Tabloid and Traditional Television News Magazine Crime Stories: Crime Lessons and Reaffirmation of Social Class Distinctions

In recent times, critics have charged that tabloid news emphasizes and sensationalizes criminal behavior - thereby violating the journalistic ideal of providing objective information to the citizens of a democratic society. Yet, these claims have not been subjected to systematic investigation. This...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inJournalism & mass communication quarterly Vol. 73; no. 4; pp. 926 - 946
Main Author Grabe, Maria Elizabeth
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.12.1996
SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
Subjects
Broadcast Journalism
Broadcast Television
Content Analysis
Crime
Criminals
Mass Media Effects
Mass Media Images
Mass Media Violence
Media coverage
News
News Coverage
Social Class
Social Differences
Socioeconomic Status
Tabloid Television
Television News
Television programmes
Television Research
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Summary:In recent times, critics have charged that tabloid news emphasizes and sensationalizes criminal behavior - thereby violating the journalistic ideal of providing objective information to the citizens of a democratic society. Yet, these claims have not been subjected to systematic investigation. This study compares tabloid and traditional broadcast news magazine programs in terms of their emphasis on crime and the content of their crime narratives. Results indicate that tabloid shows are more likely than traditional shows to feature crime stories. Both types of programs give crime stories similar prominence, and the content is relatively similar. However, tabloid shows are more likely than traditional shows to present the criminal as belonging to the middle or upper class. By contrast, traditional shows are more likely to present the criminal as belonging to the working class.
Bibliography:ObjectType-Article-1
SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1
ObjectType-Feature-2
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ISSN:1077-6990
2161-430X
DOI:10.1177/107769909607300412