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.