The University of Western Ontario has put out a call for papers for a
text that will examine the link between journalism and crime as it
evolves in a changing media landscape.

This is the full release:

Covering Canadian Crimes: What journalists should know and the public should question

The links between journalism and crime run deep. From early coverage of executions to the sensational yellow journalism of the 19th century to more recent fascinations with serial killers and street gangs, journalists have been pursuing lawbreakers and rousing the public’s fear and curiosity for centuries. At this juncture in time, however, the field is changing in important ways. Accelerating communication technologies, new media policies, corporate mergers, and renewed calls for law-and-order in the political sphere are just some of the issues facing journalism today. This collection will assemble leading scholars in the fields of Communication and Cultural Studies, Criminology, English, History, Journalism, Media Studies, and Sociology to address key structural shifts and illuminate the practical daily issues facing Canadian newsrooms. Themes will fall under the broad categories of: 1) the courts and legal system; 2) cultural contexts of crime news; 3) journalism in practice; and 4) ethical codes and moral panics.

A number of openings exist for chapter submissions and we are currently soliciting two-page (500 words) proposals for consideration before April 15, 2011. Successful applicants will be contacted on May 1, 2011 and chapters ranging from 18-25 pages (5,000-7,000 words) will be due by September 15, 2011. Please send your submission to Dr. Romayne Smith Fullerton, University of Western Ontario, rfullert@uwo.ca, and Chris Richardson, University of Western Ontario, cricha48@uwo.ca, attaching the abstract in .doc, .docx, or .rtf file formats. We also require a brief biographical note of no more than 250 words. We encourage submissions from a broad range of scholars and media professionals with experience regarding these cultural, ethical, journalistic, legal, and political issues. For questions or comments, please contact us through the e-mail addresses listed above. We anticipate publication in spring of 2013.