The Impact of Newspaper Reports on Fear of Violent Crime in Hong Kong

Zhu, Runping; Krever, Richard

The Impact of Newspaper Reports on Fear of Violent Crime in Hong Kong

Runping Zhu, Richard Krever and Alfred Siu Kay Choi, "The impact of newspaper reports on fear of violent crime in Hong Kong" (2018) 39(4) Newspaper Research Journal 470-480

11 Pages Posted: 13 Mar 2019 Last revised: 4 Jun 2020

See all articles by Runping Zhu

Richard Krever

University of Western Australia Law School

Date Written: February 21, 2019

Abstract

This study analyzed violent crime reports in three large circulation newspapers and tested by survey the relationship between newspaper reporting of crime and fear of crime. As was expected, there was a nexus between more sensationalist newspaper reporting and the public's fear of crime. Unexpected findings were an inverse relationship between newspaper format and awareness of violent crime, and also between awareness of crime and fear of crime.

Keywords: newspaper impact, fear of crime, awareness of crime, sensationalism

Suggested Citation: Suggested Citation

Zhu, Runping and Krever, Richard, The Impact of Newspaper Reports on Fear of Violent Crime in Hong Kong (February 21, 2019). Runping Zhu, Richard Krever and Alfred Siu Kay Choi, "The impact of newspaper reports on fear of violent crime in Hong Kong" (2018) 39(4) Newspaper Research Journal 470-480, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=3339262