dear simon, - australian broadcasting corporation · dear simon, media watch is taking a look at...

Dear Simon, Media Watch is taking a look at the Herald Sun’s coverage of Victorian sentencing laws, and the participation of your newspaper in the Baillieu Government’s sentencing survey. We would appreciate it if you could answer the following questions. The Herald Sun’s response to many of the questions that critics of the survey have raised have already been addressed in your articles and editorials. However we would appreciate responses to the following specific questions: 1. There is much evidence that popular belief that sentences are too lenient is heavily influenced by media (especially newspaper) coverage. Do you consider that your readers would be aware, from your coverage, that as well as the lowest rate of imprisonment per capita of all states and territories apart from the ACT, Victoria has the lowest crime rate in all categories of crime apart from the ACT, and that in most categories the crime rate is stable or diminishing? 2. Research shows that the more information the public has about sentencing, the less it persists in the belief that sentencing is too lenient. In particular, the recent Tasmanian Jury Sentencing Survey showed that people who had served on juries in particular cases overwhelmingly felt that sentences in those cases were appropriate, and more often felt that they were too severe than too lenient. This important survey was reported on page 38 of the Herald Sun, a month after the results were published. Given the prominence that the Herald Sun has given stories that confirm the public’s belief that sentences are generally too lenient, do you consider that this coverage was adequate? 3. Although the current public survey is clearly the work of the Victorian government, does the Herald Sun consider that the background detail supplied for the individual cases in the current survey (which do not include, for example, prior criminal records) are adequate for the public to make a reasonable judgment on appropriate sentences? 4. The Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council in their paper “More myths and misconceptions” said that some media contributed to a “grossly inaccurate” picture of sentencing practices and “that has serious implications for levels of public confidence in the criminal justice system”. It argued that “papers report selectively, choosing stories, and aspects of stories, with the aim of entertaining more than informing.” What is your response?

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Page 1: Dear Simon, - Australian Broadcasting Corporation · Dear Simon, Media Watch is taking a look at the Herald Sun’s coverage of Victorian sentencing laws, and the participation of

1. There is much evidence that popular belief that sentences are too lenient is heavily influenced by media (especially newspaper) coverage. Do you consider that your readers would be aware, from your coverage, that as well as the lowest rate of imprisonment per capita of all states and territories apart from the ACT, Victoria has the lowest crime rate in all categories of crime apart from the ACT, and that in most categories the crime rate is stable or diminishing?

2. Research shows that the more information the public has about sentencing, the less it persists in the belief that sentencing is too lenient. In particular, the recent Tasmanian Jury Sentencing Survey showed that people who had served on juries in particular cases overwhelmingly felt that sentences in those cases were appropriate, and more often felt that they were too severe than too lenient. This important survey was reported on page 38 of the Herald Sun, a month after the results were published. Given the prominence that the Herald Sun has given stories that confirm the public’s belief that sentences are generally too lenient, do you consider that this coverage was adequate?

3. Although the current public survey is clearly the work of the Victorian government, does the Herald Sun consider that the background detail supplied for the individual cases in the current survey (which do not include, for example, prior criminal records) are adequate for the public to make a reasonable judgment on appropriate sentences?

4. The Victorian Sentencing Advisory Council in their paper “More myths and misconceptions” said that some media contributed to a “grossly inaccurate” picture of sentencing practices and “that has serious implications for levels of public confidence in the criminal justice system”. It argued that “papers report selectively, choosing stories, and aspects of stories, with the aim of entertaining more than informing.” What is your response?