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The Guardian - US
The Guardian - US
Entertainment
Adrian Horton

John Oliver: local news crime coverage gives police ‘a huge lobbying platform’

John Oliver Police George Floyd
John Oliver on news coverage of police: ‘By presenting police uncritically, you’re not just helping them dodge accountability.’
John Oliver on news coverage of police: ‘By presenting police uncritically, you’re not just helping them dodge accountability.’ Photograph: YouTube

John Oliver looked at how crime is covered by the news, particularly on the local level in the US. “TV news leans hard on ‘this could happen to you’ type of crime stories, which are designed to pull you in,” the Last Week Tonight host explained, which can stoke unfounded fear of crime, lead to misperceptions in the crime rate, and exacerbate inequities in the criminal justice system.

Oliver pointed to the recent example of rainbow fentanyl. According to many news outlets, the candy-colored narcotics have been designed to appeal to children during the month of Halloween.

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