Crime news is a particular specialism of journalism. It involves powerful human emotions such as greed, violence, sex and revenge, and sometimes reflects important societal issues. It is an appealing subject for readers and listeners. It also provides good stories for journalists.
However, it is arguably a genre that is under threat from all sorts of influences and pressures. It is easy to be tempted to glorify criminals and their actions, and even easier to present them in an overly simplistic light (such as the latest frenzy on paedophilia). It is also tempting to focus exclusively on extreme or sensational crimes. This distorts reality, and leads to broader impacts on society.
In addition to the usual skills of journalistic reporting, crime reporters need to have good contacts with police, government bodies, courts, press officers and others involved in the criminal justice system. They should be open about their identity, carry identification and inform their editor of where they are, and make every effort to avoid risky situations. They should also be open to criticism and willing to correct mistakes.
It is also important for crime reporters to be ethical, balancing the public’s right to know with ethical considerations, including accuracy, fairness and sensitivity, whilst avoiding sensationalism or prejudice. This is especially important when dealing with people on the wrong side of the law. It is also important that they are clear about their professional role and the limits of their knowledge.
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