Perception vs. Reality

What is the difference between perception and reality and what is the impact on mass communication? Perception is related to the way we perceive things to be based on what we observe or experience, where reality is based on facts and true knowledge of things that actually exists. I think that they both impact mass communication, especially with news sources. News journalist sometimes create a wave of fear for viewers when they over report on certain issues within the country or the local community. We will perceive that a certain area is more crime ridden when the reality shows that crime rates have decreased. We will begin to trust the image that they intend for us to believe without questioning what is reality.