Discuss how the media react to crime in our society and its effects

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Media commitment to crime coverage is great. In an individual newspaper issue, crime news may represent 30 to 35 percent. Moreover, this news often is given priority space. Although some media sources choose individually to restrict crime coverage in some specific category of crime for a specific period of time, rarely has a general policy to restrict crime coverage been made and adhered to by the media. It is also obvious that newspapers can emphasize crime by the placement of stories on page one, by large, black, and lurid headlines. The large and dramatic head on the front page gets more attention from readers than a small item buried on the back page. The relationship between the police and the media sometimes is one of conflict and contention. Efforts of the press to transmit the truth as they see it may help or hinder the efforts of the police. They may also endanger an individual or group, increase public fear, the intensity of riots, and the credibility of terrorists; and according to some observers, create a criminal environment. They may invade privacy or defame the character of individuals. They may interfere with the rights of defendants to a fair trial. On the other hand, efforts of the press may uncover crimes and criminals, exonerate those convicted unjustly, protect the public from corruption in public service, encourage public involvement in crime prevention, decrease danger to individuals or groups, and allay excessive public fear.