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How the media shape public opinion
Role of media in shaping public opinion influence
Influence of media in society
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Media plays a major role within society and an indicator of crime, representation and misrepresentation of crime in society, it's communities first response of gaining information of incidents that have occurred and whether those events will affect them directly or indirectly, however at times the media can release inaccurate images or description, keep in mind media are unable to give the wholly objective view of any aspect. This is defined by social scientists as “framing” that allows the media to communicate large amount of information in short periods of time. Although, media bias can occur through reporters, editors, produces even politicians use their, power to manipulate and shape crime, image within society.2011 media dominated Gold …show more content…
within the last three decades in Australia as well as America that there is decreasing levels of readership of newspaper and print media, with an increase in television and social media as people’s main source of media. Today in Americas economy 75% gets their news from watching television, only 65% of Australians (Denemark 2005). News that is released through television often tends to be simplified, or bizarre, extremely violent, or out of the ordinary (Surette 2007). One study in Australia showed that people or relied on social media site such as the internet for their source of news and information were most likely to believe that crime was stable or possibly falling, while people who listened to talkback radio, family, common acquaintances or commercial television are least to believe in any misperception about crime levels (Indermaur & Roberts 2005, p.
The general public of Australia has a common aspect when associated with their sources of knowledge of crime. Many would agree the media, especially newspapers and television, are their most frequent and well known source of crime activity. The media updates society with data about the extent, frequency and types of crimes committed (Moston and Coventry, 2011, p.53). Studies highlight our grasp of crime is majorly derived from the media, with a lack of exposure to police statistics or victimisation surveys. There is a concern in correlation to this fact since the media has inconsistency and inaccuracy in reporting crime. Due to this, the media can misrepresent victims and perpetrators, downsizing them to recognisable stereotypes (Moston and
Most people use second hand information as their core source of information about crime, this source of information usually being the media. When carrying out sample research in Birmingham, Susan Smith (1984) discovered that 52% of people obtained most of their information about crime from the media, 36% obtained it from hearsay or alleged experiences of friends and neighbours, 3% from their own experiences, and 1% from the police service themselves (cited in Jones, 2001; 8). However the media tend to exaggerate upon areas of criminal activity causing a moral panic. ‘A moral panic is a semi- spontaneous or media generated mass movement based on the perception that some individual or group, frequently a minority group or subculture, is dangerously deviant and poses menace to society. These panics are generally fuelled by the media, although not always caused by, media coverage of social issues… These panics can sometimes lead to mob violence… (newsfilter.co.uk).
The media plays a huge role in forming people's perceptions of crime. Without the media we would remain ignorant to occurrences outside our direct social groups. The media and especially news coverage therefore provides us with an important point of contact with the rest of society. In evaluating its effect on popular perceptions of crime it becomes important to consider where most of the information comes from and how representative it is on actual criminality. If it takes "facts" (the truth, the actual event, a real thing) or if it is heightened to a crime myth. With a myth being based upon "exaggeration" or heightening of "ordinary" events in life. Crime myths become a convenient mortar to fill gaps in knowledge and to provide answers to question social science either cannot answer or has failed to address. Myths tend to provide the necessary information for the construction of a "social reality of crime (Quinney, 1970)." As crime related issues are debated and re debated, shaped and reshaped in public forms, they become distorted into myth, as largely seen in the mass media.
Research also suggests that the media is a major decider in what crime cases get chosen to air on the news. While it was previously thought that what went on the news was arbitrarily picked or based on the most interesting cases, it turns out that it is not quite the case. J...
Throughout society there are both individuals and groups of people with a wide range of perceptions about crime and justice. These perceptions are influenced by the media and what the media presents. Media presents crime stories in ways that selectively distort and manipulate public perception, thus creating a false picture of crime. Therefore the media provides us with perceptions and social constructions about our world. Firstly I will be discussing the role of the media in constructing knowledge about crime. I will begin by explaining why the media is important, and go further to explain that media representations construct knowledge of crime and since knowledge about crime is constructed it does not necessarily capture reality in fact crime stories are often sensationalised. I will then link this to my central argument that the media shapes people’s perceptions of crime and how this is important as it can lead to changes in the law. I will then explain what it is that the public or society needs to be aware of when reading and watching media reports about crime. We need to be aware of bias and moral panics that are created by the media and how the media shapes or influence’s public perception through this, it is important for us to be aware of misleading or false crime stories so that we are not swayed by the media in believing what they want us to believe.
