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Crime and the media (How does the media give a distorted view of crime?…
Crime and the media
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Cohen
Argues that the media helps to create the deviance it predicts or anticipates. He argues that attempts to increase social control can actually cause more deviance.
Known as deviance amplification- how the media portrays crime to be more significant than it actually is and potentially creates more deviance in society.
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Moral panics
The risk of being a victim of crime is perceived to be more by the public as a result of the media over reporting crime.
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React to moral panics
Most states respond to moral panic by imposing stricter level of social control. Functionalists claim this is positive as it reinforces social norms and expected levels of behaviour.
However... McRobbie and Thornton argue we are used to moral panic in society and less likely to panic about issues, e.g. crime.
Jewkes
The media have become more diverse with the introduction of the internet. Almost anyone an create media content through things such as twitter and blogging.
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Media context
Greer and Reiner argue tabloid newspapers e.g. The Sun, Daily express are devoting more space to criminal activity than more serious newspapers are, e.g. The Guardian and The Times.
What crimes are covered?
Dickinson found that within The Sun newspaper, 30% of their coverage devoted to crime, whereas only 5% of coverage in The Guardian. Greer and Reiner found that violent crimes tend to be reported more than property crime and street crime is reported than white collar crimes and state crimes.
Cause of crime
The media has been argued to be direct cause of crime in society, especially for easily influenced groups. (young people) Violent TV shows, computer games, rap music have effect on lives and lead to believe violence is normal, every day occurrence.
Conclusions
The media can be seen as having many positive effects in relation to crime.
Most sociologists focus on negative points.
The media is very diverse and not always interpreted the same way by all audience members.
The media are one of many factors that have an effect on crime.