THE ROLE OF MASS MEDIA IN CRIME REDUCTION
Abstract
This study is on the role of mass media in crime reduction.  The total population for the study is 200 staff of selected radio and tv stations in Akwa Ibom state. The researcher used questionnaires as the instrument for the data collection. Descriptive Survey research design was adopted for this study. A total of 133 respondents made of managers, editors, broadcasters and junior staff were used for the study. The data collected were presented in tables and analyzed using simple percentages and frequencies
CHAPETR ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1        Background of the study
1.2        Statement of problem
1.3        Objective of the study
1.4        Research Hypotheses
1.5        Justification of the study
1.6        Significance of the study
1.7       Scope and limitation of the study
1.8       Definition of terms
1.9       Organization of the study
CHAPETR TWO
2.0   LITERATURE REVIEW
CHAPETR THREE
3.0        Research methodology
3.1    sources of data collection
3.3        Population of the study
3.4        Sampling and sampling distribution
3.5        Validation of research instrument
3.6        Method of data analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
DATA PRESENTATION AND ANALYSIS AND INTERPRETATION
4.1 Introductions
4.2 Data analysis
CHAPTER FIVE
5.1 Introduction
5.2 Summary
5.3 Conclusion
5.4 Recommendation
Appendix
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1    Background of the study
The important role of mass media is transferring the way of social life as well as its teachings to the audience. Establishing mass media for the important issue of public information is an effective activity in a society that needs hardware facilities, skilled manpower, adequate funding in order to produce appropriate information and message. Today, the role of mass media in transferring different values of a society, including religious, cultural, social, economic and etc. is approved by legal, social and psychological theorists of countries. Many investors in different parts of the media have numerous goals that we can point out making profit and business, profit activities, public participation and. Which they personally provide the funding from various sources, posts and messages, and any of them has different attitude and themes. Nigeria is based on the interaction of religion and policy and we see this interaction and correlation in all elements that processing the religious beliefs in people's lives is among society values and goals (Dadgaran, 2003). It is natural that in this system, circulation information and exchange of thoughts and ideas are under the rule of the state, and it is very clearly that TV and radio as the most important and most pervasive mass media tools of Nigeria society are governmental. Other activities of the Press and informing in society even electronic database have been also monitored and this is a critical factor in advancing the government goals to announce the prevention of deviation through its most important tools. Criminologists study mass media following the social or environmental, selective or random factors crime, and emphasize on its dual roles of the crime or prevention (Meshkat Razavi, 2008; Keynia, 2007). They believe that this tool plays an important role in the development or deviation of public opinion, and is the best way to clear the mind and enlightenment of public opinion and beliefs. Thus, the nature of the mass media is in such a way that they have to exaggerate or distort facts and concepts for attracting the audience. Then, the media with selecting events and how they convey meaning and message to people, have an effective role in determining the types and extent of crime and social violations. Already, with increasing development and use of satellite technology and communications globally and receive images as well as using the Internet, the globalization capability of the media has emerged that causes the formation of important issues in the realm of crime and media. In this regard, criminology scholars and researchers also examined the relationship between crime and the media in terms of crime prevention (Maskani, 2005). Here in brief, we go to prevention, media violence, the role of mass media in crime occurrence and the media's role in the prevention of crime.
1.2    STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
Criminologists study mass media following the social or environmental, selective or random factors crime, and emphasize on its dual roles of the crime or prevention (Meshkat Razavi, 2008; Keynia, 2007). They believe that this tool plays an important role in the development or deviation of public opinion, and is the best way to clear the mind and enlightenment of public opinion and beliefs. Thus, the nature of the mass media is in such a way that they have to exaggerate or distort facts and concepts for attracting the audience. On this background the researcher wants to investigate the role of mass media in crime reduction
1.3    OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
The objectives of the study are;
1.    To ascertain the role of mass media in crime reduction
2.    To ascertain the relationship between mass media and crime reduction
3.    To ascertain the way social media reduction crime
1.4    RESEARCH HYPOTHESES
For the successful completion of the study, the following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher;  
H0:   there is no role play by mass media in crime reduction
H1:there is role play by mass media in crime reduction.
H02:there is no relationship between mass media and crime reduction
H2:there is relationship between mass media and crime reduction
1.5    SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
This study is on the role of mass media in crime reduction. The study will be beneficial to students and the general public and it will also serve as a reference to others researcher that will embark on this topic.
1.6    SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY
The scope of the study covers the role of mass media in crime reduction. The researcher encounters some constrain which limited the scope of the study;
a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study    
b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
c) Organizational privacy: Limited Access to the selected auditing firm makes it difficult to get all the necessary and required information concerning the activities    
 1.7 DEFINITION OF TERMS
ROLE: The function assumed or part played by a person or thing in a particular situation.
MASS MEDIA: The mass media is a diversified collection of media technologies that reach a large audience via mass communication. The technologies through which this communication takes place include a variety of outlets.
CRIME: an action or omission which constitutes an offence and is punishable by law.
REDUCTION: the action or fact of making something smaller or less in amount, degree, or size
1.8 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY
This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows
Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), historical background, statement of problem, objectives of the study, research hypotheses, significance of the study, scope and limitation of the study, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlights the theoretical framework on which the study is based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study