How did the language and selection of images in the coverage create a particular representation of young people?
Adjectives with negative connotations are employed: 'rampaging', 'disorder', 'fighting'.
Dark colour schemes, plenty of fiery shades are used to reinforce the 'destructiveness' associated to the riots.
Why does David Buckingham mention Owen Jones and his work Chavs: the demonisation of the working class?
Why does David Buckingham mention Owen Jones and his work Chavs: the demonisation of the working class?
Statistics/findings from the riots found that those of a middle-class, wealthy background. However, as Owen Jones outlines in his recent book, there was a class dimension in the representations created in the press, concerning the demonisation of those from lower social backgrounds in particular, alongside young people.
What is the typical representation of young people – and teenage boys in particular? What did the 2005 IPSOS/MORI survey find?
What is the typical representation of young people – and teenage boys in particular? What did the 2005 IPSOS/MORI survey find?
Typical representations detail young people to be of immature intellect, reasoning and rebellious. A 2005 IPSOS/MORI 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?
Coverage of the riots was mostly sensationalised in order to link the young people represented with a set of counter-moral expectations in society. Radicalised headlines reinforce the severity of this to make it seem as if young people 'are running riot'.
What elements of the media and popular culture were blamed for the riots?
Rap music, violent computer games and reality TV have been held responsible for provoking young people.
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 role of social networking had been attributed as a power abused by 'mindless thugs and morons' to premeditate terror on the streets. In comparison, the 'Arab spring' early in 2011 had used social networking as a utility for anarchist revolutions.
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?
The two-step flow theory can be applied to all second-hand reporters of the riots as their underlying prejudices and socio-political views pivotally alter the nature of reporting.
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?
Tending to celebrate this 'tsunami' of digital platforms as a 'more egalitarian approach', replacing the traditional hierarchy.
What were the right-wing responses to the causes of the riots?
Conservatives perceive young people as the perpetrators of social disorder, with the police and governing bodies being reasonable in their handling of situations.
What were the left-wing responses to the causes of the riots?
Young people have presented a symptomatic response to the disorderly rule of the upper-class.
What are your OWN views on the main causes of the riots?
Several socio-political issues are contributory to the riots. The riots serve as a response to fundamentally prevalent issues including poverty, disagreements in policy-making and unemployment which have the inevitable potential for provoking such terrific events.
How can capitalism be blamed for the riots? What media theory (from our new/digital media unit) can this be linked to?
Capitalism is evidently relevant as this oversees issues of poverty and unemployment, amidst arguments blaming young people's material ambitions for the riots and looting, which developed into a moral panic in this situation which villainised young, especially working-class young people; class-consciousness in this matter comes from Marxist and hegemonic ideologies favouring those in power.
Were people involved in the riots given a voice in the media to explain their participation?
Young people had no available platform to comment on mainstream media sources.
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?
Disapproval of police practices in the cities presented as the most profound cause of the rioting. However, other opportunists had claimed the availability of free goods and luxury items as a chance for them to obtain 'free stuff' they couldn't usually afford.
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?
Ultimately, the events of disorder are ones which are unpardonable for any reason, but nonetheless it is just to discern that civil outbreaks as such are bound to occur as a result of socio-political disagreements catalytic towards the disapproval from the public. Strong prison sentences should be a luxury given those who are obvious repeated offenders, actual threats towards the general public which should be managed immediately.
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?
Disapproval of police practices in the cities presented as the most profound cause of the rioting. However, other opportunists had claimed the availability of free goods and luxury items as a chance for them to obtain 'free stuff' they couldn't usually afford.
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?
Ultimately, the events of disorder are ones which are unpardonable for any reason, but nonetheless it is just to discern that civil outbreaks as such are bound to occur as a result of socio-political disagreements catalytic towards the disapproval from the public. Strong prison sentences should be a luxury given those who are obvious repeated offenders, actual threats towards the general public which should be managed immediately.
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