The Claremont serial killings: Journalism as Ritual

Abstract

This dissertation investigates the Claremont serial killings, focusing on how media coverage transformed into a societal ritual shaping public perception, fear, and morality in Perth. Utilising James Carey’s ritual view of communication, the study explores how journalism creates shared meanings and reinforces social norms. Through interviews and textual analysis, findings reveal media coverage heightened public fear, constructed gendered victim narratives, and shaped collective memory, illustrating journalism's power in shaping societal discourse and constructed realities.