People

Professor Chris Greer

Pro-Vice Chancellor Research and Professor (R)
Department of Sociology and Criminology
Professor Chris Greer

Profile

Biography

Chris joined the University of Essex in 2020 as Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research (Designate) and Professor of Sociology, and became Pro-Vice-Chancellor Research in 2021. For 15 years prior to this, he worked at City, University of London, where he helped to establish and grow Criminology within the Department of Sociology. Promoted to Professor of Criminology in 2013, Chris served as Associate Dean (Education) in the School of Arts and Social Sciences from 2013-2014, Head of the Department of Sociology from 2014-2017 and Dean of the School of Arts and Social Sciences from 2017-2020. Chris completed his MSSc (1997) and PhD (2001) at the Institute of Criminology and Criminal Justice, Queen's University Belfast, and worked at Northumbria University 2002-2005. Chris' research currently focuses on two main areas, connected by an enduring curiosity about the shifting dynamics of institutional power and, in particular, what happens when that power is abused. The first area is concerned with developing the concepts of trial by media and institutional scandal to understand the evolving relations between news media, public institutions, civil society and the state. The second area concentrates on the multi-agency response to serious youth violence and involves an ongoing partnership with local government aimed at co-producing better outcomes for young people. In 2004 Chris Co-Founded Crime Media Culture: An International Journal (CMC), Sage Publications, which promotes a cross-disciplinary understanding of the crime, media, culture nexus. After a decade Co-Editing CMC, he stepped down in 2015 and became Associate Editor. He served on the International Advisory Board of Theoretical Criminology from 2009-2022. Chris was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts in 2013 and a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in 2016. Broadly, Chris’s research and teaching interests are in the areas of: Crime, media and criminal justice; Sociology of media and communication; Victimology; Punishment and penality; Criminological theory. He welcomes inquiries from prospective doctoral students in any of these areas.

Qualifications

  • BSc Queen's University Belfast,

  • MSSc Criminology and Criminal Justice Queen's University of Belfast,

  • PhD Queen's University Belfast,

Research and professional activities

Research interests

Trial by Media

Open to supervise

Scandal

Open to supervise

Serious Youth Violence

Open to supervise

Victimology

Open to supervise

Celebrity

Open to supervise

Publications

Journal articles (23)

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2021). The Celebrity Icon Mask: The Multi-Institutional Masking of Sir Jimmy Savile. Cultural Sociology. 15 (3), 364-385

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2020). Why becoming a national treasure matters: Elite celebrity status and inequality in the United Kingdom. European Journal of Cultural Studies. 23 (1), 71-88

Greer, C. and MCLaughlin, E., (2019). «Ça n’est pas la justice» Ian Tomlinson, échec institutionnel et politique médiatique d’indignation. Semen (46)

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2018). Breaking bad news: Penal populism, tabloid adversarialism and Brexit. The Political Quarterly. 89 (2), 206-216

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2017). Theorizing Institutional Scandal and the Regulatory State. Theoretical Criminology. 21 (2), 112-132

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2013). The Sir Jimmy Savile Scandal: Child Sexual Abuse and Institutional Denial at the BBC. Crime Media Culture: An International Journal. 9 (3), 243-263

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2012). Julgamento Pelos Media: Policiamento, Ambiente Mediatico das Noticias 24/7 e a Politica da Indignacao (Portuguese translation of ’Trial By Media: Policing, The 24-7 News Mediasphere, And The Politics Of Outrage’). Comunicação & Cultura. 14, 23-55

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2012). "This is not justice": Ian Tomlinson, institutional failure and the press politics of outrage. The British Journal of Criminology. 52 (2), 274-293

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2012). Media justice: Madeleine McCann, intermediatization and "trial by media" in the British press. Theoretical Criminology. 16 (4), 395-416

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2011). "Trial by media": Policing, the 24-7 news mediasphere and the "politics of outrage". Theoretical Criminology. 15 (1), 23-46

Greer, C. and Hamm, M., (2011). Into the Future, Darkly. Crime, Media, Culture: an international journal. 7 (1), 3-4

Hamm, M., Ferrell, J. and Greer, C., (2010). Provocateur for justice: Notes on the imprisonment of Professor Luis Barrios. Crime, Media, Culture. 6 (2), 227-238

