(2) Hierarchy of credibility in manufacturing crime state violence stigma

Question 1

Hierarchy of credibility (Becker) proposes that those belonging to the highest-ranking social groups have the authority and credibility to

Answer 1

define and decipher events

Question 2

How do journalists fall victim to the hierarchy of credibility (Becker)?

Answer 2

they attach greatest importance to views and opinions of those in power (gov officials/politicians, wealthy ppl)

Question 3

Propaganda model (Chomsky) says that the media operates as a business which sells

Answer 3

its products (readers and subscribers) to other businesses that advertise in the media instead of performing the function of disseminating news for the public

Question 4

What constitutes a counter argument for the dominant ideology approach

Answer 4

Pluralism (80s-90s): that the plurality of sources and channels provides sufficient forum for all views - ppl are active consumers of different type of info!

Question 5

Dominant Ideology approach - what is the idea behind it

Answer 5

The dominant ideology is the one that is most widely shared within society: the ideology advanced by the ruling class (or bourgeoisie).

Question 6

What does Marx say about dominant ideology

Answer 6

–> society controlled by the elite which exploit the lower classes

Question 7

What does Gramsci say about dominant ideology

Answer 7

–> control is kept by the upper classes by producing hegemonic cultures – the propagation of the values nad norms that uphold the power of the elites and are accepted as “common sense”

Question 8

Under dominant ideology and radical and critical criminology specifically who attaches crime and criminal labels to people or behaviour?

Answer 8

the powerful classes –> it’s a top down approach (eg Mexican gangsters, eastern european stereotypes)

Question 9

Dominant Ideology Approach: Media representations and labelling theory - Jewkes says:

Answer 9

that the media’s representations play major role in extending influence of labelling on minorities –> the media reproduces the interests of powerful actors

Question 10

What does Marx say about dominant ideology

Answer 10

–> society controlled by the elite which exploit the lower classes

Question 11

Box 1984 in Crime, Power and Mystification says that Crime is used to maintain

Answer 11

power. The creation of crime and the criminal justice system can be used to maintain social control, justify oppression, and reinforce the status quo.

Question 12

what is a consequence of the crimes of the powerful and the media in perpetuating hierarchies of credibility

Answer 12

law enforcement operates in a way that conceals crimes of the powerful against the powerless but reveals and exaggerates crimes of the powerless against everyone (Box 1989)

Question 13

crimes of the powerful x media say ‘deviance’ should be controlled, especially if it starts

Answer 13

questioning the status quo and starts pointing fingers at powerful actors

Question 14

in the context of the propaganda model, what are the 5 filters of mass media?

Answer 14

1) Ownership
2) Advertising
3) Media elite (and journalism)
4) flak
5) common enemy

Question 15

Chomsky’s 5 filters of mass media: 1) ownership

Answer 15

mass media owned by large corps, thus must cater to interests of their owners being financial elite

Question 16

Chomsky’s 5 filters of mass media: 2) Advertising

Answer 16

revenue derived from adverts for media outlets not the sale/subscription of news –> advertisers derive de facto licensing authority!

Question 17

Chomsky’s 5 filters of mass media: 3) Media elite (and journalism)

Answer 17

large bureaucracies of the powerful subsidise costs of journalism - have influence over what gets reported on

Question 18

Chomsky’s 5 filters of mass media: 4) Flak (negative responses to media/program)

Answer 18

expensive to the media! prospect of eliciting flak can be a deterrent to the reporting of certain kinds of facts/opinions

Question 19

Chomsky’s 5 filters of mass media: 5) Common enemy

Answer 19

used to be anti-communism, but now war on terror as a major control mechanism