role of media in amplification of c+d Flashcards
intro
Sociologists are keen to theorise the causes of social reactions and many attribute a close between the extent and nature of media coverage of particular criminal or deviant acts and the social reaction to them. They argue that most people’s perceptions of crime are actually created, or at least informed by, the media.
point 1
What labelling theory states crime is dependent upon social constructions of reality, law creation, law enforcement and the identities of rule breakers. A key element of all three of these processes is composed by the media, as most people’s perceptions of crime are actually created, or at least informed by, the media.
evidence 1
Carrabine argues that crime news focuses on dramatic events rather than the causes of crime and that recent reality TV programmes (e.g. Police, Camera, Action) focus on CCTV footage and highlight crime as a regular and routine aspect of everyday life. The viewer is addressed as a ‘threatened consumer’ who must take responsibility for crime prevention.
furthermore 1
During their socialisation, journalists internalise certain ‘news values’ – the factors that determine what events are worthy of coverage. Chibnall identifies 4 key factors that make a ‘good story’.
Novelty, freshness and surprise
Drama and excitement
Titillation
A focus on personalities.
This leads to an over exaggeration of crime
eval 1
Left Realists such as Lea and Young argue that the media representation of crime reflects public concerns. The tabloid press is often read by working-class people. Working-class people often live in inner city areas and social housing where there are problems of violent crime. Perhaps tabloid journalists and TV programme makers are just reflecting the reality of life for many working class people.
point 2
A number of sociologists who do not share the same theoretical perspective as the interactionists have also focused on societal reaction.
evidence 2
Stanley Cohen’s looked at societal reaction to disturbances involving mods and rockers which took place in Clacton in 1964. The mass media represented them as a confrontation between rival gangs ‘hell bent on destruction’. however, Cohen discovered that the amount of violence and vandalism was not great which led to considerable public concern which started a deviancy amplification spiral. This led to the police making more arrests, the media reported more deviance, and young people were more likely to identify with either mods or rockers. The reaction to the initial disturbances generated more deviance.
furthermore 2
Cohen claimed that the reaction of the media to events in Clacton generated a moral panic. which occurs when ‘a group of persons emerges to become defined as a threat to societal values. Mods and rockers were singled out as ‘folk devils’ whose behaviour constituted a threat to the social order. The mods and rockers served as symbols of what was wrong with society.
eval 2
Critics of moral panic theory argue that due to the differentiated nature of the modern media of people today means it can no longer explain societal reactions to crime and deviance. McRobbie and Thornton say because moral panics are so frequent they are losing their impact.
They also argue that in an ever more pluralistic and complex society, it is less easy to create agreement over who are “folk devils”. Folk devils are therefore “ contested”. They also suggest that pressure groups and institutions such as the police who aim to generate moral panics for their own ends are less successful now in convincing media editors to launch them.
point 3
Crime is measured by OCS, this can lead to society panicking as some stats may be over exaggerated
evidence 3
Between 1984 and 1993, the number of crimes recorded by the police increased by 111 per cent. This involved Violence against the person, Property crime, Offences against vehicles. The number of crimes reported in British Crime Surveys rose by 77% in the same period.
furthermore 3
Data from the Crime Survey for England and Wales (CSEW) shows that many respondents believed that the crime rate is rising whereas it had actually decreased. Tabloid papers are more likely to report violent and sexual crimes so it is not surprising that tabloid readers are more concerned about these kinds of crime, although they actually make up only a small proportion of all crime.
eval 3
However, interactionist sociologists suggest that the ways in which the criminal statistics are collected and socially constructed are unreliable and consequently the picture of crime offered by the OCS does not reflect the reality of crime. Marxists also agree and they don’t use official statistics to shape their responses to crime
conclusion
In conclusion the media play a large roll in…… as they can change peoples view on crime and can even change their view on the justice system- • The media tend to focus on violent and sexual crimes. Reiner (2002) argues that this is particularly the case in TV and tabloid papers coverage of crime.
