YOUTH INVOLVEMENT IN CRIME |
In St Vincent & the Grenadines journalists believe that the representation of youth crime incidents in the media is reasonably representative. Even though it has the smallest population in this study it has a high proportional incidence of key words in the majority of categories. The notable exception is gangs with zero. Overall, media reports show the dominant weapon used in crimes is guns/firearms with the most dominant category is gun related – guns, firearms and ammunition. This lines up consistently with crime statistics released by the Royal St, Vincent & Grenadines Police Force. Most stories in the media track were about incidents of youth crime, with only 5% of them were about the other aspects of crime like preventing crime, rehabilitation, intervention programmes, the role of family and community, creating alternate opportunities and so on. This suggests that more could be done to explore other aspects of crime and crime deterrence. What is common in reporting in all 3 countries is that males are the main perpetrators of violence. There is an opportunity to do deeper investigative stories and follow up on the causes behind youth crime. Similarly, there is opportunity to do stories about solutions including parenting, professional help and creating meaningful occupation for the boys and young men. Doing so is dependent on a combination of editorial priority and having adequate staff, time and resources. Narrative approach: How is youth crime framed in headlines and articles? In all three countries the focus is mostly on incidents as they occur, and headlines and stories tend to be neutral and descriptive about the incident. Headlines and stories of articles concerning interventions and programmes are similarly neutral and descriptive. Headlines for editorial and opinion pieces are similarly not sensationalized and are neutral and descriptive e.g. “Medicating the Roots of Crime an Violence in the Caribbean”, Now Grenada, May 8, 2023. In the content of opinion and editorial pieces, youth crime and the impact of youth crime are framed as being undesirable, negative and should be reversed. Tone of the reporting The tone of the reporting is similar between all 3 countries with simple, non-judgmental almost matter-of- fact presentation of what are understood to be the facts. While there were stories that had the potential to be presented in a more sensational manner, this rarely happened. The most “sensational” aspects of stories would be the quotations of eyewitnesses etc. and even these are measured. If any fear or disquiet happens because of a story, it would likely be due to the content of the story, not how the story is presented.
A Media Analysis of the Coverage of Youth Involvement in Crime and Violence and Trafficking in Persons (June 2021 to June 2023) in the Eastern Caribbean 39
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