Media and Crime

online course

This course will introduce you to current debates concerning crime and the media. You will explore how crime news is constructed rather than being purely factual, and delve into topics like fake news, true crime, and crime fiction.

This course will introduce you to fundamental aspects of crime and media. Topics include:
• theoretical analysis from criminology, sociology, media studies and cultural studies to provide a critical understanding of the relationship between media and crime
• ways in which crime news are constructed and leads to feelings of fear and insecurity towards certain crimes, spaces, and certain social groups
• examination of illustrative themes to address the extent to which crime and justice are constructed according to prevailing cultural assumptions and ideologies
• A focus on moral panics; media representation of police, offenders and victims; true crime; crime fiction.

Course leader

Dr Thais Sardá
Lecturer - School of Social Sciences

Target group

The course is ideal for university students with an interest in this area and who meet our English language requirements

Course aim

After studying on this course, you should be able to:
• Understand theories shaping the academic fields of criminology and media studies
• Recognise ‘media effects’ debate: its origins and its influence on contemporary debates about media, crime, and victimisation
• Analyse public fears and anxieties shaping the media surrounding the Criminal Justice System agencies and actors
• Develop a critical view of the ways in which media and popular culture have helped us to conceptualise various forms of response to criminological issues.

Assessment – you will prepare and deliver a Pecha Kucha presentation about one aspect of the course.

Credits info

5 EC
5 UK credit point / 2.5 ECTS. You will receive an official NTU transcript to results with your credits recorded, and a digital course badge that you can share on social media.

Fee info

GBP 125: This tuition fee includes our social and cultural programme with the opportunity for students to earn a Cultural Diversity Digital Badge.