Media representation of the London riots

Teaching notes This comprehensive resource explores the role of newspapers in representing the London riots of 2011 and culminates in an essay response to the event. The activities are designed to feature a combination of independent and group tasks and !uestion " in particular may be best suited to a group investigation. This could extend to dividing the images among the groups and following up with whole class feedback. The !uestions rely on some understanding of theoretical concepts # $ichard %yer&s typography of representation and 'tanley (ohen&s six stages of moral panic # both of which could be explored in more depth alongside the resource. The weblinks were all correct at the time of publication.

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Media representation of the London riots

.n /ugust 2011 the streets of London erupted in civil unrest. This prompted a fren0y of media attention on the capital and prompted newspapers to feature some striking images of the events.

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The events were labelled the 1London riots&. 2hat are the connotations of the word 1riot&3 2hy not 1civil unrest& 1dispute& or 1protest&3 4ne of the most popular images used by newspapers was the iconic image of a masked man on the streets of 5ackney in front of a burning car. 6ou can find the image here7 http788www.guardian.co.uk8uk820118aug8098london:riots:escalate:police:battle 2hy was this image used3 2hat does this image represent3

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There are a range of images on the accompanying resource. ;xplore the following !uestions based on $ichard %yer&s typography of representation7 a. 2ho is being represented in the images and how are they portrayed3 b. 5ow is the representation made to seem 1true& or 1natural&3 c. 2hose representation is it3 <or example what sort of newspaper would you expect this image to appear in and why3 d. /t whom is this representation targeted3 2hat makes you think that3 e. 2hat does the representation mean to others3 5ow could it be interpreted3

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The Daily Mirror reported of 16oung thugs with fire in their eyes and nothing but destruction on their minds.& This comment accompanied a front page with the headline 16ob rule= found here and the first image is shown on the accompanying resource7 http788www.politicshome.com8images81.1.<ront>,ages8Mirror>0?0911.png 5ow has the event been represented by The Daily Mirror through their choice of words and images3 Look online at a selection of other newspaper front pages from the London riots. 5ow did other newspapers choose to portray the events3

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Max 5astings wrote an article in The Daily Mail with some controversial representations of youth. /s you read the article highlight any points about how the youth are represented. The article is available here7 http788www.dailymail.co.uk8debate8article:202-29-8@A:riots:2011:Liberal:dogma: spawned:generation:brutalised:youths.html

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Media representation of the London riots

2ith your highlighted copy of the article explain how the youth have been represented in the article using !uotations to support your arguments.

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Media representation of the London riots

6. The sociologist ,rofessor 'tanley (ohen defined six stages of 1moral panic& when the media report on events and how they subse!uently vilify social groups as a result. The six stages are as below7 i. / small group commits a deviant act. ii. The media report a story identifying a problem group. iii. The media search for similar stories which they exaggerate and sensationalise. The causes of the acts aren&t analysed but easy targets for blame are located. iv. The identified group become folk devils and fear is encouraged. v. More deviance occurs as the group are further marginalised. vi. Moral panic occurs as the media and the public demand control by authorities. Based on your interpretation of the media representation you have seen and read in what ways could the media be blamed for the extent of the riots3 ;xplain how the media&s portrayal of the London riots fits (ohen&s model. 7. ,roduce an essay plan in response to the !uestion7 How were the London riots represented and how were young people portrayed?

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