Hate Crimes in the Media: A Directed Qualitative Content Analysis of McDevitt et al.’s (2002) Four Motivations/Typologies

• In Event: The Intersection of Media and Crime: Interrogating Crime Control, Violence, and Marginalized Identities

Abstract

The media’s portrayal of hate crimes is scarce in the criminal justice literature. The lack of information on this issue combined with media presentations could possibly increase the general public’s fear of victimization. Further, inaccurate portrayals of hate crimes in the media can increase stereotypes and prejudices which can decrease cultural competence in communities. A directed qualitative content analysis was employed to examine depictions of hate crime in both fictional crime TV shows (2001-2023) and Associated Press News Articles (2016-2023) through the thematic lens of McDevitt, Levin, and Bennett’s (2002) four motivations/typologies of hate crimes. A second coding of types of biases presented in each hate crime portrayal and article was conducted and analyzed to assess social construction of hate crimes compared to the statistical research on hate crime reporting. Results, study limitations, and future research implications for the research will be addressed.

Authors

• Stacie Merken, Indiana University South Bend

• Arram Wasfi Almanaseer, Indiana University South Bend