Crime rates rising?

Does media have an effect on how you view current crime rates? With the economy in the gutter and unemployment static and struggling in the state one might think crime would be at an all time high. Actually statistics say otherwise, cities like LA are seeing crime rates reaching the lowest levels in 40+ years. That follows a nation wide trend where crimes rates have seen an incredible drop. Authorities credit that to long prison sentences for violent offenders, deceased

convicts, and "Crack dealers have learned how to do business without killing each other,"NPR. Check out this article Published by NPR news.
LA's Crime Rates
Another article by the "Huffington Post"