Last night I saw a headline from WoodTV8 that made my stomach churn. Not because of the story itself, but the outright misrepresentation; ignorance and bias dripped from a story discussing the new juvenile lifer ruling by the Michigan Supreme Court.
The dehumanizing title clearly intended to get clicks, not report the real news; ignoring the dire need to break down the complexities of societal failures, generational poverty, and brain science.
It’s vindictive, it’s misguided, and it’s irresponsible. This is why police are shooting first and asking questions later.
I’ve discussed before why the media doesn’t cover judicial, prosecutorial, or police misconduct; because it’s not news, it’s the norm.
We live in an age where headlines chase clicks and sensationalism often eclipses substance. The media’s portrayal of crime has become not only problematic, but dangerous. Informing the public is a crucial role of journalism and when it comes to crime reporting, many media outlets do more harm than good.
Here’s why it’s time for the media to step back from discussing crime entirely, especially when it lacks the understanding of mental health and science necessary to cover these issues responsibly.
1. Bias Is Baked In
Media outlets are not neutral arbiters of truth; they’re businesses.
And for them, crime stories, especially those that are violent or lurid, drive engagement. This creates a feedback loop where certain types of crimes (usually involving marginalized communities or sensational elements) are over-reported, while others are underrepresented or ignored entirely.
I and countless other West Michigan families have contacted WoodTV8, WWMT, Fox17, newspapers; none of them had interest in the injustices happening in the system everyday. They republish press releases from Prosecutors (with every incentive to sensationalize and misrepresent facts) without asking questions.
The result? A distorted perception of crime. Audiences are led to believe that certain neighborhoods are more dangerous than they are, or that particular groups of people are inherently criminal. That people are “born killers.”
Don’t believe me? I distinctly remember when the local media had something as innocuous as Pokemon Go turned into something evil.
Their narratives aren’t just wildly inaccurate; they’re harmful.
They feed stereotypes, fuel fear, and influence policy in ways that disproportionately hurt already vulnerable communities.
2. No Grasp of Mental Health
Many crime stories involve individuals struggling with serious mental health issues, yet the media often fails to approach these cases with the nuance and sensitivity they deserve.
Instead of informed, compassionate reporting, we get reductive labels like “crazy,” “psychotic,” and “unhinged.”
It’s far easier for them to label someone as a “monster” than understand them.
These terms are not only scientifically meaningless, they serve only to further stigmatize mental illness. The media’s lack of understanding about mental health contributes to a culture where those suffering from disorders are feared or vilified rather than supported. This not only misinforms the public but also discourages people from seeking help due to shame or fear of being labeled.
The fear-mongering has claimed lives on the other side of the fence, too. Consider the tragic story of Christine Chubbuck.
3. Science-Free Storytelling
The science behind criminal behavior is complex. It involves neurobiology, psychology, sociology, and environmental factors, none of which can be condensed into a two-minute segment or a 500-word article. But the media persists, often reducing crimes to simplistic motives or moral failings.
This reductionist storytelling undermines efforts to actually understand the roots of crime and how to prevent it. Rather than engaging with experts, data, or peer-reviewed studies, the media prefers clickbait and crime porn. Without a foundation in scientific literacy, crime reporting becomes more about drama than truth.
4. The Impact of Irresponsible Crime Coverage
The consequences of poor crime reporting aren’t abstract. They affect real lives and communities. They contribute to public panic, even more discriminatory policing, and harsh sentencing that doesn’t reduce crime but do ruin lives.
They also drown out the voices of victims and survivors, who are too often used as props for dramatic effect rather than treated with dignity and agency.
In addition, repeated exposure to violent crime stories, especially when they’re not representative of reality, can increase anxiety, fear, and even lead people to support draconian laws that hurt rather than help.
Follow the Money
This isn’t a call for silence; it’s a call for responsibility.
The West Michigan media isn’t court watching to see how judges behave; they show up when there’s a story to profit from. They’re not finding themselves in the middle of a case where the state has all the power, and you really can’t defend yourself; but they know this is 100% the case.
Voters are looking at them to tell them when things are going wrong, and they often fail.
Looking at why, is as simple as understanding who funds these networks and gives them access to stories to stay alive:
- Nexstar owns WoodTV8
- EW Scripps owns Fox17
- Sinclair Broadcast group owns WWMT
It’s politicization and weaponization of the media, prejudicing cases for profit.
…No wonder we’re stuck with corrupt prosecutors and judges.
So, What’s the Alternative?
Crime is a complex societal issue that deserves careful, informed discussion. That discussion should be led by scientists, mental health professionals, community leaders, and policy experts, not media pundits chasing ratings.
If the media wants to report on crime, it must commit to doing so through a lens that is informed, unbiased, and trauma-sensitive. Otherwise, it should step aside and stop fueling narratives that do more harm than good.
For the rest of us, I encourage you to consider alternative, nonpartisan, nonprofit or publicly funded radio, that aims in being accountable to its audience, such as Now Kalamazoo, NPR, Bridge Michigan, or Michigan Public Radio.
