Crime and DevianceViolent Crime-Homicide-Rape-Robbery-Sexual/Aggravated AssaultMyths of Violent Crime--“US is in the midst of a crime wave”-Violent Crime is on a significant decline, we are as safe as we were in 1970 since its peak in 1990s, property crime as well-Individuals feel less safe because of media representations of crime that shape our perception--“Serious violent criminals can be any age!”-Most violent criminals are 13-24 years old -Desistance – as individuals get older the less likely they are to commit crime--“you are more likely to be killed by someone of another race than you”-You’re more likely to be killed by someone of the same race as you--“The most dangerous place in the U.S. is the streets”-Your home is the most dangerous place to be (statistically)--“Violent crimes are mostly caused by strangers”-Violent crimes are caused by people you knowOn Average, Crime represents about 25% of all media coverage--Violent crime is covered more than other types of crime--People of Color are overrepresented as criminalsThese myths and misconceptions ultimately contribute to a Culture of Fear--Culture of fear can be used to herd people towards War, Loss of Privacy, Divisiveness, Hatred-Jeremy Bentham – Panopticon -> Building a prison that extenuates security and surveillance, concept for modern security and privacyThe Spectacle of Death – how does violence in the media effect us?-Not all victims of violence/death treated the same-“Dead White Girl Problem”--Much of Media portrays the death of white women and children the most because it sells-Media does not treat perpetrators of violence the same-Police Officers? People of Color? Foreigners? Religious differences?Reducing the Copycat Effect--Report on the perpetrator forensically and with dispassionate language--Minimize use of the perpetrator’s name--Keep perpetrators name out of headlines--Minimize use of images of the perpetrator--Avoid using “pseudo-commando” or other posed photos of the perpetrator--avoid publishing the perpetrators’ videos or manifestos except when clearly necessary or valuable to the reportingThe Spectacle of Death--We as consumers of media play a huge
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