Media Presentation of Homicide: Examining Characteristics of Sensationalism and Fear of Victimization and Their Relation to Newspaper Article Prominence
| Published date | 01 November 2020 |
| Date | 01 November 2020 |
| Author | Jennifer S. Wong,Victoria Harraway |
| DOI | 10.1177/1088767919896391 |
| Subject Matter | Articles |
research-article2019
Article
Homicide Studies
2020, Vol. 24(4) 333 –352
Media Presentation of
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Characteristics of
Sensationalism and Fear
of Victimization and Their
Relation to Newspaper Article
Prominence
Jennifer S. Wong1 and Victoria Harraway1
Abstract
This study explores how characteristics of a homicide affect prominence of the story
in a newspaper (including front-page placement, photographs, article length, and a
composite measure of these items). Using a sample of 3,998 newspaper articles from
the Vancouver Sun (2004–2015), we examine how homicides that (a) may be deemed
“sensational crimes” or (b) may incite fear of personal victimization are related to
greater prominence. Findings suggest the presence of sensational characteristics
have a greater impact on article prominence than the presence of fear-inciting
characteristics. Implications for public perception of homicide events and policy are
discussed.
Keywords
newspaper, prominence, sensationalism, fear, public perception
News media occupies a large role in modern dissemination of information. The impact
of media ranges from shaping public perceptions of social issues to influencing the
formation and implementation of policy measures (Chermak & Chapman, 2007; Furedi,
2016; Gruenewald et al., 2009; Liska & Baccaglini, 1990; Paulsen, 2003). Less known
1Simon Fraser University, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Corresponding Author:
Jennifer S. Wong, Associate Professor, School of Criminology, Simon Fraser University, 8888 University
Drive, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada V5A 1S6.
Email: jenwong@sfu.ca
334
Homicide Studies 24(4)
is how the composition of an article may influence its prominence in a newspaper, con-
sequently influencing the degree to which a story may impact perception and policy. In
the current study, this idea is narrowed to examine how prominent stories on homicide
are placed in a newspaper relative to the degree of sensationalism and fear incitement
presented in the articles. Specifically, following a rigorous procedure for coding article
content, we examine whether articles on homicide that are sensational or likely to incite
fear of personal victimization are more likely to receive prominent placement in a large
daily newspaper relative to stories that are less sensational or fear-inciting. Isolating
characteristics of homicide that receive greater prominence is important, as a bias
toward sensational and fear-inciting homicides may influence public perception of
crime. In addition, analyzing sensational and fear-inciting homicide elements sepa-
rately allows for the observation of any competing or prioritized displays across these
elements. Understanding the relative impacts of the sensational and the frightening may
have further implications for understanding policy drivers that begin as media exposure
to a story.
Although media and crime are widely studied areas, separately and in combination,
there is an “empirical void” in the literature on factors related to homicide article
prominence in print media (Gekoski et al., 2012, p. 1212). Existing studies have been
criticized for failing to examine quantifiable characteristics of article prominence
(Paulsen, 2003), while others have recommended exploring the relationship between
homicide stories and structural characteristics in a more comprehensive manner
(Chermak & Chapman, 2007).
A review of the literature reveals a range of characteristics and variables used to
measure these phenomena. This subjectivity complicates comparability across studies
and highlights a need for clear delineation of measures used in the current study.
The Selective Construction of Reality
Many studies have illustrated how newspapers contribute to a public understanding of
homicide by relying on sensationalism, resulting in a fear of crime (Peelo et al., 2004).
Scholars discuss the divide between the reality of homicides and their coverage in the
media, suggesting that this discrepancy is driven by certain elements of a homicide
that qualify as newsworthy over less notable killings (Peelo et al., 2004). Furthermore,
in acknowledging that newspapers are businesses required to make a profit, we must
also acknowledge the selective nature of journalism (Peelo et al., 2004). Newspapers
utilize specific methods to highlight certain stories and emphasize their significance to
readers:
Stories in newspapers are given precedence by their placement within the paper. The
more pressing, “important” stories are usually placed at the top of each page, and the
most pertinent stories of the day are located on the front page. In addition, readers are
given cues that signify a story’s importance; word placement, font size, and color all
provide references for a story’s level of impact and importance. These techniques frame
reality by providing cues and making certain types of events more salient than others.
