Overview of Contemporary Case Study.
1. What were the context of the riots?
The context of the riots in London were to make youths look bad in the mass media by showing footage of them smashing up police cars, burning buildings and had images of youths walking in front of flaming vehicles as main headlines in newspaper articles, along with only showing one side of the story. There were a wide variety of articles, news interviews and live footage all showing and giving a negative impact on the image on young youths, the media did not ask for a reason from those causing the commotion why they were doing it. They just made them look bad and the riots out of control.
2. What were the reasons given as to why youths were involved in the riots?
Firstly, the riots took place during the school summer holiday which is one of the main reasons youths managed to be involved. Problems such as social exclusion and not feeling involved or equal with adults and other authorities also had an impact on the youths, this could be due to the areas which they live in, such as rough council estates and have been brought up in families who struggle with money issues. These issues can lead to bullying the individuals and make them feel like the only way they can stand up to the people making fun of their culture, lifestyle and background is to start a commotion that would make them look like they have more power than others think. Youths are also a form of 'gang culture' and are seen as the type of teenagers and young adults that cause trouble and commotion, which therefore they felt to stick to this definition and relate to their group they had to prove the judgements of the term 'youths' right and what better way to prove this than start a riot? Due to modern society there has been a lack of male role models in family households due to family breakdowns. As noticed in all riot footage and photos the main gender involved in causing these riots are males. Due to having no father model at home the boys have no-one to look up to and follow their steps, therefore there is lack of control from them.
3. Were youths given a fair and unbiased representation in the press coverage of riots?
From all the articles and news reports there are more interviews from reporters showing footage of the youths causing trouble and hearing opinions from the public who are not involved rather than interviewing or listening to the opinions of the youths causing the commotions and finding an understanding to why they are doing what they are. In the very few interviews with small gangs the outcome and replies from them are sarcastic remarks which many people believe is expected from gangs. In one interview the reporter continuously asks questions to a small gang who had not been involved in the rioting and were just going home after a day out of town. Even though the reporter heard their story they still didn't stop trying to make this in particular group look bad which didn't give a fair view of gang culture and individual youngsters.
Applying Theory.
1. How can the coverage of the London riots be understood in relation to the ideas of Stan Cohen?
Stan Cohen has a theory that all youths are 'folk devils' which is just another way or naming or judging a certain group. From his theory, relating it to the London riots you can see the media putting the same image of youth and gang culture across by using headlines describing youths as 'thugs' 'gangs' and 'yobs'. These all have a negative impact on what they are relating these words to. This shows that, like Stan's theory, the mass media are instantly putting a name to these groups of young adults and teenagers without finding a background to their story or taking into account each persons individuality. Stan Cohen then goes on to describing a 'moral panic' which he describes as when an event becomes a threat to society. Again relating this to the London riots there was constant footage of burning buildings, large groups of gangs breaking into shops, attacking police vehicles and going over the top with violence. These events would usually be handles by high authorities such as the police force as their actions are becoming a hazard to the rest of society and the lives of people who are innocent and have nothing to do with these riots. Using Stan Cohens theory in the London riots through the media, and in the media in general, makes the whole situation look and sound much worse than it is which attracts the attention of the public eye and believe that the events taking place really are that bad which is what the mass media want to keep viewers attached to the stories along with making gang culture have a bad name.
2. David Gauntlett stated that ''Identities are not 'given' but are constructed and negotiated''.
From the research which you have conducted into the coverage of the London riots, to what extent is the representation of the collective identity of youths constructed by the press? Consider for and against argument.
FOR
One newspaper and broadcast linked to this article gave a 'youth' the chance to voice their opinion on why the riots are taking place and why they are being involved in them. The young youth made a comment on how the death of Mark Duggan made him want to get revenge on the police for what had happened. In relation to David Gauntlett's theory the youngsters identity has been constructed because of the situation he has faced and explained to the reporter. Although his opinion seems a pretty powerful reason for why he is joining in with the riots, I don't think many people would take his side to his reason as although many people who face powerful anger when an event such as a loss of a loved one happens and they feel they should defend and stick up for them, many people would not have the courage or even consider going to extremes, it is mainly all mouth no action which is why this boy has had such a bad image due to him standing out and doing different to what others would do.
AGAINST
Other newspaper articles and broadcasts gave their own opinions to the riots and didn't take into consideration any reasons from the public or chances for others to voice their opinions. Due to all of these articles portraying a bad image of youths and gang culture, those reading the articles would immediately agree with the opinion of the broadcaster or narrators opinion in the newspaper article, even though they had no idea what each individual was like to be able to have a true image of them. Gauntlett's theory related to the teenagers in the London riots as for teenagers and youngsters, mixing in and fitting into a category to be accepted is a major thing, therefore to fit in with everyone else taking part in the riots, which the media suggested the majority were young 'youths', teenagers felt they had to change their identity completely to fit in, even if it was something they weren't comfortable with, being accepted is a key importance for people their age. However, not all young teenagers are inspired by this. Many of them may just want to be themselves and not become influenced by the riots at all. Sadly for them, these stories are not put into news reports and therefore those individuals who are wanting to be the complete opposite to the rest of the youths causing trouble, they are still labelled as being bad people and are immediately categorized and given a bad image.
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