AC1.5 - Impact of media representation on the public perception of crime
MORAL PANIC
The media often reports crimes in a certain away in order cause moral panic which
causes an overly exaggerated reaction by society to a problem. The media usually
finds a particular group to target as folk devils (folk evil is a person or group of
people who are portrayed in folklore or the media as outsiders and deviant, and who
are blamed for crimes or other sorts of social problems)
The serious of the crime is often exaggerated and blown out of proportion to the
actual event.
Negative impact
An example of this is the mods and rockers, were two different groups of youths got
involved in a disturbance in 1964 which resulted in minor property damage.
The medias coverage of this event blowed the actual events of the crime out of
proportion. The media highlighted the difference in the groups
They distorted number of people involved and seriousness
Other examples – panic buying COVID, Petrol incident.
DEVIANCE AMPLIFICATION MODEL
The media can also amplify deviance, sometimes when authorities try to maintain
deviance, it can actually end up producing more deviance.
With the mod and rockers the media made it seem like the problem was out of
control of the police which resulted in the public calling to suggest a more forceful
way of controlling the juvenile delinquents.
Positive impact
Moral panics can help bring police attention to certain crimes and pressure the
government to make a change.
With the Momo challenge that was rending online, the moral panic helped warn the
public specifically schools and parents with young children to be careful online. Also
helped authorities discover the challenge was actually a hoax.
CHANGING PUBLIC CONCERNS
The way the media represents certain groups can also affect and change the public’s
attitudes. This can also be linked with causing moral panic amongst the public as
well.
Negative impact
Media representation of mod and rockers caused anxiety, public thought the youth
were out of control and a potential threat to them.
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