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2010). We predict a riot?: Public order policing, new media environments and the rise of the citizen journalist. The British Journal of Criminology. 50 (6), 1041-1059

Greer, C. and Hamm, M., (2010). Editorial Updates. Crime, Media, Culture: an international journal. 6 (1), 5-6

Ferrell, J. and Greer, C., (2009). Editorial: Global collapse and cultural possibility. Crime, Media, Culture. 5 (1), 5-7

Greer, C., Ferrell, J. and Jewkes, Y., (2008). Investigating the crisis of the present. Crime, Media, Culture. 4 (1), 5-8

Greer, C. and Aitchison, A., (2007). Prisoners at work: A collaboration between documentary photographer Andy Aitchison, Barbed graphic design studio (HMP Coldingley) and the Howard League for Penal Reform’. Crime, Media, Culture: an international journal. 3 (2), 207-214

Greer, C., Ferrell, J. and Jewkes, Y., (2007). It's the Image that Matters: Style, Substance and Critical Scholarship. Crime, Media, Culture: an international journal. 3 (1), 5-10

Jewkes, Y., Greer, C. and Ferrell, J., (2006). Borders Breached, Conventional Claims Questioned. Crime, Media, Culture: an international journal. 2 (1), 5-8

Greer, C. and Jewkes, Y., (2005). Extremes of Otherness: Media Images of Social Exclusion. Social Justice. 32, 20-31

Ferrell, J., Greer, C. and Jewkes, Y., (2005). Hip Hop Graffiti, Mexican Murals, and the War on Terror. Crime, Media, Culture: an international journal. 1 (1), 5-9

Greer, C., (2003). Media representations of dangerousness. Criminal Justice Matters. 51 (1), 4-5

Greer, C., (2001). Risky Business. Criminal Justice Matters. 43 (1), 28-29

Books (11)

Davies, P., Francis, P. and Greer, C., (2017). Victims, Crime and Society: An Introduction (Second Edition). Sage. 1473910919. 9781446255902

Greer, C., (2012). Sex crime and the media: Sex offending and the press in a divided society. Routledge. 9780415628013

Greer, C., (2010). Crime, newsworthiness and news: Introduction

Greer, C., (2010). Understanding media

Greer, C., (2010). Researching media: Introduction

Greer, C., (2010). Crime, entertainment and creativity: Introduction

Greer, C., (2010). Effects, influence and moral panic: Introduction

Greer, C., (2010). Cybercrime, surveillance and risk: Introduction

Greer, C., (2009). Crime and Media A Reader. Routledge. 0415422396. 9780415422390

Davies, P., Francis, P. and Greer, C., (2007). Victims, Crime and Society. SAGE Publications Ltd. 978-1412907590

Greer, C., (2003). Sex Crime and the Media: Sex Offending and the Press in a Divided Society. Willan. 1135999864. 978-1843920045

Book chapters (22)

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2023). Crime News, Trial by Media and Scandal Hunting. In: The Oxford Handbook of Criminology (7th edition). Editors: Liebling, A., Maruna, S. and McAra, L., . Oxford University Press, USA. 9780198860914

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2017). News Power, Crime and Media Justice. In: The Oxford Handbook of Criminology. Editors: Liebling, A., Manura, S. and McAra, L., . Oxford University Press. 260- 283. 9780198719441

Davies, P., Francis, P. and Greer, C., (2017). Victims, Crime and Society: An Introduction. In: Victims, Crime and Society: An Introduction (Second Edition). Editors: Davies, P., Francis, P. and Greer, C., . SAGE. 9781446255902

Greer, C., (2017). News Media, Victims and Crime. In: Victims, Crime and Society (second edition). Editors: Davies, P., Francis, P. and Greer, C., . SAGE. 20- 49. 9781446255902

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2015). The return of the repressed: secrets. lies, denial and "historical" child sexual abuse scandals. In: How corrupt is Britain?. Editors: Whyte, D., . Pluto Press. 113- 123. 978-0745335292

Greer, C. and Reiner, R., (2014). Labelling, Deviance and Media. In: Encyclopedia of Criminology and Criminal Justice. Editors: Bruinsma, G. and Weisburd, D., . Springer. 2814- 2823. 978-1-4614-5690-2

