The recent push to send federal agents to Chicago under the guise of combating violence is not an isolated event; it is part of a decades-long cycle of exploiting violence for political and financial gain. Chicago’s politicians, justice system leaders, and media have all played a role in perpetuating this cycle, often prioritizing power and profit over public safety.
For years, politicians have used the fear of crime to win votes. Justice system leaders have leveraged it to expand their influence and budgets. And the media, primarily broadcast news, has sensationalized violence to boost ratings and clicks. This exploitation is not new, and it continues today, shaping public opinion and policy in ways that harm communities.
Consider the recent letter from Chicago broadcast journalists published in the Chicago Tribune. While it criticized Trump’s actions, it ignored the media’s role in creating the climate that enabled them. For decades, local news has led with random acts of violence, often live from crime scenes, as if that informs 5.2 million Cook County residents. Research shows that fear of crime far exceeds the actual risk of victimization, and sensational coverage fuels that gap, creating a distorted sense of reality that drives punitive responses.
Crime should be reported, but reporting without context, highlighting isolated incidents while ignoring systemic causes, distorts reality. It drives fear, which in turn drives policy. And those policies often fail. Instead of investing in proven solutions like mental health services and community schools, Chicago has poured resources into policing and punitive measures. In 2025 alone, civil settlements tied to police misconduct have cost taxpayers $285 million. Meanwhile, closed community schools and shuttered mental health clinics leave communities vulnerable, perpetuating the very violence these policies claim to address.
The media’s role in this cycle is undeniable. Crime coverage is cheap and profitable, especially as newsroom budgets shrink. But the cost to Chicago is enormous: a poisoned political atmosphere, fear-driven policies, and communities trapped in a cycle of violence and neglect. Carol Marin tried to change this in 2000 by shifting how local news covered crime. Her effort lasted nine months. The media establishment wasn’t ready. Chicagoans have paid the price ever since and continue to pay it today.
In May 2013, we presented an analysis of a year of reporting on domestic violence and sexual assault coverage in the Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times. Our study showed they both covered the issues so horrifically that their reporting led women in Chicago to be fearful of assaults that they were very unlikely to be victimized by, and not really fearing assaults that they were much more likely to experience. The media’s response was to criticize our organization rather than examine the data and change their practices.
Breaking this cycle requires courage and accountability. Media outlets must commit to context-driven reporting that informs rather than inflames. Politicians and justice leaders must reject fear-based policies and embrace evidence-based solutions. And Chicagoans must demand better from their news, their leaders, and themselves. Until then, the cycle will continue, more violence, more fear, more exploitation, and more missed opportunities for real progress.
