Mediating cops : news-making and the NSW Police Media Unit

Murray Lee, Alyce M. McGovern

    Research output: Chapter in Book / Conference PaperConference Paper

    Abstract

    ![CDATA[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 languageEnglish
    Title of host publicationSociology For a Mobile World: Proceedings of the Annual Conference of The Australian Sociological Association, 4-7 December 2006, Perth, Australia
    PublisherSociological Association of Australia
    Number of pages1
    ISBN (Print)1740521390
    Publication statusPublished - 2006
    EventAustralian Sociological Association. Conference -
    Duration: 26 Nov 2012 → …

    Conference

    ConferenceAustralian Sociological Association. Conference
    Period26/11/12 → …

    Keywords

    • New South Wales. Police. Media Unit
    • police
    • journalists
    • police and mass media
    • crime in mass media
    • New South Wales

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