Robert E. Ford, Ph.D. Office: UCF Campus Daytona

904-756-8245 (home) Building 36 – rm. 200J

904-254-4412 (Office) 1200 Intrn’l Spdway Blvd

904-254-3000, ext.4019 (direct) Daytona Beach, Fl. 32118

E-Mail refmcf@bellsouth.net

Monday 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. (Deland)

Tuesday 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

Thursday 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

I will be available at other times. If you need to contact me please call me either at home or the office. If you can’t get me, leave a message. I will call you back. Students are encouraged to use email. Email is checked daily. If you need to meet with me on the Deland Campus, since I do not have an office there, call ahead and arrangements will be made.

Course Description: The United States is a media nation. Almost every lead in the night news involves crime, usually a particularly sensational or brutal offense. On television, the odds are that you will turn on a show featuring a detective, police officers, a crime or a court scene. Crime is a key component of American entertainment. The movies feature crime usually even on a grander scale than television. When one contrasts the media preoccupation with crime and the realities of crime, one finds that crime in America differs considerably from media versions.

First efforts will be directed to defining the image of crime, criminals and criminal justice projected to the media viewer. These media portrayals will then be contrasted to the realities of crime. Analysis will be directed to factors leading to the media's social construction of crime. Finally, the impacts of media presentation of crime upon the public will be assessed. Considerable attention will be paid to the public perception of crime and the implications of public perceptions.

Lectures and readings will provide an understanding of the dynamics of media and crime. Special topical areas will be researched and presented. These topical areas will focus upon the effect of media upon the public perceptions of crime.

1. Examine the image of crime provided to the public by the media.
2. Provide the student with an understanding of the current issues relative to media and crime.
3. Develop student understanding of the interaction between crime, media and society.
4. Familiarize students with the implications of media imagery of crime.
5. To provide an initial understanding of the interaction between perception, reality and public policy decisions.
6. To develop students writing and analytic skills.
7. To provide students an academic understanding of the key issues and concepts relative to social construction of reality.

Method of Teaching:

Lecture and Class Discussion, Video and PowerPoint Presentations.

Readings from Text : Ray Surette (1998) Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice Belmont CA. Wadsworth.

Student Presentations and Student lead discussions.

Class materials will be available on the web at www.daytona.ucf.edu/bford

Topics To Be Covered:

May 10 Introduction, Class Overview, " The Media in a Mass Society".

Reading: Surette; Preface and Chapter 1 Media and the Construction of Crime

                                          May 17 The Media and Law Enforcement: The Role of PIO, symbiosis?

May 24 Entertainment Media and the Social Construction of Crime: Defining the Media Imagery.

Reading: Surette; Chapter 2 pp. 24-51.

                                          May 31 Research into Media: Methodologies and techniques.

Written or Email brief overview of topic chosen for project. Discussion of chosen topic in class.

June 7 The Construction of Crime and Justice In the News Media.

Reading: Surette; Chapter 3 pp. 52-84.

                                          June 14 Media and the Construction of Criminal Proceedings.

                     Readings: Surette; Chapter 4 pp. 85-113.

                     June 21   Midterm Examination.

                                         June 28 The Social Construction of Crime and Violence: Media as a Cause.

                                         Reading: Surette; Chapter 5. Pp.114-154.

July 5 The Construction of Crime and Justice: The Media as a Cure for Crime.

                                           Reading: Surette; Chapter 6. Pp. 155-193.

July 12 Court Decisions and the Media

                                           Readings: Surette; Appendix 1.

July 19  The Media and the Social Construction of Crime and Justice Attitudes and Policies; Class Overview and Review.

                                          Readings: Surette; Chapter 7 Pp. 195-238

                                          July 26 Final Exam

1. Text: Ray Surette (1998) Media, Crime, and Criminal Justice

Belmont CA. Wadsworth.

2. Course Requirements: Mid term and final multiple choice and short answere( counts 25% each of grade); one research exercise (Literature review) (25% of grade); Attendance/participation (25%).
3. Grading: Traditional 90 to 100 A 80 to 89 B 70 to 79 C 60 to 69 D, etc. Exam will be curved up if appropriate.
4. Make-ups will only be granted for important reasons. Permission must be sought in advance.
5. Course Attendance is expected. Student will be marked down for unapproved absences. Attendance and class participation will account for up to one-quarter of grade.
6. Students will be responsible for a presentation/ project.

Research Exercise: Students will chose a topic for either library or field research. Appropriate topics are listed below.

Library Research: Pick a topic relative to crime and the media. Review the literature relative to this topic citing relevant hypotheses. Provide a descriptive overview. A bibliography will be developed describing the works utilized. This exercise will follow the following format:

Topic:

Introduction: Why is this topic important? Why did you choose it? What are the policy issues related to this topic?

Literature Review: Review each significant research, overview previous discussions on this topic, discuss current thinking and hypotheses relevant to the chosen topic.

Discussion: Analyze findings, review strengths and weaknesses of current research. Discuss current thinking and hypotheses relative to this topic. What are the policy implications of current findings?

Summary and Conclusions: What additional research is needed? What is the nature of the needed research? How should it be structured and conducted?

Bibliography: All items used or reviewed are to be cited. Materials reviewed but not cited should also appear in the bibliography. Tables and descriptive statistics are to be used when appropriate. All materials used must be cited. Reports are to be typed. Neatness, proper citation and grammar counts.

Television: Pick a criminal justice related show, watch five sequences. While watching observe one of the following:

Police: How was each officer portrayed? Develop an instrument to support portrayal information

Instruments

Courts: How were the judges or attorneys portrayed.

Crime: What crime did the show focus on?

Behavior of Criminal Justice Personnel: Ethical, Criminal?

How did the show contrast with reality?

Television News: Watch 5 news shows analyze the crime news, what proportion of the news is the crime reporting? Develop instruments.

Movies: follow the profile for TVshows. (3 movies)

Popular Fiction: Two books analyze crime, criminals and CJ practitioners.

Crime Periodicals: Content analysis of at least three crime related magazines.

Other topics can be undertaken if approved by the Instructor.

Choice of topic and an overview of how the topic is to be approached is due May 31. The final paper is due July 26.

Students will be called upon in class to discuss their interim findings…be prepared.