media representations of crime sociology revision

Question 1

Which sociologists found that uk newspapers used crime as a large proportion of their news coverage?

Answer 1

Williams and Dickinson (1993) found British newspapers devote up to 30% of their news space to crime.

Question 2

Which sociologists found that Toronto newspapers and radio used crime as a large proportion of their news coverage?

Answer 2

Richard Ericson et al’s (1991) study of Toronto found that 45-71% of quality press and radio news was about various forms of deviance and its control.

Question 3

What is an example of how media over- represent violent and sexual crime?

Answer 3

Ditton and Duffy (1983 ) found that 46% of media reports were about violent or sexual crime. yet these made up only 3% of all crimes recorded by the police.