한국과 미국 주요 일간지의 성폭력 범죄보도에 대한 비교 연구

초록

This study intended to investigate tendencies and problems of sexual crime news reports on Korean and American daily newspapers with news frame approach. This study analyzed a total of 1708 news articles selected from two Korean daily newspapers (ChosunIlbo, Hankyoreh), and two American daily newspapers (Washington Post, New York Times). The sample was composed of sexual crime-related news articles from December, 2008 to October, 2010. The time period was selected because comparatively severe sexual crimes occurred and received extensive attention from news media in Korean society. The unit of analysis was a news report. The present study analyzed headlines, images, news sources, and news frames. The results showed that the Korean newspapers used more sensational headlines and images than informative ones, while counterparts in America mostly utilized informative ones. Although Korean newspapers quoted interviews from the police or experts, they used direct quotations to deliver criminal or victim’s words like eyewitnesses at the sexual crime scenes. However, American newspapers indirectly quoted essential informations obtained from the police. Moreover, the results indicated that the Korean newspapers described the process of sexual crimes in detail, and occasionally used of criminals and victims’ personal information-disclosure frame. On the contrary, the American newspapers usedunbiased fact-related frame, showing careful approach in revealing criminal and victim’s information. Thus, the present study suggests that Korean journalism needs to makeconcrete guideline and ethnic code to improve journalism practice in covering sexualcrimes.

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