Death Channel, Death Page

• NCJ Number: 151059
• Author(s): J E Stevens
• Date Published: 1994
• Length: 13 pages
• Publication Format: Document
• Publication Type: Legislation/Policy Analysis
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Paper presented at the International Conference on Violence in the Media, New York, NY, October 3 and 4, 1994

Annotation

This discussion of the coverage of violence by the news media argues that the news media could resolve most of the current criticism it receives by changing the way in which it covers violence by amplifying the way it covers violence, as well as isolating and interpreting it.

Abstract

Currently, newspapers sprinkle short reports of violence throughout their pages. However, if newspapers covered violence as a beat in the same way they do the economy and politics, the content and placement of their reports would differ. Each article about a violent act would place the incident in perspective, explore its root causes, and link it with similar incidents to determine possible patterns indicating a need for the community to develop methods to prevent further violence. Like a sports section, a death and injury section might contain a mix of articles of different lengths. International coverage could use a similar approach. Local and national television and radio could take the same approach by moving reports of deaths and injuries to a 24-hour death and injury channel or station. In addition, newspapers and broadcast media could place more emphasis on solution-oriented reporting.