Ethnicity And Media

Question 1

What do many sociologists believe about media representations of ethnic minority groups?

Answer 1

They contribute to the reinforcement of negative racist stereotypes

This undermines the concept of a tolerant multicultural society and perpetuates social divisions.

Question 2

What is a significant issue with media representations of ethnic minorities?

Answer 2

They are generally underrepresented or are represented in stereotyped and negative ways

Ignores inequalities

Particularly in newspapers and TV news.

Question 3

What does Akinti (2003) argue about TV coverage on the black community?

Answer 3

It over focuses on crime, AIDS in Africa, and Black children’s under-achievement

News about black communities always seem to be ‘bad news’

Ignoring the culture and interests of the Black audience

Question 4

What type of news coverage does Van Dijk’s findings categorize Black people into?

Answer 4

Stereotypically negative types of news

Particularly portraying them as criminals especially in tabloid press.

Question 5

What percentage of wrongful actions were committed by Black CJPs in the series ‘Luke Cage’?

Answer 5

100%

This reflects the negative stereotyping in media.

Question 6

In the context of crime, what percentage of suspects arrested were African Americans from 2010-2013 for murder?

Answer 6

54%

This indicates a significant overrepresentation in crime reports.

Question 7

True or False: Nearly 50% of news stories concerning young Black people dealt with them committing crime.

Answer 7

True

Supported by Wayne et al (2007).

Question 8

What were the findings of cushion et al?

Answer 8

Their analysis on different types of news found that black young men/boys are regularly associated with negative news values

Nearly 70% of stories related to crime esp violent gang crime

Question 9

Who looked at inner city race disturbances and what did they find?

Answer 9

Back

Media labelled them as irrational riots/mobs that justify the harsh clampdown by the police
- little to no consideration to reason behind the disturbances like institutional/societal racism

Question 10

What is often the media’s portrayal of moral panics surrounding ethnic minorities?

Answer 10

According to Watson: they stereotype Black people as potentially criminal

This includes the concept of the 1970s ‘black mugger’ from Hall’s classic study

Question 11

How are ethnic minorities portayed as a threat?

Answer 11

As a threat to majority of white culture

Immigrants and aslyum seekers accused of taking advantage of britains ‘generous’ welfare state through fraud

Question 12

List some examples of how ethnic minorities are portrayed as a threat in the media.

Answer 12

• Immigrants as a threat to jobs and welfare
• Refugees and asylum seekers blamed for social unrest
• Muslims portrayed as the ‘enemy within’

This reflects societal fears exacerbated by media narratives.

Question 13

What did Poole (2000) argue about the portrayal of Islam in the media?

Answer 13

It has traditionally been demonized and distorted

Islam portrayed as a threat to western media

Muslims have been stereotyped negatively like extremist.

Question 14

Who looked at stories in relation to islam and what were the findings

Answer 14

Moor et al

Between 2000 and 2008 over a 3rd of stories focused on terrorism
- another 3rd focused on differences between muslim communities and british society
- stories rarely had muslims as victims

Question 15

What is the ‘coup-war-famine-starvation syndrome’ in relation to ethnic minorities?

Answer 15

Focus on negative aspects of less developed countries

Implies that problems are self-inflicted, rarely discussing external causes such as colonialism.

Question 16

True or False: The media often portrays cultural practices of ethnic minorities as normal.

Answer 16

False

They are often questioned and labeled as deviant.

Question 17

How are ethnic minorities displayed as abnormal?

Answer 17

Cultural practices seen as deviant

Ameile et al suggested that media discussion about the hijab and veil portrayed it as inferior, patriarchal and oppressive
- reinforced misogynistic view of islam

Question 18

What did Van Dijk note about the portrayal of white lives in comparison to non-white lives?

Answer 18

Some media imply that white lives are more important

Leads to minimum coverage of disasters involving non-white victims
- Black and asian victims of violent death didnt get the same attention

Question 19

How are Black and Asian people often represented in news roles according to a 2005 BBC survey?

Answer 19

As newscasters and TV journalists but in limited roles

Reflects low status and (Shah) tokenism (programmes contain characters from ethnic minority groups purely because they ‘should’)

Question 20

What response have media professionals from ethnic minority backgrounds recieved?

Answer 20

Agencies targeting ethnic minority audiences

Some ownbed by ethnic minorities

Includes newspapers and radio stations like Eastern Eye and Sunrise Radio.

Question 21

Fill in the blank: Minority groups are represented negatively because of their different _______.

Answer 21

[values/beliefs and practices]

This perception affects their integration into British society.

Newspapers sell more and make more profit by focusing on negative minority representations

Question 22

What do Marxists argue about the negative representation of ethnic minority groups?

Answer 22

They are underrepresented in positions of power

This division prevents social revolution.
- Reference to Milliband with this being one of the forms of ideological conditioning

Question 23

What percentage of online news users were using at least one source with a non-white top editor in the UK in 2020?

Answer 23

0%

This highlights the lack of representation in media leadership.