Date of Award

12-12-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Mass Communication

First Advisor

Timothy Edwards

Abstract

The media's disproportionate coverage of violent crimes compared to non-violent crimes may create a skewed public perception of crime rates and safety in Central Arkansas, potentially influencing policy decisions and community relations. This research examines whether news outlets in Central Arkansas cover violent crimes more frequently than non-violent crimes and compares this coverage to actual crime statistics from law enforcement agencies. The study aims to understand the potential impact of media representation on public perception of crime. The study employed a mixed-methods content analysis of three major Central Arkansas newspapers (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Pine Bluff Commercial, and Hot Springs Sentinel Record) from January to December 2024. The research analyzed front-page crime stories, categorizing them as violent or non-violent, and compared the coverage to National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS) statistics. Analysis of 412 front-page crime stories revealed that violent crimes received significantly more coverage despite representing a smaller proportion of actual crimes. While violent crimes made up only 11% of reported crimes according to NIBRS data, they accounted for 57-84% of front-page crime coverage across the analyzed newspapers. The majority of stories (97%) maintained a neutral tone in reporting. The findings demonstrate a disparity between media coverage and actual crime rates, supporting agenda-setting theory predictions regarding media influence on public perception. This misalignment between coverage and reality could lead to distorted public understanding of crime patterns and potentially influence policy decisions. The research suggests a need for more balanced crime reporting and improved media literacy among the public.

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