Do Cops Get A Bad Rep From The Media?

[Aeritai]

These days it seems like when mainstream media covers a news story about police its usually bad news like "Officer shoots unarmed African-American man" which paints a bad picture on all Cops making everyone think that Cops are racist terrorist. When is not true sure there are a few bad Officers in the United States, but that doesn't give anyone the reason to hate on the good Cops that are trying to up hold the law and to keep order.

And in my opinion I think the media should focus more on the good things our men and women in blue do for their town or cities. Now I'm not saying that they shouldn't stop focusing on the cops that shoot unarmed African-Americans I think it is very important to cover that kind of news, but the news should balance out the good and the bad.

What do you say NSG? Do Cops get a bad rep in the media or no?

[Quaeg]

Ah, but good news isn't news at all. By which I mean, good cops doing their jobs is just kinda... expected. It's the status quo and so goes unreported. We don't really need to see headlines saying 'everything's fine' and puff pieces like 'Local Cop Saves Cat From Tree' are nice for a local gazette but they're not incredible pieces of journalism.

Now when we see reports (more and more often recently) that cops are shooting unarmed black teens and using unnecessary levels of force and that all this seems to be happening more and more (or at least are being noticed more and more, who knows what's slipped under the radar?), now that's news. Because it's in the public's interest to know if there's a law enforcement officer who, instead of protecting and serving, is beating and harassing people. That's something people need to know as opposed to good cop stories which are basically just nice to know.

Ultimately, I'd say that cops are pretty well represented in the media. We often see them doing their jobs on TV giving press conferences and announcements about ongoing cases and acting in a professional capacity. We also see them well represented in TV programmes which, realistically or otherwise, depict the police. More often than not in the role of the good guy.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide how you feel the police are represented. This seems to be an issue that's more or less entirely based on personal interpretation.

[Kowani]

No. They’re just starting to actually be held accountable.

[Borovan entered the region as he]

Yes but news cover bad stuff because it makes ppl feel bad a grab attention so in effect no news is good news if there's no such statements stories on them

[Inkopolitia]

Yes, at least in my opinion. The media portrays cops as these evil beasts who go around killing people just because they want to, when in reality, they're the ones making sure you and your loved ones stay well.

Edit to add to my comment: They mostly get portrayed negatively because good news don't make as much money as bad (and possibly fake) news, so the media tries to report on these bad news as much as possible, while ignoring the good news.

[Crockerland]

There are many ridiculous cases where an officer was obviously completely justified (IE: shooting a guy reaching for a gun, or aiming a fake gun at the police) where the media made fools of themselves acting like the stories were at all two-sided or subjective, when any claim the officer was in the wrong was simply indefensible.

However, this anti-police sentiment would not have gained much popularity if not for the fact that the police have very little accountability and are largely free to commit crimes without any repercussions. Police officers are very, very rarely arrested, even while off-duty. An on-duty cop being arrested is basically unheard of. Anyone who defends themselves from police misuse of power with force will be beat within an inch of their life or killed, anyone who sues a police department will be constantly harassed and targeted for the rest of their lives.

So basically, the good cops would get a lot more coverage in the media if they did something about the bad cops.

[Aeritai]

Ah, but good news isn't news at all. By which I mean, good cops doing their jobs is just kinda... expected. It's the status quo and so goes unreported. We don't really need to see headlines saying 'everything's fine' and puff pieces like 'Local Cop Saves Cat From Tree' are nice for a local gazette but they're not incredible pieces of journalism.

Now when we see reports (more and more often recently) that cops are shooting unarmed black teens and using unnecessary levels of force and that all this seems to be happening more and more (or at least are being noticed more and more, who knows what's slipped under the radar?), now that's news. Because it's in the public's interest to know if there's a law enforcement officer who, instead of protecting and serving, is beating and harassing people. That's something people need to know as opposed to good cop stories which are basically just nice to know.

Ultimately, I'd say that cops are pretty well represented in the media. We often see them doing their jobs on TV giving press conferences and announcements about ongoing cases and acting in a professional capacity. We also see them well represented in TV programmes which, realistically or otherwise, depict the police. More often than not in the role of the good guy.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide how you feel the police are represented. This seems to be an issue that's more or less entirely based on personal interpretation.

You make some good points it is very important that the public knows about these shootings, though when that type of thing is reported the good officers get most of the hate from the internet.

[Bombadil]

I would say a far larger influence on perceptions is shows like COPS, and there's another newer one (LivePD) which is even more live.

There's a podcast on it at the moment but some aspects that come out of it are.

1. Cops are always right, when they suspect someone is a criminal turns out they always are when in fact it's only the case some 20% of the time
2. Black people are all criminals
3. Cops can be overly violent without repercussions, like tasering someone running away from you

Anyway, which media, I do a FOX sweep every day and there's always a story about some heroic policeman if they're not covering some heroic soldier doing something in civilian life.

