Media discourses of intimate partner violence in Queensland newspapers

Abstract

Media discourse has a profound effect on public opinions. Prior research, the majority of which has been conducted internationally, shows that print media constructions of intimate partner violence (IPV) operate within a patriarchal framework which normalizes and constructs men’s violence against women as acceptable. This research explored Queensland’s print media representation of IPV. Results show that the reporting of IPV is episodic, sensationalistic, prone to perpetrator sympathizing, and fails to contextualize IPV as an ongoing pattern of intentionally abusive behaviour.