Local crime is one of the most widely covered topics in local news. But how people get the news about crime in their communities – and how they react to it – is very different from how experts measure or report crime trends. This article, based on a new Pew Research Center survey, offers an in-depth look at Americans’ relationships with and experiences of local crime news.
Nearly three-quarters of U.S. adults (77%) at least sometimes get news and information about local crime, including 34% who do so often. People who get crime news frequently turn to a variety of sources, including local police stations and websites, social media, news magazines, newspapers and television. The sources they turn to are also a good predictor of how satisfied they are with the quality of the news they receive. Those who say they get local crime news from friends, family and neighbors, the local news media or local law enforcement are more likely to be extremely or very satisfied with the quality of that news.
People who often consume local crime news are also the most concerned about how it might affect them and their families. They are especially likely to be worried about property and violent crimes. They are less concerned about drug-related and white-collar crime, although they do see the news about these types of crimes more frequently than people who rarely or never get this type of local news.
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