'Police and the Media

http://www.drtomoconnor.com/4230/4230lect06.htm


'Clearly, the media causes fear of crime, and there's even some evidence they cause crime itself by violent programming, horror movies, and pornography'

Demonstrates that the media does in fact causes a fear of crime, and they even perhaps it causes crime itself. Asks the question to whether we are afraid of crime and the police or whether we are merely afraid of how they are represented.

'the media has the power to enhance or detract the police image'

Shows how the media is able to dictate how we see the police, and it is down to them to say how they're perceived .

'the media could turn on the police at any time, to easily make them look bad'

The media is ultimately in control of the police, and again is in control of how they are perceived.

'the most part, the media tries to make the police look good'

This shows that although the media can choose how the police are perceived, they choose to show them in a positive light, despite the controversy that surrounds them at times.


'portrays police work as dramatic and dangerous, appealing to the public's need for heroes'


The media, (the majority of the time), portrays police in a way that helps to appeal to the public, in a way that makes us see the police as guardians of society, and therefore they should be respected.

'the media continually portraying the police as calm, efficient yet sometimes bumbling, crime-stoppers'  


Shows how the media portrays as what they are, crime stoppers, however it also identifies that police have certain characteristics, both negative and positive.


'Only occasionally is the hero-worship broken with documentaries about police violence, police racism, police sexism'

Provides evidence that although police corruption, violence etc exists in the force, it is very rarely shown in the media in order to retain the positive view of police.



'True-live car chase shows maintain a glamour of lights, sirens, and crashes'

Shows that crime is over sensationalised in the media, therefore helping to reinforce the positive representation of the police.



'the police have always relied upon impression management to overcome resistance and raise popular support'

The police need the media in order to maintain a positive representation.