Date of Award
3-2018
Degree Type
Research Paper
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Community Development and Planning (CDP)
Department
International Development, Community and Environment
Chief Instructor
Jennifer M. Safford-Farquharson
Second Reader
Dorothy Swope
Keywords
news, crime, panic, black, youth, victim
Abstract
This study consists of a comprehensive media analysis of local news in Worcester, Massachusetts that explores portrayals of youth criminality of an entire city’s local media landscape. It examines how local media portrayal of youth is primarily dominated by coverage of youth crime and youth victimization. As our nation is questioning our trust and reliability in ever-changing news, this study asks whether our local news, with the new platforms that are emerging, have been compromised in providing a fair portrayal of youth. Particularly, whether it fairly portrays Black and Latinx youth in representations of criminality proportional to crime occurring. During the period of analysis, the term “swerving” was established and used by the media to describe youth and bike-related crimes. This example shows how local media can fuel moral panics and perpetuate stereotypes of the “likely criminal”.
Recommended Citation
Boffice, Andrea, "Media Analysis of City-Wide Local News Portrayals of Youth Criminality: Worcester, Massachusetts" (2018). Sustainability and Social Justice. 193.
https://commons.clarku.edu/idce_masters_papers/193
Worcester
Yes
Included in
Environmental Studies Commons, International and Area Studies Commons, Urban Studies and Planning Commons
