Explaining media representations of crime

Most of the studies of media representations of crime are based on content analysis

The three main types of content analysis, each with its strengths and weaknesses: formal content analysis, thematic analysis, textual analysis.

A significant proportion of space in newspaper is devoted to crime news. The more down-market the paper, the greater the proportion of crime news.

Broadcast news tends to devote more attention to crime than the press.

News coverage of violent and sexual crimes is significantly greater than their incidence as measured by official stats, victims studies and self-report studies.

Offenders in crime news are more likely to be older and middle class than those who appear in official stats and self-report studies.