Coms & society

ISSN 2386-7876 – © 2015 Communication & Society, 28(3), 97-113

The Influence of Community Structure on Crime News Coverage: Structural Pluralism, Ethnic Diversity, and Local Crime News

Abstract
This study examines patterns of local newspaper crime coverage in terms of the community structure model, which is derived from the research of Tichenor, Donohue, and Olien. A total of 32 metropolitan statistical areas (MSA) and primary metropolitan statistical areas (PMSA), classified into four different categories of community according to the structural characteristics of structural pluralism and ethnic diversity, were selected for inclusion in this study. Crime news reports from the major newspaper of each selected community were analyzed based on the types of crimes (violent crime vs. property crime). These data were then compared to FBI crime statistics. In terms of the results, ethnic diversity was found to be a more important factor than structural pluralism in explaining the high proportion of violent crime coverage and the lesser amount of reportage of property crimes, as well as the discrepancies between the newspaper crime reports and the FBI crime statistics.
Keywords: community structure, structural pluralism, ethnic diversity, crime news, FBI crime statistics, local newspaper

1. Introduction

From a sociological perspective, pluralism reflects power distribution and power alignment. The more pluralistic a society becomes, the more decentralized its power structure. This decentralization reflects equality, equilibrium, and democratic values. As media technology advances, pluralism also applies to mass media through various communication channels. To understand media performance, one must consider the role or functions of media regarding diverse social structures such as political and economic systems, cultural norms, and ideologies, as well as their interplays. Understanding mass media alongside other organic social systems facilitates a deeper comprehension of media performance as a form of repetitive activity that contributes to community stability (DeFleur & Ball-Rokeach, 1982).

Many scholars (e.g., Demers, 1994; Donohue et al., 1973; Dreier, 1982) have analyzed media roles from structural perspectives, with a focus on local newspaper performance under community structure frameworks. Research has noted the significant overrepresentation of violent crimes (e.g., Antunes & Hurley, 1977; Lipschultz & Hilt, 2002) and the resultant distortion of public perception regarding crime (Chiricos et al., 2000). Despite investigations into community structure and media representation concerning issues like environmental risks and gender (Armstrong, 2002), no prior research has addressed crime reporting from this vantage point. Thus, this study’s objectives are twofold: (1) analyze how crime types are reported in local newspapers relative to community structure and (2) compare local newspaper crime coverage with actual FBI crime statistics in relation to community characteristics.

2. Literature Review and Theoretical Framework

2.1. Community Structure

Community Structural Pluralism and the Function of Mass Media
The intellectual roots of community structure can be traced to Tichenor, Donohue, and Olien at the University of Minnesota, who proposed that newspapers reflect community conditions, including power structures, rather than merely serving public needs (Tichenor et al., 1980). They define pluralism as the degree of differentiation in social systems that influences the sources of organized social power. For instance, pluralistic communities possess larger populations and more businesses, churches, and civic groups, whereas less pluralistic communities are smaller and have centralized power.

In smaller communities, local media typically support prevailing power structures, while in larger, more pluralistic communities, media serve as brokers of communication between diverse groups. Here, media are more likely to report on conflict and act as regulators, thereby maintaining social cohesion. This phenomenon is described in terms of “distribution control” and “feedback control” (Donohue et al., 1973).

2.2. Beyond Traditional Community Structural Pluralism: Multiple Dimensions of Structural Pluralism

While early scholarship viewed structural pluralism unidimensionally, other researchers advocate for a multidimensional approach. Hindman et al. (1999) proposed examining both structural and ethnic pluralism. They found that higher interaction and cohesion among ethnic minority groups within communities significantly influence community power dynamics.

Armstrong (2006) introduced an additional dimension—leadership diversity—characterizing community leadership's ethnic and gender diversity and its impact on power distribution. Such research indicates that understanding community pluralism requires examining multiple dimensions to appreciate the complexities of power distribution effectively.

2.3. Local Crime News, Market Size, and Community Structure

Criminal Events in Local News and in Reality
Graber (1993) reported that crime news constitutes about 14% of local news coverage, focusing primarily on sensational events. Studies have shown a lack of correlation between media's crime trend presentations and actual police crime statistics (Sheley & Ashkins, 1981). Generally, crime reporting in newspapers better approximates true crime distributions compared to television.

Various studies have indicated that crime reporting tends to overrepresent serious offenses, thereby presenting a biased picture of crime occurrence over time (Roshier, 1973). For instance, Antunes and Hurley (1977) found the reporting ratio of serious crimes was disproportionate to actual rates, leading to distorted perceptions.

Crime News, Media Market Size, and Community Structure
Coverage of breaking and sensational crime news is influenced by multiple factors, including commercial considerations and market size. Large media markets (e.g., Chicago, New York City) typically emphasize more sensational human interest stories compared to smaller markets. Research indicates that larger markets foster more sensational crime reporting, reflecting a greater structural pluralism and ethnic diversity (Jeffres et al., 2000). Thus, the study's hypotheses are formulated to assess the relationship between community structure and crime news representation.