Students are able to select a topic of their choice on an area of crime which can be related to the media. They may choose a topic covered with the sessions on the module or choose another topic which relates and will meet the learning outcomes on the module. Students will write an essay exploring the relationship between their crime topic and the media, either a specific platform or more generally. Assessing learning outcomes 1-3.

This module explores the complex and dynamic relationship between media and crime, focusing on how crime, offenders, victims, and criminal justice institutions are represented across traditional and digital platforms. Students will critically examine the influence of media narratives on public perceptions of crime and justice, and their role in shaping policy and responses to crime. Through the application of criminological theories, learners will analyse issues such as bias, stereotyping, and moral panics, developing a deeper understanding of the ethical and social implications of media portrayals. The module will offer contemporary case studies of crim representations across a range of media, including television, film, literature, advertising, newspapers, magazines, music videos and websites. Students are given the opportunity to¿analyse¿visual representations from historical and contemporary media sources to develop their critical analysis skills.

1. Explain and critically discuss the relationship between media representations and crime, criminal justice institutions, offenders and victims, including how crime is constructed and portrayed across different media platforms.

University Learning Outcome: Knowledge and understanding; Analysis

2. Apply theoretical perspectives to assess media coverage of crime-related issues, identifying bias, stereotyping and moral panics.

University Learning Outcome: Application; Learning

3. Analyse the impact of media narratives on public perceptions of crime, deviance and justice and its role in shaping policies and responses to crime.

University Learning Outcome: Analysis; Learning; Enquiry

This module will used a mixture of lectures and tutorials/seminars to support student learning. The lectures will introduce students to key topics, whilst tutorials/seminars will provide an opportunity for discussion, application of learning and collaborative tasks. Students will be further supported in these sessions with support for their assessments.

Students will also be expected to independently study, which will involve a mixture of directed and independent learning.

Classroom; presentation equipment

Case, S. Johnson, P.¿Manlow, D. Smith, R. and Williams, K. (2021). The Oxford Textbook on Criminology. 2nd¿edn. Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 146-185.

Carrabine, E. (2018) ‘Media and crime: Interrogating the violence of representation’, in W.S. Dekeseredy and M. Dragiewicz (eds) Routledge Handbook of Critical Criminology. 2nd edn. Routledge, pp. 398–410. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315622040-36.

Greer, C. (2019) Crime and media: a reader. Routledge.

Jewkes, Y (2015)¿Media and Crime. 3rd¿edition. London: Sage.

Jewkes, Y & Linnemann, T (2017)¿Media and Crime in the US. California: SAGE Publications.

Lab, S.P. (2023) ‘The Mass Media and Crime Prevention’, in Crime Prevention. 11th edn. Routledge, pp. 111–128. Available at: https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003271673-7.

Crime and the media will explore the complex and dynamic relationship between media and crime. You will cover a vast array of media sources in relation to different crimes during the course of this module and develop a deeper understanding of the media portrayal and influence. You will learn about criminological theories and apply these to historical and contemporary case studies. You will have the opportunity to choose an area of interest to you for the assessment.