How the media distort the reality of crime

How the media distort the reality of crime
Student’s name
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Not only is society obsessed with violence and criminal behavior, but the former is an
ever-present aspect of society, and the latter is a constant element that affects a small portion of
society. Media informs the public and shapes public opinion on various issues. However, to
fulfill its role, the media must follow decision-making principles and apply some selection
criteria that inform content packaging and publication. Furthermore, it is impractical for the
media industry to report on every criminal incident. The difficulty of reporting on all events
suggests that the media structure a misleading image of the criminal activity and the criminal
justice system. The essay explores to what extent the media distort the reality of crime
concerning sex crime.
In order to understand how the media shapes public perception of crime, it is helpful to
begin with, a look at some theoretical questions and issues. There is an argument that the media,
as represented by television, molds concepts of social reality. The TV has long-term effects that
are gradual, small, and indirect but cumulative and significant. Fundamentally, the cultivation
theory suggests that television shapes how people perceive social reality1. Its proponents argue as
individuals are watching television for extended periods, their social perception of such issues as
crime changes. According to Callanan, the media only maintains and publicizes values and
attitudes that are already present in society and that it has a unifying effect due to its moderate
political perspectives. “First order effects” generally describe beliefs about daily existence such
as the prevalence of violence while “second-order effects” are specific beliefs relating to, for
example, personal safety or law and order. Under this theory, those people whose primary source
of information is television viewing are categorized as “heavy viewers,” and those who have
other sources of information are “light viewers.” The focus is on the former because
1 L Shrum, ‘Cultivation Theory: Effects and Underlying Processes’ (2017).

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theoretically, they are more likely to be influenced by how the world is presented in television
programs2.
Additionally, the influence of the media on the heavy viewers is most substantial for
issues on which these viewers have limited first-hand experience. “Resonance” describes the
intensified effect on the audience. These are some of the cultivation theory’s assumptions and
concepts. A sociological analysis of violence is significant due to its ever-present nature in daily
life. Boda and Szabo acknowledge that violence erodes the quality of life and is a part of rapid
social change. Fundamentally, the categorization of violence comprises violent crime and hate
crime, securitization, war, and terrorism. Boda and Szabo note that violence connects all social
institutions and processes at the micro-level such as the interaction between family and friends
and at the macro level such as hostilities between nations3
Analysis of literature on violence suggests that while interaction with violence and the
criminal justice system remain remote possibilities for many, there is an appetite for some form
of interaction with criminality and violence which is a need that is being met by conventional
and non-conventional media platforms. Both of these circumstances betray a preexistent
obsession with violence and crime present in society. Increased technological sophistication
means that the media is more effective in making accessible crime and violence-based content to
more consumers4. Equally, the criminal justice system’s role is that of protecting the public and
giving out justice to the offenders. However, the public can misunderstand this mission,
considering the power of the media and the societal obsession with crime and violence.
2 Valerie J Callanan, ‘Media Consumption, Perceptions of Crime Risk and Fear of Crime:
Examining Race/Ethnic Differences’ (2012) 55 Sociological Perspectives 93.
3 Zsolt Boda and Gabriella Szabó, ‘The Media and Attitudes towards Crime and the Justice
System: A Qualitative Approach’ (2011) 8 European Journal of Criminology 329.
4 Viridiana Rıos and Christopher J Ferguson, ‘News Media Coverage of Crime and Violent
Drug Crime: A Case for Cause or Catalyst?’ (2019) 0 Justice Quarterly 1.