Bailey, Mass Media 1
CRJ 404 – Crime and the Mass Media
Fall 2011
Frankie Y. Bailey
SUNY-Albany, email: fybailey@albany.edu
Class Meetings: Monday, 1- 4 p.m.
Course Description:
This course examines the interrelationships between crime, criminal justice, and mass media. It
will explore the history of these linkages, the social science research, and the current issues
relative to crime and mass media. The course examines the depictions of victims, offenders, and
the criminal justice system in the media. The evolution of these depictions in print media,
popular literature, films, television, and popular music will be discussed. The possible impact of
media images of crime and violence on individuals, groups, and public policy will be considered.
Issues regarding the future of crime, criminal justice, and mass media also will be discussed.
Course Objectives:
After completing this course, you should be:
1. Aware of issues regarding mass media, crime, and justice and be able to discuss them.
2. Aware of the social science research in this area and be able to critique it.
3. Able to critically evaluate mass media offerings in terms of how crime and the criminal
justice system are depicted.
Required Reading:
The textbooks for this course are available at the University at Albany bookstore and at Mary
Jane Bookstore. Used copies may be available.
The required textbooks are:
Capote, Truman. (1994 [1965]). In Cold Blood. New York: Vintage Books.
Leitch, Thomas. (2002). Crime Films. New York: Cambridge University Press.
Surette, Ray. (2011). Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice, 4th ed. Belmont, CA:
Thomson Wadsworth.
The syllabus and other course material will be available on Blackboard Learning System
(Blackboard 9). Class announcements and assignments also will be posted on Blackboard.
However, be aware that in this course Blackboard is a supplement to in-class meetings. You are
required to attend class. Blackboard will only be used as a substitute for a class meeting when
indicated in the syllabus.
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Required reading material (other than required textbooks) will be available through the
University Library. You may access this material on-line by going to the University Library web
site, E-Reserves. The password for this class is crj404f11.
The articles on reserve are followed by (E) in the course calendar.
Grading:
You must complete the following:
Mid-term examination - 100 points
Final examination - 100 points
True crime research project - 100 points
In-class assignment - 15 points
Out-of-class assignment - 35 points
Information about the research project and the two assignments will be distributed in class and
posted on Blackboard.
Academic Honesty:
Cheating, plagiarism, and other forms of academic dishonesty are not acceptable and will not be
tolerated. Such misconduct will result in a failing grade for a given assignment or for the course
itself. Please consult your Undergraduate Bulletin for specific statements regarding the actions
that may be taken.
Course Calendar
29 August -- Introduction to the course
5 September – Labor Day – Classes Suspended
12 September -- The Evolution of Criminal Justice and Mass Media
Read: Surette, Chapter 1
Leitch, Chapters 1 and 2
“Popular Culture, Crime, and Justice” (E)
“Precursor to Modern Media Hype: The 1830s Penny Press”
“Prologue: The Mary Rogers Tragedy” (E)
19 September -- Crime, Media, and Theoretical Perspectives
Read: Surette, Chapters 2 and 3
“Crack-ing the Media Myth: Reconsidering Sentencing Severity for
Cocaine Offenders by Drug Type” (E)
“Theorizing Media and Crime” (E)
“Sex, Lies, and Videotape: The Presentation of Sex Crime in Local Television
News”
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26 September – No class (professor attending conference)
Cops and Detectives
Read: Surette, Chapter 4
Leitch, Chapters 8, 9, and 10
Out of class assignment will be posted on Blackboard.
3 October – Lawyers and Courtrooms
Read: Surette, Chapter 5
Leitch, Chapters 11
Out of class assignment due today
10 October – Victims, Offenders, and Punishment in the Media
Read: Surette, Chapter 6
Leitch, Chapters 4, 5, 6, and 7
17 October -- Midterm Examination
24 October -- True Crime as Genre
Read: Capote -- In Cold Blood
“Making and Remaking an Event: The Leopold and Loeb
Case in American Culture” (E)
31 October -- True Crime as Genre
Read: Capote – In Cold Blood
**In Class Assignment today**
Note: You will be allowed to make up this assignment only if you have an acceptable excuse for
missing this class (e.g., medical emergency requiring visit to doctor). If you need to request a
make-up, you must provide official, written documentation to the instructor.
7 November -- Media Effects
Read: “Media Research Effects and Consequences” (E)
“The Delinquents: Censorship and Youth Culture in
Recent U.S. History” (E)
“Exposure to Violent Media: The Effects of Songs With
Violent Lyrics on Aggressive Thoughts and Feelings” (E)
“Gangsta Rap and Crime: Any Relationship” (E)
14 November -- The Media, Crime Control, and Criminal Justice Policy
Read: Surette, Chapters 7, 8, and 9
21 November – Cybercrimes
Read: “Beyond War Games: Who Are the Cybercriminals” (E)
“Cybercrime, media, and insecurity: The shaping of public perception
of cybercrime” (E)
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28 November – Regulation of the Internet
Read: “Beyond free speech: novel approaches to hate on the Internet in the
United States (E)
5 December -- Wrap-up and Preparation for Final Exam
Research paper due during this class period.
Any extra credit assignment also will be due on this date.
Final Exam will take place during exam week. Date and time will be announced.