EFFECTS OF MEDIA CRIME REPORTS

Effects of Media Crime Reports



Effects of Media Crime Reports

Introduction

The focus of the following report is on the issues relating to the effects produced when the media reports a crime. The report further discussed the consequences of media crime reports and what types of messages can be received from these crime reports and how youth and community workers can challenge them (Antecol, 1997,, 140).

The relationship between media and crime is currently being discussed and multi-faceted, especially in the media, sociology and the sociology of crime. The focus is mainly on the mass media, particularly television, print media and the Internet. In the aforementioned media are first those which perform particularly true of information application by press coverage and thereby contribute to the formation of public opinion. In addition, they are accessible to almost everyone and take in many people in organizing your day a significant role. Between media and crime are relevant above all four viewing fields. First, media serve as adapted devices for criminal acts that often here the Internet. Furthermore, the mass media coverage of crime in the (not virtual) reality is significant. In this context, it is necessary to consider the effects of media on crime. Not only is the coverage of real events, but also fictional media events such as movies or computer games relevant (Antecol, 1997,, 140).

Reporting on crime is in addition to articles in print and radio media and the Internet, especially via the television. Here comes the public broadcaster to that derived from Article 5 GG-finding mission, which includes informing the public of those events that are relevant to public opinion. Crimes as such, but especially the most sensational events - which are often attributable to violent crime are all but in a popular media content. This is because that often has a sensation-oriented reporting to a balanced communication of information the audience and increase sales significantly. In addition, a public interest in the detailed coverage of criminal spectacular events cannot be denied, so that here are too often the focuses of journalistic reporting. In this context, some problems are visible. First, the crime trends in the media are presented often distorted. Reports will usually have a few events - violent or sexual offenses - but rarely on the overall rate of crime significantly represented ownership and property damage offenses (Barlow, 1995,, 3).

This often leads to an elevation of tort proportion of serious crimes in public opinion and thus to increase the general feeling of insecurity. Also, a detailed report reinforce the offender positively by guarantee him the public attention and thus gives him a hero status. But mostly involuntary - dissemination of claiming responsibility and claims relating to mention terrorist attacks in this context, that is. In the court proceedings can also be made in the press is prejudice by referring to emotional coverage influence public opinion. Furthermore, even imitation effects (e.g., the so-called Werther effect) play a role (Barlow, 1995,, ...