Daily Telegraph. These papers tend to be more factual and written in
fine print with very few pictures, and these can portray crime as the events happened with more
correct facts and statistics.
Another representation of crime in the media is TV (This includes both fictional and factual TV
programmes). An example of factual TV is The Night Stalker documentary. It gives a factual report on
past events and can educate the public on how it happened and how to protect themselves. This can
have a positive impact as it raises awareness and can provide advice on what to do in certain
situations like where to go when a crime happens or who to call. An example of a fiction TV
programme is Midsomer murders. This type of media can dramatize crimes or situations involving
crime and create an image that is far from what crime really is like. This can create a negative impact
as it creates an image of what crime is like when it can be far from what is being shown on
screening, leading people to believe wrongly.
A third representation of crime in the media is both factual and fictional films. An example of factual
crime films is Zodiac. This film can educate the public on past events so that they can understand
how these crimes occurred and a positive effect of this can be that people can understand what
signs to look out for so that they can help and report crime to then prevent it. An example of a
fiction crime film is Joker. A lot of crime films can glorify crime by making the criminals relatable
main characters. A consequence of this is that people may normalise crime in society and not
attempt to prevent it.
Additionally, crime is also represented through gaming. An example of this is Grand Theft Auto.
Games like this can glorify crimes like assault, murder and burglary which can encourage people to
commit crimes. This has a negative impact on society as the way crime is portrayed may seem
desirable and an okay thing to do, however this can cause a decline in society.
Also, social media can represent crime. This can have positive outcomes from representing crime
such as it can encourage people to be on the lookout for information on a crime that has occurred or
to give the public updates on events. However, it can have negative effects as the existence of social
media enables cybercrimes like computer fraud and hacking to exist and these crimes are very hard
to detect and prosecute.
A final representation of crime in the media is through music. Music such as criminal by Eminem
paints the singer as a criminal. This can be negative as many people will look up to the artist and may
follow actions that they do. For example, people may listen to the song and believe that committing
crimes is an okay thing to do as their role model is promoting it through their music. This can
increase crime rates and create a negative impact on society. Another example of this would be “I;
fought the law” by The Clash as this can make crime seem desirable and normalised.
