There are many factors that are relayed before a crime story is reported to us on television or radio, or the internet. One is being Newsworthiness. Newsworthiness has two factors which they base the story on before airing. One is, Periodicity: time cycle of events. The second is, Consonance: how an event ties in with prior news’s themes and accepted images. Both these meaning, is this story coinciding in with any other events going on in our lives. For example, Brazil is fingerprinting and doing background checks on anyone entering their country coming from the United States of America. This is in retaliation

As we can see the media plays a big part of our Criminal Justice System. It basically installs our beliefs and thoughts about crime and justice. Knowing the facts about the media, whether good or bad, is important for everyone. You can not always assume what is being said to you on television or radio, is always correct. Make sure you find out the facts before arguing your own opinions about a crime story.

The media definitely has some prejudices as to whom, and what they choose to cover. Why is it that the Ramsey case got so much publicity, yet there are children who are killed every day who we do not hear about? Or why is the OJ Simpson case noted as the trial of the century when there are many trials of similar charges that never even get into the paper? Research shows that ratings reach their highest when crime stories cover people with lots of money, for example celebrities or those of high status, and or young children and woman. So when the Ramsey case came up, they, the media, received not only the people with lots of money, but they also got the young child involved in a brutal murder. People across the nation were tuned in, even people across the world. This obviously boosted ratings! At the same time it makes parents of small children fear the safety of their children, even in their own homes. Research shows that murder is only 2% of all crimes committed, yet it is the most reported on the media reaching 26% of all stories we hear on the television, radio, and internet (Heath and Gilbert). Not only has the news taken up a lot of air time to cover these types of stories, but also stations like Court TV, Fox, and other stations have shows like, FBI Files, Law and Order, CSI, and Cold Case Files. Ratings for these sh

Some topics in this essay:
Michael Jackson, OJ Simpson, Files Ratings, Justice System, United America, Newsworthiness Newsworthiness, Crime Media, Doob Understanding, Heath Gilbert, crime justice, justice system, television radio, criminal justice system, TV Fox, criminal justice, television radio internet, lots money, radio internet, crime story, media plays, crime scene, people lots money, people lots,