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? 
   
   Representing the riots as to people who were wild and didn't know what they were doing. In the magazine they use word 'childish'. In the magazine they explain that news articles use they were represented as only young people who was doing this. They represented young people as to be destructive. The images used in the media magazine show the image of the newspaper being a young man. This gives the representation of young people as being dangerous.
   
2. Why does David Buckingham mention Owen Jones and his work Chavs: the demonisation of the working class?
   
   In the media magazine David Buckingham mentions Own Jones book Chavs as to there being fair points of a new form of class and contempt in modern Britain. The points are given that the object of youth has become fear and ridicule. Fact that it wasnt entirely the youth which was doing this.
   
3. What is the typical representation of young people – and teenage boys in particular? What did the 2005 IPSOS/MORI survey find?
   
   From the survey it has shown that 40% of newspaper articles featuring young people focused on violence, crime or anti social behaviour and 71% could be described as having a negative tone. This gives the representation that it was a negative tone to the youth and that it was described that young people was focused on celebrities and footballers and most frequently n violent crime.
   
4. How can Stanley Cohen’s work on Moral Panic be linked to the coverage of the riots?
   
   Stanley Cohen analysed media coverage on the riots, Cohen argues that the media pay of role was 'deviance amplification' in reporting the phenomenon and in the expressing the fear and the outrage of respectable society. The media did not simple misrepresent of what happened moral are not just irrational responses but its the inaccurate content of what happen and why.
   
5. What elements of the media and popular culture were blamed for the riots?
   They blamed the entertainment side of music and films as to the coverage shown as to what they were shown. This would also link to blaming video games as the newspapers would relate it to video games. as for example they would use the factors of violence being used in the games that they use it in real life.
   
6. 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?
   
   Social media was blamed for the riots as to people communicating as to asking each other where to meet up . This is compare to the Arab spring in 2011 as to the use of technology being used. As for example they would use Twitter and Facebook as for example they would express their support and it was more accessible. 
7. 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?
   
   Two step flow theory can be linked to the coverage as to the leaders of this as i would say that the media were the one who were giving a leading opinion saying that i was the youth. On social media it was shown as well that the two step flow can be taken as the people charge of media as to presenting stories that it was the youth.
   
8. 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?
   
   New media is about to say what they want online and from all of these blogs, forums and social media comments i would agree it does show a democratisation of the media. We have been given a voice to have the opinion of the news. From 'tsunami' given of all of these blogs and comments. It is to show society of what people think and that to show they have power to change as well.
   
9. What were the right-wing responses to the causes of the riots?
   
   Right wing conservatives say that the young people are to blame for the riots. The right wing responses was that it should be the young people fault and that there actions were wrong. Gives the point that young people are 'Destructive' and 'idiotic' without nor reason 
   
10. What were the left-wing responses to the causes of the riots?
    
    Left wing would be represented as the young people faults are denied and that the cause of it was on other people too. It would be that society will blame the youth as to not listen to reasons.
    
11. What are your OWN views on the main causes of the riots?
    
    The riots in my views was a shouting of actions for people let out rage. this would be the youth budgets going down and the reason of disagreements. It would be the reason of also poverty in my opinion it was a bundle of problems and the people tried everything.
    
12. How can capitalism be blamed for the riots? What media theory (from our new/digital media unit) can this be linked to?
    
    Capitalism  would be partly the blame of it because poverty and it would be the reason of markets. Another reason why the riots happened was because of inflation as well and how prices were going up. This would be the reason of why there was looting. 
    
13. Were people involved in the riots given a voice in the media to explain their participation?
    
    People in  the riots got judged and it would of meant that people blamed the youth of this which it was not entirely them. This would also lead to the point that the voice was taken into consideration but it was the actions which made it be ignored.
    
14. 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?
    
    Many rioters conceded that their involvement in looting was simply down to opportunism, saying that a perceived suspension of normal rules presented them with an opportunity to acquire goods and luxury items they could not ordinarily afford. They often described the riots as a chance to obtain "free stuff" or sought to justify the theft.
    Contrary to widespread speculation that rioters used social media to organise themselves and share "viral" information, sites such as Facebook and Twitter were not used in any significant way. However, BlackBerry phones – and the free messaging service known as "BBM" – were used extensively to communicate, share information and plan riots in advance.
    
    Although mainly young and male, those involved in the riots came from a cross-section of local communities. Just under half of those interviewed in the study were students. Of those who were not in education and were of working age, 59% were unemployed. Although half of those interviewed were black, people who took part in the disorder did not consider these "race riots".
    
15. 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 my opinion i believe the police are in fault this would be because they handled the situation wrongly as to the widespread anger and frustration made. This was also the fault of people actions as people only did it too loot but the reason of poverty,