Soothill, Keith and Peelo, Moira Teresa and Pearson, Jayn and Francis, Brian (2004) The reporting trajectories of top homicide cases in the media:a case study of The Times. The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice, 43 (1). pp. 1-14. ISSN 1468-2311
Full text not available from this repository.Abstract
This study describes the reporting trajectories of the 13 cases that received the most coverage in a leading British newspaper, The Times, over a period of 23 years (1977 to 1999 inclusive). We have classified these as ‘mega-cases’. This approach moves beyond merely measuring the coverage of cases to charting how cases can escalate to become ‘moral panics’, move into a shared ‘general knowledge’ of killing or, in some cases, come to occupy iconic status. Some ‘mega’ cases fade from consciousness when viewed over a period of time. In ‘mega-cases’ there is an unexpected ‘primary incident’ that makes the case newsworthy in the first instance. Then the ‘formal process’ helps to manage a homicide within accepted and acceptable boundaries. In broad terms, the media trajectories of these ‘mega-cases’ following the ‘primary incident’ are predictable. However, further unexpected ‘incidents’ unrelated to ‘process’– suicides, attacks by other prisoners, escapes – challenge the predictability of these ‘mega-cases’. The trajectories of homicide cases that begin to link in with wider societal agendas are the most difficult to predict.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Journal or Publication Title: | The Howard Journal of Criminal Justice |
| Additional Information: | 40% contribution RAE_import_type : Journal article RAE_uoa_type : Social Work and Social Policy & Administration |
| Subjects: | H Social Sciences > HN Social history and conditions. Social problems. Social reform |
| Departments: | Faculty of Arts & Social Sciences > Applied Social Science Faculty of Science and Technology > Mathematics and Statistics |
| ID Code: | 3288 |
| Deposited By: | ep_importer |
| Deposited On: | 25 Mar 2008 09:21 |
| Refereed?: | Yes |
| Published?: | Published |
| Last Modified: | 26 Jul 2012 17:17 |
| Identification Number: | |
| URI: | http://eprints.lancs.ac.uk/id/eprint/3288 |
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