Naslov
Testing the model of media coverage and presentation of child sexual abuse content

Autori
Popović, Stjepka

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Sažeci sa skupova, sažetak, znanstveni

Izvornik
Second international scientific conference "Child maltreatment & well-being" / - , 2019, 36-36

Skup
Child Maltreatment & Well-Being

Mjesto i datum
Berlin, Njemačka, 21.03.2019. - 22.03.2019

Vrsta sudjelovanja
Predavanje

Vrsta recenzije
Međunarodna recenzija

Ključne riječi
media coverage, child sexual abuse, content analysis

Sažetak
Background: Studies confirm that the public mostly obtains information about child sexual abuse (CSA) from the public media (Babatsikos, 2010 ; Goldman & Grimbeek, 2015). Therefore, public knowledge and attitudes towards CSA are shaped through media depictions. Child sexual abuse news have a lot of potential for positive impact (e.g., primary prevention, development of public policy, alarming public, and encouraging victims to disclose sexual abuse). Unfortunately, they might also support CSA myths (incorrect beliefs about CSA, victims, and perpetrators), violate children’s right to privacy and dignity, victimize survivors, create a moral panic, become a sort of guide to abusers or even sexually explicit material. Objectives: The study tests the theoretical and conceptual model of media coverage and presentation of CSA content in order to propose evidence-based guidelines for media reporting and communication with journalists about CSA. The model is grounded in five theories (agendasetting theory, framing theory, newsworthiness theory, theory of stigmatization and moral panic theory) and it is developed to predict the use of protective and threating practices while reporting on CSA in media. Methods: The proposed model is tested using longitudinal (quantitative and qualitative) content analysis of printed Croatian daily newspapers. Original analytical matrix for assessing CSA media content was developed after conducting multiple reliability tests with independent coders. After relevancy coding of CSA news retrieved in the archive using keywords, the content analysis was conducted on random cluster sample of 1.159 CSA news published during ten years of media coverage (2007 – 2016). Binary logistic regression was conducted in order to detect predictors of CSA media coverage. Results: Dominant CSA topics, newsworthiness factors, CSA myths, stereotypes about victims, perpetrators, and associated individuals, predictors of protective and threatening media practices, and predictors of framing CSA stories, causes and solutions are presented. Conclusions: Recommendations for future studies and evidence-based guidelines for media reporting and communication with journalists about CSA are proposed.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Informacijske i komunikacijske znanosti, Sociologija, Socijalne djelatnosti

POVEZANOST RADA