Crime & Media

Question: Is the nature of crime in our society accurately presented by the media? Discuss

In this day and age, the media are largely responsible for the way crime – defined by the Macquarie Dictionary Online as, an act committed or an omission of duty, injurious to the public welfare, for which punishment is prescribed by law - is presented and perceived by society. As the main source of information and entertainment, it is fair to say that if the media present a specific crime as “brutal” or “heinous”, then this is generally how society will also perceive it. The term “media” I refer to in this essay represent the news, radio, magazines and newspapers that by means of communication and distribution, both nationally and internationally, reach a broad scope of people referred to as the public or society. The media also have many ways of presenting news to us that influence and shape how society accept, relate and react to the nature of crime. In this essay, three main discussions will be presented as to how and why the media distort society’s perception of the nature of crime. Firstly, violent crimes that induce feelings of anger and panic in the public are generally the only types of crime that the media present to us and are reported in such a way that they seem the most common types of crime committed in society - this fallacy is supported by various studies and polls taken. Second, less threatening crime is not reported on a regular basis through the media. Third, the media have various ways of presenting news to society in a dramatised and sensationalised manner making the crimes reported to us seem more prevalent and grievous. It is concluded that the nature and accuracy of crime in today’s society is not accurately presented by the media due to these factors.