Media and crime
Do you believe that the media helps to contribute to crime? Rationalize your answer and provide examples to justify your stance.
How can the media be used to help solve crimes? Does this help compensate for the harm they contribute to the Criminal Justice system? Why or why not?
Discuss a recent anticrime Public Service Announcement in terms of its target audience, the problem it addresses, its use of fear, the behaviors it strives to encourage or discourage, and how effective it is perceived to be.
Discuss where and when surveillance cameras are acceptable and if it should matter if they are hidden or openly displayed. Discuss the phemonmenon of a surveillance effect and whether people should be informed that they are within the view of a surveillance system.
Discuss why bad news about corrections is more newsworthy than good news and what, if anything, correctional personnel can do to change the public image of corrections. Discuss who is most responsible for the content and nature of news about corrections: correctional personnel, administration, journalists, news agency administrators, or the public?
Sample Answer
There is a growing body of research that suggests that the media can contribute to crime in a number of ways. For example, studies have shown that the media can:
- Increase fear of crime: When the media focuses on sensationalized stories of crime, it can lead to an increase in fear of crime among the public. This fear can lead to people avoiding certain areas or activities, which can restrict their freedom and quality of life.
- Glorify crime: When the media portrays criminals as glamorous or successful, it can send the message that crime is a viable option for some people. This can lead to people being more likely to commit crimes themselves.
- Desensitize people to violence: When the media constantly exposes people to violence, it can lead to people becoming desensitized to it. This can make it more difficult for people to recognize the severity of violence and to take it seriously