What’s the Price of Fear? The Economy of Crime Narratives

In the age of digital media, fear has become an economic commodity, and crime reporting is one of the most effective vehicles for selling it. As traditional advertising revenue from print media has plummeted, news outlets have turned to sensational stories—particularly those centred around crime—to drive online clicks. This essay explores how crime reporting, particularly violent crime, has become a tool for media outlets to generate profit through clickbait, in-story advertisements, and pop-up ads. These sensationalised stories, while financially beneficial to the media, contribute to public anxiety, distorting perceptions of crime and building a narrative of fear. This narrative has significant political implications, as it pushes public support toward punitive crime policies and stretches law enforcement resources. By examining the intersection of media sensationalism, political responses, and economic pressures, this essay shows how fear-driven crime reporting undermines community resilience, misdirects public resources, and shapes political agendas in ways that do not effectively address the underlying causes of crime.