Missing Children: Bias in the Media

Presented By: Karen Zolo

PCM 320

Research Goal

To investigate how specific

missing children cases are

portrayed in the media and how

the media may set high

standards in order for cases to

be reported this may contribute

to ethical issues for viewers.

K. Zolo

“The media has played an important role

in not only informing us factual events

associated with specific cases of

missing children, but also in shaping our

awareness of and reactions to them.”

–Martin Forst and Martha-Elin Blomquist (“Missing Children”, 1991, Lexington Books)

K. Zolo

History

• Magazines-Runaways, family

• Television- Talk shows, special reports

• Amber Alert- Information spread quicker

K. Zolo

Media Theories

• Representation (Hall,1997)- “Real”

• Cultivation Theory (Baran,2004)-”Reality”

• Gate Keeping (Gorham, 04/05)-”Creating Reality

K. Zolo

Media Criticism

Bias?

K. Zolo

Total Abductions for 1997-1999

0

200000

400000

600000

800000

1000000

1200000

1400000

1600000

1800000

Runaway

Family

Non Family

Stereotypical

K. Zolo

What Decides if Missing Children

Make the News

• Slow/Busy News Day

• competition

• Police cooperation

• Parent‟s pleads

• If it bleeds, it leads

Bob Steele, Journalist Ethics Expert at Poynter Institute

(Taken from “A tale of Two Kidnappings” by: David Hancock, www.cbsnews.com )

K. Zolo

The Media Study

Alexis Patterson Elizabeth Smart

K. Zolo

• Disappeared May 3rd, 2002

walking to school

• North side of Milwaukee, WI

• African American female, 7

• Poor

• Step Father has criminal

record

• Mother and step father made

some pleas in the beginning

• Still missing

• Coverage only about „low

coverage‟

• Abducted from bedroom by

knifepoint on June 5th, 2002

• Suburban Salt Lake, Utah

• White female, 14

• middle/ upper class

• Parents are religious

• Father made several pleas

• Found alive 9mths later

• High coverage at first but now

for her captors

Standards/Criteria

• Fairness: “Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism

or bias, impartial”, Balance: “The difference in magnitude between

forces or influence.”- www.Dictionary.com

• -Selection: stories show values media holds, perspectives

• -Language: How people are referred. Adjectives, phrases

• -Images: Overpower the words with a message

• -Play: How much exposure a story gets, urgent pitch.

Places to Look for Biases “Transmitting Values: A Guide to Fairer Journalism-Keith Woods, Poynteronline.

K. ZOLO

Research Findings

for Alexis Patterson

• 25 of 115 stereotypical for ages 6-11 (Nismart 2, 1999)

• 20 out 115 stereotypical for Black/Non-Hispanic (Nismart 2)

• Selection: Interviews with just the step father or other members of the Black Community, another angle on the Smart case.

• Language: “Young Milwaukee Girl”, implies runaway “seemly vanished”, paints step father in bad way. Little words, more on description.

• Images: Only shows Black community helping, false sense, parents sitting around

• Play: Low Coverage reports, Step Father‟s troubles

• 45 out of 115 Stereotypical Kidnappings for ages 12-14 (Nismart 2, 1999)

• 80 out of 115 Stereotypical for White/Non-Hispanic

• Selection: Interview with parents, missing agencies, reported around the globe.

• Language: An „intense national hunt‟, Beautiful Salt Lake Utah Girl, „Abducted‟. More adjectives that describe abduction. “Suburban”

• Images: The beautiful home, the harp playing, in lovely clothes. Her captors mug shots. Parents making pleas.

• Play: Her abductors, why she didn‟t escape. Found Alive,

K. Zolo

Research Findings for

Elizabeth Smart

Ethical/Social Value Consideration

• Social Responsibility Theory (Baran 2004)

• All Children are important regardless of differences

• There are other problems hidden in the bigger picture (caregivers, alarm systems, repeat offenders, etc).

K. Zolo

Keep Children Safe!

• Teach children about strangers

• Update dental records, update photos

• Know your child‟s routine

• Develop a neighborhood watch

• Get a Amber Alert ticker on your computer

K. Zolo

In Loving Memory of

Polly, Rilya,

Samantha, Danielle,

Amber and Adam.

Additional Resources

• www.codeamber.com

• http://www.missingkids.org/

• http://www.amw.com/

For comments or questions please email me

At : zolokl@alverno.edu

If you have seen any of the children

featured please log onto

www.missingkids.org/ (Center for Missing and

Exploited Children)

Children, they are the future

An inspirational light

Watch out for them and they will come home at

night

Amazing, a spirit so bright

How it sparkles like a brilliant light

A soft laughter I heard outdoors

Sadly I can’t hear it anymore

Children, they used to play unconsciously

This isn’t a possible reality

At the hands of evil human beings

They fall

I can’t find a reason for this at all

Although final it may seem

Evil can’t take away the light’s glorious gleam

A considerate thought

Such a beautiful light will never burn out.

Burn Out

by Karen Lynn Zolo

Karen Lynn Zolo

PCM 320

Thank You!