Television and Crime Representation

This part explores how television shows and films portray crime, including both fictional and real-life crime stories.

Topics covered:

• Prevalence of crime-themed TV shows
• Types of crimes commonly portrayed in television programs
• Analysis of crime representation in TV shows based on real events

Highlight: Students are encouraged to research TV guides to calculate the percentage of programs with criminal themes, analyzing the types of crimes portrayed and their representation.

Example: The TV series "White House Farm" is mentioned as an example of a crime show based on real-life events.

Films and Crime Portrayal

This section discusses how films represent crime and criminal behavior.

Key points:

• Analysis of crime types shown in popular films
• Comparison of crime portrayal across different films
• Reasons for media focus on certain crime types over others

Quote: "What types of crimes are identified and what reasons can you think of as to why the media are more likely to portray these crimes rather than other crimes such as car theft and shoplifting etc."

Introduction to Media Representation of Crime

This section introduces the concept of media representation of crime and its relevance to criminology studies. It outlines the assessment criteria for AC 1.4 describe media representation of crime unit 2 and how it fits into the broader coursework.

Key points:

• Assessment Criteria 1.4 focuses on describing media representation of crime
• Various media forms are considered, including newspapers, television, film, electronic gaming, and social media
• Students should understand specific examples of fictional and factual crime representations in different media

Highlight: The assessment criteria require knowledge of how different media forms portray both fictional and factual representations of crime.

Definition: Media refers to the main means of mass communication, including broadcasting, publishing, and the Internet.

Newspapers and Crime Reporting

This section examines how newspapers report on crime and the factors influencing crime story selection.

Key aspects discussed:

• Sensationalism in newspaper crime reporting
• Reasons for widespread crime coverage in newspapers
• Key terms influencing crime story selection, such as immediacy, dramatization, and personalization

Vocabulary: Sensationalism - the presentation of stories in a way that is intended to provoke public interest or excitement, at the expense of accuracy.

Example: A newspaper using a large, bold headline like "BRUTAL MURDER SHOCKS QUIET TOWN" to draw readers' attention, even if the crime is not as severe as implied.