This paper reports key findings from a study involving a discourse analysis of news media coverage and perpetrator accounts of men's violence towards their partners. The research took two forms. Firstly, the authors analysed all television news reports broadcast in 1995 on the major television networks in New Zealand. These reports overwhelmingly represented the problem as one of pathologically angry individuals. The actions of violent men were placed within an intergenerational context of dysfunctional families and community tolerance. Media spoke of breaking the 'cycle of abuse' through victims asking for help and batterers receiving counselling. Secondly, 13 men, who had assaulted their partners at least once, were interviewed, and their accounts of violence analysed. In the majority of cases, the men spoke of anger problems and their inability to control their rage when stressed by external events, such as financial difficulties and their partner's behaviour.

Communication Journal of New Zealand Te Kohinga Kōrero 2(1) 2001 : 3-23