INFORMATION, PRESS, AND MEDIA INFLUENCE ON SECURITY STUDIES IN THE PAST FORTY-FIVE YEARS

Abstract

Disputed discourse in the field of private security in media shapes the public opinion about research on security (Choi, 2021). The need for services provided by private security organizations is increasing, which is a fact that is widely acknowledged due to private security organisations' near-omnipresence. The growing security concerns, which include organised crime, terrorism, cyber security, and post-Covid-19 pandemic security barriers, have had an impact on the development of reliance on and use of private security services. However, despite the rise in growth, continuous expansion, and ever-increasing demand for private security services, narratives in the media do not portray the professionalism of the security industry, which is often regarded as a business (Cusomano & Kinsey, 2022). The study applied a narrative analysis research design, comprising investigations of recent media publications, state journals, and commentaries on the functions played by private security in the United Kingdom. Structured research of texts, articles, commentaries, and publications regarding private security in major press and media platforms, such as the Sun, Daily Mail, the Sunday Times, Daily Mirror, and Metro mostly report on the negative aspects of private security industry. The information propagated portrays the private security sector as lacking proper regulations. The management is perceived to be controlled by 'bad guys', who are used as a last resort for income generation and do not require high academic qualifications. They are mostly understood as bouncers or have guarding roles and are ranked lower on the profession scale due to the involvement of brawn rather than brain. The media's perception has far-reaching implications for public opinion and trust in the private security industry, which reduces enlistment in the field of security studies. The negative sentiments toward the sector also outnumber the significant progress made in standardizing security course outlines, ethics or codes of conduct among security personnel, and ensuring property protection and human safety. Keywords: investigation, information technology, private security, crime, detective, national security, surveillance, media, social media