The Media and Victims of Crime

In today’s media there seems to be great emphasis on the victims of crime. The question that arises from this is why do the media focus and over-represent some victims compared to other victims of similar crimes. As I have stated in past blogs the general public have a keen interest in crime and that is why the media report crime stories because of their newsworthiness but apart from the crime itself people seem to have just as much interest for the victim of the crime.

A victim of a crime especially serious assault or rape deserves to make a statement to the media about their thoughts and feelings to the crime that they have become a victim of. The issue that arises is that some victims are given more attention then others which can sometimes be unfair to other people with almost exact similarities of victimisation.

There are various reasons why some individuals of vicmtimsation will be covered by the media compared to others. For example I believe gender, age and race are major factors that contribute to whether a person will receive media attention of the crime that has been committed against them. It has been highlighted that an ideal victim is someone who is venerable, defenceless, innocent and deserves compassion from others. Ideal victims that come to mind are little girls, or elderly women as both have the gender factor of being a female the age factor of being to young or old to defend themselves and are vulnerable to perpetrators and usually these victims are Caucasian. 

Another factor may be the crime itself. If the crime is serious or unusual then the victim is likely to get more media attention. Unusual or out of the ordinary creates newsworthiness and this is what the media are looking for when they report victims of crime.

When looking through the newspaper to find an article about victims I came across a story involving two young women that are alleged victims of sexual assault by their stepfather who has been granted bail. They highlighted that they got off the train at Mt Druitt station and saw their stepfather but they were not informed that he had been granted bail. As 21 year old Kristie Hawkins said “We got off the train and there he was on the platform. She further added “No one should have this sort of thing happen to them” These quotes reinforce how victims are portrayed as innocent who deserve peoples compassion about the situation that they find themselves in.

In summary victims should be entitled to make statements about their feelings and emotions but the media should not manipulate what stories should and should not be reported. Everyone despite their age, gender or race should be given as much priority as the next victim. Obviously some stories of victimisation will be reported more then others but the media should at times vary a story about a victim of crime by reporting that young men, elderly men and people of different backgrounds who are innocent can also be victims of serious crimes.

Media and Prison: The Unknown

In today’s contemporary media it is almost impossible to turn on the television or open a newspaper without finding a story relating to crime. While crime and criminals play a significant contribution to news there seems to be less focus on prisons. In fact only 17% percent of crime and justice stories involve correctional institutions (Chermak). Therefore the purpose of this blog is to examine why such an important institution such as a prison which keeps people who are considered to be a threat to society out of news attention compared with other crime agencies such as the police and the courts

Prisons are responsible institutions that keep individuals who have committed crimes out of society. They have been placed in prison as a punishment for their actions. Their crimes can vary for example from theft to assault to murder. As a consequence of their actions by being placed into a prison it is hoped that the person is rehabilitated and therefore once released if ever from prison will be deterred from re-offending. 

Therefore it is rather simple to understand the purpose of a prison and what it hopes to accomplish but the bigger problem is to uncover why prisons do not receive as much media attention and the consequences that this may create for prisons. With such a lack of media focus people get the incorrect perception about prisons and therefore believe the stereotypes that are created about prisons.

Some of the reasons why the media do not report on prisons is because of the lack of newsworthiness (Jewkes, 2004) that prisons have. Prisons are not that exciting as they involve routine of the same thing everyday. Even if the media did want to report on prisons, access is very limited to the media as prisons are usually a closed institution.

The problem with this lack of media attention is that although actual prison stories are not being reported, prison television shows like prison break, America’s hardest prisoners and prison movies like Shawshank Redemption are creating a misperception that may be misleading or provide only a fictional or exaggerated side of what a real prison and prisoners may be like.

While prison stories are limited I was able to come across one story relating to prison and the infamous serial killer Ivan Milat. The article talks about the conditions of prison as it states “Supermax, with its stainless steel walls and clinical surfaces, looks as much intensive care ward as prison”. This creates a description of what the prison looks like. In addition the author reveals “the current facility has 146 cameras and 40 alarms” reinforcing that prisons have high security and that society is safe from these criminals who are locked up in supermax prison. Furthermore Robert Lang a prisoner, who has done nine years, said the “guards were not there to belittle inmates” redirecting away from the stereotype that guards bash prisoners

In summary prisons I believe will always be less reported then other crime agencies like the police or courts. However I do think that the media should try incorporate more stories about prison life because I think people do have a general interest in the prison system and prisoners which is evident through how popular shows like Priosn break and America’s hardest prisoners are.

