The Devil is in the Details: How News Media Coverage of Family Violence De-emphasizes Victims

• In Event: Myths, Media, and Perceptions of Crime

Abstract

The news media is a vital source of information and exposure to instances of violence occurring within one’s community, country, and across the world. While there has been more discussion by and from the media in recent years over the issue of domestic violence, this has largely overlooked instances of fatal family violence. This project examines national news media coverage of homicides in which the victim and offender are related to one another through biological or adoptive ties. Using national news coverage reported between January 1, 2004, and December 31, 2013, this project employs a mixed-methods approach to examine how victims of family violence are portrayed in the news. As news media coverage tends to provide few details about the victim beyond their name, age, and gender, the project also discusses how victims are forgotten or treated as less important than are offenders.

Author

• Amy Grau, Shawnee State University