Crime news is a very popular area of journalism, because it often appeals to powerful human emotions such as greed, violence and revenge. It also often reflects important societal issues. It is a challenging and fascinating field of work. The skills required include the ability to capture audience interest, accuracy, good contacts, and sensitivity while avoiding sensationalism and prejudice.

The popularity of crime news has long been recognised by newspaper editors as an opportunity to increase circulation and sales. During the nineteenth century, as the industry consolidated and grew, this became very important, especially for mass-circulation daily newspapers. The proportion of crime news in these papers increased, even as the number of parliamentary and political stories declined.

Often, the police will ask journalists to keep a story out of the newspaper because it could compromise a continuing investigation or put someone’s life in danger. It is important that a journalist keeps these requests in mind when deciding whether to report the story.

It is also very important for a crime reporter to have excellent contacts with the police. If a reporter can cultivate these people and ensure they know his or her contact numbers, then it is much easier to get information about the big stories. This is particularly important in cases where the crime is committed in a remote location, or where it may be difficult to obtain information without putting the lives of those involved at risk.

A good crime reporter can also add interest for the public with background reports and features. These might include a visit to a police dog training school or an interview with the new police commissioner about his attitude to crime.