The question of crime: How much does the public have the right to know?

Abstract

The public right to know is of particular significance when considering the reporting of crime and criminal justice. The internet has demonstrated strong influences upon crime reporting in mainstream media, including the range of material it provides to audiences. In addition, the internet has exposed journalists to new legal and ethical ramifications that accompany reportage on an international scale and, while it may be ‘giving the people what they want’, it has also exacerbated the controversy surrounding the perennial question of how much the public has a right to know.

Keywords

• crime reporting
• criminal justice
• ethics
• gatekeepers
• internet
• online journalism