Family Courts and Media Discourses: The Contested Spaces of Time and the Politics of the Protection of Children

Children Australia, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp 142-150, December 2012

10 Pages Posted: 22 Nov 2012

See all articles by DR Pamela D Schulz OAM

DR Pamela D Schulz OAM

University of South Australia -School of Law Justice and Society

Date Written: November 2012

Abstract

This article, which is built on media discourse analysis, provides an insight into how public opinion on the work of courts has developed into a discourse of disapproval. The discourse of time is often used to evaluate the work of courts and tends to meet with disapproval when related to sentencing and when the Family Court fails to deliver equal parental access to children. The Family Court is also the subject of discourses of fear within the media, with stories often focusing on child abuse and horror stories of neglect designed to attract and recruit an audience to media outlets. In addition, the discourses facing the Family Court are now firmly tied to time as a major aspect of decision-making. Because of this contested view, child protection may be reduced to a secondary perspective. This paper recommends a change to discourses surrounding courts by all parties in order to facilitate better understanding.

Keywords: family courts, media analysis, discourse of time

Suggested Citation

Schulz, DR Pamela, Family Courts and Media Discourses: The Contested Spaces of Time and the Politics of the Protection of Children (November 2012). Children Australia, Vol. 37, No. 4, pp 142-150, December 2012 , Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2179324

DR Pamela Schulz (Contact Author)

University of South Australia -School of Law Justice and Society ( email )

GPO BOX 2471
ADELAIDE, South Australia 5001
Australia

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