RSS Feeds

Earth Science

Space Science

Life Science

Fields of Scientific Study

Nanotechnology

Cancer

Definitions of The Fields of Scientific Study

Unbalanced newspaper coverage is teaching the public the wrong lessons about homicide cases

January 20, 2003

Newspapers are failing their readers in coverage of homicide cases, according to new research sponsored by the ESRC. Better balance is needed by covering a wider range of cases instead of the current narrow focus on exceptional and dramatic stories, says a study led by Professor Keith Soothill and Brian Francis of the University of Lancaster.

Researchers looked at reporting of homicide cases in The Times and Sunday Times from 1977 to 1999, and the Daily Mail, Mail On Sunday, Mirror and Sunday Mirror from 1993 to 1997.

They found that a minority of homicides are reported, that different newspapers cover different cases, and there is a substantial bias in the type of cases published. The proportion of homicides reported varies dramatically, ranging from more than 34 per cent in 1993 to lows of under 20 per cent in 1984 and 1997.

This, the report points out, is in the context of a steadily rising number of recorded homicides. Professor Soothill says: "The media has an important role in the development of the public's general knowledge of homicide. However, the public is learning the wrong lessons."

The authors are concerned that cases which attract media interest are the more untypical cases, whilst the more frequent dangers illustrated in others are neglected.

In The Times, for instance, between 1977 and 1999, just 13 cases contributed 2,860 stories out of a total of more than 15,000.

Professor Soothill says: "As a responsible and credible source, newspapers need to highlight real dangers rather than manufacture inappropriate fears."

Stories were matched to a Home Office database of England and Wales homicides. Researchers found only a minority of homicides are reported in national newspapers.
Between 1993 and 1997 they identified 2,685 homicide cases, of which 1,068 (38 per cent) were reported in at least one of the newspapers in the study. Of the 1,068 cases covered, only 376 appeared in all three newspapers, contrasting with 452 cases reported in only one of the three newspapers studied. Not all cases have an equal chance of being reported, and up to 12 factors influence whether they are likely to appear.

Motive and circumstances were the most important factors. Stories with a sexual motive were most likely to be reported (around 70 per cent in each newspaper), followed by cases with a robbery or theft motive, and cases which appeared to be irrational acts (both between 35 per cent and 40 per cent).

By contrast, less than one in five cases where the homicide stemmed from rage or a quarrel was reported. Other important factors included the number of victims, their age and that of the suspect, the method of killing and whether a homicide involved a female victim.

Homicides where the youngest victim was aged between four and 12 had the highest chance of being reported. Those involving victims between 31 and 40 had the lowest. Surprisingly, homicides of babies and infants under three were also much less likely to be reported.

The Times was more likely than the Mail or Mirror to report gun homicides. The Mail was least likely to report homicides where there was a homosexual relationship between victim and suspect, and The Mirror most likely to report arson.

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)

Science Research Departments

	Scientific Explorer's Mind Blowing Science Kit for Young Scientists by Scientific Explorer Mind blowing experiments to delight and educate young scientists! Erupt a color changing volcano. Mix up magic ooze with a mind of its own. Play with sand that never gets wet. Mix safe chemicals and watch colors change before your eyes. You'll amaze yourself and your friends as you explore the science behind these truly remarkable reactions.
	The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book: Boil Ice, Float Water, Measure Gravity-Challenge the World Around You! (Everything Kids Series) by Tom Robinson (Author) Science has never been so easy - or so much fun! With The Everything Kids' Science Experiments Book, all you need to do is gather a few household items and you can recreate dozens of mind-blowing, kid-tested science experiments. High school science teach Tom Robinson shows you how to expand your scientific horizons - from biology to chemistry to physics to outer space. You'll discover answers to questions like: Is it possible to blow up a balloon without actually blowing into it? What is inside coins? Can a magnet ever be "turned off"? Do toilets always flush in the same direction? Can a swimming pool be cleaned with just the breath of one person? Get ready to enter the laboratory and learn how to conduct cool experiments, understand scientific terms...
	Scientific Explorer's Disgusting Science - A Kit for Studying the Science of Revolting Things by Scientific Explorer Grow your own friendly germs and fuzzy molds. Mix up a batch of coagulating fake blood. Even make a stinky intestine. learn the science behind unmentionable bodily functions while doing some truly NASTY Experiments. Ages 8+
	The Science Book: Everything You Need to Know About the World and How It Works (National Geographic) by National Geographic (Author), Marshall Brain (Foreword) A delight for the casual reader, yet so complete and wide-ranging that science buffs and students will welcome it, The Science Book encapsulates centuries of scientific thought in one richly illustrated volume. Natural phenomena, revolutionary inventions, and the most up-to-date investigations are explained in detailed text, and 2,000 vivid illustrationsincluding 3-D graphics and pictogramsmake the information even more accessible and amazing to discover. The Science Book offers both a general overview of topics for the browsing reader and more specific information for those seeking deeper insight into a particular subject. Six major sections, ranging from the universe and planet Earth to biology, chemistry, physics, and mathematics, encompass everything from microscopic life...
	Scientific Explorer's The Magic Science Wizard's Kit by Scientific Explorer Cast real smoke from your fingertips, make a wizard wand, and whip up color-changing potions in your test tube laboratory. Also included are laminated cards with wizard facts, an instruction booklet with 11 activities, lab equipment, and mysterious wizard powders that will mix together to mystify you!
	Scientific Explorer's Tasty Science Chemistry in the Kitchen Kit by Scientific Explorer Who knew science could taste so good? With this kit, you’ll whip up cupcakes, cookies, candy, and more—all in the name of science! Learn what makes cakes rise, candy crystallize, and more real chemistry happen in the kitchen. Tasty Science is packed with ingredients, recipes, activity cards, a test tube laboratory, and lots more to explore the science of taste.
	The Complete Book of Science, Grades 5-6 by School Specialty Publishing (Author) The Complete Book of Science for grades 5 to 6 teaches children important science skills! Children complete a variety of exercises that help them develop a number of skills in this 352 page workbook. Including a complete answer key this workbook features a user-friendly format perfect for browsing, research, and review. Over 4 million in print! The best-selling Complete Book series offers a full complement of instruction, activities, and information about a single topic or subject area. Containing over 30 titles and encompassing preschool to grade 8 this series helps children succeed in every subject area! ...
	Magic School Bus Journey into the Human Body Science Kit by Young Scientist Club The Magic School Bus and Ms. Frizzle take Young Scientists on a wild ride into the human body with these breathtaking experiments. Young Scientists bend bones, make joints, map taste buds, expand lungs, build a stethoscope, measure lung capacities and heart rates, perform the iodine starch test, spin glitter, simulate synovial fluid, create a human body poster, and much, much more! This exciting kit includes a life-size poster with eight sheets of body part stickers. So put on your seat belts, students, and get ready to discover The Human Body!
	Scientific Explorer's Glow in the Dark Fun Lab Science Kit by Scientific Explorer You will love setting up your own Glow in the Dark Fun Lab. Create a light wand, make your own glow stick, and even generate a human-powered light.
	What Is the World Made Of? All About Solids, Liquids, and Gases (Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science, Stage 2) by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld (Author), Paul Meisel (Author) Did you ever walk through a wall? Drink a glass of blocks? Have you ever played with a lemonade doll, or put on milk for socks? This latest addition to the Let's-Read-and-Find-Out Science series introduces the youngest readers to an important science concept: the differences between solids, liquids, and gases. Any child who wants to know why he can't walk through a wall will enjoy Kathleen Zoehfeld's simple text and Paul Meisel's playful illustrations.