Full marks WJEC Criminology Unit 1 AC1.4 model notes and answers. This document includes model answers to the AC1.4 question in the Unit 1 exam for criminology, that allowed me to achieve an overall A* in the exam! I hope it helps you do the same :)
AC1.4 DESCRIBE MEDIA REPRESENTATION OF CRIME 6 marks
Detailed description of the media representation of crime including relevant examples.
NEWSPAPERS
A newspaper is a published set of prints that contains information about
current news and events that may appeal to a reader (the public). Newspapers
represent crime in dramatic and sensationalised language, alongside
exaggerated statistics, headlines and images that depict shows that 30% of all
The Sun’s published news is devoted to crime. Newspapers collectively play a
major role in how crime is represented in the media. Where they publish
stories on stabbings, terrorist attacks, and murders which tend to be on the
very front page of the newspapers. Stories such as stabbings, terrorist attacks
or murders are reoccurring and without fail reported on the very front page of
the newspapers. There are two types of newspapers - Tabloids and
Broadsheets. Tabloids mostly practice sensationalism when creating deceptive
and methodical headlines to attract readers. These headlines are usually in
bolder, larger fonts in comparison to the rest of the page, with catchy slogans
and often, a picture. Tactic-fully done to entice the public, attracting them into
reading the issue. 'TERRORIST ATTACK' in bold and capital letters, followed
with 'thousands are reported dead' are two headlines found in a newspaper,
with the context below in significantly smaller font. With just a glimpse of this
issue, the public feel shocked, panic, and fear. People may assume that these
crimes are happening in their local area and could possibly affect them. This is
also known as scaremongering the public. Although, it may prevent someone
from committing a similar crime as they know it is gathering media attention.
However, if the same story was to be issued in a broadsheet style newspaper,
it would be less provocative and more informative; Broadsheets are
newspapers with a traditional approach to crime, and a traditional approach to
how crime is included in the paper. There is less exaggeration, and less of a
targeted emotion motive out of the reader. Typically, a broadsheet maintains a
sober tone maintained throughout an in-depth coverage - whilst tabloids
mostly pick out the most profitable information. Attitudes to crime are widely
influenced by newspapers; with government figures showing that tabloid
readers are almost two times as likely to be worried about a crime than
broadsheet readers. These scaremongering headlines are a negative impact on
the public, as people become impulsively fearful of their own lives, before
knowing any context to these exaggerated headlines.
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