Crime news is a vital part of the modern media diet. It is important to report on this subject in a manner that doesn’t encourage criminal activity and does not glamourise those who engage in it. It is also important to avoid exaggerating the severity of the crimes that are reported – this can lead to the public developing an unrealistic fear of crime.
Often a good way to capture the public’s interest in crime stories is with general background reports and features. These are stories that explain why and how a crime happens or give advice to readers and listeners on how to protect themselves from crime. This type of reporting can be done while you are waiting for further developments in ongoing cases and is an excellent way to keep your audience engaged.
The advent of radio broadcasting in the 1920s led to an increase in the frequency with which crime stories were broadcast. Many local stations would broadcast live reports from the scene of the crime or from courtrooms allowing listeners to participate vicariously in the story. In addition, radio stations used ambient sounds from the crime scene and even contrived sound effects in order to convey a sense of immediacy.
A number of studies have examined the nature and content of television crime news. Some studies have found that the majority of crime news on commercial and public television involves a single perpetrator. These stories tend to emphasize street crime, such as robbery or burglary, and not white-collar crime, such as fraud or embezzlement. Moreover, the majority of punishments referred to in crime news involve unconditional imprisonment.