AN ANALYSIS OF GUARDIAN NEWSPAPER ON COVERAGE OF CRIME IN NIGERIA

The press sensationalizes crime stories, over reports violent crime stories like homicide, assault, etc. in comparison to non-violent stories and that violent stories are usably reported disproportionately compared to their incidence in official crime statistics or victims surveys, and that sensational reporting of crime contribute to coencern crime over crime among the public is point of concern. This project examines the print media and the creation of fear of crime, amount and sources of crime in the print media (Guardian Newspapers) and patterns of crime reporting bringing out some core values. This project also acknowledges reporting of crime as Epidemic and examines some vital suggestions towards uplifting the values of the press (Guardian) in crime reporting. Guardian Newspapers is used to scrutinized the coverage of crime in Nigeria. The sample size for the Newspaper is Thirty One (31) Editions from July – December, 2008. Thirty one editions were sampled to get relevant response and coverage on the issue of the study. Findings revealed that the mass media tried to uphold the theory of social responsibility and doing this, they publish matters on crime in Nigeria, thereby making the issue important and relevant in the country. Research shows that most nature of crime covered under this study was straight news format with most of the crime stories written by reports of Guardian Newspapers. The direction of the report was positive in nature Similarly, the study indicated that the media is vibrant in their coverage of the fight against crime. Recommendations were made on how the mass media can help to educate and interprete the aftermath of crime activities to people as well as sensitize them in the need to totally eradicate crime and improve on the media’s coverage on the subject matter.