Reports on crimes usually follow certain patterns or trends relating to specific crimes deemed ‘newsworthy’ (AIC, 2017). Thus, it is evident that there are many statistical reasons for why the perceptions of crime can influence society’s beliefs on the nature of crime in Australia. Public anxiety about crime can be escalated to such an extent which leads to a moral panic based on a crime, specifically violent crime. “There is a widespread concern that the level and type of crime reported in the media present a distorted view of the real level of crime in the community” (Media portrayals of crime, 2000).
Female offenders are far more rare then males, and there has only been a handful of Australian women who have gained popular media attention for series crimes over the past ten years. For the purpose of this media analysis I chose to look at two Australian female offenders, who committed and were charged with serious crimes as well as being popular media entities that continue to gain newsworthiness today. Kristi Abrahams and Gunn Britt Ashfield both murdered a child of the age of six, were sentenced to long sentences in jail and gained solid media attention in the Australian press. Although quite a time period between the two offenders, these two females are given different narrative attention on why they committed these murders and are portrayed
Urban crime is an extensive issue throughout the United States. The way media and broadcasting
...it is the advent of television media that have sparked debate over the integrity of reliable news making. Print media was factual, although sometimes sensational, while electronic media made use of the technologies, such as videotapes and live footage to enhance and exaggerate the drama of the event even further. Many research studies have been conducted to show the effects of the media coverage on crime and how it influences the publics of fear of crime. Mass media has perpetuated a notion that crime is on the increase by portraying events and tragedies in the headlines that are sensational. The public buys into that idea, despite statistical accounts that reflect stable or low crime rates. The more stories people read and watch about crime, the more likely they are to think that crime is out of control. Politicians may then enact legal reforms to sooth the public’s outcry for crime control and prevention. As easy as it may be to hold the media accountable for barraging us with images and ideas that affect our views and beliefs, it important that the public take responsibility for the information that we consume. After all, there is always the “off” button on the remote control.
Secondly, the Powerful Effects Theory shows the effect of media on its audience and is another reason why journalistic integrity is important. It is presumed that the media and its contents “have significant and substantial effects” (Perse 3). There is also the “hypodermic needle theory” in which the media injects “values, ideas and attitudes” into its viewers (Fourie 294). Keeping this in mind, it becomes imperative that the media only publish the truth to the public and not fabricate any stories that they may present to society.
In society today the media’s has an extensive influence on the public by mediums such as the internet, television news, newspapers and radio. In addition, crime is often considered both a source of news and entertainment with such programs as CSI, NCIS and Criminal Minds being some amongst many others that also influence public perception on crime (Hayes & Levett, 2013). Evidence shows that the medias portrayal of crime can indeed affect the public’s perception although evidence will demonstrates that crime perception can be unique to each individual. Evidence shows that media reports have the potential to strongly influence people’s daily activities (Weatherburn and Indermaur, 2004). When the media reports on a crime it triggers an effect
Media plays a significant role in our society and it is everywhere around us. Media ranges from broadcast media to print media and the society depend very much on the media for various agendas such as entertainment from television and radio (McQuail, 2007). The media along side entertaining the society is also used to inform society about world events and things occurring around us through the form of information. This role of disseminating information that the media plays has become an increasingly important role in today’s society (Giddens 1991) especially with regard to crime and criminal justice matters (Gray 2009). Disseminated information in the media has a powerful influence on society so much so that it has the ability to mould and
Mass media includes TV, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines and technology such as the internet and e-mail. The media is a source used to inform and entertain the public. Media carries information, ideas, thoughts and opinions out to the public. The force media reveals gives a huge impact on influencing people’s lives. The media can be equally positive and negative in terms of the views it has on women, as well as an influential means for education and socialization. Even though the media enhances women issues, it also gives negative impact, illustrating violence against women through pornography and descriptions of women as a female bo...
Romer, D, Jamieson, K, Aday, S (2003). Television news and the cultivation of fear of crime. Journal of communication. 53, 88-104
Media technologies are becoming an important aspect of today’s society. Each and every day, people interact with media of many different forms. Media is commonly defined as being a channel of communication. Radio, newspapers, and television are all examples of media. It is impossible to assume that media is made up of completely unbiased information and that the media companies do not impose their own control upon the information being supplied to media users. Since many people use media very frequently, it is obvious to assume that it has affects on people. According to the text book Media Now, "media effects are changes in knowledge, attitude, or behavior that result from exposure to the mass media," (386). This leaves us with many unanswered questions about media and its influences. This paper will look at how the effects of media are determined and explore the main affects on today’s society - violence, prejudice, and sexual behavior.