Media and Crime
Undergraduate Assignment Cover Sheet
School of Human and Health Sciences
|Student Name: |Rita Kybaite |
|Student ID: |U1068438010 |
|Module Code: |HFB1010 |
|Date Submitted: |18/01/11 |
By submitting this work you are confirming that it is your own work and that all sources used have been accurately cited in text and referenced in the reference list. You are also confirming that the essay is within 10% of the advised word allowance.
Please state word count of your assignment (excluding Reference list):
|Word Count* |1818 words |
*Excluding reference list and questions
Nowadays most people follow criminal cases covered by the news media closely, and feel confident enough to make judgements about guilt and innocence (Hough, 2005, p. 7).
Television schedules are crammed with programmes about the police, criminals, prisoners and the courts and are syndicated around the world. Why are people – the audience – so fascinated by crime and deviance? And if the media can so successfully engage the public’s fascination, can they equally tap into – and increase – people’s fears about crime? Is the media’s interest is in obsession with – crime harmful?
Although people have some autonomy (self – control, and self – determination) in how they behave, they still may imitate some things they learn from media – what clothes to wear, styles of language and social interaction – they know what it means to be violent to someone and they are careful about such actions. People know the difference between the media representations, stories
School of Human and Health Sciences
|Student Name: |Rita Kybaite |
|Student ID: |U1068438010 |
|Module Code: |HFB1010 |
|Date Submitted: |18/01/11 |
By submitting this work you are confirming that it is your own work and that all sources used have been accurately cited in text and referenced in the reference list. You are also confirming that the essay is within 10% of the advised word allowance.
Please state word count of your assignment (excluding Reference list):
|Word Count* |1818 words |
*Excluding reference list and questions
Nowadays most people follow criminal cases covered by the news media closely, and feel confident enough to make judgements about guilt and innocence (Hough, 2005, p. 7).
Television schedules are crammed with programmes about the police, criminals, prisoners and the courts and are syndicated around the world. Why are people – the audience – so fascinated by crime and deviance? And if the media can so successfully engage the public’s fascination, can they equally tap into – and increase – people’s fears about crime? Is the media’s interest is in obsession with – crime harmful?
Although people have some autonomy (self – control, and self – determination) in how they behave, they still may imitate some things they learn from media – what clothes to wear, styles of language and social interaction – they know what it means to be violent to someone and they are careful about such actions. People know the difference between the media representations, stories
References: Critcher, C. (2003) Moral panics and the media. Buckingham: Open University Press. Dickinson, R., Harindranath, R., Linne, O. (1998) Approaches to audience: a reader. London: Arnold, a member of the hodder headline group. Felson, M. (1994) Crime and everyday life: insights and implications for society. California: Pine Forge Press. Ferguson, E., McReigh, T., Harris, P. (2002) Thirteen days of agony until hope finally died [online]. Available at: [Accessed at: 8th January]. Hough, M. and Roberts, J. (2005) Understanding public attitudes to criminal Justice. Berkshire: Open University Press. Howitt, D. (2006) Introduction to forensic and criminal psychology, 2nd edition. Essex: Person education limited. Jensen, K. B. (2002) A handbook of media and communication research: qualitative and quantative methodologies. London: Routledge. Lancaster, S., Feasay, E., Green, S. (2008) Addressing offending behaviour: context, practice and values. Devon: Willan Publishing. Laughney, D. (2007) Key themes in media theory. Berkshire: Open University Press. Melville, G. and Marsh, I. (2009) Crime, justice and the media. Abingdon: Routledge. O’Neil, S. (2002) Past two weeks have been a blur for the mothers [online]. Available at: [Accessed: 8th January 2011]. O’Shaughnessy, M. (1999) Media and society: introduction. New York: Oxford University Press. Savvas, M., Jorgensen, N., Bird, J., Heyhoe, A., Russell, B. (1997) Sociology: an interactive approach. London: Harper Collins Publishers. Taylor, B., Powell, A., Morris, L. (2002) Ian Huntley: Drifter who couldn’t work out what to do [online]. Available at: [Accessed at: 12th January 2011].