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Examining News Media Portrayals of Family Harm in Aotearoa: Is Animal Abuse Part of the Discourse?

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Dissertation(435.69 KB)

Date

2022

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Item type

Dissertation

Degree name

Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

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Publisher

Auckland University of Technology

Abstract

In New Zealand, domestic violence is a severe problem. The role of media products in depicting incidents and information related to domestic abuse, as seen in newspapers, highlights significant discrepancies. While there are many forms of abuse, the media tends to focus on physical violence rather than psychological abuse. The possibility for abuse directed toward pet companions to cause psychological harm to victims has been investigated through research. This study aims to investigate which forms of harm are most reported in New Zealand newspapers and whether animal abuse is reported in the context of family violence. A media content analysis of 77 newspaper articles was undertaken from July 5th to October 5th, 2021. According to the findings, physical and sexual abuse is most commonly reported in the news media. Furthermore, financial, psychological, and animal cruelty are rarely reported forms of emotional abuse. According to the study's findings, emotional forms of abuse are rarely covered in New Zealand newspapers, especially animal abuse. Limited coverage means the public's ability to understand family violence is hindered if they are uninformed of emotional forms of harm.

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Permanent link

https://hdl.handle.net/10292/15071

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Bachelor with Honours Dissertations - open access