Citation

Gies L. Crime Media Culture 2011; 7(2): 167-183.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2011, SAGE Publishing)

DOI

10.1177/1741659011407112

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The Human Rights Act 1998 (HRA), a key piece of legislation aimed at enhancing the protection of human rights in the United Kingdom, has suffered from a bad press for as long as it has been in existence. Supporters of the legislation are concerned that it is being portrayed as a 'villains' charter' which benefits only the least deserving in society. This article analyses the newspaper frames that have been applied to landmark events involving the HRA, while also giving an insight into run-of-the-mill reporting. The findings suggest that the framing is more subtle and more nuanced than the 'villains' charter' epithet suggests. Focusing on broadsheet coverage of the HRA when the legislation came into force in England and Wales, it will be shown how the coverage on this occasion revealed some striking ideological differences. On the other hand, considering another milestone in the rights debate, the introduction of the controversial Identity Card scheme, it is apparent that the issue attracted a unanimous press, even if the discussion on that occasion tended to be couched in the language of civil liberties rather than that of human rights. Finally, considering tabloid coverage of a landmark ruling by the Appellate Committee of the House of Lords, the article considers who qualifies as a worthy victim in tabloid narratives about the HRA.