America loves true crime. True crime is one of the most popular genres in television, podcasts, and books. One of the reasons true crime is popular is that it is usually sensationalized. The media, for example, put a lot of focus on high-profile crimes and sometimes provide around-the-clock coverage on them.
If you are interested in learning about the influence the media has on high-profile crimes, this post has you covered. Here is everything you need to know about the media and the power of public perception as it relates to criminal cases.
Table of Contents
Hire An Attorney
Before addressing this post’s main topic, it is essential to stress the importance of legal representation. If you have been arrested and charged with a crime, this knowledgeable criminal defense attorney in Akron Ohio says that you need a lawyer’s support. A lawyer will help you to navigate the complexities of criminal cases and help you to get the results you desire. Only work with experienced lawyers. A lawyer’s level of experience can be determined from their reviews.
Sculpting Public Opinion
The media has a lot of influence on public opinion. Since most people learn about suspects, victims, and criminal cases from the media, they believe most of what they hear. If the media unknowingly spreads misinformation about a case, it can be very difficult to change people’s minds, even if it turns out the facts initially given were erroneous. For better or for worse, the media shapes public opinion on crimes, and directs people’s beliefs about them.
High-Profile Cases
The media gives more priority to high-profile cases than everyday crimes. For example, in cities with high gun-crime rates, crimes that involve serial killers, politicians, or respected public figures are much more likely to gain media attention than gang-related murders. This means that a lot of Americans have no idea how violent their cities really are, because everyday crimes are ignored and only the most high-profile, sensational ones are publicized. Of course, some news stations report everyday crimes, just not in as much detail as they report on high-profile ones.
Creating Fear or Panic
One thing the media is known for is creating unnecessary fear or panic. A story about an isolated homicide can quickly snowball and ordinary people can be left feeling scared and anxious–worried that they are going to become victims themselves. The media is notorious for spreading misinformation about crimes, mainly because the information they are given immediately after a crime is rarely accurate, because they report before the police have even been able to perform their own investigation.
Bias In Reporting
Sadly, the media isn’t unbiased. Some stations align with specific political parties, which means that they take positions on the stories they are reporting on. Taking a position on a story means they have an agenda, which leads to them influencing people’s opinions. Words are a very powerful tool. They can be used very effectively by the media to sow seeds of discord. Bias in reporting is something that governments around the world are trying to stop, because it prevents people from hearing the truth, and supports the development of radical political ideologies.
Social Media Support
Social media is used by media platforms to spread information about high-profile crimes. Once a media station has posted about a crime on their social media platforms, it is not uncommon for their followers to begin sharing their posts, which has a snowball effect, and can lead to specific crimes getting more attention than they deserve, and other undesirable effects, such as widespread panic and confusion.
Public Pressure
Sometimes public pressure can have an influence on criminal cases, especially high-profile ones. If, for example, a politician was caught in a corruption scandal, the public might come together to protest. This theoretical protest would then gain media attention, which would lead to more and more pressure piling on the judge and jury to convict the politician. Public pressure can have a lot of influence on criminal cases and is one of the main reasons people receive excessive sentences in high-profile cases.
Overexposure
The media sometimes lead to overexposure. By this, this post means cases that wouldn’t normally be high-profile but have certain characteristics that give them an edge can sometimes be catapulted into the spotlight by the media. Overexposure can have a negative impact on the outcome of cases, because judges and juries sometimes impose harsher sentences when there is public pressure to do so, as mentioned in the previous section.
Portrayals Impact Sympathy
The media’s portrayal of victims or suspects can impact how the public perceive them. If the media portrays a victim as a loving family-orientated person and a suspect as a vicious drug addict, the public will support the victim. If, on the other hand, the victim was a drug addict and the suspect was a father of two with no criminal record and a good job, the public may instead choose to support the suspect, even if they took somebody else’s life.
Political Influence
As stated above, many media stations are heavily biased. They support specific political parties and tend to create content that portrays them in a favourable way. Their political bias can have a massive impact on the types of crimes they report, how they report them, and how they influence the general public.
True Crime Media
True crime media is more popular than ever. The media’s portrayal of certain criminals can fuel fascination and lead to members of the public idolizing criminals. For example, many serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer and Richard Ramirez have their own fan clubs, thanks to the large number of documentaries and television programs created to cover their crimes.
Misinformation Spreads Quickly
Finally, and as touched on above, the media sometimes supports the spread of misinformation. Misinformation can direct public opinion and have a negative impact on the outcomes of people’s cases. It is essential that you hire a lawyer to support you if your case is in the media, as you need the best legal representation you can get to fight back against media bias and public pressure.
Criminal cases can be very stressful, especially when they are in the media. A lawyer will be able to support you with your case, and guarantee you a fair outcome. Find the most experienced, qualified lawyer you can. A lawyer’s reviews will help you to get an idea of what they are like to work with and make it easier for you to decide whether you should hire them or not.
