Framing abuse

Media coverage shapes more than headlines: it affects what people take to be true, how dangerous they judge a threat to be, which responses they back, and how they make sense of their own lives. Jenny Kitzinger examines this process through coverage of child sexual abuse, drawing on close readings of media material and on around 500 conversations with journalists, campaigners and ordinary members of the public, gathered through focus groups and interviews. Her questions include why some stories gain traction, and which techniques reporters and activists rely on to win people over.

The book traces several related subjects. It looks at feminist efforts to confront sexual violence, at the rise of incest as a recognised social problem, and at the emergence of new identities for survivors. Kitzinger also considers the stereotypes attached to sex offenders, the public protests against 'paedophiles in the community', and the fallout from scandals in which abuse allegations were later disputed.

The work is aimed at readers interested in media influence, identity and social change, and at those who want to encourage more responsible journalism. It will also be useful to anyone concerned with sexual violence and child protection, or who is planning interventions in this area.