How Portrayal of Child Sexual Abuse in the News Media Increases Fear of Crime Among Guardians: The Case of Greater Malé Area, Maldives

Abstract

A review of the recent local news media shows that there has been a notable increase in the media reporting of child sexual abuse (CSA) in the Maldives. This increase has been particularly noticeable after the 16th of January 2020. This study addresses whether this increase in reporting has had any impact on the community. Specifically, if overexposure to CSA reports in the local news media has given rise to fear of crime. The objectives of this study are to, firstly, ascertain whether news media representation of CSA can induce a fear of crime among the public, and secondly, investigate whether news media reporting of CSA has affected the public’s trust in social institutions. This study is characterised by a qualitative methodology with a phenomenological design and guided by cultivation theory, which stipulates that heightened exposure to crime media will increase fear of crime levels among the audience. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 9 participants. The findings of this study indicate that participants experience heightened fear during the increased CSA reporting waves. Further, all participants expressed avoidance and protective behaviours for their dependents. It was also found that episodic framing of CSA and focus on institutional culpability along with failure to shed light on the social causes of crime such as living situation or poverty has affected the public’s trust in social institutions. Parental neglect / family was also seen as a social institution that has failed to operate effectively to guard children against CSA. Hence this study has found that, in accordance with cultivation theory, increased exposure to CSA can increase fear of crime among the public.