Identities and the Media: Reading the riots

How did the language and selection of images in the coverage create a particular representation of young people? 

Lots of negative words are used to represent the young people as they want to represent them as the bad people and give them a low representation. Te words used as disorder and rampaging and many more. There's also dark colours which show us how the riots were.

Why does David Buckingham mention Owen Jones and his work Chavs: the demonisation of the working class?

Owen Jones speaks about the middle class and tells us how there is a class divide in society which is represented in the media. He also talks about how the lower class tend to commit most of the crime.

What is the typical representation of young people – and teenage boys in particular? What did the 2005 IPSOS/MORI survey Find

The typical representation of the young is usually immature and rebellious. 

A 2005 IPSOS survey found that 40% of newspaper articles featuring young people focused on violence, crime or anti-social behaviour; and that 71% could be described as having a negative tone.

How can Stanley Cohen’s work on Moral Panic be linked to the coverage of the riots?

Cohen's work of moral panic links to the riots as young people are now seen as dangerous and therefore are seen to start certain activities such as the riots.

What elements of the media and popular culture were blamed for the riots?

Rap music, Violent games or tv

How was social media blamed for the riots? What was interesting about the discussion of social media when compared to the Arab Spring in 2011?

 

The social media was blamed for the riots as it was spread on Twitter which made others more aware of the riots. It shows why more people joined in the riots due to amount of people who were aware of it online.

The riots generated a huge amount of comment and opinion - both in mainstream and social media. How can the two-step flow theory be linked to the coverage of the riots?

Narrative theory could be used to describe the riots as the young were seen as the villians. The two step flow model fits in as as the reporters of the rioters changed around and put a twist on the stories. Their views on young people were put in.

Alternatively, how might media scholars like Henry Jenkins view the 'tsunami' of blogs, forums and social media comments? Do you agree that this shows the democratisation of the media?

Media scholars would view the tsnami of bloggers etc as 'more egalitarian approach'. It allows them to show their views and opinions. I think this does't show the democratisation of the media because it just allows them to have a equal opportunity. 

What were the right-wing responses to the causes of the riots?

Conservatives responded saying young people are the perpetrators of social disorder, with the police and governing bodies being reasonable in handling their situations. 

What were the left-wing responses to the causes of the riots?

That the young people were only showing a response to how they felt towards the higher more upper class.

What are your OWN views on the main causes of the riots?

I think the main cause of the riots was the fact that the young don;t have a way of getting their voice heard. They don't have the opportunities are always constantly being shut down in society. 

How can capitalism be blamed for the riots? What media theory (from our new/digital media unit) can this be linked to

Poverty and unemployment can be linked to the riots due to capitalism. NDM theory that can be applied includes: chomsky-manufacturing consent, Cohen-moral panic, dyer-power, Stuart halls reading.

Were people involved in the riots given a voice in the media to explain their participation?

Young people weren't given a voice publically but they were able to voice their opinion on social networking sites such as  twitter, facebook. 

In the Guardian website's investigation into the causes of the riots, they did interview rioters themselves. Read this Guardian article from their Reading the Riots academic research project - what causes are outlined by those involved in the disturbances?

What is your own opinion on the riots? Do you have sympathy with those involved or do you believe strong prison sentences are the right approach to prevent such events happening in future?

I think there is some aspects of the riots that shouldn't have happened. But if they didn't riot, these strong points about how they feel wouldn't have got across to the government.

 I don't think long prison sentences are the right approach, something like community service or etc. Making them make a change in society might make them learn better than keeping them locked up hating society.