Vicarious Victimization and Indirect Effects of News Media on Attitudes Towards Crime

• In Event: Violencia, actitudes y opinión pública

Abstract

This paper tests the relationship between news media consumption and public attitudes towards crime using data from LAPOP's AmericasBarometer surveys. I argue that news coverage of crime acts as a type of vicarious victimization, which affects what people think about how crime should be handled both by the state and by private actors. These effect, however, may not be direct, and often do not show up in regression analysis of public opinion data. Using mediation analysis, this paper shows that news media consumption has an indirect effect on support for hard-line crime control measures via its effects on fear of crime, distrust in criminal justice institutions, and citizens' awareness of crime.

Author

• Krystin Krause, Emory & Henry College