Author Question: What do scholars mean when they suggest that the news media do, in fact, overdramatize crime? ... (Read 74 times)

Ebrown · **on:** Aug 17, 2018

What do scholars mean when they suggest that the news media do, in fact, overdramatize crime?

Fill in the blank(s) with the appropriate word(s).

Question 2

Match the key words or phrases with the associated phrase.

1. crime myths a. when media suddenly devotes much attention to a small number of crimes creating a false impression that crime is rampant
2. crime waves b. influences society's cultural beliefs regarding value on human life and personal property, and affects penalties stipulated by legislators on crime
3. democratic theory c. shows popular consensus perspectives on crime and society and indicates views in public punitiveness that may influence making policies
4. fear of crime d. policy decisions by public officials should reflect and consider public opinion
5. news media e. a growing body of research addressing the nature and sources of public attitudes about crime
6. overdramatization f. false beliefs concerning crime and criminal justice
7. racial prejudice g. community characteristics such as social integration, quality of living conditions, and various demographic variables in neighborhoods
8. sentencing preferences h. exaggeration and misrepresentation of crime that influences public perspectives
9. seriousness of crime i. influences public opinion on punitiveness and crime on the basis of color
10. structural factors j. resource that often portrays crimes in disproportionate ways that arouses public concern

cam1229 · **Reply #1 on:** Aug 17, 2018

Answer to Question 1

Answer: Scholars contend that the media often overdramatize crime by creating the impression of crime waves and focusing too much attention or over reporting on uncommon crimes such as serial killings. The media may also focus on racial and ethnic minorities, portray youth violence disproportionately, show the victims as virtuous, use value-laden language, present misleading data, neglect white-collar crime, and omit the historical or social context in the crime story

Answer to Question 2

1. f
2. a
3. d
4. e
5. j
6. h
7. i
8. c
9. b
10. g