AC1.4 Example Answer
Describe the media representation of crime.
One type of media that portrays crime is newspapers. Newspapers come in two forms. This is either
tabloid or broadsheet. Tabloid has more photographs, is printed on smaller sheets of paper. They can
also be eye catching because they have lots of colour. The stories are often less serious and take the
form of ‘gossip’. They target younger people and examples can include ‘The Sun’, ‘The Mirror’ and
‘The Daily Mail’. Broadsheet however is bigger because it’s rented on larger sheets and more formal.
They contain more serious topics such as British Gas. They target more older people. Examples of
these types of newspapers include ‘The Times’, ‘The Telegraph’ and ‘The Guardian’. A larger majority
of newspaper space is devoted to crime stories such as murders, stabbing and terrorist attacks. The
types of crime shown is often used to scaremonger the public since it is mostly focused on
violent/sexual crimes. However, the most recorded crime is a minor offence which is shoplifting.
Newspapers exaggerate the success of the police in solving crimes and they also tend to see crimes
committed by police as minor because they see it as as the work of an individual rather than the
whole police force. An example of crime portrayed by newspapers is the Barcelona terrorist attack in
August 2017. The incident was reported on all Barcelona newspapers using dramatic headlines.
These headlines included the words: ‘massacre’, ‘bloodbath’, ‘slaughtered on the streets’ and the
phrase ‘Barcelona bastards.’ This shows the newspapers over exaggerate and use scaremonger
tactics in order to get the public afraid.
Another type of media that portrays crime is television. This is broadcasting of programmes on a
screen with a stand. Television plays a major role in the portrayal of crime by the media. TV is used to
portray both fictional and factual representation of crime. ¼ of all television is crime dramas. This can
be either factual such as ‘Police Interceptors’ or ‘Traffic Cops’ or fictional such as ‘Death in Paradise’,
or ‘Law and Order’. In these crime dramas, they often sensationalise crime and over exaggerate the
severity of it. 2/3 of US shows include robbery/murder/assault however in reality, this isn’t the case
because the most committed crime in the US is theft or larceny. It’s estimated that someone is a
victim of theft every 5.5 seconds. Crime is often committed by someone close to the victim. In these
dramas when robbery takes place, its often planned thefts that focus on a lot of money however in
reality, robberies are often done based on opportunities and of low value. An example of a TV show
that represents crime is ‘Peaky Blinders’. This is based on a notorious gang of street criminals based
in Birmingham, England during the late 19 th and early 20th centuries. They were primarily involved in
crimes such as theft, extortion and illegal betting. This is highly fictionalised and exaggerates certain
elements of the Peaky Blinders’ lifestyle. An example of this can be their involvement in business
dealings which is emphasised for dramatic effect so it isn’t a a historically accurate representation of
their real-life activities and circumstances.
Another type of media that portrays crime is film. These are movies that portray and glamourise
crime for entertainment purposes. Examples of films that include crime is ‘Suicide Squad’, ‘Die Hard’
and ‘Rush Hour’. 1/5 of all movies shown in the cinema are about crime. Up to ½ have crime content
in them. They contain extreme and explicit violence which is unrealistic. The main focus of these
films is crime and corruption. Property crime is vastly underrepresented compared to official
statistics. Around ¾ (73.7%) of overall theft offences were most likely to be closed due to no suspect
being identified. This is a 1.7% increase compared to last year. Another example of crimes in films
such as fast and furious include dangerous driving, deaths, murders and drugs. This embellishes
crimes and makes it seem more appealing to the younger, naïve audience who are inspired by this
thus misrepresenting crime and glorifying it.
Another type of media that portrays crime is gaming. This is when people play video games in the
internet that often contain violence and crime. It portrays crime as appropriate and acceptable
Describe the media representation of crime.
One type of media that portrays crime is newspapers. Newspapers come in two forms. This is either
tabloid or broadsheet. Tabloid has more photographs, is printed on smaller sheets of paper. They can
also be eye catching because they have lots of colour. The stories are often less serious and take the
form of ‘gossip’. They target younger people and examples can include ‘The Sun’, ‘The Mirror’ and
‘The Daily Mail’. Broadsheet however is bigger because it’s rented on larger sheets and more formal.
They contain more serious topics such as British Gas. They target more older people. Examples of
these types of newspapers include ‘The Times’, ‘The Telegraph’ and ‘The Guardian’. A larger majority
of newspaper space is devoted to crime stories such as murders, stabbing and terrorist attacks. The
types of crime shown is often used to scaremonger the public since it is mostly focused on
violent/sexual crimes. However, the most recorded crime is a minor offence which is shoplifting.
Newspapers exaggerate the success of the police in solving crimes and they also tend to see crimes
committed by police as minor because they see it as as the work of an individual rather than the
whole police force. An example of crime portrayed by newspapers is the Barcelona terrorist attack in
August 2017. The incident was reported on all Barcelona newspapers using dramatic headlines.
These headlines included the words: ‘massacre’, ‘bloodbath’, ‘slaughtered on the streets’ and the
phrase ‘Barcelona bastards.’ This shows the newspapers over exaggerate and use scaremonger
tactics in order to get the public afraid.
Another type of media that portrays crime is television. This is broadcasting of programmes on a
screen with a stand. Television plays a major role in the portrayal of crime by the media. TV is used to
portray both fictional and factual representation of crime. ¼ of all television is crime dramas. This can
be either factual such as ‘Police Interceptors’ or ‘Traffic Cops’ or fictional such as ‘Death in Paradise’,
or ‘Law and Order’. In these crime dramas, they often sensationalise crime and over exaggerate the
severity of it. 2/3 of US shows include robbery/murder/assault however in reality, this isn’t the case
because the most committed crime in the US is theft or larceny. It’s estimated that someone is a
victim of theft every 5.5 seconds. Crime is often committed by someone close to the victim. In these
dramas when robbery takes place, its often planned thefts that focus on a lot of money however in
reality, robberies are often done based on opportunities and of low value. An example of a TV show
that represents crime is ‘Peaky Blinders’. This is based on a notorious gang of street criminals based
in Birmingham, England during the late 19 th and early 20th centuries. They were primarily involved in
crimes such as theft, extortion and illegal betting. This is highly fictionalised and exaggerates certain
elements of the Peaky Blinders’ lifestyle. An example of this can be their involvement in business
dealings which is emphasised for dramatic effect so it isn’t a a historically accurate representation of
their real-life activities and circumstances.
Another type of media that portrays crime is film. These are movies that portray and glamourise
crime for entertainment purposes. Examples of films that include crime is ‘Suicide Squad’, ‘Die Hard’
and ‘Rush Hour’. 1/5 of all movies shown in the cinema are about crime. Up to ½ have crime content
in them. They contain extreme and explicit violence which is unrealistic. The main focus of these
films is crime and corruption. Property crime is vastly underrepresented compared to official
statistics. Around ¾ (73.7%) of overall theft offences were most likely to be closed due to no suspect
being identified. This is a 1.7% increase compared to last year. Another example of crimes in films
such as fast and furious include dangerous driving, deaths, murders and drugs. This embellishes
crimes and makes it seem more appealing to the younger, naïve audience who are inspired by this
thus misrepresenting crime and glorifying it.
Another type of media that portrays crime is gaming. This is when people play video games in the
internet that often contain violence and crime. It portrays crime as appropriate and acceptable
