In class today you'll learn about frames and narratives used by the media to tell stories about crime.
What frames and narratives identified in class and in your book do you see in these stories from today, if any?
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2017/09/18/state-police-stop-patrols-atv-high-crime-detroit-precinct/105772908/
http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2017/09/18/westchester-police-cyber-crime-dog/
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hate-crime-rise-2016-united-states-trump_us_59becac8e4b086432b07fed8
http://www.eagletribune.com/news/merrimack_valley/candidates-at-mayoral-debate-focus-on-crime-addiction/article_b1c09a67-a7f1-5f23-ae72-3837b7af7ce8.html
http://www.weatherforddemocrat.com/news/crime-up-percent-deen-says/article_ad5b68bc-9ce2-11e7-b4ab-e7b83f759c08.html
Showing posts with label narratives. Show all posts
Showing posts with label narratives. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 19, 2017
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Casey Anthony trial underway (and who cares???)
The trial of the accused murderer of (almost) three year old Caylee Anthony is now underway in Orlando, Florida. The accused is her mother, Casey, who allegedly killed her own daughter and then was seen out partying regularly.
Data from 2008 show there were 14,180 murders in the US that year.
So the obvious question is, why does this one case deserve so much media attention?
For example, the Orlando Sentinel has an entire website devoted just to the case. The Today Show featured a long segment on the case and featured two "legal experts" commenting on the case. And every news network and major newspaper is discussing the case.
Recall that certain types of crimes and certain types of offenders and victims are more likely to appeal to the news media.
Violent street crime like murder.
Young, innocent (and white) victims.
Cold-hearted, evil offenders.
This case has all of those elements. It fits perfectly with the major narratives used to describe crime in the news. And that is why it is all over the news.
The problem with the coverage is that it creates major misconceptions about crime and takes up valuable time that could be devoted to more serious issues.
Data from 2008 show there were 14,180 murders in the US that year.
So the obvious question is, why does this one case deserve so much media attention?
For example, the Orlando Sentinel has an entire website devoted just to the case. The Today Show featured a long segment on the case and featured two "legal experts" commenting on the case. And every news network and major newspaper is discussing the case.
Recall that certain types of crimes and certain types of offenders and victims are more likely to appeal to the news media.
Violent street crime like murder.
Young, innocent (and white) victims.
Cold-hearted, evil offenders.
This case has all of those elements. It fits perfectly with the major narratives used to describe crime in the news. And that is why it is all over the news.
The problem with the coverage is that it creates major misconceptions about crime and takes up valuable time that could be devoted to more serious issues.
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