Print media plays an important role in shaping public opinion and decision making. While it remains a popular source of information, this document examines readers' perceptions of crime reporting in newspapers. A survey of 50 readers found that while most read newspapers, many are dissatisfied with crime coverage and want reporting to be more balanced and fact-checked. The top causes of crime in India are identified as poor education, superstition, and alcohol. Readers suggest newspapers improve the accuracy and sources of crime news.

1. Print media: a tool for reader’s decision making
Abstract
In the broader sense, all printed matter, in a narrower but widespread usage. A fundamental
means of informing the public and disseminating ideas, print is a powerful weapon of social and
political struggle. Johannes Gutenberg’s invented printing press in 1453. Newspapers
developed from about 1612 with the first example in English in 1620. The first circulation of
newspapers arose in the early 1800. In the field of media where all media plays an important
role but print media are still the favourite one for shaping public opinion which leads to proper
decision making on a pertinent cause or issue belongs to public perception. They possess a
large amount of power when it comes to public perception. There are seven good reasons for
why print media : a tool for reader’s decision making such as reach & reliability, readers have
deep relationship with print medium, connection and sharing, print media continues to have a
universal appeal with huge variety of content, it allows readers to go online using bridging
technologies, It gives any brand an immediate response, as virtually all of the reach is delivered
on the day the ad appears. We use print media more appropriate Bcoz of sensory media
experience, ideal marketing medium, creating engagement, digging deeper with print, print
increases the ROI etc. so in some or the other way print still play an important role.
Keywords:-
widespread usage, informing public and disseminating, circulation, shaping public opinion,
deceision making, public perception, universal appeal, readers, connection and sharing,
content.
Statement of Problems:-
In newspapers, as a reader it finds very unappropriate while reading crime news. Today , the
readers demand 4C'S , namely cricket, cinema, comedy and crime. The Indian media once
saying that they are giving people what they want, but I am not sure that they are giving people
what they want anymore. Even if viewers are interested in crime no one wants to meaningless
reports, and nor do people want to see the same video clips. We readers and viewers deserve
more. We deserve to get a balanced picture about crimes committed in the whole
country…villages, semi-urban areas and in the poorer city areas and it doesn’t matter if the
victims are poor and/or the killers are poor. Crime news needs to be suitably balanced.
Introduction:-
Print media is one of the oldest and basic forms of mass communication. It includes
newspapers, weeklies,magazines, monthlies and other forms of printed journals. The

2. contribution of print media in providing information and transfer of knowledge is remarkable.
Even after the advent of electronic media, the print media has not lost its charm or relevance.
Print media has the advantage of making a longer impact on the minds of the reader, with more
in-depth reporting and analysis.Print media generally refers to newspapers.
Newspapers collect, edit and print news reports and articles. Printing technology came to India
in 1556. It was the Jesuit priests who brought this technology to our country. The first book
printed in India was in Portugese language in Old Goa. Newsletters circulated by rulers were the
first form of newspapers. In India,the East India Company circulated such newsletters. It was
from Calcutta that the first newspaper was published from India. It was a Britisher who started
the first newspaper in our country. On January 29, 1780 James Augustus Hickey launched the
“Bengal Gazette”. It has another title “Calcutta Advertiser”. It was popularly known as “Hickey’s
Gazette”. The first issue of the paper had two pages and later it was increased to four pages. It’s
size was 35 cms x 24 cms. Some of the leading English newspapers were also launched during
this time. “The Times of India” (1861) was started as a paper supporting the British. Many of
you might have heard about “The Jungle Book”. The author of “The Jungle Book” , Rudyard
Kipling, started “The Pioneer” in 1866 from Allahabad. “The Amrita Bazar Patrika”(1868), “The
Statesman” (1875), “The Hindu” (1887) and “The Tribune”( 1880) were also started during this
period. “The Hindustan Times” was started later, in 1923. In the regional languages, some
papers that were launched during that period continue even now as leading papers like
“Malayala Manorama” (1888).When Mahatma Gandhi returned to India, he gave a great
impetus to the freedom movement. He was also a great editor. He took over “Young India”, the
weekly started by the Home Rule Party in 1918. Gandhiji also launched another weekly, called
the “Navjeevan”, in Gujarati. Later, Gandhiji started the “Harijan” under the editorship of
Mahadev Desai. Gandhiji insisted that his papers will not carry any advertisements. But all his
publications had wide circulation among readers .
Objectives of Research:-
1. To study the reader perception about crime news.
2. To know the reader's decesion making in print media.
3. To know how many readers interested in reading crime news.
4. To know how much readers's satisfied with the crime news content.
5. To know the public opinion about crime news.
ResearchMethodology:-
The Research method of my research is basically primary researc. Questionnaire methodology
applied on 50 respondent comparises of mass communication students, general readers. Target
audiences of my research is all age groups. With the help of primary research, this research

