Media's Impact On Crime Victims

The media is the biggest source of information that connects the public sphere. Karmen emphasized the importance of media coverage and its impact on crime victims. Crime victims have been neglected but the media became a catalyst for change. Through media coverage, crime victims were empowered to take a stand and have a say in the justice system (Karmen, 2016). However, the proliferation of the media along with the intense competition within the business resulted to the insensitivity and mistreatment of crime victims.
The case of Ernesto Ventura is a perfect example of the dichotomy in journalism. Through the media, the young boy was able to receive donations, medical assistance and gifts from viewers who sympathized with his plight. Nevertheless, the media also took advantage of the boy’s misfortune and they profited from his tragic story. During this time, countless pictures of Ernesto in a pitiful state were published in newspapers and other news outlet.
The media feasted upon distressed and traumatized crime victims and exploited their vulnerabilities. Journalists overstep their boundaries by disclosing private information (name, age, pictures, background, etc. of the victims) to the public before families could even be notified of the situation (Viano, 1992). The power of the media goes as far as having immediate access at the crime scene. In the Columbine High School Shooting, journalists trapped and force survivors to recall the ordeal for the sake of sharing information to the