Media Understates Crime

A significant number of Australians and New Zealanders think that crime is getting worse and that the media understate its seriousness, according to research conducted on both sides of the Tasman.

Managing Director of Research International Australia, Mr Peter Evans, has said that the study set out to determine whether people thought crime was on the increase, and secondly how accurate media reporting of crime was, given people's fascination with the wrongdoing of others.

"While the media are often criticised for perceived sensationalism, nearly a third - 32 per cent - think the media are being fair in their coverage," Mr Evans said.

"In fact, more think the media understates the situation, with 45 per cent saying that crime is more serious than reports indicate."

The New Zealand research produced similar results, with the exception that fewer Kiwis (37.4 per cent) than Australians believe that crime is more serious than the media report.

The results come from a random series of telephone interviews in Sydney, Melbourne, Auckland, Wellington, and Christchurch. A total of 523 interviews were conducted across the five cities by Research International interviewers.

"Overall, the research revealed a greater degree of unease about crime than was expected," Mr Evans said.

"We had expected to see a stronger response from those who thought that crime is not on the increase but that the media's interest in it is. Only 18 per cent of interviewees thought this.

"Perhaps the most curious finding is that three per cent thought that crime is not a serious problem and that the media are fair in their coverage."

The tables below summarise the data:

1. Percentages of population opinions as to media coverage of crime - NZ

• media fair in its coverage of crime as a serious problem - 42 per cent
   
• crime is more serious than the media report it - 37 per cent
   
• crime is not as serious as the media make it out - 20 per cent
   
• don't know - 1 per cent

2. Percentages of population opinions as to media coverage of crime - Australia

• crime is on the increase and is more serious than the media report it - 44 per cent
   
• crime is on the increase and media report it accurately - 32 per cent
   
• crime is not on the increase but media interest is - 18 per cent
   
• crime is not a serious problem and the media coverage is fair - 3 per cent
   
• don't know - 3 per cent

Jack R Herman

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