Crime and the Media

Overview

Is the media a cause of crime? Does media depiction simply reflect public interests and attitudes, or help to shape them? Does media representation of ‘crime’, ‘criminals’ and criminal justice impact penal and social policies? These are some of the questions this module will debate through drawing on theory, research and illustrative media examples. Examining both ‘factual’ and ‘fictional’ representations of crime and justice, the module examines the extent to which media representation reflects reality, and impact on attitudes, emotions and behaviours. You will also learn skills in media analysis and apply these in your own small project.

Learning Objectives

1. Understand how abstract arguments about ideology, law, order, and disorder relate to fictional representations of crime.

2. Evaluate the media’s role in constructing ideas about crime and criminality.

3. Draw upon and engage with critical debates concerning moral panics, crime legends, and media effects.

4. Understand and be able to employ a range of techniques used to carry out analysis of the media.

Skills

1. Demonstrate an improvement in their ability to communicate abstract, theoretical arguments, in both oral and written work.

2. Operationalise theoretical concepts and debates by carrying out research on the media.

3. Synthesise analysis of media texts and theoretical argument.

4. Develop research and organisational skills by using library e-journals and other online resources such as Lexis-Nexus.

5. Conduct content and narrative analysis of media sources.

Assessment

None