Our renewals portal is undergoing an upgrade. If you experience any issues please contact member services for support. Thank you for your patience as we transition to a new and improved system.

Australian Psychology Society This browser is not supported. Please upgrade your browser.

Tragic events and community violence

Media portrayals of crime

Australians generally overestimate the level of crime in their community. Media representations of crime are partly responsible for this.

Certain crimes are often over-reported on TV, in print and online. These include violent crimes, crimes by young people and crimes by those with a mental illness.

What are the concerns?

  • Some media reporting represents a distorted view of the real experiences of crime in the community.
  • These inaccurate reports may fuel prejudice against certain groups or may prompt the imposition of overly strict measures to fight crime.
  • Community members may also isolate themselves through misplaced fear of crime.

What does research tell us about the portrayal of real-life crime by the media?

  • Official crime statistics indicate that most crime is non-violent, but media reports often suggest the opposite3. Homicide statistics have decreased in the past 10 years, despite public perceptions of an increase1.
  • Crime reporting on Australian news bulletins features, in comparison to Australian Bureau of Statistics data, an over-representation of:
    • violent crimes,
    • children and older Australians as victims, and
    • youth as perpetrators of crime.

What is the media's role in shaping public ideas of crime?

  • Television, internet and print media have great influence over public perceptions and understanding of crime.
  • These media can spread the message that the world is a frightening place.
  • Media reporting often highlights random and unexpected crimes. As a result, individuals can imagine themselves as potential victims of such events.
  • Sensationalist media reporting contributes to moral panic (or outrage directed at certain groups such as youth or particular ethnic groups).
  • Media reports seldom analyse underlying causes of crime, such as social factors.

What can parents do?

  • Stay informed about what your children are watching or reading.
  • Enforce clear rules about the type and amount of media consumed.
  • Watch programs or read reports with children whenever possible. Help them interpret the material they are watching.
  • Reassure children about their safety and security. Discuss how to treat others and share values about the sort of society you support.

What can educators do?

  • Media education in schools is important, for children and parents. Developing skills in monitoring and analysing media content should be a priority.
  • Professional development to enable teachers to increase their own media literacy skills is valuable.

What can journalists, journalism educators and media producers do?

  • Consider the impact on the community of crime reporting.
  • Report on the underlying causes of crime, such as social factors.
  • Be responsible when reporting crimes committed by those with a mental illness.
  • Balance the need to report crime with the privacy and dignity of the victim.
  • Consider the public health perspective when reporting events, not just the ‘newsworthiness’.
  • Encourage responsible reporting through journalism education. Showcase best-practice examples of responsible reporting.

What can all consumers do?

Respond to media reporting by:

  • Supporting media outlets which report responsibly on crime and traumatic events. Boycott those that do not.
  • Complaining to the media or appropriate industry bodies and regulators about material or policies that threaten community wellbeing.
  • Look to join lobby groups that aim to promote responsible media reporting.

References

  1. Australian Institute of Criminology (2014). Australian crime: Facts and figures 2013.
  2. Banks, M. (2005). Spaces of (in)security: Media and fear of crime in a local context. Crime, Media, Culture: An international Journal, 1, 169-187.
  3. Critcher, C. (2003). Moral panics and the media. Open University Press.
  4. Garofalo, J. (1981). Crime and mass media: A selective review of research. Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, 18, 319-350.
  5. Gruenewald, J., Pizarro, J., Chermak, S.M. (2009). Race, gender, and the newsworthiness of homicide incidents. Journal of Criminal Justice, 37(3), 262-272.
  6. Hollis, M. E., Downey, S., Del Carmen, A., & Dobbs, R. R. (2017). The relationship between media portrayals and crime: Perceptions of fear of crime among citizens. Crime Prevention and Community Safety, 19, 46-60.
  7. Kupchick, A., & Bracy, N. L. (2009). The news media on school crime and violence: Constructing dangerousness and fuelling fear. Youth Violence and Juvenile Justice, 7, 136-155.
  8. Mazerolle, L., Wickes, R., & McBroom, J. (2010). Community variations in violence: The role of social ties and collective efficacy in comparative context. Journal of Research in Crime Delinquency, 47, 3-30.
  9. Nguyen, A., Ferrier, E., Western, M. & McKay, S. (2005). Online News in Australia: Patterns of Use and Gratification. Australian Studies in Journalism, 15, 5-34.
  10. Parriott, S., & Parrott, C T. (2015). Law and disorder: The portrayal of mental illness in U.S. crime dramas. Journal of Broadcasting and Electronic Media, 59(4), 640-657.
  11. Surette, R. (2002). Self-reported copycat crime among a population of serious and violent juvenile offenders. Crime and Delinquency, 48, 46-69.

Search

Submit