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43 How. J. Crim. Just. 1 (2004)

handle is hein.journals/hjcj43 and id is 1 raw text is: The Howard Journal Vol 43 No 1. February 2004 ISSN 0265-5527, pp. 1-14 The Reporting Trajectories of Top Homicide Cases in the Media: A Case Study of The Times KEITH SOOTHILL, MOIRA PEELO, JAYN PEARSON and BRIAN FRANCIS Keith Soothill is Professor of Social Research, Department of Applied Social Science, Lancaster University; Moira Peelo is Honorary Senior Research Fellow, Department of Applied Social Science, Lancaster University; Jayn Pearson is Postgraduate Student, Department of Applied Social Science, Lancaster University; Brian Francis is Director Centre for Applied Statistics, Lancaster University Abstract: This study describes the reporting trajectories of the 13 cases that received the most coverage in a leading British newspaper The Times, over a period of 23 years (1977 to 1999 inclusive). We have classified these as 'mega-cases'. This approach moves beyond merely measuring the coverage of cases to charting how cases can escalate to become 'moral panics, move into a shared 'general knowledge' of killing or in some cases, come to occupy iconic status. Some 'mega' cases fadefrom consciousness when viewed over a period of time. In 'mega-cases' there is an unexpected 'primary incident' that makes the case newsworthy in the first instance. Then the formal process' helps to manage a homicide within accepted and acceptable boundaries. In broad terms, the media trajectories of these 'mega-cases' following the 'primary incident' are predictable. However further unexpected 'incidents' unrelated to 'process' - suicides, attacks by other prisoners, escapes - challenge the predictability of these 'mega-cases'. The trajectories of homicide cases that begin to link in with wider societal agendas are the most difficult to predict. Some homicides totally dominate news coverage, while others receive much less attention, if indeed any at all. Yet, the 'top' homicide cases can have very different trajectories in their coverage in the media. Some cases seem to make a massive impact from the outset, whilst others seem to build up a momentum over time; and some cases wane. In this article we argue that, to understand the contribution of 'mega-cases' (Soothill et al. 2002) to a social, public 'general knowledge' of homicide, researchers must unravel the structure underpinning mass coverage of the case. Rather than just counting the quantity of words, one must understand the differences between cases in what triggers the type of coverage. This has particular relevance when assessing whether the public outrage usually linked to 1 © Blackwell Publishing Ltd. 2004, 9600 Garsington Road, Oxford OX4 2DQ UK and 350 Main Street Malden MA 0214R USA

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