Media and Crime

Question 1

Schlesinger and Turner

Answer 1

Crime reporting in the 60’s revolved around murder and petty crime however int eh 90’s its more focused on drug crime, football hooliganism, terrorism and sexual violence

Question 2

Soothill and Walby

Answer 2

Crimes with a sexual nature
The media often uses labels like ‘Sex Beast’ and ‘Sex Fiend’ suggesting that these crimes are carried out by psychopathic strangers which is a distortion of reality

Question 3

Young and Cohen - News

Answer 3

They both believe that the news is socially constructed. Its an outcome of social processes where some stories are accepted and others are rejected - news is not discovered its manufactured

Question 4

What are the 8 News Values ?

Answer 4

They are elements that editors use to decide whether a story is ‘newsworthy’ or not. They are:

 IMMEDIACY – breaking news
 DRAMATISATION – action and excitement
 PERSONALISATION – human interest stories about individuals
 HIGHER STATUS – persons and celebrities
 SIMPLIFICATION – eliminating shades of grey
 NOVELTY OR UNEXPECTEDNESS – a new angle
 RISK – victim-centred stories about vulnerability and fear
 VIOLENCE – especially visible and spectacular acts

Question 5

Define a moral panic

Answer 5

An exaggerated over reaction by society to a perceived problem which is usually inspired by the media where the reaction enlarges the problem out of all proportion to its real seriousness

Question 6

What are the 3 key elements with a moral panic ?

Answer 6

1. The media identify a group as Folk devils
2. This causes the group to be presented in a negative stereotypical view
3. Moral entrepreneurs condemn the group and its behaviour

• These lead to a crackdown on behaviour which ultimately leads to an SFP that amplifies the problem. This creates a deviancy amplification spiral.

Question 7

What were the 3 Key elements that Cohen found in his study on Mods and Rockers ?

Answer 7

1. Exaggeration and distortion - Dramatic headlines were used (‘Day of terror by scooter gangs) which would exaggerate the numbers involved and the extent of the trouble.
2. Prediction - There was an assumption that more conflict and violence would occur
3. Symbolisation - the clothes of the mods and rockers were used as a symbol of their deviance and it allowed the media to connect other groups to the trouble

as a result, a deviancy amplification spiral takes place

Question 8

Describe how the media led to a deviancy amplification spiral for the mods and rockers

Answer 8

-The media exaggerated the event and made it look like a problem- This led to a call for an increased response from police/ courts
- This produced further marginalisation for the mods and rockers
- The media amplify the deviance by defining groups by styles – more youths adopt this fashion
- This creates polarisation of these groups - Leads to SFP as youths acting how media constructed

Question 9

When does Cohen say that moral panics occur ?

Answer 9

They happen during periods of social change as they reflect the anxieties faced by society when its norms and values are being undermined.

He says that they are a result of a boundary crisis (when there’s uncertainty between the boundary of acceptable and unacceptable behaviour)

Question 10

What do functionalists believe about moral panics ?

Answer 10

Moral panics are a response to anomie or formlessness created by change.
If the media creates a sense of threat then this raises the collective consciousness of society and and reasserts social control when values are threatened.

Question 11

What do Neo-Marxists believe about moral panics ?

Answer 11

They are located in the context of capitalism. It takes away the attention of problems going on with the capitalists

Question 12

Give some examples of moral panics that have emerged recently

Answer 12

Dangerous dogs
immigration
Covid Vaccinations

Question 13

What is some AO3 for moral panics ?

Answer 13

• Assumes that the societal reaction is a disproportionate over- reaction - Who is too decide the correct way to react. Left realists would say an individuals fear of crime is rational
• Todays media audience don’t always react with panic to media over-exaggerations - this is because we are accustomed to media ‘shock horror’ stories.
• McRobbie and Thornton - In late modernity there’s little consensus of deviance. Lifestyles that were condemned 40 years ago are now seen as normal eg single parents. So no its harder for the media to create a moral panic about them