Crime and reality TV

The emergence of reality TV has blurred the boundaries between news and fiction. Crimewatch UK is one of the earliest reality TV programmes- it presents dramatised reconstructions of crime. It aims to both entertain and to help the police solve crimes. And it still continues to attract a far larger audience than the news.

In its portrayal of crime, Crimewatch UK is similar to the news- it focuses no murder, armed robbery with violence, and sexual crimes. This…