Starter
How does media aid crime?
• How many different ways can
you come up with?
Media
and
Crime
Crime and Media: Key Themes
Media
representations
of crime
Media as a
cause of crime
Moral panics
Global CyberCrime
The media and crime
News as socially constructed
Fictional crime
 The media over-represent
violence and sex crimes –
this make us think its
happening more and that
most killers are strange
psychopaths – in most
cases the perpetrator is
know to the victim.
‘The news is not discovered but
manufactured’ says Cohen and
Young. What they mean is
what gets coverage depends on
what has happened, who is
involved, when and where.
Crime by its very definition is
abnormal and ticks most of
these news worthy boxes.
Our ideas of crime
don’t just come from
the news. Fictional
representation of
crime comes from
books, films and TV
shows. They tend to
match the incorrect
stereotypes of the
media.
The media portray
criminals and victims as
older and more middleclass.
Media coverage
exaggerates police success
in clearing up cases.
The media exaggerates
the risk of victimisation,
especially women.
The media overplay
extraordinary crimes
but underplay ordinary
crimes.
Mass media and
crime
Can the media cause crime
or fear?
Most studies show media
violence has at most a small
and limited negative effect
on audiences. Studies do
show those that watch TV for
longer periods of time are
more likely to be fearful of
becoming a victim.
How could the media
cause crime?
 Imitation – copycats.
 Desensitisation.
 Learning criminal
techniques.
 Desire for
unaffordable goods.
 Glamorising offending.
New media – new crime
Cyber-crime
Cinema, television, computer games and the
internet have all been blamed for corrupting
the young. The internet has grown so quickly
its brought about cyber crime. Defined as
computer-meditated criminal activities
conducted through global electronic networks.
 Cyber-trespass – includes hacking and
spreading viruses.
 Cyber –deception and theft – identify
theft, illegal downloading.
 Cyber-pornography – illegal porn
involving children.
 Cyber-violence – bullying by text,
threatening e-mails, cyber stalking.
Stanley Cohen
Cohen studied how the
media has often demonised
youth culture. This
happened to mods and
Rockers in 1964 who were
seen as modern day folk
devils who threatened social
order. His research found
that actual acts of deviant
acts were minimal.
Mass media and
crime
Deviancy amplification spiral
This idea says that sensationalist
reporting by the newspapers distorts
the act of crime or deviance and
increases public awareness. Public
pressure is put on the police and
courts to act. This creates a moral
panic where certain acts or groups
are seen as a threat to social order.
Media Representations of Crime
1.
The media over-represent violence and sex crimes – this make
us think its happening more and that most killers are strange
psychopaths – in most cases the perpetrator is know to the
victim.
2. The media portray criminals and victims as older and more
middle-class.
3. Media coverage exaggerates police success in clearing up cases.
4. The media exaggerates the risk of victimisation, especially
women.
5. The media overplay extraordinary crimes but underplay
ordinary crimes.
Question:
Explain what is meant by the term
‘news values’ and give some examples
of news values.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aHun58mz3vI
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5RRmE0_n0K4
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e_depaSOa4I
News as a social construction
• ‘The news is not discovered
but manufactured’ says
Cohen and Young. What they
mean is what gets coverage
depends on what has
happened, who is involved,
when and where. Crime by
its very definition is abnormal
and ticks most of these news
worthy boxes.
immediacy
• Drama
Personalisation
• Higher-status
Simplification
• Novelty
Risk
• VIolence
Activity – match definition and examples
Crime Fiction
Mandel (1984)
• Estimates that between 1945 and 1984,
10 billion crime thrillers were sold.
• 25% of prime time TV and 20% films are
crime shows or films.
Surette (1998)
• Fictional representations of crime, criminals and victims
are thought to be polar opposites to those that appear
in official stats.
• Surette calls this ‘the
law of opposites’
Greer (2005)
• Media tend to exaggerate the extent of violent crime.
• Most crime is fairly routine, trivial and non-dramatic.
However, TV programmes like Crimewatch often pick up
on the more serious and violent offences with
reconstructions giving quite frightening, dramatized
insights into the crimes committed.
In reality
In fiction
Type of crimes
Property crime,
thefts
Violence, drugs,
murder, sex crimes
Motives for
homicide
Domestic disputes/
brawls/accidental
Greed, premeditated
and highly planned
Sex crimes
Committed by partners,
ex-partners or someone
known
Committed by
psychopaths, highly
organised serial
offenders
The Police
Often perceived as
Always get the bad
useless, ineffective (poor guys; often gifted.
clear-up rates)
Media Coverage
Tabloid newspapers negatively
target ‘undesirable’ groups such as
gypsies and asylum-seekers. Such
groups are viewed as “not us” or
“other-groups”.
The media tends to demonise rapists as evil
psychopaths, whereas in reality the
majority of victims are raped by men they
know, trusted, and often live with.
‘Missing White Woman Syndrome’
Missing white woman syndrome, is
also known as missing pretty girl
syndrome.
