Mass Media EffectsMass Media Effects

Crime Crime

Consequences of Media ReportingConsequences of Media Reporting

The media concentrates on The media concentrates on sensational or newsworthy sensational or newsworthy crimes such as street crimes such as street fighting, murder and other fighting, murder and other forms of violenceforms of violence

This can cause fear among This can cause fear among some social groupssome social groups

Surveys have shown that Surveys have shown that women and the elderly are women and the elderly are afraid to go out after darkafraid to go out after dark

Media gives people a false Media gives people a false impression about the impression about the amount and type of crime amount and type of crime committed in societycommitted in society

Opinion polls show that Opinion polls show that people overestimate the people overestimate the amount of violent crime in amount of violent crime in societysociety

The majority of British The majority of British people believe that crime people believe that crime is increasingis increasing

Whereas the British Crime Whereas the British Crime Survey show a consistent Survey show a consistent fall in crime over the past fall in crime over the past decadedecade

The media also focuses on The media also focuses on specific types of criminalsspecific types of criminals

Who?Who?

Scapegoating and labellingScapegoating and labelling Young males and minority Young males and minority

ethnics for example are ethnics for example are stereotyped as deviant and stereotyped as deviant and criminalcriminal

Lurid tales of drug abuse, Lurid tales of drug abuse, joyriding and gang joyriding and gang violence make popular violence make popular news copynews copy

Ironically these groups are Ironically these groups are far more likely to be far more likely to be victims of violent crime victims of violent crime than any other in societythan any other in society

Folk Devils and Moral PanicsFolk Devils and Moral Panics The role of the media was The role of the media was

examined by Stanley examined by Stanley Cohen in producing MORAL Cohen in producing MORAL PANICS in societyPANICS in society

Turn to page 162 in your Turn to page 162 in your textbooks and take notes textbooks and take notes on the work of Cohen on on the work of Cohen on moral panicsmoral panics

Look at and take notes on Look at and take notes on the work of Goode and the work of Goode and Ben-Yehuda on “folk Ben-Yehuda on “folk devils”devils”

How does this relate to How does this relate to DEVIANCY AMPLIFICATION?DEVIANCY AMPLIFICATION?

Stuart Hall – “Mugging”Stuart Hall – “Mugging” Stuart Hall is a Marxist who Stuart Hall is a Marxist who

highlights the role of the highlights the role of the media in promoting the media in promoting the public’s perception of public’s perception of groups in societygroups in society

Look up his work on page Look up his work on page 165 in your text book and 165 in your text book and make notesmake notes

How would Left Realists How would Left Realists counter- argue Hall’s counter- argue Hall’s theory?theory?

Functionalism, New Right and Functionalism, New Right and MarxismMarxism

What purpose does What purpose does the media serve to the media serve to society in creating society in creating folk devils folk devils according to according to

Durkheim?Durkheim? Charles Murray?Charles Murray? Marx?Marx?