Abstract
Working relationships between journalists and police have implications for the ways in which news about crime and policing is reported in the news media and what in these crime narratives is likely to count as truth. In the past twenty years police media units have played an increasing role in this police/media interface. This article assesses the journalistic deployment of information produced by the NSW Police Media Unit (NSW PMU). Using interviews from journalists and NSW PMU staff, and a content analysis of two Sydney based daily newspapers we argue that PMUs provide journalists with a range of 'ready made' stories many of which are simply paraphrased as 'objective' news stories. However, it would be overstating the case to suggest that PMUs have completely colonised the police/media interface and in some instances relationships between police and the media remain dynamic with resistance to the control of news through the NSW PMU evident. It is hoped that this assessment contributes to the small but growing body of literature on Police Media Units and police media relationships.
| Original language | English |
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| Title of host publication | The Australian Sociological Assocation |
| Editors | B. McNamara |
| Place of Publication | Perth |
| Publisher | The Australian Sociological Association |
| Pages | 12 |
| Number of pages | 1 |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 |
| Event | Sociology for a Mobile World, TASA 2006 Conference - University of Western Australia and Murdoch University, Perth, Australia Duration: 05 Dec 2006 → 07 Dec 2006 |
Conference
| Conference | Sociology for a Mobile World, TASA 2006 Conference |
|---|---|
| Country | Australia |
| Period | 05/12/06 → 07/12/06 |