How the Media Portrays Crime

Crime reporting is the main feature almost all news sites in the world. Adherence to times and accurate reporting requirements is a crucial requirement in the reporting process. Hence, reliance on accurate and verified information helps reporters to dispense news in an ethical manner. Despite the concerted efforts of various media houses to provide factual information, accusations of focus on sensationalism persist. The argument is that these news media are biased in their reporting to influence the audience in a manner that benefits them by either gaining a larger following or benefiting financially. The accuracy of these allegations, however, remains to be seen. In a quest to determine the accuracy of this criticism, this paper will review ten crime articles by the New York Times and compare the findings with actual crime data. 

Crime reporting is seemingly skewed towards violent crimes. Violent crimes received the most attention among the ten articles reviewed (Fortin, 2019; Mervosh & Piccoli, 2018). Regardless of the form of violence perpetrated, it is likely that readers would be more interested in these kinds of crimes. Moreover, most of the crimes in the articles reviewed were reported to be solved with only two unsolved crimes in the articles (Mervosh & Piccoli, 2018; The Associated Press, 2019). Contrary to common perceptions, crimes were committed by people across cultural and racial divides, without any single race or culture featuring prominently. Surprisingly, there was minimum reporting on street crimes with only one article providing information on this form of crime (Wilson, 2016). Crimes committed by strangers were not extensively reported, similar to crimes towards vulnerable members of the society. A review of the articles reveals that the reporters heavily relied on the direct quotes from authorities either to improve the accuracy of the information relayed or to reiterate already stated facts. 

A close comparison of the patterns identified in the articles and the actual data provided by the FBI through uniform crime reporting will assist in making informed conclusions to either support or refute the criticism labelled against new media. The FBI reported an increase in violent crimes across the country with of 1.2 million cases reported in 2018 (FBI, 2018). These reports are consistent with the patterns identified in the articles. However, this is not to imply that other crimes ranked, on the contrary, there were higher property crimes as well as petty crimes (FBI, 2018). Trends in crime also revealed an increase in burglaries and car theft. Comparatively, the New York Times reported more on hate crimes providing the impression that they are on the rise. Undoubtedly, criticism for focus on sensationalism seems true owing to the multiple articles reporting on violent and hate crimes as compared to fewer articles focusing on property crimes which rank highest in the FBI list. Evidently, white collar crimes receive the least attention while they are the most rampant. Again, perceptions about racial minorities committing most crimes are unfounded as seen in the FBI statistics which do not attach any single race to crime perpetration. 

Certainly, a host of perceptions on crimes are fueled by the media as evidenced by the comparison between crime news and actual crime statistics. News media seemingly focus on reporting crimes that generate the most traffic. Existing stereotypes are likely to persist as long as news media continue with the existing trend. Again, news media leverage public ignorance to continually generate content that suits public perception. hence, the criticism directed towards the media is true in almost its entirety. 

References 

FBI. (2018). About Crime in the U.S. (CIUS) . Retrieved on 28 January 2019, from https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2017/crime-in-the-u.s.-2017/home 

Fortin, J. (2019). 3 men sentenced in plot to bomb somali immigrants in kansas . The New York Times. Retrieved on 28 January 2019, from 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/26/us/kansas-militia-trial-sentencing.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FHate%20Crimes&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection 

Mervosh, S., & Piccoli, S. (2018). Retired police officer is attacked and wife, 71, is sexually assaulted in Brooklyn home invasion . The New York Times. Retrieved on 28 January 2019, from https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/08/nyregion/brooklyn-home-invasion.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FRobberies%20and%20Thefts&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=3&pgtype=collection 

The Associated Press. (2019). John Wetteland, a former major leaguer, is charged with sexually abusing a child . The New York Times. Retrieved on 28 January 2019, from 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/15/sports/john-wetteland-a-former-major-leaguer-is-charged-with-sexually-abusing-a-child.html 

Wilson, M. (2019). international pickpockets ride New York’s subway, pilfering and profiting . The New York Times Retrieved on 28 January 2019, from 

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/01/27/nyregion/pickpockets-nyc-crime.html?rref=collection%2Ftimestopic%2FRobberies%20and%20Thefts&action=click&contentCollection=timestopics&region=stream&module=stream_unit&version=latest&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=collection 

Appendix 

Worksheet