The differential portrayal of ‘sympathetic’ homicide victims in the media
The over-representation of crime is a prevalent occurrence in the media; so too is the under-representation of certain types of victims of crime. The purpose of the current study is to explore the role that characteristics of homicide victims play in the presentation and prominence of a news story....
| Main Author: | |
|---|---|
| Contributors: | ; |
| Format: | Electronic Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
2020
|
| In: |
International review of victimology
Year: 2020, Volume: 26, Issue: 3, Pages: 314-331 |
| Online Access: |
Volltext (Resolving-System) |
| Journals Online & Print: | Drawer...
|
| Check availability: | HBZ Gateway |
| Keywords: |
| Summary: | The over-representation of crime is a prevalent occurrence in the media; so too is the under-representation of certain types of victims of crime. The purpose of the current study is to explore the role that characteristics of homicide victims play in the presentation and prominence of a news story. The study uses a sample of 3,998 newspaper articles on homicide from the Vancouver Sun to assess the relationship between victims who are cumulatively portrayed as more ‘sympathetic’ and structural measures of prominence in newspapers (placement on the front page, inclusion of a photograph, length of article). The findings reflect a statistically significant relationship between victim characteristics and prominent placement of a news article. Practical implications are discussed in relation to how disproportionate reporting of marginalized victims contributes to, reinforces and reproduces further marginalization in society and by law enforcement. |
|---|---|
| ISSN: | 2047-9433 |
| DOI: | 10.1177/0269758020916650 |