Copyright is owned by the Author of the thesis. Permission is given for a copy to be downloaded by an individual for the purpose of research and private study only. The thesis may not be reproduced elsewhere without the permission of the Author. Killing innocents An analysis of historical news reporting of multiple- child murders in New Zealand and the legislation that changed the crime reporting framework A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand. Francine Tyler 2021 2 Author’s address Francine Tyler School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing Massey University
[email protected] Supervisors Associate Professor F. Elizabeth Gray, Ph.D. Office of the PVC, Massey Business School Massey University Dr. Catherine Strong, Ph.D. School of Communication, Journalism and Marketing Massey University Cover photo by Francine Tyler. 3 Abstract The murder of children – innocents who require nurture and love - is one of the most horrific and inexplicable of crimes, and has generated innumerable column inches of newspaper reportage. This research project addresses a gap in academic research by examining naming and framing practices in newspaper accounts of multiple-child murder cases in New Zealand during the 60-year-period from 1870 to 1930. It also examines the discussion around New Zealand’s suppression laws and their introduction and evolution in legislation and in common law; these laws changed the framework for how multiple-child murders could be reported in news reports. The research into the evolution of suppression laws, beginning at the turn of the twentieth century, is used to examine whether these legal changes altered the media landscape and the way multiple-child murders were reported.