3. highlights the propensity of print media which helps in various decision making in daily business
of administration and society.
Analysis and Findings:-
Q1. Do you read newspapers?
According to analysis of this chart, hence it is prove that 80% of people read newspapers and 20
% do not prefer to read newspapers. Hence, the readers who are not reading hard format of
newspapers might because of e-paper, website, web applications and some other alternates are
available to them.
Q2. Which newspaperyou prefer to read?

4. According to analysis of this chart , 33%( TOI) , 17% (DNA), 17%(The New Indian Express),
25%( Gujarat Samachar), 8%( Divya Bhaskar) prefer to read newspapers. In ahmedabad, the
readers of Times Of India and Gujarat are large in number.
Q3. If no, then state the reason?
- I get less time
- No
- Local News, national, foreign affairs etc
- I read
Q4. Which beat you prefer to read?

5. According to analysis of this chart, 25%(Political), 33% (National), 17%(Sports), 17%
(Health), 8% ( Crime) are the beats people prefer to read. In Ahmedabad, readers prefer to
read mostly Political and national news and less sports, health and crime news.
Q5. How much time you spend reading newspaper?
According to analysis of chart, 59% read newspapers less than half an hour and 33% read
newspapers for 1hr.
Q6. Do you read crime relatednews?

6. According to analysis of this chart, 55% read crime news and 45% not read crime news.
Hence larger percentage of readers read specific crime news of his/ her interest but 45% does
not read crime news because of newspaper doesn't give appropriate crime news.
Q7. If no, thenstate the reason?
I dont like it
No
None
Not very good in handling news like rape, prostitution etc. any thing that talks about female
sufferings
I read.
not interested in crime news
It disturbs my mental peace.
Not giving appropriate crime news
Q8. Which types of crime you readin newspaper?

7. According to analysis of chart, (50%) Domestic Violence, (25%) Murder, (25%) Kidnapping,
(0%) of ( Robbery, Molestation and Rape) are types of crime mostly readers read in
newspaper. hence the readers are aware about the types of crime they read in newspaper.
Q9.Youas a readersatisfy with the crime news contentprovided by
newspaper?

8. According to analysis of chart larger 83% of readers does not satisfy but 17% of readers
satisfied with the crime news content.
Q10. Have you ever experience crime in nearby area?
Accordingto analysisof thischart,58% of readersexperience crime innearbyareabut42% doesn't
experience anycrime .hence larger%of readersexperienceinnearbyorfar fromthat area and less
no.of people doesn'texperience anycrime.
Q12. Q11. You mentioned that you read about crime in newspapers, is that
mainly from?

9. According to analysis of chart, readers read newspapers largely from Physical and less from
E-paper and Web portals. Hence people are still believes and read news from Physical and
less from E-paper, websites and web applications.
Q12. Do you think today's decisionare made on print media reporting?
According to analysis of this chart, 50% of readers can't say about the decision are made on
print media reporting but 25% trust on decision are made and 25% does not trust on the
deceision made in print reporting.

10. Q13. Do you believes on the sources offacts and figures coveredby
newspapers?
According to analysis of this chart ,59% of readers believes on the sources of local
newspapers. Hence readers still believes on the sources of facts and figures largely from local
newspaper.
Q14. In your view , what are the major causes ofcrime in India today?

11. According to anallysis of this chart, largely the main causes of crime are Poor Education,
superstition and Alcohol. hence these are the main cause of crime in India till now.
Q15 what's your suggestion/opinion on the content of crime news provide
by newspapers?
To show truth of todays society
-
The print media should be more specific and unanimously print/publish the content, targreting
the Mass Media Appeal and discretion.
There are times when a story is presented in exaggerated manner just for the sake of
readership. People cross limits in giving details. These should be checked
It's really helpful for the local public so that they can be aware about the place where they are
staying.
improve crime related news
confirm the crime source before print in newspapers
Conclusion:-
According to results drawn from this research larger population of readers doesn't read
crime related news and if yes than they want to improve the content and sources
provided by newspaper.
Reference:-
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/archive/year-2016,month-1.cms
https://nitawriter.wordpress.com/2008/05/27/urban-crimes-and-the-media/
http://www.printpower.eu/Newspapers