Crime and the Media

This course explores the complex relationship between crime and the media. We use sociological and cultural theories to examine how crime, criminals, and the criminal justice system are portrayed in print and visual media outlets. We explore the media's role in shaping crime control and other public policies. We investigate the influence of offender and victim characteristics (e.g., race, gender, class, celebrity status) on how crime is presented. We also "turn the tables" to learn about how media itself may influence patterns of criminal offending (think violent video games). The overarching goal of this class is to teach students to watch/read crime media with an educated, critical eye.