1. Crime and the Media (plus Qualitative Methodology) Understanding Criminology Monday, 17 August 2015

2. Lecture Outline Qualitative Principles in Research Media and Crime Connections The Media Representation of Crime Explaining the Media representation of crime

3. Qualitative Priorities Depth understandings –Aim is understand the experiences of small numbers of cases (poss. one) Subjective –feelings, emotions, perceptions etc. Varied, un-standardised data –text, images, thoughts, talk, observations

4. Observational Research In a general sense, all research is observation (even questionnaires) In a more specific sense, ethnographic observation prioritises collection of data from naturalistic settings e.g. unstructured interviews as conversations The researcher embeds themselves in a social setting to record events, conversations, experiences and their own feelings and understandings about a setting

5. Linguistic Analysis Content Analysis: a quantitative technique; recording the number of occurrences of particularly words, phrases, and the context in which they are used Discourse Analysis: a qualitative technique, prioritising naturalistic talk, and the context in which is is produced

6. Structured v Unstructured Data Collection Quantitative Approach: –standardised data; large number of cases; aim: reliable comparison Qualitative Approach –Rich description of individuals and settings; smaller number of cases

7. Objectivity v. Subjectivity Quantitative - Objectivity –Natural Science model –Distance between researcher and researched –Consistency Qualitative – Subjectivity –Interpretivism –Relationships between Researcher and Researched paramount

8. Media and Crime Connections: Media “Effects” “Hypodermic Syringe” Model: direct, unmediated effects of media coverage in triggering deviant behaviour, or shaping our reactions to crime –Mass media increasingly important especially amongst the alienated, uneducated, vulnerable “masses” –moral anxiety about the encouragement of deviant behaviour: the media is seen in opposition to mainstream moral values –high culture – mass media undermines the civilizing effects of high culture: right-wing class based analysis, distinguishing different aspects of culture –mass manipulation – the media represents a tool of the ruling class Criticisms: Reductionist and determinist

9. Media and Crime Connections: Pluralistic Model Deregulation of media has lessened the State control of the media Greater variety of media sources provide a greater opportunity for a variety of definers and counter- definers to have access to media outlets Coherent, unitary media elite is much more difficult to identify Example http://coppersblog.blogspot.com/

10. Where is the Media in Criminological Theory? Labelling theory: –The establishment of stereotypes and social constructions of criminality in the media is vital in how people interpret the world. The media acts to establish and reinforce labels. (Becker) Deviancy Amplification / Moral Panics –Deviant group identity is reinforced by alienation. In larger societies, deviants are more reliant on mass media. Policing priorities affected by portrayal of social problems. (Leslie T. Wilkins / Jock Young) Strain Theory –The media, and in particular advertising, is central to the establishment of people’s goals: economic goals (Merton); conspicuous consumption (Burney); hedonism (Katz)

11. Crime Related Media Content Growing in media coverage Diverse types of media content –News –Fiction –“Reality” TV

12. Amount of Crime in the Press Coverage of crime in the press is growing? –Roshier (1973) an average of 4% 1938-1967 Higher in tabloid newspapers –Ditton (1981) 6.5% of space –Williams and Dickinson (1989) 12.7% of “event oriented” news reports 5.1% in Guardian / 30.4% in the Sun Different methodologies are used: difficult to deduce that there has been an increase in coverage

13. Reiner and Sutherland 1997 Longitudinal analysis of film, television and press coverage of crime from 1945 -1991 Film: no significant change over time –20% crime films: 45-50% containing central crime concerns The Press TV –Percentage of top ten programmes which were crime programmes increased from 8% (1945-51) to 12%(1985-91)

14. Crime Narratives (Reiner et al 1997) Murder remains the most common crime portrayed in media Property crime has plummeted Violent, sexual and drug-related offences have increased Critical and negative images of police are highest 1964-1979 Outcomes for Offenders

15. Content of Press Crime Coverage Focus is on the difference between the media portrayal of crime and criminals, and the picture from surveys and recorded statistics Generally, the media are seen as exaggerating the risks associated with crime Some commentators see this as part of an attempt to increase support for harsher CJ Responses

16. Evidence: Types of Crime Crimes of violence are disproportionately covered: BCS 6% of all crime is violent Murder: accounts for 1/3 rd of all reports (Reiner 2000) – also found burglary was receiving less coverage Williams and Dickinson (1989): 64.5% of newspaper crime stories are violent Cumberbatch (1995): Fatal crime accounted for 38-53% of crime stories

17. Offenders The national media tend to focus on older and higher-status offenders than those processed by the CJS Local newspapers: tend to focus on lower- status and ethnic-minority offenders The vast majority of news stories reflect offenders as a male

18. Victims Increasingly central to news stories about crime –Exaggerate the risks for Higher status Women Children and the elderly –The poor, young and black victims are not given much prominence as victims

19. The Police The Police recognise the power of the media, and have at times utilised this power “An enduring, if not ecstatically happy, marriage” between the police and the media (Sir Robert Mark, 1971) The media is generally supportive of the police Police corruption seen as “one bad apple” The Police see themselves as the subject of criticism –“Without doubt the most abused, the most unfairly criticised ad the most silent minority in this country” Sir Robert Mark (1974)

20. Explanations for Media coverage Structural constraints on media –Focus on court-based stories emphasises the success of the police –Police provide most information to the media –“News” is inherently event-dependent: little time is allowed for deeper analysis (trends, social causes etc.) –TV crews located behind police lines

21. Explanations for Media coverage Journalists’ Professional Ideology (Chibnall) ImmediacyTitillation DramatisationConventionalism PersonalisationStructured Access SimplificationNovelty

22. Laissez-Faire Model The media is driven by demand economics Media focus on sensationalist, prurient, and moralistic stories reflects the desires of the general public Ignores other influences (e.g. government)

23. Explanations for Media coverage Political Ideology The press is predominantly conservative The media aim to strike a ‘middle ground’ between mainstream political perspectives i.e. a relativistic stance Hegemony: The media operates to provide consent and support for the State’s actions e.g. Stuart Hall et al. “Policing the Crisis”