1.5 Explain how the media influences public perception
Moral panic
Moral panic is created when there is an exaggeration of a serious crime, which may cause
the general public to act in a panicked way. It is often that the media will exaggerate
statistics of a crime and make predictions from current cases to make the general public
fearful of what is to come and cause them to panic. The media often use negative labeling to
create a cause of concern for a crime, which can ultimately lead to people panicking due to
stress and anxiety of the uncertain future. An example of a moral panic is the current fuel
crisis. There was an increase in media coverage of fuel is low in stock, and so ultimately
catalyzed the start of the panic buying from the general public in fears that fuel would run
out. This evidently shows how the media can easily manipulate the general public into
believing certain ideas, which may lead to people panicking due to a lack of uncertainty for
the future.
Change in public concern/attitude
The threat of terrorism fueled by the attacks from London, Machester, and Paris have
caused a change in public concern and attitude. An attack on the general public spikes
changes in concern and attitudes from the public, which may cause a change in opinions
and viewpoints of certain people in society. This is evident through the use of media
methods to highlight the supposed dangers of terrorism. Paul Baker did a study on the
British newspapers when the 9/11 terrorist attacks were unfolding and found that there was
an overwhelming increase of negative views and opinions surrounding Muslims and Islam.
Another example is the increased courage of the threat of spiking and drugging happening in
clubs and bars in London, Manchester and Liverpool have led to fewer women being likely to
go to clubs and bars, and have even led to the boycotting of some clubs. This evidently
shows a shift in public concerns as it raises concern towards being spiked and drugged.
Perception of crime trends
Within the general public, people believe that crime is on the rise. This may be due to the
fact of an increase in media attention towards crime in local areas and on a national scale.
Around 70% of people think that crime has increased nationally, and around 40% believe
that crime has increased in their local areas. This highlights how people prefer to believe that
there is less crime in their area, possibly due to the fact that they believe that their local
areas do not have much crime, or do not have crime at all. People are less likely to
acknowledge crime in their local area as they believe what they see in the media, this being
crimes happening on a national scale, is more important than petty and minor crimes
happening in their local area. However, it has been proven that crime has decreased in
England and Wales, despite the media reporting its increase.
Stereotyping of criminals
A stereotype is a stigma or taboo which may be associated with an individual or a group of
people. It is often that crime is associated with people who are lower class, who do not have
much money, and are poorly educated. However, this doesn't take into account the plethora
of crimes that may be committed by different types of people (e.g white-collar crimes being
committed by people of high social standing versus tech crimes being committed by anyone
who has access to a technological device). People are likely to distrust people who conform
to a certain stereotype, leading to people being more likely to accuse or report people of a
Moral panic
Moral panic is created when there is an exaggeration of a serious crime, which may cause
the general public to act in a panicked way. It is often that the media will exaggerate
statistics of a crime and make predictions from current cases to make the general public
fearful of what is to come and cause them to panic. The media often use negative labeling to
create a cause of concern for a crime, which can ultimately lead to people panicking due to
stress and anxiety of the uncertain future. An example of a moral panic is the current fuel
crisis. There was an increase in media coverage of fuel is low in stock, and so ultimately
catalyzed the start of the panic buying from the general public in fears that fuel would run
out. This evidently shows how the media can easily manipulate the general public into
believing certain ideas, which may lead to people panicking due to a lack of uncertainty for
the future.
Change in public concern/attitude
The threat of terrorism fueled by the attacks from London, Machester, and Paris have
caused a change in public concern and attitude. An attack on the general public spikes
changes in concern and attitudes from the public, which may cause a change in opinions
and viewpoints of certain people in society. This is evident through the use of media
methods to highlight the supposed dangers of terrorism. Paul Baker did a study on the
British newspapers when the 9/11 terrorist attacks were unfolding and found that there was
an overwhelming increase of negative views and opinions surrounding Muslims and Islam.
Another example is the increased courage of the threat of spiking and drugging happening in
clubs and bars in London, Manchester and Liverpool have led to fewer women being likely to
go to clubs and bars, and have even led to the boycotting of some clubs. This evidently
shows a shift in public concerns as it raises concern towards being spiked and drugged.
Perception of crime trends
Within the general public, people believe that crime is on the rise. This may be due to the
fact of an increase in media attention towards crime in local areas and on a national scale.
Around 70% of people think that crime has increased nationally, and around 40% believe
that crime has increased in their local areas. This highlights how people prefer to believe that
there is less crime in their area, possibly due to the fact that they believe that their local
areas do not have much crime, or do not have crime at all. People are less likely to
acknowledge crime in their local area as they believe what they see in the media, this being
crimes happening on a national scale, is more important than petty and minor crimes
happening in their local area. However, it has been proven that crime has decreased in
England and Wales, despite the media reporting its increase.
Stereotyping of criminals
A stereotype is a stigma or taboo which may be associated with an individual or a group of
people. It is often that crime is associated with people who are lower class, who do not have
much money, and are poorly educated. However, this doesn't take into account the plethora
of crimes that may be committed by different types of people (e.g white-collar crimes being
committed by people of high social standing versus tech crimes being committed by anyone
who has access to a technological device). People are likely to distrust people who conform
to a certain stereotype, leading to people being more likely to accuse or report people of a
