Identities and the Media: reading the riots

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

- The language and selection of images used inn the coverage created a particular representation of young people to be out of control "youths" that were rebellion. The newspapers used such negative images of the youths dressed in tracksuits in front of the newspaper to essentially put the thoughts in people's mindsets that young people were the main cause for the riots. Young people were referred to as "feral youths" which the word feral has connotations of a wild animal that is out of control and has escaped captivity. This essentially shows how the newspapers were referring young people to animals. 

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

- David Buckingham mentions Owen Jones because he wrote a book about the certain social class which are referred to as "chavs". This certain social class which are referred to as "chavs" are looked down by the society and by the news institutions. This essentially helps link to how right wing news institutions demonise chavs. 

1. 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 young people and teenage boys in particular is that they are out of control and rebellion. They are always looking for trouble and are callous. 40% of news articles that feature young people are focused on crime, violence or anti social behaviour. 71% of news stories can be described as having a negative tone. in 2006, the Brunel University found television reports of young people either intensively focusing on celebrities or most frequently focus on violent crime. 

Essentially, the representation of teenage boys in particular is negative as according to women in journalism, 72% of the 7,000 stories they analysed on teenage boys were negative. Over 75% of the stories were about crime, drugs or police. And the majority of these stories were negative. In newspapers, they are deemed and described to be feral, outrageous, out of control, callous and rebellion. 

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

Stanley Cohen's moral panic could be linked to the riots in terms of how the media inflated the riots into a bigger problem that they were. The media inflated the representation of young working class people by portraying them as massive threats to society. 

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

The rap culture is very popular and it was blamed for the riots as they stated that rap provokes violence and aggressive behaviour which "led" these "young working class people" to do such harm to the environment and people. The Daily Mirror blamed the nature of rap music of how it glorifies violence and crime, how it rebels against authority, the police in particular. 

1. 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 able to communicate with each other to plan the huge violent riot that occurred in 2011. Social media platforms such as Facebook, BBM and Twitter were used to create plans of the riot. Social media was essentially blamed for the riots as the Government panel said that the disorder misconduct was fueled by social networking platforms. These social media platforms were key to the occurance of the riot as it helped the rioters organise the misconduct. 

1. 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 linked to

1. 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?

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

The right wing responses weren't all sympathetic to the viewpoints of the rioters. Max Hastings dilikes the welfare state and argues that too much permissiveness. He argues it has bred a generation with young people have a lack respect. 

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

The left wing commentators pointed out that the UK has some of the highest levels of inequality in Western Europe. They believe that it was unsurprising that the riots broke out in areas with high levels of deprivation and poverty such as Croydon, Tottenham, Birmingham and Hackney. 

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

My own views on the main causes of the riots was essentially the shooting of Mark Duggan which started off the peaceful protest which then the police department decided not to come out and explain which led to more anger. Then the pushing of the "innocent" girl by the police caused more anger within the youths leading to the riot. 

1. 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 as it links to people's materialistic attitudes and their greed for materialistic objects such as expensive trainers, clothing, gadgets. 

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

People were given voices in the media when they were interviewed by journalists which gave them a voice to speak out on their involvement in the riot. 

1. 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?

1. 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?

- In terms of my own perspectives on the riots, I don't have any sympathy for the rioters that were involved in the 2011 riots. I believe that those invovled in the horrific incident that happened around Ealing, Hackney and etc should have strong prison sentences as it would be the right approach to prevent such events happening in the future. With the rioters commiting such major crimes like destroying and breaking into homes, flats and businesses and stealing is very unnacceptable. In terms of the response of the Mark Duggan case, it wasn't right for the young rebels to commit such crimes and put ogther people's lives in jeopardy.