Crime and Investigative Reporting in the UK

This book explores the changes in crime news reporting in the UK over the last 40 years, including the aftermath of the Leveson Report and the breakdown of relations between the Met and the mainstream media. It argues that new investigative journalism non-profits have been repairing the field, but the police still control the flow of policing news.

Format: Hardback
Length: 200 pages
Publication date: 23 June 2022
Publisher: Bristol University Press

This groundbreaking ethnographic study delves into the realm of crime news reporting in the UK, spanning over 25 years, after conducting extensive interviews with journalists, senior police officials, and press officers. It uncovers significant shifts that have taken place over the past four decades, encompassing the aftermath of the Leveson Report and the dissolution of ties between the Metropolitan Police and the mainstream media. The book makes a compelling argument that new investigative journalism non-profits have been diligently working to revitalize the field of crime journalism and reporting, by engaging with and not stigmatizing marginalized communities.

However, it is disheartening to note that the police still maintain substantial control over the dissemination of policing news to the press and the public. Despite the profound transformation of the Fourth Estate, the police have never been so hindered in their ability to speak truth to power. This study sheds light on the complex dynamics between the media, law enforcement, and society, highlighting the need for greater transparency, accountability, and diversity in the reporting of crime news.

Dimension: 234 x 156 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781447358909