ESSAY

People's Perception about Crime and Role of the Media

People's Perception about Crime and Role of the Media

Messages communicated through mass media are a common trend in the today's world. This is because people are now more exposed than ever to this particular medium of communication. According to Wakefield et.al, (2003) people are now exposed to different media channels such as radio, television, Internet, newspapers, and different forms of advertising such as posters, billboards and brochures. It has been noted that an average a young individual spends around sixteen to eighteen hours in a day watching television. Similarly, it is said that an average adult spends around seven years of their lives watching television. Moreover, wide spread use of the Internet has empowered its users to access a wide range of content, which has exposed them to information that previously was not as easily accessible. Likewise, this paper entails discussion about the role of the media in influencing the perceptions of individuals regarding crime. Along with, discussing about the role of media portrayal of crime has in fact led to an increase in the rate of crime itself.

Dowler (2003) opines that western media is 'fascinated' with crime and justice. This can be observed from the various books, films, primetime TV shoes, magazines, newspapers articles and news broadcasts dedicated to this issue. Therefore, this leads to the understanding that the mass media plays a key role in the construction of criminality, as it is through this medium that people become aware of criminal acts and activities, which persuades them to engage in conversation in their everyday lives.

Moreover, Dowler (2003) notes that it is through this portrayal or depiction by the media about the victims, criminals and the law enforcement agencies, that the viewers are able to develop their view or perception about them. Conversely, Reiner (1997) opines that the mass media portrayal of crime and any type of social disorder has become a matter of great concern. One of the prime reasons for this concern is the aggressive and strongly opinionated tone of delivering the news or message, instead of exercising objectivity. Over information about crime and criminal activities received from the media directly influences how an individual understands crime. For example, reporting of selective crime statistics that inaccurately portray an increase in crime, instead of providing a balanced account of the event. This leads to the actual believing of such reports, which stirs fear and apprehension amongst the news or message audience. For example, in New Zealand a steady decline in the crime rate was coming about, but in terms of reporting crime, an increase of twenty percent in the daily newspapers of New Zealand's was observed from the period 1992 till 2001 (McGregor & Comrie, 2002). Furthermore, a local survey conducted by an law enforcement agency in New Zealand revealed that the respondents believed that an increase in crime rate has occurred, while in reality the opposite was true.

Conversely, the above leads to the discussion about how crime incidents are portrayed ...