crime, media and representstion

Why do we study crime and media ?

Surette 2011 refers to the relationship between crime and media as ‘forced marriage’

What we see in the media influence how we see both criminal justice and those within the system

Media influence on out perception of crime is not only reason to consider crime and media; its impact on criminal justice policy is central.

What is Sarah’s law and its association with the media?

Sarahs law was a campaign for a disclosure scheme of sex offenders 2011 - this shows that the media has power to influence government policy

How can media explain crime as a social construct?

• media representations influence how impressions of certain groups and individuals are generated

• They reflect and reproduce identities of class, ‘race’, gender etc

• Create/extend popular assumptions about crime

• News stories often foster/exaggerate reality

• They can create unrealistic levels of fear of crime and lead to calls for greater intervention.

How does crime become ‘news’?

• journalism - stories with a hook to reel readers in - more money cheaply

• Access to sources -

• Newsworthiness : ideal victims - moral values, create a reaction

What are the stages of moral panic?

1. Exaggeration and distortion: numbers, damage caused, violence?

2. Prediction: incites fear that further conflict and violence is on the cards

3. Symbolisation: symbols of particular groups are then negatively associated with deviance

What are cautionary tales associated with crime??

• it prescribes rightful behaviour

• Attribute responsibility to a victims

• Marginalise behaviour of the victim/potential victim

• Emphasise the need for self-regulation

• Moralising discourse is risk and precaution

Why are crime legends a thing?

•Note similarities with Urban Legends; spread by word of mouth/today’s cyberspace. (Donovan, 2004)

•Differs to Moral Panics; informal and timeless, communally created

•Differs from Cautionary tales as never gains credence in official news

•Core features: common victims, perpetrators and settings. Crimes of violent natures.

What’s the difference between a crime legend and a cautionary tale and moral panic?

Crime legend: a story, to explain, entertain or frighten, maybe unverified/distorted, circulates through communities/networks, belief in a particular crime threat

Cautionary tale: a warning/lesson, to influence a behaviour, maybe factual, fictional or exaggerated, can be individual or widely shared, changes in behaviour to avoid danger

Moral panic: perceived social threat, generate expression widespread of concern, concern may be disproportionate to evidence, involves broader public/institutional attention, stigma, public demands for action

What is cultural trauma in this sense?

• occurs when an event so significant that it irrevocably changes groups identity - rupture to social order

How has the media influenced government policy?

• Jamie Bulger 1993: policy on CCTV + age of criminal responsibility

• Uncle toms cabin: slave laws

• Revenge porn and cyberbullying

How has the media influenced public attitudes

•Heavy consumption of crime news link with punitive attitudes (see 9/11) (Fried, 2005)

•Crime news causes public to believe the police need to be more effective.

•Increase in public fear (Lowry, Nio and Leitner, 2003)

News Trigger factors: Personal, graphic, need for police, harsher sentences