The Role of News Media and Media Effects in Shaping Public Perceptions of Knife Crime in the UK

Assignment Brief

Critically evaluate the role of news media and media effects on a topic of your choice.

In class Presentation Assignment type Presentation in class / PR-Oral Weighting of assignment 100% Size or length of assessment 10 minute presentation with Q&A Unit learning outcomes

1. Demonstrate the following knowledge and understanding of theoretical perspectives on the news media, crime and popular culture and a critical appreciation of their interrelationships.

2. Demonstrate the following skills and abilities Apply theoretical perspectives and concepts to concrete examples of news media and popular cultural representations of crime, criminals, victims and criminal justice.

What am I required to do in this assignment?

Consider the key media theories and concepts you have learnt about in the unit and apply those theories and concepts to an area of crime represented in the media. Drawing on your chosen crime, theories and concepts demonstrate a critical appreciation of their interrelationships.

Produce an A1 poster presentation, using text and visual materials (tables, diagrams, graphs, photographs etc), on an aspect of media criminology which presents a compelling argument and reports findings.

• The size of the poster should be A1, which is 594 x 841 mm (width and height).

• Set up a single slide in Powerpoint and set the size A1 and orientation- landscape or portrait.

• Think about the overall design and colour scheme and background.

• You can use images relevant to your topic. What images will you use?

• Font size should allow a printed version as A4 sheet to still be readable.

• What is the take home message of your presentation?

• You will need data/facts/ interpretation to support your message.

• These font sizes are a guide to make sure that your poster is readable.

• Main title in 72 point font

• Names of the authors 48 point font

• Use sub headings in at least 36 point font

• Make points in 24 to 28 point font

• Submit your references on page 2 of the ppt

As with any assessment it is important that you select a suitable font type. Typically, Arial or Times New Roman font types are used in assignments.

Think about your content: Research topic as title, Introduction/ background, How is the issue addressed by the media? Research method(s), Theoretical perspective/ theories and concept, think about ethical standards for journalism. Findings/Results, Discussion, Conclusion- implications- why does it matter?, Include References.

An example: Suicide by the Media- Journalists are hurting journalism with their reckless opinion-mongering. The romanticised reporting of euthanasia is spreading the contagion of suicide (Lau and Fernandes, 2018). This is the so called “Werther Effect” named after Goethe’s novel, The Sorrows of Young Man Werther. The protagonist’s suicide was blamed for copycat suicide of vulnerable readers. It is a phenomenon which has been documented and proven and the media can influence people’s behaviour through the way suicide is reported. Grounded in social learning theory, it is thought that fragile individuals who read stories romanticising suicide are led to believe it is a viable way to end suffering. Such stories extend to medically assisted suicide and the sympathetic glamorisation of the circumstances surrounding self- determined death. Until recently, the media has done its part to conscientiously follow guidelines on reporting suicides in order to minimise the contagion.

You will give an oral defense of your poster, which will involve a ten minute verbal presentation of the key message of your poster and its content, answering some questions in a Q&A. The audience for these presentations are other students on this unit.

Sample Answer

The Role of News Media and Media Effects in Shaping Public Perceptions of Knife Crime in the UK

Introduction

The relationship between the news media and public understanding of crime has long been a focal point in criminology. Media outlets do not simply report crime; they construct narratives that shape how societies interpret criminality, justice, and social order. This essay critically evaluates the role of news media and media effects theories in representing knife crime in the United Kingdom. Drawing on moral panic theory, cultivation theory, and agenda-setting, it explores how media narratives contribute to fear, stereotype formation, and policy responses. The essay argues that while the media can raise awareness of legitimate social problems, its framing of knife crime often amplifies fear and moral anxiety rather than promoting balanced understanding.

Media Representation of Knife Crime

Knife crime in the UK has received extensive media coverage over the past decade, particularly in relation to youth violence in London and other urban areas. The framing of these stories often emphasises danger, chaos, and social decay. Williams and Clarke (2018) note that the British press tends to portray knife crime as a youth epidemic, frequently associating it with Black and minority ethnic communities. Headlines such as “London Bloodbath” or “Teen Knife Thugs Terrorise Streets” are designed to attract attention but often distort reality by exaggerating prevalence and omitting structural causes such as poverty or austerity (Mills, 2020).

Such coverage contributes to what Stanley Cohen (1972) conceptualised as moral panic, a phenomenon in which the media amplifies fear by identifying “folk devils” and constructing exaggerated threats to social order. In the context of knife crime, young working-class men, particularly from minority backgrounds, become these folk devils. The cycle of sensationalism reinforces stereotypes, encourages punitive public opinion, and pressures policymakers to adopt harsher criminal justice responses (Hall et al., 2013).

Theoretical Perspectives: Media Effects and Crime

Several media effects theories help explain how these representations influence public perception. The cultivation theory, developed by Gerbner and Gross (1976), suggests that prolonged exposure to crime-heavy media cultivates a distorted worldview in which violence appears more frequent and random than it truly is. Viewers who consume large amounts of crime news are more likely to believe that crime rates are rising, even when data shows the opposite (Heath and Gilbert, 1996). In the case of knife crime, this leads to heightened fear and mistrust, especially among older or more affluent audiences who are rarely at risk themselves.

The agenda-setting theory proposed by McCombs and Shaw (1972) argues that the media may not tell audiences what to think, but it tells them what to think about. By giving disproportionate attention to knife-related incidents, the media elevates this form of violence to a national concern, often at the expense of discussing underlying social determinants such as education, housing, or inequality. This selective focus shapes the political agenda, pushing government policy towards reactive policing rather than preventative social reform (Maguire, 2019).

Ethical Considerations and Media Responsibility

Ethical journalism requires accuracy, proportionality, and sensitivity, yet commercial pressures frequently undermine these standards. Sensational coverage of knife crime raises circulation figures but risks misinforming the public. Chibnall (2016) argues that crime reporting often relies on dramatic storytelling rather than empirical evidence, reinforcing myths about criminality. For example, the consistent association of knives with youth culture creates a misleading image that all young people are either perpetrators or potential victims.

Moreover, the lack of diversity in newsroom leadership and sources can perpetuate biased reporting. By failing to include voices from affected communities, the media alienates the very groups most impacted by violence. Ethical journalism would require a balanced approach that contextualises knife crime within broader socio-economic challenges rather than treating it as isolated moral failure. The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) provides guidance on responsible reporting, but its enforcement remains inconsistent (BBC Editorial Guidelines, 2022).

Findings and Discussion

Empirical evidence suggests that the media’s representation of knife crime directly affects public fear and policy direction. A study by Murray (2021) found that tabloid readers overestimated youth crime levels by up to 60 percent. Similarly, public surveys have shown that fear of knife crime remains high even in areas where recorded offences are low. This distorted perception contributes to what Reiner (2019) describes as a “politics of fear,” where policymakers prioritise visible enforcement strategies such as stop-and-search, despite limited evidence of their effectiveness.

In contrast, limited coverage is given to positive community initiatives or rehabilitation programmes. When these stories are reported, they rarely make front-page headlines. This imbalance reinforces punitive narratives, marginalises youth voices, and hinders constructive public discourse. From a cultural criminology perspective, media narratives both reflect and reproduce societal anxieties, linking moral judgement with visual spectacle (Presdee, 2000). Knife crime thus becomes a stage upon which broader tensions about race, class, and social control are performed.

Continued...