NCJ Number
177496
Journal
Journal of Gang Research Volume: 6 Issue: 2 Dated: Winter 1999 Pages: 19-38
Date Published
1999
Length
20 pages
Annotation
This article examines whether media coverage has a significant negative effect on society in the extent to which it promotes or facilitates an unhealthy fascination with violence as a problem-solving technique and what components of the mass media may be contributing to the gang problem.
Abstract
Gangs themselves systematically use and exploit forms of mass communication. For example, gang graffiti is a form of mass communication and gangs have also published books and publications to communicate their messages. The extent to which media coverage is responsible for the spread, onset, replication, and/or persistence of violence is discussed, with emphasis on mass media expertise, basic components of the mass media, the Internet, radio stations, television and news programs, and movies. The focus of analysis, however, is on the impact of gang movies on violence, and a review of 23 movies indicates media coverage promotes the gang problem in certain ways.