Press Release---Crime Reporters advised to avoid dramatization

 

Press Release

Crime Reporters advised to avoid dramatization of crimes, Workshop told.

Thursday 29^th Dec, 2011

Pakistan Society of Criminology conducted a one-day workshop on crime reporting, its dynamics and effects on society, especially juveniles. Crime reporters of mass media participated in the workshop. Imran Ahmad Sajid, a PhD Scholar spoke about the characteristics and need of a separate juvenile justice system and compared it with the adult criminal justice system, which is not compatible with the international and national laws like the UN CRC and JJSO, 2000. He quoted that in 19 out of 24 districts in KPK, a total of 98 cases were reported of juvenile offences in 2010-11 and it was found that juveniles were involved in 14% murder, 45% hurt/injuries, 4% theft, and 6% drug offences. The data shows a rising trend in violent behaviour in juveniles. Cases as low as 5 and 7 years have been reported against children in the official police data, Imran told. The Regional Director Human Rights, Syed Khizar Shah explained the role and services of the Police Child Protection Center, Peshawar and demanded that such centers should be replicated in other cities. He told that in 2011, a total of 22 juvenile offenders were given protection and legal support.

Fasihuddin (PSP), President Pakistan Society of Criminology, dilated upon the myriad relationship of media and crime and showed different researches that the newsworthiness and content of crime news are mostly centred around violence especially murder and rape. He explained the concepts of crime rate, victimization, evidence-based crime reporting, moral panics, evil monsters and tragic victims. He advised the crime reporters to develop a professional attitude in crime reporting and avoid personalization, dramatization, amplification, exaggeration and sensationalization of crime news which have a psychological and criminogenic effect on public especially young children.