Suspect identified: revisiting naming practices in crime coverage
Faculty Advisor
Date
2016
Keywords
news media, journalism, naming practices, ethics
Abstract (summary)
This study examines the media's practice of revealing the names of criminal suspects, particularly before charges have been laid. The paper, which uses a content analysis of police stories in two major newspapers in the Australian state of Victoria, shows the practice is commonplace. But as media naming practices extend into online publishing, as observed in this study, unproven police suspicions are given global publicity, causing reputational damage. This paper argues that naming should be considered a significant ethical issue, and one with increasing relevance in the digital age.
Publication Information
Lillebuen, S., Lidberg, J., & Chubb, P. (2016). Suspect identified: Revisiting naming practices in crime coverage. Australian Journalism Review, 38(1), 45-57. https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.276549003639801
DOI
Notes
Item Type
Article
Language
Rights
All Rights Reserved