Mass Media Effects Crime Consequences of Media Reporting

  • Slides: 7
Download presentation
Mass Media Effects Crime

Mass Media Effects Crime

Consequences of Media Reporting u u The media concentrates on sensational or newsworthy crimes

Consequences of Media Reporting u u The media concentrates on sensational or newsworthy crimes such as street fighting, murder and other forms of violence This can cause fear among some social groups Surveys have shown that women and the elderly are afraid to go out after dark Media gives people a false impression about the amount and type of crime committed in society

u u u Opinion polls show that people overestimate the amount of violent crime

u u u Opinion polls show that people overestimate the amount of violent crime in society The majority of British people believe that crime is increasing Whereas the British Crime Survey show a consistent fall in crime over the past decade The media also focuses on specific types of criminals Who?

Scapegoating and labelling u u u Young males and minority ethnics for example are

Scapegoating and labelling u u u Young males and minority ethnics for example are stereotyped as deviant and criminal Lurid tales of drug abuse, joyriding and gang violence make popular news copy Ironically these groups are far more likely to be victims of violent crime than any other in society

Folk Devils and Moral Panics u u The role of the media was examined

Folk Devils and Moral Panics u u The role of the media was examined by Stanley Cohen in producing MORAL PANICS in society Turn to page 162 in your textbooks and take notes on the work of Cohen on moral panics Look at and take notes on the work of Goode and Ben -Yehuda on “folk devils” How does this relate to DEVIANCY AMPLIFICATION?

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

Stuart Hall – “Mugging” u u u Stuart Hall is a Marxist who highlights the role of the media in promoting the public’s perception of groups in society Look up his work on page 165 in your text book and make notes How would Left Realists counter- argue Hall’s theory?

Functionalism, New Right and Marxism What purpose does the media serve to society in

Functionalism, New Right and Marxism What purpose does the media serve to society in creating folk devils according to u Durkheim? u Charles Murray? u Marx? u