Reference List

Jewkes, Y, (2004), ‘Media and Crime’, Sage Publications, London

 Daily Telegraph -Inside Ivan Milat jail - the lowest circle of hell

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/national/inside-ivan-milat-jail-the-lowest-circle-of-hell/story-e6freuzr-1225925693066

Lecture 5 of Crime, Politics and the Media (CRIM2027)

The Media and Social Panic

In today’s contemporary society the mass media play a very influential role in broadcasting crime news. Crime tends to be more consumed than any other type of news story because of its newsworthiness and this in fact becomes an issue within itself as moral panic is evoked into society (Sacco, 2005). Interestingly research has revealed that many people who experience some fear of crime such as being robbed or attacked because they live in an area with a high rate of crime or being physical or sexually abused have not actually ever been a victim of such offences or even witness them. This raises the idea that individual’s fear of crime is a result of indirect sources and one of these sources is the media influence in creating moral panic (Parker & Ray 1990 as cited by Williams & Dickinson)

A moral panic refers to an exaggerated reaction, usually conducted by the media in relation to some crime issue. However these crimes may be relatively small but have been reported at such a high level by the media that it has led to an increase in general anxiety and concern about certain crimes (Marsh & Melville, 2010). This fear or moral panic of crime as been identified as a problem within itself. In fact fear of crime will grow unless it is checked and controlled by the government and police. Moore and Trojanowicz (1988) argue that “reasonable fears concerning crime can be harnessed to fight the threat of crime, but when these fears become unreasonable they amount to a counterproductive response and become a social problem”

In the past the media have always used certain events or individuals to create some moral panic. Some examples include the Columbine shootings in America that caused alot of moral panic about youth violence and bullying in public high schools. Australia has as well I believed experienced moral panics in relation to the influence of the media on crime. Examples include P- Plate drivers of the age bracket of (17-19) are considered reckless drivers who engage in drink driving and speeding that the media have labeled as deviant and the community should be cautious of. As a result new laws have been implemented by politicians and enforced by police. Another recent example in Australia is bike gangs and how the media has created this moral panic to the community that bike gangs are dangerous and this resulted in new bikie laws. As Cohen (1972) acknowledges “societies appear to be subject, every now and then to periods of moral panic. A condition, episode, person or group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests; its nature is presented in a stylized and stereotypical fashion by the mass media”.

Different types of media coverage: The Death of Constable Bill Crews

A very recent crime story that has received much media attention is the murder of police officer Bill Crews. His death has received numerous media coverage due to the circumstances of his death and being a police officer. Therefore the reason why I am writing this blog is to examine the similarities and differences of the story on two different media agencies. The two media agencies that I have chosen to compare are television and the newspaper (Daily Telegraph) that have both provided media coverage on the death of Constable Bill Crews

A very recent crime story that has received much media attention is the murder of police officer Bill Crews. His death has received numerous media coverage due to the circumstances of his death and being a police officer. Therefore the reason why I am writing this blog is to examine the similarities and differences of the story on two different media agencies. The two media agencies that I have chosen to compare are television and the newspaper (Daily Telegraph) that have both provided media coverage on the death of Constable Bill Crews

 The Daily Telegraph had Constable Bill Crews face on the front page on Friday the 10^th September 2010 with the heading saying “Supreme sacrifice” and subheading saying “The Story of Constable Bill Crews. How he lived and died a hero”. The next four pages on the telegraph are dedicated to Crew’s life and how it came to a tragic sudden end. Pages two and three have the heading “Life dedicated to law and honour”. There is a picture shown of the police taking the man who killed Crews. I believe the picture is illustrating that Crew’s death will not be in vain and that the police have caught the man responsible for the death of Crews and he will be brought to justice for the murder he has committed. Below the pictures is information about the life of Crews. It is highlighted how Crew was following in his father footsteps. On pages four and five the heading reads “Hero stood firm in hail of bullets”  these two pages address how Crew was killed in the line of duty by giving a step by step of how his death unfolded

The other media agency that reported on the story was television. In particular I looked at the ABC coverage story of Crews death. I have provided a link so others can see.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6oCNwXBh30

The story goes for 2 minutes and 37 seconds. At beginning on the story the news woman gives brief overview of the story highlighting that Constable Bill Crews was “26 years old and was taking part in a raid in Sydney’s south west when he was shot in the head and neck.” It was discovered that Crew’s wasn’t wearing a bullet proof vest or helmet and neither was his other colleagues.

During that time images are shown of police crime squad retracing the steps of the raid and how it went wrong with a voice over explaining what the viewer is seeing. Then Dave Huddson Assist police commissioner talks about how everyone has been strong about the death of Crews and that they (police) like the community and obviously Crew’s family want an outcome as to how exactly he was shot and by who shot the fatal bullet.

In summary the Daily Telegraph provided background information about Crew’s life and step by step of how his life came to tragic end under the line of duty. The newspaper is able to provide more information such as his life because it has more time and space compared to that of television news. A report on television usually only goes for few minutes and is direct in it’s information as ABC television report focused specifically and directly on the aftermath of Crew’s murder and the protocols that police were going to take in future raids like wearing helmets and bullet proof vests.

Fictional crimes shows and there effect on how the public perceive crime.

In today’s society its seems that the general population seem to have a fascination with fictional crime shows. This is evident through shows like law and order, CSI, Criminal Minds, City Homicide and Underbelly to name a few.

