An old newsroom cliché often greets clicks on a television broadcast, livestream or news website: “If it bleeds, it leads.”

The phrase is crass, but it points to something true: when police or emergency sirens sound, the public wants to know what happened, as well as where and why, and often turns to journalists for that information.

Crime has played a significant role in American history, including the Watergate burglary that toppled a presidency to yellow journalism that fueled a string of 20th-century lynchings. Audiences appear to have an insatiable appetite for stories of gunshots, arrests, and the “cops and robbers” dynamic, no matter the medium.

But crime coverage remains a cornerstone of modern journalism for other compelling reasons.

The universal connector

Nearly every person has either been a victim of crime, knows someone who has or can imagine themselves or a loved one being targeted. Anyone on public transportation can have a bag or wallet stolen. Most know of a friend or neighbor who had a car broken into or stolen. Few people are immune to concerns of crime. Localized, regional or national crime trends speak to an inherent need for people to feel safe or be aware of dangers in their community.

Public service

Government power to enforce the law demands scrutiny. The role of an independent press is critical to provide objective scrutiny of those wielding government power and tax dollars. News outlets can serve an essential role for society to judge if law enforcement agencies and the courts do their work legally, efficiently and effectively to administer justice and help keep the public safe. Reporters have a duty to go beyond passive observation to actively investigate, track down reports and create a better understanding of crime.

Speaking for the dead

Reporters, like homicide detectives, carry the responsibility of telling the stories of those who can no longer speak. Seeking accurate narratives of crime victims and their loved ones helps the public more fully understand the impact of crime. The impact of these events also include the effects on law enforcers and even perpetrators.

Diverse perspectives

To move beyond generational stereotypes and modernize the understanding of crime, it is essential that crime news speaks to different communities and demographics — students, the elderly, parents and different socioeconomic classes. Crime coverage has a deep history and important role in shaping the understanding of American life, for good and ill. Consider the impact of crime reporting on a community, beyond just providing the news of the day.

Crime reporting carries real consequences. The ramifications of our reporting always should be considered for victims, sources, communities and even the news outlets which employ us. A reporter covering crime today should practice trauma-informed reporting practices, holding to the Society of Professional Journalists’ twin principles: “Seek Truth and Report It” and “Minimize Harm.”

Clarence Williams covered crime and public safety for The Washington Post for nearly two decades.