Framing violence: how local media portrays crime trends, the community, causes, and solutions

This study examines how local newspapers portray violent crime trends, whose voices are highlighted, and how causes and solutions are framed. Using content analysis of 132 articles from four local newspapers in two U.S. counties, we compared media portrayals to official violent crime trends and assessed quoted stakeholders and policy framing. Coverage emphasized homicide and violence and frequently portrayed crime as increasing despite stable or declining trends. Law enforcement and elected officials dominated coverage, while victims, community members, and system-involved individuals were rarely quoted. Although social causes were acknowledged, solutions largely centered on criminal legal system responses. Overall, local news amplified institutional voices and crisis framing, limiting community perspectives and structural explanations, with implications for public understanding and policy discourse.