The Impact of Negative Media Exposure on Democratic Policing

This study examines how negative media exposure to the police in a 21st-century digital environment affects officers’ intentions to engage in democratic policing, and explores the mediating role of perceived public support in that relationship. In contemporary democracies, policing is shifting away from a reliance on physical coercion toward practices grounded in voluntary cooperation and public trust. Yet today’s digital media ecosystem rapidly amplifies adverse police incidents; sensationalistic and biased coverage can distort the image of the entire police service. According to cultivation theory, repeated exposure to negative media narratives shapes societal perceptions of policing, which in turn may influence officers’ perceptions of public support and their willingness to exercise democratic law-enforcement discretion. From 1 February to 31 March 2024 an online survey was administered to 315 sworn police officers. Democratic-policing intent was measured with scales adapted from Bradford & Quinton (2014) and Tankebe (2019); negative media exposure with the scale developed by Ryu (2016); and perceived public support with items from Gau & Paoline (2019). The results show that officers who encounter higher levels of negative media content perceive lower levels of citizen support, which subsequently undermines their commitment to democratic policing practices. By empirically demonstrating the media environment’s influence on democratic policing, the study offers policy implications for strengthening procedurally just, citizen-centred policing. Identifying the mediating effect of perceived public support also provides a theoretical basis for improving police-citizen relations and advancing procedural justice. Finally, the findings inform strategic planning for police organisations adapting to the demands of the digital media age.