Explain the impact of media
representations on the
public perception of crime
, Moral panic
• Research shows that the media exaggerate levels of serious crime and the risk of becomin
which is known as moral panic
• This has been found true for studies of newspapers, television and radio content (Hale)
• Stanley Cohen – Folk Devils and Moral Panics (book)
• Suggested that a moral panic occurs when a ‘condition, episode, person or group of perso
to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests
• One of the first moral panics occurred in the 1960s, with the media’s portrayal of the clas
between Mods and Rockers
• The media portrayed the event in a sensationalised way, with lawless gangs fighting
• One headline read “Wild Ones Invade Seaside – 97 arrests”
• There were only 24 arrests
• Other examples of moral panic range from the risk of contracting HIV in the 1980s to the m
moral panic surrounding the reporting of terrorism and the subsequent result of Islamoph
• The impact of moral panic is to make the public think the issue is worse than it is in reality
• This may bring about a more severe reaction to the issue and people involved, and an unr
desire for justice
• For example, the increase in punishments for crimes that occurred during the London riot
representations on the
public perception of crime
, Moral panic
• Research shows that the media exaggerate levels of serious crime and the risk of becomin
which is known as moral panic
• This has been found true for studies of newspapers, television and radio content (Hale)
• Stanley Cohen – Folk Devils and Moral Panics (book)
• Suggested that a moral panic occurs when a ‘condition, episode, person or group of perso
to become defined as a threat to societal values and interests
• One of the first moral panics occurred in the 1960s, with the media’s portrayal of the clas
between Mods and Rockers
• The media portrayed the event in a sensationalised way, with lawless gangs fighting
• One headline read “Wild Ones Invade Seaside – 97 arrests”
• There were only 24 arrests
• Other examples of moral panic range from the risk of contracting HIV in the 1980s to the m
moral panic surrounding the reporting of terrorism and the subsequent result of Islamoph
• The impact of moral panic is to make the public think the issue is worse than it is in reality
• This may bring about a more severe reaction to the issue and people involved, and an unr
desire for justice
• For example, the increase in punishments for crimes that occurred during the London riot
