Unit 1: AC1.4 - Media representation of crime Flashcards
1
Q
Media representation of crime: Newspaper (6)
A
- Newspapers focus on sensational stories and treat them as ‘infotainment’ (cross between factual info and fictional entertainment).
- The kinds of crime, criminals and victims shown in news reports are the opposite of those within official crime stats.
- 1 in 8 news reports are about crime and almost 2/3 of news crime stories feature violence, whereas in official stats the vast majority of crimes are minor property crimes (eg shoplifting) - newspaper focus on serious violent crimes and sexual crimes and give these more prominence.
- In press reports offenders and victims are typically older and of higher status than those who actually turn up in courts.
- Reports over represent children, women, middle class, white and older people as victims.
- They tend to exaggerate.
2
Q
Media representation of crime: television (5)
A
- TV broadcasts both crime news and crime fiction.
- Focuses on violent crime, portrays both offender and victims as older and middle class, however ‘reality’ shows focus more on stories involving young suspects.
- 1/4 of all TV output is dedicated to crime dramas
- 2/3 of all US crime shows consist of murder, assault or armed robbery.
- the police: TV crime has a high clear up rate compared to official statistics.
3
Q
Media representation of crime: film (4)
A
,- About 1/5 of all cinema films are crime movies.
- Representation of violence within films has become more extreme and explicit over time.
- Property crime is under-represented compared with official stats.
- Film often glamorises violence.
4
Q
Media representation of crime: gaming (3)
A
- Used to represent the fictional side of crime
- The majority of games portray crime/violence eg GTA
- Many studies into the possible effects of harmful exposure to violent media, including e-gaming, shows there is little evidence of harmful studies
5
Q
Media representation of crime: Social media (6)
A
- Social media can be used to commit crimes > hate crime, harassment, abuse, racism
- Cases of gang assaults being staged, recorded and posted online packaged as underground fight videos.
- Social media can be used to prevent and report crimes.
- Used to raise public awareness and warn others of crime.
- Police are active on social media eg Twitter and Facebook.
- Apps enable public to report crime and make statements eg witness evident
6
Q
Media representation of crime: Music (3)
A
- Crime is a popular subject within lyrics
- Eg, drill rap videos often feature violence, drugs and gangs and the lyrics which go along with this, seen as ‘glamorising’ these issues.
- People blame this type of music for an increase in crimes and violence
