Appraisal on the role of Mass Media in Curbing Crime in Nigeria through Positive Reporting of Criminal Activities among Youths in Ijebu Ode Local Government, Ogun State

Abstract

The study examined the role of mass media in curbing crime through positive reporting, in Ijebu Ode local government area, Ogun State. The study determined the  attention that the mass media has given to addressing and reporting delinquent behaviors, criminal activities and deviant attitudes among youths in the country, The study also find out the constraints facing positive crime reporting on the part of mass media, examine how the mass media, through their contents, exerted efforts reporting and how information function have succeeded in curbing criminal activities among youths in  Nigeria. Three research questions were raised to guide the study. Descriptive research design was adopted for the study while a population of 150 respondents were drawn among youths in Ijebu Ode local government area, Ogun State via a simple random sampling technique. Results showed that mass media has raised significant awareness on   youths involvement in  criminal activities and delinquent behavior in Nigeria. Similarly, results also showed that media reporting have influenced policy decision such as the establishment of national youth development policy. It was further revealed that there are constraint and challenges affecting mass media reporting of criminal activities in Nigeria particularly among youths which includes financial constraint that can hinder in-depth reporting, media ownership influences, corrupt practices which also affects arrests and prosecution, In spite of the above challenges, it was discovered that media campaign has sensitized the public on crime prevention, victims, support and community engagement which has led to arrest of offenders as well as improved collaboration between law and enforcement agencies and the  community in addition to serving as platforms for victim to share their stories. It is therefore recommended that undue influences be minimized to improve freedom of mass media reporting