Registry

Module Specifications

Archived Version 2009 - 2010

Module Title	Crime and the Media
Module Code	CM261
School	School of Communications
Online Module Resources
Module Co-ordinator	Dr Mark O'Brien	Office Number	C145F
Level	2	Credit Rating	5
Pre-requisite	None
Co-requisite	None

Module Aims

This module introduces students to the sociological analysis of crime and its representation in the media.

The module examines and evaluates:

key sociological perspectives that offer different explanations for the existence of crime; it also examines the process by which laws are created and who benefits or suffers from the law making process.
the portrayal of crime by the media and asks whether such representations are a true or distorted reflection of social reality; it also asks what effects, if any, these representations have on public opinion.
the key institutions involved in the judicial system including the Courts and Tribunals Systems, the Garda Siochana, and the Prison Service.

Learning Outcomes

Students will have gained:

A sociologically grounded understanding of the causes of crime.
A critical understanding of how the media report the issue of crime.
A critical awareness of how crime is perceived and dealt with in society.

Indicative Time Allowances
	Hours
Lectures	11
Tutorials	0
Laboratories
Seminars	11
Independent Learning Time	53

Total	75
Placements
Assignments

NOTE

Assume that a 5 credit module load represents approximately 75 hours' work, which includes all teaching, in-course assignments, laboratory work or other specialised training and an estimated private learning time associated with the module.

Indicative Syllabus

Week 1 Defining & Measuring Crime.
Week 2 Crime and Economic Development.
Week 3 White Collar Crime.
Week 4 Moral Entrepreneurs.
Week 5 Drugs and Crime,
Week.6 Crime Reporting: An Overview.
Week 7 Crime Reporters & Sources.
Week 8 Reading Week
Week 9 Investigative Journalism
Week 10 Crime Reporting & Public Opinion.
Week 11 Policing Society
Week 12 Prisons and Punishment

Continuous Assessment:

100%

Project: 70%

Seminar: 10%

Attendance: 20%

Assessment
Continuous Assessment	100%	Examination Weight	0%

Indicative Reading List

Kilcommins, S et al (eds): Crime, Punishment and the Search for Order in Ireland. Institute of Public Administration, 2004
O’Mahony, P: (ed) Criminal Justice in Ireland. Institute of Public Administration, 2002.
Jones, S: The Media and Law and Order in Criminology. Butterworths, 1998.
O’Reilly, E: Veronica Guerin: The Life and Death of a Crime Reporter. Vintage, 1998.
Jewkes, Y: Media and Crime. Sage, 2004.
Critcher, C: Moral Panics and the Media. Open University Press, 2003.
O’Connell, M: The Portrayal of Crime in the Media – Does it Matter? in Criminal Justice in Ireland. IPA, 2002.
O’Connell, M: Is Irish Public Opinion Towards Crime Distorted by Media Bias? in European Journal of Communication, Vol. 14 (2) 1999.