A self-reflection on news media

While reflecting on my own consumption of crime news in the media, I have found that crime has become an essential part of the everyday news cycle. It has the ability to entertain and inform audiences. When people view news about crime in the media, not only have they established an understanding for the situation, but the media has instilled in them a fear or worry about that particular issue. I have questions about the news media: why have they decided to run particular stories and how did they present these stories?

Murdered university student Jamie Gao ,20

As a case study, a recent murder involving a 20-year-old university student, Jamie Gao, was allegedly murdered by two former police detectives, Roger Rogerson and Glen McNamara (SMH 2014). The two former officers were charged for murder after a multimillion drug deal went wrong in Padstow. The detectives along with Mr. Gao were seen entering a storage unit to deal methamphetamines and exited without the student. His body was found off the coast of Cronulla. As one can obviously see, this story is very interesting; it has murder, drugs and rogue ex-cops. If they’re given a camera and a specified protagonist this would make a great movie or television show.

As a journalism student, I have learnt that media proprietors carefully edit articles in order to keep the audience reading. The lead line creates the first impression of the story only presenting the key facts.

Notorious former police officer Roger Rogerson has been charged with the murder of Sydney university student Jamie Gao in Sydney's south-west. (SMH 2014)

The language is simplistic but it uses the word ‘notorious’ to give the readers an assumption about Rogerson’s character. In addition, the structure is designed so that the most interesting and necessary information is at the top of the piece (Lamble 2011). Of course, quotations and other information follows.While facts and quotations are shown objectively, how they are implemented into the story can be used to manipulate the perceptions of the viewers, which can allow them to speculate and come to their own conclusions about the matter. A conclusion was influenced by the media. 

Ex-cop Roger Rogerson charged for murder

On another note, these stories are published because they upheld certain news values. According to Jewkes (2004) prominent news values in a story helps in determining whether it will be published or cut. Crime inherently possesses these news values and that is why it is no surprise when we see these stories being shown on a daily basis. The article meets a certain level of importance or dramatic events that will keep the audience enticed, it has violence, and it is made into a spectacle through CCTV footage and news programmes that use images to create significant impact (Jewkes 2004). Corrupt prominent figures also give this story a ‘certain crime drama series feel’. Furthermore, the murder of this university student occurred in Sydney and therefore NSW coverage is particularly high because it has the proximity news value.  This article is close to the general public both geographically and emotionally (Lamble 2011). Timeliness is also key news value for journalists, and as the suspects will be facing charges, this will be in the newspapers for quite some time. People like to be current and timely information allows the community to participate in societal discourse (Lamble 2011). With some reflection I believe that crime sells because news stories frequently feed on negativity and drama (threshold), those in the media industry, like The Sydney Morning Herald, are interested in supplying entertainment and have a bias towards sensationalism in their stories. In fact how is there no sensationalism in the media? Journalists need to pitch/sell their stories to their editors, the story must hit several news values in order to have a publishable article and the promise of excitement sells. This has been repeatedly taught to me since the beginning of my first year. Because the media focuses on crimes to increase viewership, they generate fear of crime and what scares me about my media consumption, is that people become reliant on the media because of this fear.     

I admit that I am entertained when it comes to these unusual stories, I engage more with the issue when an event is charged with dramatic impact and an interesting method in telling the story. It has become clear to me that I have been more attached to the entertaining aspects of crime rather than the informative representation of the events.    

  

References

Jewkes, Y. (2004). Media and crime. 1st ed. London: SAGE.

Lamble, S. (2011). News as it happens. 1st ed. South Melbourne, Vic.: Oxford University Press.

McMahon, J. (2014). Former detective charged with murder of Jamie Gao. [online] ABC Newcastle NSW. Available at: http://www.abc.net.au/local/stories/2014/05/26/4011975.htm?site=sydney [Accessed 27 May. 2014].

Ralston, N., McClymont, K. and Partridge, E. (2014). Roger Rogerson charged over murder of Jamie Gao. [online] The Sydney Morning Herald. Available at: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/roger-rogerson-charged-over-murder-of-jamie-gao-20140527-391hq.html [Accessed 27 May. 2014].

Images

http://www.abc.net.au/news/linkableblob/5476894/data/fmr-detective-glen-mcnamara-charged-with-murder-of-data.jpg

http://images.smh.com.au/2014/05/27/5460137/art-rogerson-arrest-620x349.jpg