Identities and the Media: Reading the riots

Read the Media Magazine extended feature on the media coverage of the UK riots (MM38 page 5)

 

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

 

The representation of young people was immediately shown as negatively by using language like 'riots' instead of 'protests'. The word riot suggests things like wild and uncontrolled. They newspapers were using dramatic images of 'young thugs' for example the Daily Express calling them 'flaming morons'. Despite the fact that that youth offenders had declined of the years it became the main image of youth.

 

2) Why does David Buckingham mention Owen Jones and his work Chavs: the demonisation of the working class?
He mention Owen Jones' work because it links to the way working class people have been represented he mention show there has been 'a new form of class contempt'. The fact that they have become the object of fear and ridicule, not in just news but other media such as little Britain. Despite the fact that the majority of those convicted were those of middle class people who had respectable jobs.

 

3) What is the typical representation of young people – and teenage boys in particular? What did the 2005 IPSOS/MORI survey find?
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.
Particularly teenage boys were described negatively with word liked yob, scum, and heartless with a few stories describing them positively but only if they had died. This highlights the unbalanced representation of youth that in the majority of the time do not even have a say in the way they are represented in the media. 

 

4) How can Stanley Cohen’s work on Moral Panic be linked to the coverage of the riots?
His work links to the coverage of the riots as he believed that the media talks up the disturbances into a bigger 'moral panic'. They play a role in 'deviance amplification'. This was done reporting the events and expressing the fear and outrage of a 'respectable society'. This attracts people who may have not though of being involved.

 

5) What elements of the media and popular culture were blamed for the riots?
It was said that what provoked the riots was rap music, violent computer games or reality TV. The fact that rap music promotes hatred and violence for authority (especially police but including parents).

 

6) 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 rioters were skilled enough to co-ordinate their attacks through social media such as Facebook, Blackberry and twitter. They used social media to incite others to join in as well. However social media was seen as a positive thing when it seem to aid the revolutions that took place in Tunisia, Egypt and Syria.

 

7) 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 refers to opinion leaders and with this news coverage of this included different peoples account of what happened including politicians, community leaders, media commentators and 'experts'. This can bring attention to the situation if they can provide a simple cause/explanation for it.

 

8) 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?
They may see as a new way to promote the democratisation of the communication system as it allows people more than before to voice their opinion and let there take on the situation have a effect regardless of how small or big. Its part of the contribution to the noise that is generated. People take to different platforms to do so. I think this does in a way show more of a democratisation of media but not to the extent in which the Big Media' has now been finished as it is still those big organisations that decide what news is given importance whether it be through algorithms or simply the amount of coverage its given.

 

9) What were the right-wing responses to the causes of the riots?
The right-wing responses was leaning towards amoral youth. claiming that youth have become disrespectful and less appreciative and have a lack of 'moral compass'. Max Hastings claimed that "such young people live lives of 'absolute futility'"
Some right-wings believed it was ultimately the parents fault, whilst others thought it was the schools fault for failing to discipline and teaching respect to authority to the children.

 

10) What were the left-wing responses to the causes of the riots?
The left-wing responses were leaning towards inequality and poverty. The causes ranged from the cuts in the youth services and the rising in youth unemployment and also the removal of the education maintenance allowance. Capitalism can be seen as the problem too where politicians can lie and cheat and the people who are rioting are following this example.

 

11) What are your OWN views on the main causes of the riots?
 I think that what sparked the riots was the death of Mark Duggan but I also think the main causes for the riots were more due to the cause of inequality and poverty and the fact that people from the working classes were tired of not being treated fairly and the fact that their voices were always being put aside.

 

12) How can capitalism be blamed for the riots? What media theory (from our new/digital media unit) can this be linked to?
Capitalism can be blamed for this in the sense that we follow the example that is set by the senior and respected figures in society. This can be linked to Marxism and Hegemony in the sense that we follow the status quo.

 

13) Were people involved in the riots given a voice in the media to explain their participation?
At first there was a 'rush to instant judgement'. There were many people giving their opinion. I feel as if there wasn't an opportunity for the people involved in the riots to give their reasoning behind the riots before there was a set negative representation that had circulated around the media.

 

14) 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?

• Opportunism - it seemed that normal rules had been suspended and there was an opportunity to acquire goods and luxury items that they could not afford.
• Gang members - they played a role in the riots despite the effective four-day truce that was applied to towns and cities across England.
• BBM - It was found that social media sites were nor exclusively and highly used during the riots but instead, popular at that time, Blackberry phones with the free messaging service BBM was used to organise and plan the riots in advance.
• Political grievances - People who were rioting were for the injustice they were receiving, social and economic. Also education related issues like tuition fees and EMA.

 

15) 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 that the riots was an eye opener for how major operations work in the sense that they misinterpret and misrepresent certain things in society that in turn fuel further problems and dissatisfaction. The fact that it was made clear how these organisations think of the working class that could add to the inequality that they face. To an extent I have sympathy with those involved however the approach taken I feel was unnecessary. Burning and looting wasn't the best way in solving the situation.