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# Media and Crime This document discusses the relationship between media and crime, highlighting various biases and effects of media representation. ## Media Coverage of Crime * **Ericson (45-71%):** Press and radio news coverage focused heavily on crime. * **Ditton & Duffy (46%):** 46% of media...

# Media and Crime This document discusses the relationship between media and crime, highlighting various biases and effects of media representation. ## Media Coverage of Crime * **Ericson (45-71%):** Press and radio news coverage focused heavily on crime. * **Ditton & Duffy (46%):** 46% of media reports focused on violent/sexual crimes, although these make up only 3% of actual crimes. * **Exaggerated Success and Victimization:** Media coverage often exaggerates the success and victimization rates of crime. ## Fallacies in Media Reporting * **Age Fallacy:** Media often portrays victims and perpetrators with inaccurate age demographics. * **Dramatic Fallacy:** Media overreports "extraordinary" crimes, skewing the public's perception of crime rates. * **Ingenuity Fallacy:** Media often suggests criminals need to be clever, which may not always be true, leading to a skewed perception of crime. ## Fictional Media Representations * **25% of Primetime TV & 20% of Films:** A significant portion of fictional media portrays crime. * **Law of Opposites:** Fictional portrayals often follow a "law of opposites", where perpetrators are frequently portrayed as strangers, middle-aged, and white men. (Surette) ## Does Media Cause Crime? * **Imitation:** Media may induce imitation of criminal behavior. * **Desensitization:** Media exposure might lead to desensitization towards crime. * **Glamorization:** Crime may be glamorized, leading to a distorted perception of morality and acceptable behavior. * **Marketing Tool:** Media may sometimes use crime as a tool for marketing products. * **Relative Deprivation:** Media can create a sense of being deprived, leading to feelings of discontent or resentment. * **Widespread Fear:** Media contributes to a widespread fear of crime. * **Moral Panics:** Media can trigger moral panics about crime. * **Hyper-awareness of Cybercrime:** Media significantly raises awareness of cybercrime. * **New Media Impact:** New media makes cybercrime easier.