The TV academic: balancing the demands of a double career

The advantages of educational television life far outweigh the disadvantages,

said David Wilson

. This is why - and how - you should use media that are essential

still considered a "criminologist public" - in other words, a criminologist university while teaching, writing and research at the university also participates in debates in the media Popular print and broadcast media on crime and punishment.

These debates are issues that are (for lack of a better description) tabloid staples: sex offenders, serial killers, the name and humiliation, child murderers, holiday camps "prisons", bringing hanging thugs, hooligans and ASBO. Did I mention sex offenders?

As criminologist public, I wanted to see if I could answer these questions by placing them in a broader context that takes into account its complexity, and presents the shadows around issues usually reported as simply black and white. And if in the past 10 years, I became a familiar face this morning, Channel 4 and Sky News, and a regular voice today, PM and 5Live.

Presentation Killers

Channel 5 series behind bars has allowed me to take advantage of criminology public a little further, taking advantage of the public's fascination with murder series, and then showing how academic theories related to this phenomenon and this type of murderer could also contribute to the clarification of "cold cases."

impact, use a favorite REF (Research Excellence Framework) concern was marked not only in applications up to study criminology at Birmingham City University (BUC), participation in conference open days and student participation in general, but also in the public interest in cold cases featured in the series, and even the willingness of some police to review evidence that the program finds.

The presentation of a television program on the subject of teaching and research could be considered a "win-win" a greater awareness of their course, a growing number of followers on Twitter, better public understanding of the phenomenon of search results and actual results could eventually lead to justice for families who still want to see an author responsible. All this is true, but there is too much tension. From a personal point of view, the greatest tension is the growing perception of some members of the public that I am a celebrity, rather than teaching - strange and personal difficulties arising from this situation perceived . For example, I get over 100 emails a day from members of the public and 10 (reflecting both) letters, all eager to investigate the case, or to take tea with the writer, signing autographs, recommend books and, in the case of students from other universities who write, read their texts. is a tension created by accessibility. Celebrities are usually difficult to reach, while academics have their phone numbers, email addresses and opening hours of data published on the website of the university. And of course, the public can simply walk to most sites.

rightly proud that we are "face to the community" in higher education. However, this accessibility can have its drawbacks, especially when it became known as someone who cares violent offenders instead of a university that has programs in physics or history During the execution of the last series and once again the result of the publicity of this new series, I had two death threats - .. As well-managed security BCU campus and West Midlands Police Too tensions within the academy. Some now label me a populist who was stupid and sold, but continue to publish monographs and articles, peer-reviewed, acting as director of a research center and modify the Howard Journal of Criminal Justice. There is always a relationship very tense between the university and British "public" Sociology / Philosophy / Psychology (insert your own theme here). Many of my fellow British academics do not seem very comfortable talking about their work outside the conference room and frankly rather run a mile, or take excessive risks marking, speak to the press. This differs from the U.S. approach, where even the lowliest graduate student is generally able to link comments intelligent, but accessible to the local radio station that he or she might be written.

The final voltage is time. It would be wonderful to be able to respond positively to all requests for assistance from members of the public, but it is simply not possible. Say no often leaves the person who made contact feeling that nobody is willing to help. You can also open a Pandora's box. A recent request by e-mail about an alleged miscarriage of justice, I made a preliminary investigation before apologizing for ethical reasons (personally meet the trial judge), was followed by a application angry because, unlike the "personality" my TV just was not interested in justice. Nothing could be further from the truth.

• What advice would you give to other researchers who are interested in doing television? I really want to encourage. The advantages far outweigh the disadvantages, but go into the world with open eyes. You need to balance the competing demands often you by professionals and the general public, and the balance can be adjusted if you have a clear idea of ??what you want to use the media. For me, no matter what public issues, criminology still has a role both interesting during cooling of hot passions of the public and academic debate put theory outside the classroom and in the homes of the people.

Professor David Wilson is professor of criminology at the

Birmingham City University

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