Framing abuse : media influence and public understanding of sexual violence against children / Jenny Kitzinger.

Format:

Book

Author/Creator:

Kitzinger, Jenny.

Language:

English

Subjects (All):

Child sexual abuse--Great Britain--Public opinion.

Child sexual abuse.

Child sexual abuse--Press coverage--Great Britain.

Mass media--Influence.

Mass media.

Child sexual abuse in popular culture.

Physical Description:

1 online resource (248 p.)

Edition:

1st ed.

Place of Publication:

London ; Ann Arbor, Mich. : Pluto Press, 2004.

Language Note:

English

Summary:

This book offers fascinating insights into how the media shape the way we think. Combining in-depth analysis of media representations of child sexual abuse with focus group discussions and interviews with around 500 journalists, campaigners and a cross-section of 'the public', Jenny Kitzinger reveals the media's role in contemporary society. Which stories attract attention and why? What strategies do journalists and campaigners use to persuade people and how do we respond? Answering these and other questions, Kitzinger demonstrates how media reporting can impact on people's knowledge of the 'facts', perceptions of risk, sense of appropriate policy responses and even how we interpret our own experiences.Kitzinger examines feminist initiatives to challenge sexual violence, the emergence of incest as a social problem and the development of new survivor identities. She also explores stereotypes around sex offenders,interrogates protests against 'paedophiles-in-the-community' and presents a detailed analysis of the impact of scandals about disputed abuse accusations. This book is essential reading for anyone interested in theories of media influence, identity and social change or who wishes to encourage responsible journalism. It is also a key resource for anyone concerned about sexual violence and the protection of children or who is attempting to design intervention strategies.

Contents:

Intro

Contents

1 Introduction

The research that informs this book

A guide to the book's structure

2 The Debate About Media Influence

A review of some key approaches to audience research

The current impasse: media influence versus active audiences

My research approach

3 Transformation of Private and Public Discourse: The Media 'Discovers' Sexual Abuse

Constructing a new social problem: a brief modern history

Placing narratives in historical context: recording personal accounts during the 1980s and 1990s

From cultural vacuum to multiple media mediation: survivors™ accounts of the media™s role

The preconditions for media discovery

Critical refl ections on coverage of ‚ the incest survivor™

Revisiting three media studies theories: active consumption, creative identifi cation and agenda- setting

Conclusion

4 Media Templates: Controversial Allegations and Analogies

The media's discovery of contested cases

The Cleveland scandal: a brief introduction

Journalists' retrospective references to Cleveland

Public recollections of Cleveland

Challenging templates: an alternative media account of the Cleveland scandal

Discussion

5 Story Branding and the Role of Empathy

Orkney in the news - an outline of the scandal

Remembering Orkney as 'the dawn raids case'

Why the dawn raids made such an impression

Reflections on the dawn raids branding

Sources of alternative perspectives

6 Story Placing: Representing Localities, Landscapes and Communities in the News

The significance of place in news reporting

Locating the story in landscape and community: media accounts of Orkney

People's memories of how the media represented Orkney

People's impressions and beliefs

7 Social Currency, Stranger- Danger and Images of Abusers.

Beasts, devils, queers and sissies: images of sex offenders

The danger that prowls our streets

Public perceptions of abusers

A reflection on representations of accused adults in contested cases

'Public' and 'private' knowledge: extra- media influences and the signifi cance of social currency

8 Audiences as Activists: The 'Paedophile in the Community Protests

The rise of the paedophile problem

'Moral panics and lynch mobs'?

Theorising community and media protest

9 The Zero Tolerance Campaign: Responses to a Feminist Initiative

The Zero Tolerance campaign

Researching people's responses

10 Conclusion

The media's role in representing social issues

How texts 'work'

How audiences 'work'

Reflections on key terms and the implications of audience activity for media influence

Implications for future research

Epilogue: Implications for Journalists and for Child Protection

Implications for child protection

Implications for media professionals

Reflections on the political economy of the media

Appendix

Notes

References.

Notes:

Bibliographic Level Mode of Issuance: Monograph

Includes bibliographical references.

ISBN:

9786611750664

9781783715633

1783715634

9781849642453

1849642451

9781281750662

1281750662

9781435662223

1435662229

OCLC:

742516296