Overview of contemporary case study

1) What were the context of the riots?

The rioting began on 6th August 2011, two days after police shot Mark Duggen. The riots began as nothing more than a small, peaceful demonstration which spiraled into chaos. The riots continued for 5 days, escalating beyond the initial cause to incorporate a number of different resentments towards the government and the police force.

2) What were the reasons given as to why youths were involved in the riots?
When youths were given the opportunity to express their opinions to the media, they gave a number of reasons for their involvement in the riots

3) Were youths given a fair and unbiased representation in the press coverage of the riots?

While some press coverage did portray an unbiased representation, for the most part, the media portrayed youths in a very negative way. The majority of images shown, depicted crimes - primarily looting - being carried out by hooded youths. As the rioting escalated, we also began to see the voilent nature of the rioters within the media.
When the riots first began, the press were very reluctant to refer to them as 'riots', instead favouring words such as 'disturbance'. However, when youths began to join for their own reasons, the press became a lot more harsh. The began to use sensationalised language, grouping all youths together in a depiction of social deviance.

Applying Theory:

1) How can the coverage of the london riots be understood in relation to the ideas of Stan Cohen?

Stanley Cohen's theory can be applied to the London riots in the way that youths were portrayed by the media as social deviants. This portrayal leads to the media becoming 'Moral Entrepreneurs' as they utilise Deviant amplification to create a moral panic. For example, referring to the rioters as "Feral kids with no jobs" will begin to create an association between all youths and rioters.

2) David Gauntlett stated that "identities are not 'given' but are constructed and negotiated."

The way in which youths were portrayed throughout the London riots constructed their identity within society. Unfortunately, this is a very negative identity which was negotiated through more positive portrayals, such as the youths who organised the clean up.

3) 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.

I think that a large majority of the youth identity is constructed by the press. This is mostly because of the fact they aren't always given a fair platform to voice their opinions. My research shows that a lot of the articles and broadcasts are biased, against youths and often in favour of the police force. This is very evident when they refer to youths as 'hooded' and 'feral'. However, the press also allows for negotiation of this identity as some broadcasts interview youths, allowing them to voice their reasons and opinions.