Community, Contract and Aboriginal Policing

Media Coverage of Organized Crime — Police Managers Survey

by

Judith Dubois
Université du Québec à Montréal
Research and Evaluation Branch
Community, Contract and Aboriginal Policing Services Directorate
Royal Canadian Mounted Police
Ottawa, May 2003

The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and are not necessarily those of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police or the Government of Canada.

Table of Contents

• Summary
• Acknowledgments
• Introduction
• Aims of the Study
• Methodology
• How Media Coverage of Organized Crime is Perceived
  Non-Violent Events
  Violent Events
  Positive or Socially Acceptable Events Linked to Organized Criminal Groups
  Police Operations
  Trials
  Political Interventions Related to Organized Crime
  In-Depth Articles, Editorials and Investigative Reporting
  Emphasis on Specific Activities
  Criminal Activities Overlooked by the Media
  In short
• Influences
  The Media’s Influence on Public Opinion
  Perception of Violence
  Perception of Organized Criminal Groups
  Influence of Public Opinion on Police Managers’ Decisions
  Decisions Influenced by Public Opinion
  Decisions Not Influenced by Public Opinion
  Crimes the Population is Less Concerned About
  The Media’s Influence on Police Decisions and Actions
  Media Coverage Considered
  Fact-Checking and Communication Processes
  Direct Influence
  Exceptions and Political Influence
  In short
• Notes
• References

Summary

Police managers feel that the media tend to focus too much on organized crime activities that involve violence. Because of this emphasis on violence and sensationalism, the media often underplay organized crime activities with no apparent violence. The activities downplayed the most by the media, in terms of impact, are money laundering and economic crimes. Police managers also stated that the media give too much exposure to positive or socially acceptable events linked to organized crime. They consider, however, that police operations, trials and political interventions related to organized crime receive adequate and relatively proper coverage. Police managers are concerned about a lack of in-depth articles, editorials and feature stories that could provide an in-depth look at issues related organized crime. According to some managers, the biggest shortcoming is that the media never provide a comprehensive view of the actual causes and overall impact of organized crime in Canada.

Impacts

Almost all interviewed police managers stated emphatically that public opinion regarding organized crime is definitely influenced by the media. This situation is said to have a negative impact. In fact, several managers argue that the media give citizens the impression that organized crime generates much more violence than it actually does. The way organized crime-related events are covered by the media heightens the sense of insecurity in the community and causes citizens to call on the police more often to deal with violent criminal activities. On the other hand, it is felt that the public is unaware of the adverse effects of non-violent organized crime activities.

What is the likely impact of community concerns on police management? About two thirds of respondents said they have to take public opinion into account in their decisions and actions. Most interviewed police managers agreed that law enforcement’s role is, first and foremost, to serve the community and to listen and remain accountable to them. However, several stated that public opinion could sway their decisions, providing it was warranted by circumstances.

Respondents were qualified in their opinions regarding the influence that media coverage of organized crime activities might have on their decisions and actions. Police managers generally contend that police priorities and procedures are not affected by the media. However, several respondents stated that they take into account what is disseminated in the media, because they are accountable to the community and are concerned about what is perceived by the public through the media. Many respondents also stressed that the information on organized crime disseminated through the media has an impact on their communication and fact-checking procedures. A few managers explained that, even though they are not generally affected by the media, there may be exceptions for special, unavoidable cases such as the death of an 11-year old child caused by a car bomb or the shooting of crime reporter Michel Auger. Lastly, some respondents stated that they are not influenced by the media, but they sometimes have to take into account the positions taken by elected officials, who obviously can be influenced.

To obtain an electronic copy of the complete report (PDF), please send a request by e-mail to the Research and Evaluation Section (Community, Contract and Aboriginal Policing Services) of the RCMP research_evaluation@rcmp-grc.gc.ca