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2014). Righting Wrongs: Citizen Journalism and Miscarriages of Justice. In: Citizen Journalism: Global Perspectives - Volume 2. Editors: Thorsen, E. and Allan, S., . Peter Lang Gmbh. 39- 50. 9781433122835

Greer, C., (2013). Crime and media: understanding the connections. In: Criminology, third edition. Editors: Hale, C., Hayward, K., Wahadin, A. and Wincup, E., . Oxford University Press. 143- 164. 9780199691296

Greer, C. and Reiner, R., (2012). Mediated Mayhem: Media, Crime and Criminal Justice. In: Oxford Handbook of Criminology (fifth edition). Editors: Maguire, M., Morgan, R. and Reiner, R., . Oxford University Press. 245- 278. 9780199590278

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2012). 'Trial by Media': Riots, Looting, Gangs and Mediatised Police Chiefs. In: Policing, Politics, Culture and Control: Essays in Honour of Robert Reiner. Editors: Newburn, T. and Peay, J., . Hart. 135- 153. 9781849463003

Greer, C., (2010). News Media Criminology. In: The SAGE Handbook of Criminological Theory. Editors: McLaughlin, E. and Newburn, T., . Sage Publications Ltd. 490- 513. 9781412920384

Greer, C., (2009). Crime and Media: Understanding the Connections. In: Criminology, (second edition). Editors: Hale, C., Hayward, K., Wahadin, A. and Wincup, E., . Oxford University Press. 978-0199227297

Greer, C., (2008). Media Reporting. In: Dictionary of Youth Justice. Editors: Goldson, B., . Willan. 223- 224. 9781843922933

Greer, C., (2008). News Reporting. In: Dictionary of Youth Justice. Editors: Goldson, B., . Willan. 978-1843922933

Greer, C., (2008). Fear of Crime. In: Dictionary of Youth Justice. Editors: Goldson, B., . Willan. 978-1843922933

Davies, P., Francis, P. and Greer, C., (2007). Victims, Crime and Society. In: Victims, Crime and Society. Editors: Davies, P., Francis, P. and Greer, C., . SAGE Publications Ltd. 1- 19. 978-1412907590

Greer, C., (2007). News Media, Victims and Crime. In: Victims. Crime and Society. Editors: Greer, C., Davies, P. and Francis, P., . Sage. 20- 49. 1409828182. 9781409828181

Greer, C., (2005). Crime and Media: Understanding the Connections. In: Criminology. Editors: Hale, C., Wincup, E., Hayward, K. and Wahadin, A., . Oxford University Press. 9780199270361

Greer, C., (2005). Sex Crime. In: Sage Dictionary of Criminology. Editors: Muncie, J. and McLaughlin, E., . Sage. 9781446236000

Greer, C., (2005). Delivering Death: Capital Punishment, Botched Executions and the American Press. In: Captured by the Media. Editors: Mason, P., . Routledge. 84- 102. 978-1843921448

Greer, C., (2004). Crime, Media and Community: Grief and Virtual Engagement in Late Modernity. In: Cultural Criminology Unleashed. Editors: Ferrell, J., Hayward, K., Morrison, W. and Presdee, M., . Routledge. 109- 121. 9781904385370

Greer, C., (2003). Sex Crime and the Media: Press Representations in Northern Ireland. In: Criminal Visions: Media Representations of Crime and Justice. Editors: Mason, P., . Willan. 90- 116. 9781843920137

Media (1)

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., The Scandal Machine - BBC Radio 4, Archive on 4. Audio

Other (1)

Greer, C. and McLaughlin, E., (2012).A paedophile scandal foretold: Sir Jimmy Savile, child sexual abuse and the BBC. British Society of Criminology Newsletter. 71,British Society of Criminology Newsletter

Grants and funding

2022

Domestic Abuse Services for Young People

London Borough of Islington (Safeguarding and Family Support)

The Disproportionality Leadership Project

Mayor's Office for Policing and Crime

2021

The Reunification Project: Understanding Excellence Research

London Borough of Islington (Safeguarding and Family Support)

The Reunification Project � Impact Activities

University of Essex (ESRC IAA)

Contact

chris.greer@essex.ac.uk
+44 (0) 1206 873557

Location:

Colchester Campus

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