There’s nothing sexy about crime
This post is the class exercise relating to the Underbelly article by Tim Dick from The Age. I have written a lead and followed this with the approach that I would take to write the feature:
There’s nothing sexy about crime
With well over two million people tuning in to the season three debut of Channel 9’s ‘Underbelly’, it’s fair to say that crime certainly does pay. Well at least for the producers and network executives of the not-so-family-friendly drama. Although the network itself is denying it, is the hit TV show glamorising crime? Former Supreme Court Judge James Wood thinks that it is.
Underbelly pushes the boundaries in every way. Its sexy depiction of organised crime includes flashy nightclub scenes, scantily clad women, money, corruption and loads of drugs. Sounds like the perfect ingredients for an edgy drama. But the fact is that all three seasons of Underbelly are based on actual events. It’s not just a ripping crime yarn, it’s about real criminals who committed real crimes that affected many innocent people.
Approach to the article:
I plan to look at whether shows such as Underbelly glamorise crime in Australia. Is there any evidence linking tv/film to higher crime rates (violent crimes, theft, drug related offences)? Do young people view these programs and think that it is a desirable lifestyle? Channel 9 states that the show does not glamorise crime, but how do they justify this? Have they done any research to suggest otherwise?
In writing this feature, I would investigate the following:
- Speak to the Australian Crime Commission to obtain data
- If not enough information from Crime Commission, speak to Department of Justice – (Maybe Corrections)
- Interview a media/comms academic to get their perspective on glorification of crime through film and TV
- Speak to an academic with a psychology background
- Speak with Supreme Court Justice James Wood and ask him to expand on his recollection of the events depicted in Underbelly 3
- He talks about impressionable kids out there – what kind of groups does he mean, is he discussing particular ethnic groups?
Diana said,
May 11, 2010 at 7:32 am
Good job here Tim. I liked the intro–clever use of a cliche which makes it fresh again.
A few points:
Instead of “the question has to be asked” actually mention the fact the someone quite expert has said that it is glamourising crime. Don’t be general when you have specific information.
Be ruthless with your work; if it isn’t basolutely focussed ony our news point, get rid of it. For example, the whole paragraph begining “Underbelly is no Packed to the Rafters” could be deleted. It isn’t focussed on yoru news point. It would sound good in a blog entry, but not for a piece of journalism, that has to be mroe disciplined.
Your plan looks great! I would def feature Justice Wood’s comments, seeing he made them orignally. Good work overall.