It is a term coined to describe a
form of media hype in which
excessive news coverage is
devoted to a specific missing
white woman or girl.
Reporting of these stories often lasts for several
days or weeks, and displaces reporting on other
newsworthy issues.
Black Criminality
The media plays up the image
of black offenders, muggers
and criminality generally.
However, it reports less the fact that the evidence
from official statistics suggests that African
Carribbeans and South Asians are twice as likely
to be victims of crime as the majority White
population.
Does the media
cause crime?
Grand Theft Auto
Child’s Play
Call of Duty
Watch the video
• Make a note of any particular cases
discussed in the video
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xj1o_WcAedc
Task: Popular culture & Crime
Example 1 Example 2
Films
Songs
Computer
games
Task:
What role does the media play in the fear of crime? What
causes crime? What crimes do people fear?
•In groups, you are going to conduct some primary
research.
•You will ask your peers (and any teachers that you may
come across – but not hound) the following questions.
1.Does watching violent films/TV programmes or playing
video games make people violent?
2.What crimes are most common in the UK?
3.Which crimes do you think you are most at risk of being
a victim of?
4.What do you think was the primary cause of the 2011
summer riots that started in London?
Media as a cause of crime
Imitation – copycats.
Desensitisation.
Learning criminal
techniques.
Desire for
unaffordable goods.
Glamorising
offending.
Explain how these media
causes crime using these
terms.
The Media creates FEAR of CRIME
• Most studies show
media violence has at
most a small and
limited negative effect
on audiences. Studies
do show those that
watch TV for longer
periods of time are
more likely to be fearful
of becoming a victim.
Studies:
Schramm et al (1961) For some
children television is harmful –
for most it is not.
Schlesinger & Tumbler (1992)
correlation between amount
of media consumption and
fear of crime.
The Media creates FEAR of CRIME
• Most studies show
Studies:
Critique:
media violence has at
Schramm et al (1961) For some
children television is harmful –
most a small and
Correlation not causation.
limited negative effect for most it is not.
on audiences. Studies
If you are already afraid
of crime
perhaps
Schlesinger
&
Tumbler
(1992)
do show those that
you stay in more and watch
TV.between amount
correlation
watch TV for longer
of media consumption and
periods of time are
of crime.
Sparks (1992) Viewersfear
attach
different
more likely to be fearful
meanings to TV violence, horror films and
of becoming a victim.
news bulletins.
Media and Relative Deprivation
Left Realists argue the
mass media help to
increase the sense of
RELATIVE DEPRIVATION
among poor and
marginalised groups which
may be a cause of crime.
Merton – Strain to
Anomie, pressure to
conform to the normal
lifestyle may motivate
‘innovation’.
Match-up
Lea and Young
Cohen
Gerbner et al
Bandura
Jock Young
Moral Panics: Mods and
rockers
Correlation between TV
viewing and fear of crime
The Bulimic Society
Lab experiments into children,
media and aggression
Relative Deprivation
Easter Weekend – 1964 Clackton
on Sea
Easter Weekend – 1964 Clackton
on Sea
Easter Weekend 1964 – Clackton
on Sea
Mods and Rockers – Stan cohen
(1972) Folk Devils and Moral Panics
Exaggeration
and Distortion
Prediction
• Day of Terror by Scooter Gangs
• Youngsters Beat Up Town
• Reality: A few minor scuffles, some stone throwing.
• Further conflict on its way to seaside towns.
Symbolisation
• The clothes, bikes, scooters, hairstyles become labelled
as symbols of deviance.
Deviance
Amplification
• Media fuelled the problem by labelling the groups as
deviance which encourages polarisation and more
clashes.
Moral Panics
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkXXwq0h6qc&f
eature=related
Watch the video – record any points you think are
of note.
Task: Outline and explain what is meant by the
term ‘moral panic’. Discuss this concept in
relation youth knife crime in London. Use the
views expressed in the clip to help you
You must refer to 2 terms: ‘Folk devils’ and
‘symbolic shorthand’s’
Moral Panics as Ideological Control
Miller and Reilly (1994) see some
moral panics used to soften up public
opinion and thus act as a form of
'ideological social control‘
Althusser: Media is a part of the ISA
For example, the media's coverage of Islamic
terrorism is seen by many to promote
'Islamophobia‘.
The resulting Government anti-terrorist legislation has
received broad public support despite seriously reducing
ordinary people's civil liberties
Examples of Moral Panics
Mods & Rockers (1960s) Cohen
Black mugging in the 1970s Hall et al
HIV/Aids (1980s).
Satanic child abuse (1980s)
Heroin and crack cocaine distribution (1980s/1990s) USA
Video-nasties (1980/1990s) Child’s Play 2 – Jamie Bulger
Guns (1990s and 2000s) Dunblane; Columbine
Acid raves, Ecstasy (1990s) Leah Betts
Male under-achievement in education (1990s)
Asylum seekers (2000s)
Islamic terrorism (2000s)
Knife crime (2000s)
Mephedrone (Meow, meow – 2000s)
So, why do moral panics exist?
