Media
Media can help prevention efforts by balancing how it frames crime and violence.[,]
On the other hand, media can (re)enforce harmful stereotypes and biases, such as racism, classism, sexism, Islamophobia, and transphobia. For example, the media often describes gun or other violence in poor, urban areas as “Black-on-Black” violence. This is a problem because viewers might[]:
- Believe violence is a “Black” problem, while ignoring the underlying causes of violence
- Ignore the fact that most Black people do not commit crime
- Support over- or under-policing Black neighborhoods, which can also lead to police violence
Media also focuses more on certain types of violence, such as violence committed by Black Lives Matter protesters. This reinforces racist beliefs. In 2020, 93% of Black Lives Matters protests were peaceful. However, white counter protesters and police committed violence at some of the protests. The media may also trivialize violence or glorify the harm doer, such as with sexist humor[,]. It is also known to irresponsibly portray suicide, leading to “copy-cat” suicides.[]
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[VSE28] Global Health Advocacy Incubator. (n.d.). Public Health Media Advocacy Action Guide. Retrieved September 21, 2022, from https://advocacyincubator.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Media-Advocacy-Action-Guide-Final.pdf https://advocacyincubator.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/Media-Advocacy-Action-Guide-Final.pdf
[VSE29] Dorfman, L., & Krasnow, I. D. (2014). Public health and media advocacy. Annual review of public health, 35, 293–306. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182503 https://www.annualreviews.org/doi/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-032013-182503
[VSE30] Braga, A. A., & Brunson, R. K. (2015, May). The Police and Public Discourse on “Black-on-Black” Violence. Office of Justice Programs. Retrieved January 28, 2022, from https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/248588.pdf https://www.ojp.gov/pdffiles1/nij/248588.pdf
[VSE31] Armed Conflict Location & Event Data Project (ACLED). (2020, September) Demonstrations and Political Violence in America: New Data for Summer 2020. https://acleddata.com/2020/09/03/demonstrations-political-violence-in-america-new-data-for-summer-2020/ https://acleddata.com/2020/09/03/demonstrations-political-violence-in-america-new-data-for-summer-2020/
[VSE32] Kohlman, S., Baig, A., Balice, G., DiRubbo, C., Placencia, L., Thomas, J.A., Flitter, J., Moeckler, H., & Aquino, S. (2014). Contribution of Media to the Normalization and Perpetuation of Domestic Violence. Austin Journal of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences. https://austinpublishinggroup.com/psychiatry-behavioral-sciences/fulltext/ajpbs-v1-id1018.php https://austinpublishinggroup.com/psychiatry-behavioral-sciences/fulltext/ajpbs-v1-id1018.php
[VSE34] LaChance, Naomi. Media continues to refer to Brock Turner as a “Stanford swimmer” rather than a rapist. The Intercept. September 2, 2016. https://theintercept.com/2016/09/02/media-continues-to-refer-to-brock-turner-as-a-stanford-swimmer-rather-than-a-rapist/ https://theintercept.com/2016/09/02/media-continues-to-refer-to-brock-turner-as-a-stanford-swimmer-rather-than-a-rapist/
[VSE35] Reporting on Suicide. (n.d.). Best Practices and Recommendations for Reporting on Suicide. https://reportingonsuicide.org/recommendations/#important https://reportingonsuicide.org/recommendations/#important