Influence of Crime News on Residents of Selected Communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council, Federal Capital Territory, Abuja

This study investigated the influence of crime news on residents of selected communities in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Federal Capital Territory, Abuja (FCTA) Nigeria. The study was hinged on the framing theory and was guided by four research questions. Survey was the research design while a questionnaire served as research instrument. Krejcie and Morgan sample size determination formula produced a sample size of 400 respondents from four communities, while the subjects were selected by a combination of simple random sampling technique and qualified volunteer sampling technique. The study found that almost all respondents received news related to crime and the majority of them received such news often. Mass media channels, more so, television served as major sources of crime related news to respondents. Crime news influenced the majority of respondents in such a manner as to cause their suspicion of people around them; resorting to prayers to God (for safety); remaining indoors at night; spending larger sums of money on security; worry about the safety of family members; paying more attention to personal security; fear; and giving more attention to the news. This effort is in the social sciences, sitting astride the genres of development communication; media studies and also, criminology.