It is part of human nature to be curious about the events that happen around us. When it comes to crime, this is especially so. For many, although crime is something to be feared it is also something that draws their interest, and therefore newspapers and television news bulletins are full of detailed reports of crime. Some feel that this is detrimental to society in a number of ways and it would be preferable if news media were subject to strict controls. The following will discuss the merits of this viewpoint and give an opinion.
An example of a negative influence arising from crime reporting is the phenomenon of copycat crimes. A particularly disturbing example of this was the attacks on primary schools and kindergartens that shocked China during 2010. The original attack was reported heavily and in the following weeks and months there were a series of almost identical incidents. After a decision was made to ban reporting of further incidents the attacks quickly dried up. Another issue associated with the reporting of crime is an overly high perception of crime. Countless surveys have shown that in recent years there is a gap between the perceived level of serious crime and the actual level in most societies. When people are faced with stories of murders and other serious crimes on a routine basis it is natural that they feel these events are commonplace, even if statistically they are highly uncommon. This can lead to paranoia, pessimism and a general lack of trust in society.
Although the reporting of crime can sometimes lead to certain problems, this does not mean that the media should be subject to strict controls. In most cases, people have the right to know what is going on around them. If there was a spate of murders in one particular area and the perpetrator remained at large, the need to inform those living in that area should be placed above any other concerns. Only in extreme cases is it worth calling for a media blackout, for example cases in which reporting a crime clearly presents an immediate danger to someone. Past examples have shown that in such instances news media are usually willing to cooperate with police without the need for strict legislation. As for the unreasonably high perception of crime, that is merely a product of the information age and in truth there is little that can be done. Any attempt to conceal crimes from the public would likely only create further mistrust and paranoia.
In fine, although sometimes the reporting of crime can have serious repercussions, this is only in rare and extreme cases. In normal circumstances, keeping the public informed should be the priority. Although the sheer volume of crime stories in the media can lead to a degree of paranoia among the public, in this day and age any attempts to hide information from the public would likely be counterproductive.