Essay on Crime and the Media - 1289 Words

Crime and the Media The public depends on the news media for its understanding of crime. Reportedly three quarters (76%) of the public say, they form their opinions about crime from what they see or read in the news (Dorfman amp; Schiraldi, 2001). After reviewing five hours of reality crime television shows, one is left with a very dismal look on society and a prejudice towards minorities as they are largely depicted as the perpetrators of crime. This new genre commonly referred to as reality television appears to be sweeping the nation by storm. Opinions vary, depending on whom you ask, to what extent reality plays a role versus the selling of a product. Sensationalism, advertising, ratings hype, profiling and fear all comprise the mass†¦show more content†¦The apprehension and subsequent arrest all dramatized for the cameras. The suspect, heard on camera being questioned about his past domestic violence charges, his inability to pay child support and finally he is asked about the observed dru g purchase. Of the nineteen cases reviewed, drug related crimes were more prevalent. In cases involving African American suspects, the drug of choice was crack cocaine. In suspects that were Caucasian, the drug of choice was methamphetamines. On the episode aired on May 5, 2005, COPS: Bad Girls, the suspect, a Caucasian woman was selling drugs and prostituting (Langley, 2005). With the cameras rolling, the audience is able to overhear, that the suspect is on welfare and has had her children taken away because of her drug habit. The suspect denies the charges, and the officer insists on making the point that she is using her welfare money in order to purchase drugs. In the cases reviewed, the program did not divulge the age. Upon observation, the average estimated age is twenty-five. Age did not appear to have any particular correlation to the type of criminal activity. What appeared to be more in play was the socioeconomic scale of the suspects. The average age and circumstances seem to strike a familiar vein with the cases reviewed. On average, the suspects were unemployed, residing with a family member, a history of violence and drug use. ThisShow MoreRelatedCrime In The Media964 Words   |  4 Pagespassion and keeps you turning the pages salivating for more. Inasmuch the media select stories that will captivate their audience and in turn they end up infiltrating fear and wariness in others. Upwards of eighty-one percent of Americans have access to some type of media coverage and with continual coverage of shootings, assaults, high-speed chases and theft; it makes it difficult to not deduce the increase in crimes like the media persuades (Brown, 2015, March 11). The Federal Bureau of InvestigationRead MoreMedia and Crime2169 Words   |  9 Pagescases covered by the news media closely, and feel confident enough to make judgements about guilt and innocence (Hough, 2005, p. 7). Television schedules are crammed with programmes about the police, criminals, prisoners and the courts and are syndicated around the world. Why are people – the audience – so fascinated by crime and deviance? And if the media can so successfully engage the public’s fascination, can they equally tap into – and increase – people’s fears about crime? Is the media’s interestRead MoreMedia and Crime2502 Words   |  11 PagesMedia and Crime What is crime? A normative definition views crime as deviant behavior that violates prevailing norms   Ã¢â‚¬â€œ cultural standards prescribing how humans ought to behave normally. This approach considers the complex realities surrounding the concept of crime and seeks to understand how changing social, political, psychological, and economic conditions may affect changing definitions of crime and the form of the legal, law-enforcement, and penal responses made by society. These structuralRead MoreInfluence of Media on Crime.788 Words   |  4 PagesIs Media Responsible for the Increasing Crime Rate? It is believed that the great Plato had a question similar to this, he was worried whether the violence in plays will have a negative effect on people of his land. We cannot mitigate the influence of media on the society. Some believe that it is the curse for the contemporary society, as it invigorates individuals to commit crimes. Are these people right? Read on to know the answer to this grave question. Contrary to the popular belief, mediaRead MoreWomen, Crime, and the Media1859 Words   |  8 Pages　　Media representation has always been a topic of debate, from representation of minority groups, individuals with mental illnesses and gender presentations. The latter, of course, turns mostly towards the female characters as they are presented in various medias; movies, news, and television shows. The representation of women in the media has always been leaning more towards ‘pleasing’ than it is towards informative or accurate. Representation of female offenders in the media has not deviated fromRead MoreThe Effects Of Crime And The Media, Women And Crime, And Theories Of Crime Essay1965 Words   |  8 Pagesthought to crime. It was always in the back of my mind because of the seemingly increasing chances of becoming a victim of crime. Over the semester I have explored a range of topics relating to crime. The purpose of this essay is to reflect upon certai n topics explored over the semester. I have chosen to focus on topics that had the profound effect on my learning. I have since been able to form an opinion that is back by theory on these topics. The topics chosen are: crime and the media, women andRead MoreThe Effects Of Media On Fear Of Crime1488 Words   |  6 PagesREVIEW OF LITERATURE Overrepresentation of Crime and the Media Numerous studies have been done investigating fear of crime and causal links (Dorfman and Schiraldi 2001; Gerbner and Gross 1976; Hale 1996). However, few empirical studies have been done that examine the effects media has on fear of crime (Chermack 1994). Media is defined as a manner in which we can access information and news through technology (Gillium 2000). This might be on television, radio, newspapers and magazines, and otherRead MoreThe Roles and Influences of Media on Crime730 Words   |  3 Pagesthe political world, media has both a positive and negative affect. Americans as a whole are engrossed with crime whether it be a fictional representation on a person’s favorite television show, or a true story the nightly news. The entertainment media influences our lives in consciously and subconsciously, day in and day out, playing a critical and constantly cultivating role in the criminal justice system and the conduct of politics. How exactly does one determine what media is? According to yourRead MoreNews Commentary On Crime And The Media924 Words   |  4 Pagesa glamorization of crime. News stories on crimes are extremely popular due to the fact that audiences’ remember bad news much easier than good news. Take history for example, much of history is filled with recounts of gruesome murders, wars, and scandals. An estimated 71 million viewers across the country tune in to their local news station’s broadcast (Yanich, 2004, p. 537). It can easily be assumed then that an estimated 71 million people will know the basic details of a crime that their news stationRead MoreMass Media Is Obsessed With Crime Essay1575 Words   |  7 PagesMass media is infatuated with crime. As a society, we have a great deal of fascination when it comes to crime and deviance. It is hard to turn on the television, watch a movie or open a newspaper or book and not be faced with the central and dominant theme that is c rime. In recent years the lines between crime entertainment and crime information have been significantly blurred. The mass media often influences how people see crime, with the bombardment of criminal images and violence, it serves to