EDIT: the podcast is called Running from Cops

Another thing is.. everyone in Cops has to sign a release form.. who would sign a release form of footage of them being arrested, no one that's who.. hence all sorts of trickery to get them to sign it including saying they'll get a shorter sentence, or letting suspects 'release form' is actually a form they sign so they can be released.

https://www.topic.com/runningfromcops

[Kowani]

Ah, but good news isn't news at all. By which I mean, good cops doing their jobs is just kinda... expected. It's the status quo and so goes unreported. We don't really need to see headlines saying 'everything's fine' and puff pieces like 'Local Cop Saves Cat From Tree' are nice for a local gazette but they're not incredible pieces of journalism.

Now when we see reports (more and more often recently) that cops are shooting unarmed black teens and using unnecessary levels of force and that all this seems to be happening more and more (or at least are being noticed more and more, who knows what's slipped under the radar?), now that's news. Because it's in the public's interest to know if there's a law enforcement officer who, instead of protecting and serving, is beating and harassing people. That's something people need to know as opposed to good cop stories which are basically just nice to know.

Ultimately, I'd say that cops are pretty well represented in the media. We often see them doing their jobs on TV giving press conferences and announcements about ongoing cases and acting in a professional capacity. We also see them well represented in TV programmes which, realistically or otherwise, depict the police. More often than not in the role of the good guy.

Ultimately, it's up to you to decide how you feel the police are represented. This seems to be an issue that's more or less entirely based on personal interpretation.

You make some good points it is very important that the public knows about these shootings, though when that type of thing is reported the good officers get most of the hate from the internet.

Good cops that see their fellow officers abuse their authority and do nothing are enablers.

[Rising Palms]

The media act more like entertainers than journalists.

[Heloin]

I would say a far larger influence on perceptions is shows like COPS, and there's another newer one which is even more live.

There's a podcast on it at the moment but some aspects that come out of it are.

1. Cops are always right, when they suspect someone is a criminal turns out they always are when in fact it's only the case some 20% of the time
2. Black people are all criminals
3. Cops can be overly violent without repercussions, like tasering someone running away from you

Anyway, which media, I do a FOX sweep every day and there's always a story about some heroic policeman if they're not covering some heroic soldier doing something in civilian life.

EDIT: the podcast is called Running from Cops

Another thing is.. everyone in Cops has to sign a release form.. who would sign a release form of footage of them being arrested, no one that's who.. hence all sorts of trickery to get them to sign it including saying they'll get a shorter sentence, or letting suspects 'release form' is actually a form they sign so they can be released.

In the immortal words of Ice Cube, "Fuck the Police."

[Inkopolitia]

The media act more like entertainers than journalists.

Pretty much this

[Aeritai]

You make some good points it is very important that the public knows about these shootings, though when that type of thing is reported the good officers get most of the hate from the internet.

Good cops that see their fellow officers abuse their authority and do nothing are enablers.

Now if the Good Cops stomp out the bad ones then maybe the public and the African-American communities would start trusting their local police force.

[LiberNovusAmericae]

Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Sometimes that bad rep is deserved, while other times it is not. I doubt there was a racist motivation for the Michael Brown shooting, but the media wanted to milk the narrative that there was, even though the guy was a thug in the making.


At the same time there are cases like the Walter Scott case where the police are definitely in the wrong.

[LiberNovusAmericae]

The media act more like entertainers than journalists.

Pretty much this

I also have to agree.

[Kowani]

Good cops that see their fellow officers abuse their authority and do nothing are enablers.

Now if the Good Cops stomp out the bad ones then maybe the public and the African-American communities would start trusting their local police force.

Perhaps. It takes time to rebuild trust. But it would be a good first step.
(And of course, some people would never be convinced. ‘Cause people fear government.)

[Bombadil]

Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Sometimes that bad rep is deserved, while other times it is not. I doubt there was a racist motivation for the Michael Brown shooting, but the media wanted to milk the narrative that there was, even though the guy was a thug in the making.


At the same time there are cases like the Walter Scott case where the police are definitely in the wrong.

Just coming back to COPS, there's an example where a cop pulls down the trousers of a suspect and tasers the guy in the genitals. It's on camera, and police departments actually have to sign off on this shit. When questioned the police chief said it was accidental when, again, IT'S ON CAMERA! Turns out the cop had a history of warnings and suspensions for violence against suspects.

So they wondered why police departments would sign off on clearly unconstitutional actions by cops and the answer is they want the public to think this is all acceptable. Running around screaming at people, tasering them and throwing them to the ground because, hey, they're all criminals right?