The question that arises from these fictional crime shows is what effect are these shows creating about crime and the criminal justice system? Are these shows creating the right perception about crime in that if you commit murder for example you will be caught and fairly prosecuted under the law or are they glamorising crime and criminals like the underbelly franchise?

 
I will start with American crime shows like Law and Order and CSI. These shows I believe are positive forms of fictional crime shows as they highlight criminal cases which usually involve a person/s who commit a crime like murder and police use many tactics such as forensic science and asking witnesses to find out who committed the crime. Usually the majority of the time the criminal will be caught and then prosecuted. This is a positive aspect of crime and justice and will influence the public watching that crime doesn’t pay.

An issue does arise with this kind of fictional crime show however, as people watching perhaps are mislead into believing that the criminal justice system and especially enforcement by police is that effective. Most times crimes will go unsolved and people will get away with robbery, assault and even murder. Even when they are caught the justice system may fail in effectively prosecuting them due to lack of evidence or the defendant may have a good legal representation. (OJ Simpson case comes to mind)

While other times an innocent person will be convicted of crime they did not commit. The criminal justice system is not perfect like most things in this world people can make mistakes even in the court of law. The main point I’m trying to establish is that these crime shows are a good indicator about how the police use forensic science to catch criminals and how the justice system works but in saying that the public watching have to realise that the law isn’t always as effective and smooth and unfortunately unless people have some background knowledge about the criminal justice system they may think that the crime shows they watch are similar to how it works in the real world.

On the other hand a show that has received much attention of late about crime, police and corruption within the legal system enforcement is the Underbelly franchise. Underbelly is I would say the opposite of shows like Law and Order that portray more of the police side. Underbelly focuses more on the criminal’s side and how they become rich and powerful through the selling and dealing of drugs which ultimately leads to their demise. Murder, drugs and sex plays a significant role in underbelly franchise. It can be argued that Underbelly in fact glamourise crime. An example of this is how they all drive nice cars and live in nice homes. Although each series is said to be based on true events one wonders how much is reality and how much is actually fiction. That’s really beside the point the main argument I’m illustrating is how shows like Underbelly make criminals look good. Underbelly may give people ideas how to commit crimes and perhaps get away with it especially young people who can be easily influenced into a life of crime if they have abusive parents and limited education. The latest Underbelly the Golden Mile highlights the lead character John ibraham like some kind of hero despite the fact that he may have dealt drugs although he has never been charged of any serious offence. In summary I think underbelly can give out the wrong message about organised crime.

Celebrities, criminal charges and the media: Is it news or Gossip?

It seems in today’s media every time you turn on the television to watch the news or open the paper a celebrity of some kind will make headlines and not in a good way. It seems these days the media are more interested in reporting on the criminal beahviour of celebrities then they are on real criminals.


Lindsay Lohan comes to mind as a repeat offender of breaking the law by continually being arrested over drink driving. Under normal circumstances someone who drinks and then chooses to drive and is caught by police would not make the news, however a celebrity who breaks the law will by shown on all forms of media outlets like television, radio and the newspapers. As Jewkes (2004) acknowledges that a celebrity “will frequently be the recipient of media attention even if involved in a fairly routine crime that would not be deemed newsworthy if it concerned an ordinary member of public”. In addition Jewkes (2004) highlights that a story will always make the news if a well-known name is attached to it as people are obsessed with celebrities especially when it comes to crime.

Another celebrity that has had a lot of media attention in relation criminal behaviour is none other then Charlie Sheen. The difffernce between Charlie sheen and Lindsay Lohan are charges against Sheen are much more serious as he faced criminal charges for domestic violence against his wife Brooke Mueller. Although this case was rather serious did it deserve as much attention as it got by the media?. in addition did the media’s over involvement influence the case in anyway ? These are question that are difficult to answer but the point I’m trying to raise is that perhaps the media over-representation can affect the outcome of criminal case.

The focus has been on American celebrities but even in our own backyard Australian celebrities are being reported on by their criminal conduct. Going on to the Daily telegraph website and clicking “news breaking stories” I came across television personality Ernie Dingo who has been charged with aggravated common assault after allegedly slapping a child at a Carnarvon school in northern Western Australia.
(http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/breaking-news/police-charge-actor-ernie-dingo-with-assaulting-11-year-old-boy/story-e6freuyi-1225906844007)

The story is a serious allegation against Mr Dingo but does it deserve making the news. One could argue yes because children are involved and that’s a serious issue that would raise public awareness. On the other hand did it make the news because Mr Dingo is a television personality makes the story more appealing and thus news worthy. I personally don’t believe Mr Dingo is a big television personality but it seems Jewkes was correct in that a story will always make the news if a well-known name is attached to it and never more is this evident with Ernie Dingo.

In summary should the media report crimes committed by celebrities? There is no simple answer but I think they should within moderation. Obviously the case against Charlie Sheen did deserve to make the news. In regards to Lindsay Lohan the case against her should not have made news but her celebrity status allowed her to. I don’t have an issue with this I just think it should be limited in its reporting as it was just a DUI.

REFERENCE

Jewkes, Y. (2004) Media and Crime, London: Sage