The selection and media representation of crime and offeders
types of affects
The effects of media representations of crime
evidence about the media as a direct cause of crime
other affects of media coverage
positive effects of the media in crime
means
opportunity
motive
absence of controls
the media may have an indirect effect by encouraging consumption, which in turn creates more targets for crime, since more consumer goods are available to steal, including mobile phones, laptops and tablets
some commentators argue that the mass media undermine social control. this includes both external controls and internal controls.
individuals may learn techniques of crime from the media and commit crimes that they would not otherwise have had the expertise or imagination to carry out.
media coverage can contribute to the motives that may drive criminals to commit crimes. the media may stimulate desire for material goods, which can increase the sense of relative deprivation or produce anomie, thus leading those who cant afford them to turn to crime.
there has been a great deal of research to consider whether the media do directly cause offending. much of this research has been based on the hypodermic-syringe model of media effects.
Greer and Reiner (2012) note, a number of other factors or variables may influence whether there are effects from witnessing violence or other types of crime.
Newburn (2013) points out that perhaps greater numbers of violent people choose to watch more violent programmes or films and the content itself has no indipendent effect on their behaviour.
Yvonne jewkes (2015) stresses that media are open to multiple interpretations
moral panics: an out of date idea?
moral panics
one suggestion is that media may contribute to criminal behaviour, and also affect whether certain acts are criminalised or labled as devient.
Jewkes (2015) points out that fear of crime is difficult to measure; fear resulting from high-profile crimes may be short-lived
the idea of moral panic neatly combines a number of issues relating to media effects, including the possbility that the media are criminogenic, that they can effect the labelling or criminalisation of actions, and that they can have political effects.
Thornton (1995) argues that the concept of 'moral panics', as described by Cohen in the 1960s, is outdated and has to be seen in the context of the development of the media and the growing sophistication of the audience.
in Durkheim's test, the media can help to define moral boundaries and identify what is acceptable and unexceptionable behaviour in a particular society.
media coverage of crime could help to solve crimes or locate suspects, through programmes such as crimewatch, or through encouraging awarness of risks from serious crimes such as terrorism
media campaigns and public awarness of crime derived from the campaigns could also put pressure on the government or police to take action, for example, over domestic violence and tax evasion by corporations.
it can alert the public to the dangers of different types of crime, such as various types of fraud or identity theft, allowing them to take precautions to prevent themselves becoming victims.
Crime is a mainstay of the media, partiuclarly mass media such as newspapers as it gets alot of traction
chris greer and reiner have reviewed studies of newspapers, they found that tabloid newspapers devote higher preportions to crime than more serious newsapapewrs
Greer found violent offenses more likely to be in the news, particularly when the victims are white middle class, as it creates more panic boosting the views for the news channell.
the specific charachteristics of crime and offenders also effect the likelyhood .
tim newburn suggreststhat coverage can be somewhat misleading. compared to official crime statistics
Disproportionatly feature higher status and older offenders.
exxageratethe proportions of crime that are cleared up by the police
exaggerate the risk of being a bictim of crime , expecially for white people and people from higher backgrounds
in addition , evidence suggests media coverage gives the impression that serious violent crime are more common then they are.
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Pluralism
the content the media gives reflects the interests of the public
Commercial media rely upon audiences
coverage of crime is based on entertainment
creates moral panic.
Jewkes belives that there are news values that relate to crime.
Bad news drives out the good, creates pessimistic view.
Cohen and young, and reiner tend to potray media coverage of crime as being very consistent, not all coverage fit the message they put forward