ABSTRACT
The news and print media are important aspects of modern society, and we are accustomed to constant communication. The law enforcement community would probably like to totally avoid media coverage of certain high-profile events and politically charged situations because coverage can hamper investigations and bias the public. However, radio and television stations dedicated to news 24 hours a day, the presence of the Internet in huge numbers of American households, and real-time coverage of events as they happen (for example, the Bronco chase involving O.J. Simpson) have created an insatiable need for news — particularly sensational stories involving notable show business and political figures or allegations of police violence. Conversely, media coverage can be a positive force, for example, for seeking witnesses to a crime or missing persons.