[LiberNovusAmericae]

Now if the Good Cops stomp out the bad ones then maybe the public and the African-American communities would start trusting their local police force.

Perhaps. It takes time to rebuild trust. But it would be a good first step.
(And of course, some people would never be convinced. ‘Cause people fear government.)

There are also some who will never be "convinced" because they want to promote reverse racism.

[Scomagia]

Yes, of course. There's no outrage in videos or stories of cops doing their jobs competently and respectfully, hence no profit. All the profit is in showing abuse, so that gets disproportionately fed to the public to get those sweet clicks.

[LiberNovusAmericae]

Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Sometimes that bad rep is deserved, while other times it is not. I doubt there was a racist motivation for the Michael Brown shooting, but the media wanted to milk the narrative that there was, even though the guy was a thug in the making.


At the same time there are cases like the Walter Scott case where the police are definitely in the wrong.

Just coming back to COPS, there's an example where a cop pulls down the trousers of a suspect and tasers the guy in the genitals. It's on camera, and police departments actually have to sign off on this shit. When questioned the police chief said it was accidental when, again, IT'S ON CAMERA! Turns out the cop had a history of warnings and suspensions for violence against suspects.

So they wondered why police departments would sign off on clearly unconstitutional actions by cops and the answer is they want the public to think this is all acceptable. Running around screaming at people, tasering them and throwing them to the ground because, hey, they're all criminals right?

I'm supportive of community oversight boards to fix that. People in the PD who do that need to be promptly fired.

[Scomagia]

I would say a far larger influence on perceptions is shows like COPS, and there's another newer one (LivePD) which is even more live.

There's a podcast on it at the moment but some aspects that come out of it are.

1. Cops are always right, when they suspect someone is a criminal turns out they always are when in fact it's only the case some 20% of the time
2. Black people are all criminals
3. Cops can be overly violent without repercussions, like tasering someone running away from you

Anyway, which media, I do a FOX sweep every day and there's always a story about some heroic policeman if they're not covering some heroic soldier doing something in civilian life.

EDIT: the podcast is called Running from Cops

Another thing is.. everyone in Cops has to sign a release form.. who would sign a release form of footage of them being arrested, no one that's who.. hence all sorts of trickery to get them to sign it including saying they'll get a shorter sentence, or letting suspects 'release form' is actually a form they sign so they can be released.

https://www.topic.com/runningfromcops

Tasing someone eluding the police is absolutely not unnecessary violence. What would you prefer, that they just give up and let them go?

[Ifreann]

Cops get a bad rep from being cops.

[Aeritai]

Sometimes they do and sometimes they don't. Sometimes that bad rep is deserved, while other times it is not. I doubt there was a racist motivation for the Michael Brown shooting, but the media wanted to milk the narrative that there was, even though the guy was a thug in the making.


At the same time there are cases like the Walter Scott case where the police are definitely in the wrong.

Just coming back to COPS, there's an example where a cop pulls down the trousers of a suspect and tasers the guy in the genitals. It's on camera, and police departments actually have to sign off on this shit. When questioned the police chief said it was accidental when, again, IT'S ON CAMERA! Turns out the cop had a history of warnings and suspensions for violence against suspects.

So they wondered why police departments would sign off on clearly unconstitutional actions by cops and the answer is they want the public to think this is all acceptable. Running around screaming at people, tasering them and throwing them to the ground because, hey, they're all criminals right?

Wow I don't watch the show anymore, but I had no idea they were that extreme I'm guessing LivePD is the same thing as well?

[Bombadil]

I would say a far larger influence on perceptions is shows like COPS, and there's another newer one (LivePD) which is even more live.

There's a podcast on it at the moment but some aspects that come out of it are.

1. Cops are always right, when they suspect someone is a criminal turns out they always are when in fact it's only the case some 20% of the time
2. Black people are all criminals
3. Cops can be overly violent without repercussions, like tasering someone running away from you

Anyway, which media, I do a FOX sweep every day and there's always a story about some heroic policeman if they're not covering some heroic soldier doing something in civilian life.

EDIT: the podcast is called Running from Cops

Another thing is.. everyone in Cops has to sign a release form.. who would sign a release form of footage of them being arrested, no one that's who.. hence all sorts of trickery to get them to sign it including saying they'll get a shorter sentence, or letting suspects 'release form' is actually a form they sign so they can be released.

https://www.topic.com/runningfromcops

Tasing someone eluding the police is absolutely not unnecessary violence. What would you prefer, that they just give up and let them go?

It's against the law.

[Scomagia]

Tasing someone eluding the police is absolutely not unnecessary violence. What would you prefer, that they just give up and let them go?

It's against the law.

What would you prefer they do? Answer the question.