Does the media judge perpetrators in advance? : A quantitative content analysis of Expressen’s reporting on the Tova case and the Tove murder

This study examines how the Swedish tabloid newspaper Expressen represents perpetrators in two high-profile murder cases, with particular focus on gender differences and whether the presentation differs depending on the legal process. The research aims to investigate how perpetrators are portrayed, whether representations differ depending on gender, how portrayals vary before and after court verdicts, and the extent to which personal information is published. In doing so, the framing theory and gender theory are applied. A quantitative content analysis is conducted on 176 articles covering the Tova and Tove murder cases. The analysis codes for a range of framing variables, including depictions of violence, psychological instability, criminality, suspect and other personal attributes. Furthermore, it includes variables on personal information such as name, age, place of residence, relationship to the victim, and other personal information. Coverage of male and female perpetrators is compared, and changes across different phases of the judicial process. Results show that all perpetrators are consistently framed as criminal and violent, however the male perpetrator is depicted as more violent and criminal than the female perpetrators, both before and after verdicts. Psychological instability appears minimally, suggesting that Expressen prioritizes the criminal and violence portrayals over nuanced characterizations. The label “suspect” is heavily used before verdicts, which may contribute to early positioning. After verdicts, all perpetrators are primarily framed as criminals, reflecting their established guilt. The male perpetrator’s background and contextual information are highlighted more than the females’, reflecting previous research indicating that men’s violent acts are often rationalized. Name publication occurs exclusively after verdicts, in accordance with ethical guidelines, while other personal details appear frequently, potentially reinforcing the link between the perpetrator’s identity and their actions. Overall, the findings indicate that Expressen’s reporting reproduces gendered stereotypes and moralizing news frames. The study highlights how media framing contributes to shaping the public's perceptions of crime and reinforces social constructions of gender and criminality.