The author theorizes that the social phenomenon of reporting child abuse in New South Wales took on many characteristics of a craze, as defined by L. S. Penrose. After an initial latent period, child abuse notifications increased slowly from 1977 to 1980. More notifications by professionals occurred in 1981; the reporting rate accelerated in 1982 when relatives, neighbors, friends, and non-professionals became involved in reporting. The print media's role in making the public aware of child abuse is examined in detail and major distortions in the perspectives conveyed by the media on the issue of child abuse are identified and discussed. The study concludes that public condemnation of the maltreatment of children in the 1970's and 1980's came about because facts regarding child abuse were distorted by the media. 5 tables, 1 appendix. 30 footnotes.