exam questions

Much media output is devoted to crime but a media offers a distorted portrayal of crime and criminals.the media are also often see as creating crime, for example by creating a sense of relative deprivation or causing moral panics. The new media also provide opportunities for both committing crime and for policing it.

Applying material from Item B and your knowledge, evaluate sociological contributions to our understanding of the relationship between crime and the media.

[30 Marks]

P- media exaggeration of crime

E- Felson (1998) idea on “age fallacy”. The idea that criminals and victims are often portrayed as older and more middle class than in reality. And Felton’s idea that violent crimes are portrayed more even though they aren’t the most common crime committed.

E- there’s a false portrayal of the people that commit crimes

L

E- this can. E supported because true crime documentaries and news still overemphasises violent crime compared to its actual frequency.

P- the media can create crime due to exposure of certain media

E- gerbner et al (1994) heavy television viewers have higher levels of fear of crime which they call mean world syndrome

E-

L

E

P

E

E

L

E