• Whose interests do they serve?
• What would our old friends say about moral
panics and the relationship between media and
crime?
• Marxists
• Functionalists
• Feminists
• Interactionists
• Postmodernists
Perspectives on Moral Panics
Marxists
• Stuart Hall – Moral panics are used by K. to
distract attention.
Feminism
• Malestream focus of news and sociological
study.
Functionalism
• Response to anomie – by dramatising the
threat the media reasserts moral boundaries.
Interactionism
• Understand the meanings attached to the
crises by the participants.
Postmodernism
• Little consensus about what is deviant – Moral
panics are no longer relevant.
McRobbie and Thornton:
Moral Panics are an Outmoded Concept
Frequency
The frequency of moral panics has increased: they are no
longer noteworthy.
Context
In the past moral panics would scapegoat a group and
create ‘folk devils’. Today there are many viewpoints and
values in society.
Because the concept of moral panic is well-known, some
groups actually try to create one for their own benefit.
Reflexivity
Difficulty
Rebound
Because there is less certainty about what is
unambiguously ‘bad’ today, moral panics are harder to
start. People are too open-minded!
People are wary about starting moral panics as there is
the possibility of it rebounding on them, e.g. John
Major’s ‘family values’ campaign.
McRobbie and Thornton (1995)
Moral Panics are routine, have less-impact and
are outdated.
• In late-modern society, attitudes are different,
and not the same as 40 years ago.
• What used to shock and appal then may not
now.
Eg) Single motherhood
Drug abuse
Homosexuality
Media as ‘Moral Crusaders’
The media, having played a part in
constructing a moral panic, may then
embark upon a 'moral crusade'
against the identified 'folk devils'.
The desired outcome is to swell public
opinion and for the authorities to
embark upon a moral clampdown on
deviants.
In recent months, the media
themselves have become folk devils
due to the phone hacking scandals.
PERCy group task
• In groups of 4 you complete a carousel activity
which will test your knowledge, comprehension,
evaluation and essay skills
• You will be given an exam question which you must
complete as a group of 3.
• You will be making four points and each group will
rotate their answer: Each group will start on P,
then move on to E, then R etc until all groups have
contributed one part to each section.
Examine the view that the
media can actually be
responsible for crime
Feedback
The growth of technology and
of the internet has led to the
introduction of new criminal
techniques...
Cyber Crime
‘Computer mediated activities that are…
illegal…and are conducted through global
electronic networks’ (Thomas and Loader
2000)
Wall 2001
Identifies 4 types of cyber crime
1. Cyber-trespass
This includes hacking, sabotage and spreading
viruses. Literally trespassing on other
peoples computers.
2. Cyber-deception and theft
This includes identity theft, phishing
(false websites aimed at getting things
like bank details, illegal downloading
etc hacking, sabotage and spreading
viruses
3. Cyber-porn
Most web traffic is porn led –a lot is
legal but there are areas of illegal
use particularly with reference to
minors, child pornography etc.
Also the ease at which minors can
access porn sites is a concern.
4. Cyber-violence
• This includes cyber-stalking, bullying online, causing psychological harm and
inciting violence.
• Cyber crime is very difficult to police,
because it is global and is such a large
area. It has also been given a low priority
by many police forces.
• On the other hand more surveillance via
ICT is being introduced every day,
cameras, digital finger printing etc
Media Content Analysis
• Most of the studies about media representations of crime
is based on content analysis:
Formal Content Analysis
Used to measures amount of space
devoted to crime and types of
crime covered
Textual Analysis
Examining the text in order to see
how it encourages a particular
reading and creates a particular
impression. Eg) ‘Paedo found
working in Primary school’.
Thematic Analysis
Looks at themes that
underlie the content Eg) The
Police are presented in a
positive light in stories
Item A
In late modern society, the mass media are at the centre of culture,
and the media are obsessed with crime. As a result, they are our
main source of knowledge about crime.
However, the media present us with a distorted picture. For example,
crime fiction, whether TV ‘cop shows’ or the individual genius of a
Sherlock Holmes, offers a false image of policing. Similarly, many
sociologists accuse the news media of creating folk devils and of
promoting unrealistic fears of crime. Many people also blame the
media for encouraging criminal behaviour in the young and the
poorly educated. Others note both the criminal opportunities and
the scope for surveillance offered by the new media.
Using material from Item A and elsewhere, assess
sociological views of the relationship between crime and
the mass media. (21 marks)
Assessment Questions – Media and Crime
1. Examine the ways in which the media stimulate
moral panics and create folk devils. (21 marks)
2. Assess sociological views of the relationship
between crime and the mass media. (21 marks)
3. Examine how the media causes crime. (21 marks)
4. Assess whether the media reports crime or creates
crime. (21 marks)