Media Presentation of Online Romance Fraud in the Czech Republic: Visibility, Victim-Offender Framing, and Sentiment

Abubakari, Yushawu (2026) — European Journal on Criminal Policy and Research

AI-Generated Synopsis

This catalog-style study surveys how online romance fraud is presented in Czech media, with a focus on visibility, victim-offender framing, and sentiment within coverage. Situating the analysis within the fields of criminal policy and research, the work traces how cases are made legible for public audiences, how vulnerability is portrayed, and how authorities, media actors, and readers are positioned in relation to these offenses. The aim is to illuminate editorial choices that shape public perception of online romance deception and the perceived severity of the crime within Czech contexts. The analysis employs methods drawn from content and framing studies to examine visibility patterns (coverage frequency, prominence, and placement), the portrayal of victims and offenders (characterizations, blame, agency, and recommended responses), and the tonal direction of reporting (sentiment and evaluative cues). The approach remains descriptive and comparative, seeking to identify recurring motifs across outlets and timeframes without presuming specific outcomes. The study situates media portrayals within broader narratives about digital risk, trust, and criminal accountability. Findings describe variations in visibility across outlets and event types, as well as differences in how victims and perpetrators are framed and how sentiment shifts along a cautious-to-condemnatory spectrum. The synopsis notes implications for public awareness, policy discourse, and journalistic practice, including how language shapes perceptions of vulnerability and the legitimacy of protective measures. By outlining media presentation in a Czech context, the work contributes to cross-national discussions on crime reporting and the interface between journalism, policy formulation, and the lived experience of online fraud.


        
      

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