Conceptions of crime are distorted by exposure to media coverage

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Conceptions of crime are distorted by exposure to media coverage. Discuss. This cours from coursework.inf

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The media constitutes a major part of modern society and plays a large role in our

lives. It is the prime source of information and entertainment, and moreover acts as a

strong influence on public belief and opinion. The media is highly influential in coae ae" . "r se" . ae . "ae" . "w or". ae . " " . ae . "k inae foae " . ae . ".

shaping our views upon the world in which we live. When it comes to crime, coae ae" . "r se" . ae . "ae" . "w or". ae . " " . ae . "k inae foae " . ae . ".

however, do the reports shown by the media present an accurate picture of the true This cours from coursework.inf

events? The more horrific the report, the more likely it is to capture the attention of

the public, which obviously secures plenty of profit for media barons. Is our

increasing reliance on an institution that relies on sensationalism to create profit

unwise, as this could well mean that the facts they report lack truth? The media

reinforces social myths by selective reporting, and thus presents a distorted view of

reality. This could be leading to an increasingly misconstrued public view of certain

crimes. The media is a very powerful influence on the way in which we behave and how we view the world, therefore it is important that it shows a realistic picture of what is taking place in our society, otherwise we will gain a false perception of aspects such as crime. Is the media really portraying crime as it truly is, or is it selectively reporting the most colourful events in order to secure audiences and therefore profit?

It is important to understand that there are many crimes that are completely ignored

by the media, as they are not seen as ?newsworthy?. Usually only those that will

capture public attention are mentioned. This means that the crimes that fill our screens

and pages are usually violent or shocking in nature. From a functionalist perspective this can serve a positive function, as the deviant behaviour makes ordinary people feel safe in the knowledge that they are morally better than the criminal, and reporting of crimes and subsequent punishments can also serve as a deterrent to others and a good method of reinforcing the social order.
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However, there is also a certain degree of bias present in all reporting that stems from the integrated norms and moral background of the journalist involved. It is almost impossible to be completely objective when reporting, and most journalists will slant their stories to appeal to the widest possible audience. This is theorized in the hegemonic model, and works on the basis that the majority of journalists are likely to be white, male and middle-class and will therefore bring with them to their stories their own similar set of norms and values, be this unconsciously or otherwise. The ...

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