(Carter, 2013, p. 10)
Wong and Harraway
335
The selection of stories and the creative license behind the presentation of these stories
illustrates the power yielded by newspapers in the construction of reality. In essence,
newspaper editors decide what gets reported (Buckler, 2015; Clayman & Reisner,
1998; Gruenewald et al., 2009; Peelo et al., 2004; Pritchard & Hughes, 1997) and then
further determine the degree of importance afforded to each of these reports. What
begins as an objective event is a subjective interpretation by the time it reaches the
general public (Carter, 2013).
Many factors govern newspaper coverage. Characteristics such as “high ampli-
tude” (multiple offenders, brutality, unusualness), gender, and race play a role in which
events are selected for coverage (Johnstone et al., 1994, p. 862; Gruenewald et al.,
2009; Lundman, 2003). Furthermore, scholars suggest it is the complex intersections
between gender, race, and different perceptions of deviance (normative, statistical,
social) that impact the likelihood an event will be considered newsworthy and selected
for coverage (Gruenewald et al., 2009; Lundman, 2003; Pritchard & Hughes, 1997).
Buckler (2015) explains that events which adhere to stereotypical narratives are more
likely to be deemed newsworthy as such “stereotypes about race and gender are easily
understood in the market audience owing to their commonality and acceptance among
the populace” (p. 25), facilitating assimilation of information for news consumers.
However, some of the more recent literature emphasizes a need to examine the promi-
nence of homicide coverage in addition to raw coverage (Schildkraut & Donley, 2012).
In other words, the dynamic nature of news selection and publication processes
requires a separate examination of stories that are covered and the subsequent promi-
nence they receive within the publication. This study seeks to expand existing knowl-
edge of homicide coverage by further exploring the relationship between characteristics
in published homicide articles and ultimate article prominence.
Article Prominence
Structural characteristics of newspapers influence readership (Burns & Crawford,
1999). For example, article placement within the first 15 pages of a newspaper has
been shown to garner the greatest attention (Liska & Baccaglini, 1990). Existing stud-
ies have also explored the relationship between newsworthiness and word count
(Chermak & Chapman, 2007) and the inclusion of photographs (Burns & Katovich,
2006; Gilchrist, 2010). Liska and Baccaglini (1990) examined crime types and fear of
crime, hypothesizing that the front sections of a newspaper impact fear more so than
the later sections. This sentiment is echoed by Paulsen (2003), who indicated homicide
stories warranted front-page coverage while others were relegated to middle and back
sections. Paulsen’s (2003) large sample of homicide stories from the Houston Chronicle
between 1986 and 1995 suggest that articles placed in the front section of a newspaper
are more likely to contain homicides with uncommon characteristics. Unusual ele-
ments may increase reader interest in a homicide, increasing the appeal of such a story.
Similar to Paulsen’s study, Chermak and Chapman (2007) explored the relationship
between newspaper article prominence (operationalized as word count) and character-
istics of crime stories. Findings indicate that articles on homicide are associated with
a higher word count than are articles on property crime (Chermak & Chapman, 2007).
336
Homicide Studies 24(4)
Last, some research has focused on photographs as a measure of article promi-
nence. Burns and Katovich (2006) suggest that news media tend toward particularly
evocative images and that such images have a broad appeal. They explain that this
disproportionate portrayal of sensational and violent crime through pictures distorts
the accuracy of crime news. Gilchrist (2010) explored the relationship between race
and photographs, identifying trends favoring Caucasian homicide victims over victims
of other racial backgrounds in the form of large and centrally placed and/or multiple
photographs versus smaller, less intimate pictures of missing or murdered Indigenous
victims. Gilchrist (2010) connects photographs in homicide stories to demonstrations ...
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