MEDIA INFLUENCE ON CRIME PERCEPTION: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON PUBLIC FEAR, MORAL PANIC, AND CRIMINAL POLICY FORMATION

Abstract

This study investigates how media shapes public perceptions of crime, fuels fear, sustains moral panic, and influences criminal policy, with broader implications for governance and sustainable social environments. Drawing on a survey of 200 respondents from urban and semi-urban areas, the research examined associations between media exposure, perceptions of crime, and policy preferences. Findings indicate that online news portals and television were the most frequent sources of crime-related information, while newspapers were less influential. Respondents widely agreed that media exaggerates crime (mean = 3.8) and heightens fear (mean = 3.7), contributing to a climate of public anxiety. This heightened fear was directly linked to support for stricter laws (mean = 3.9), reflecting elements of penal populism, even though respondents also recognized the importance of evidence-based policymaking. Levels of trust in institutions were moderate, while skepticism about political misuse of crime news was notable, highlighting governance challenges when policy is shaped more by perception than by evidence. These results demonstrate that media functions not only as an information channel but also as an active agent in constructing fear and shaping reactive policy responses. By situating crime perception within a broader environmental and governance framework, the study underscores that media influence extends beyond criminology to affect institutional legitimacy, governance quality, and sustainable community resilience. Policy recommendations emphasize balanced reporting, reliance on empirical data in policymaking, and promotion of media literacy to mitigate moral panic and strengthen resilience against fear-driven governance.