Framing Violence: An Analysis of Media Coverage of Legitimate and Illegitimate Violence

• In Event: Posters I

Abstract

Violence is a dominant topic in the media. The media focus on criminality and violence both reflects and reinforces societal beliefs about what we consider to be legitimate and illegitimate violence. The effects of the media on perceptions and behavior have been widely documented, however there is little work focused on how different acts of violence are being represented. This project will further knowledge in this area. We are utilizing a qualitative form of content analysis to measure legitimate violence and illegitimate violence. We are evaluating news coverage in highly circulated national news sources. Each mention of violence is being evaluated to determine if it is being represented as legitimate or illegitimate. We are also analyzing the framing techniques incorporated by the media. From this data we can develop and report themes, commonalities and differences in ways in which topics such as war, political violence, police use of force and street crime are covered in mainstream media.

Author

• Monica Merrill, Youngstown State University