Mary-Anne Romano

This paper examines the role of ritual in journalism through the lens of the high-profile Claremont serial killings, one of Australia’s longest-running criminal investigations. Drawing from James Carey’s ritual model of communication and ethnomethodological analysis, the study explores how journalistic practices shape public memory, construct social realities, and influence narratives surrounding crime. By analysing news texts from The West Australian and ABC News Perth from 1996 and 1997, alongside interviews with journalists, this research highlights the media’s role in reinforcing cultural norms, victim hierarchies, and gendered discourse. The findings reveal how framing choices, linguistic patterns, and the repetition of symbolic narratives contribute to collective perceptions of crime and justice. Ultimately, this study underscores the ethical responsibilities of journalists in shaping crime discourse, advocating for more nuanced and equitable reporting.

After almost 25 years of mass media coverage on the Claremont Serial Killings, Perth audiences were informed in December 2020 that Bradley Robert Edwards would serve two life sentences for murdering two of the young women. This article draws on interviews with journalists to discuss media practices in the case that shocked Perth while shaping audience understandings of women as victims. The article describes how the term ‘serial killer’ came into use to bolster the importance of Western Australian news; how the status and resources of victim’s family influenced media coverage and, consequently, the police investigation; and, how the position of a journalist as an unbiased observer became untenable in the case.