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? 

The language and selection of images created a negative image of the youth and teenagers in our head in that all the youth are like this and are described and seen as criminals. Most are with fire or dark back grounds connoting the danger and negativity that is described of the youth.

2.Why does David Buckingham mention Owen Jones and his work Chavs: the demonisation of the working class?

He speaks about how there is a new modern Britain and that the working class has become an object of of fear and ridicule within the media.

3.What is the typical representation of young people – and teenage boys in particular? What did the 2005 IPSOS/MORI survey find?

The survey found that 40% of articles featuring young people focused on violence, 71% of articles presented in a negative tone. This shows that young people are presented in a negative way and that most of the time violence is the best option for youngters.

4. How can Stanley Cohen’s work on Moral Panic be linked to the coverage of the riots?

Cohen's theory of moral panics can be linked to the coverage of riots as there was a sense of moral panic all across the country. At least this is what it was made out to be with the help of newspapers who presented the riots as a panic and that society as become uncontrollable.

5. What elements of the media and popular culture were blamed for the riots?

The elements blamed were rap music, violent computer games and reality TV.

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 it was said that people were planning on rioting through social media and planning other riots with their friends as it was an easy way of communication. This is similar to Arab spring as the western media was used for this also in places such as Tunisia and Egypt.

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?

The two step flow theory can be linked to the coverage of the media as many people would believe what these big organisations are saying. Such as the Guardian if they were to say something like blame the youngsters many people would believe them as they are a big trusted company and therefore the guardians opinion would now be their opinion. Likewise on social media with verified accounts as people may feel these accounts are trusted or even with big name celebrities as they may be big in the media and may also feel as if they can be trusted. Also if the news was said more than once on social media it would become more believable.

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?

Yes I believe it does show a more democracy within the media as now people can present their own views with their own opinions through their own blogs. So there is now more freedom of speech.

1. What were the right-wing responses to the causes of the riots?

The right wing response to the riots were very negative in which the youth were described as wild beasts who cannot be controlled and comparing them to dogs saying that their dogs are better behaved, downgrading them to the lowest in society and that they have no respect for elders.

1. What were the left-wing responses to the causes of the riots?

The left wing response is that they weren't surprised to what has happened as there is inequality within society and many disturbances that occur such as cuts in youth services as well as removal of education maintenance allowance.

1. What are your OWN views on the main causes of the riots?

My view on the main causes of the riots was that I believe some people may have seen how easy it was to loot shops and stuff and may have found that they could easily do so. Also that it was summer some people may have been bored. Also some people may have been rioting for many different reasons and the Mark Duggan death was a reason to riot.

1. How can capitalism be blamed for the riots? What media theory (from our new/digital media unit) can this be linked to?

It says capitalism can be blamed in that even politicians can lie and cheat their way to the top and that there is a link between rioters and the bankers. The theory this can be linked to is pluralism and stating how society is classless and we are similar in many ways.

1. Were people involved in the riots given a voice in the media to explain their participation?

I do not believe people involved in the riots were given a voice in the media and were automatically conceived as negative people in the media. It shows that there is only one side to this argument and that young peoples voice have not been heard linking to maybe one of the reasons people rioted in the first place.

1. 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?

I believe the riots were bad and wrong. Some people may have been rioting for no reason what so ever and is something I believe is stupid however some people may have been rioting for purposeful reasons such as Uni costs being increased. Prison sentences may act as a deterrent in the future but it depends for how long and how severe the case may be. As for e.g. within the article I have just read these people got a prison sentence of four years for planning a riot on facebook in which this riot did not even take place, I believe a sentence for this is too harsh.

NDM story

Indian bank allows payments via Twitter

This article speaks about how ICICI bank in India is allowing customers to transfer money using Twitter. This can be done so by following the bank and then sending them a direct message with the recipents username and the amount being transferred. It then goes on to speak about how mobile phones and social media are becoming ever more popular in India and how Amazon have also tried this idea.

In my opinion I believe this is a clever idea as social media is the number 1 media format in at the moment and that many people over the world now use social media. So by doing so they would also gain publicity as well as advertising themselves to the world as they are using their initiative and trying something new, however it may become a problem if icici may accidentally ignore some of their direct messages leaving customers unhappy. 

News corporation

Research News Corporation’s response to the growth of new and digital media by listing each of the institution’s brands (Sky News, Times etc.) Have any closed, changed or been in the news in the last five years for any reason?

• The Sun
• The Times
• Sunday Times
• Press Association
• Foxtel
• Fox Broadcasting Company (Fox), a US broadcast television network
• MyNetworkTV, a US broadcast television network
• Fox Television Stations, a group of owned and operated Fox television stations
• Saeta TV Channel 10, channel of Uruguay
• ITV plc (7.5%), a British broadcast television network and the UK's largest advertising revenue based broadcaster
• BSkyB, United Kingdom & Ireland (39.1% holding). In practice, a controlling interest.

NDM story

Spotify now has 60m users including 15m paying subscribers

This article speaks about how Spotify have recently increased their subscribers by 10 million to 60 million altogether. Also that their paying subscribers have increased to 15 million since early November last year. They also go on to state how at christmas time one of the incentives they used for users were the christmas offer where you could get the premium offers for much cheaper than you would usually get it for within a time period of 3 months.

From this article it is clear to see Spotify are still leading streaming service and that people and users are getting used to the idea where they have to pay and that sales have not suffered as a result of this. Also that Spotify is number 1 it can be trusted and people would not minding to pay for subscriptions. 

News on tweet

1) One of the reasons why respected brands are good for Twitter is that it the immediacy as well as the accessibility are invaluable to reader, it allows to widen their portfolio to suit their own interests, opinions and tastes. It says they want to be a news source so they keep gaining more followers.

2) Twitter is good for brands as it allows them to advertise themselves on a worldwide stage. As a result of this newspapers may benefit also due to their newspapers being promoted in the correct way on Twitter allowing them together with their Twitter webpage.

3) In the report it states that the news is not always serious and they say banter helps the gossip. It says that they news brand followers want to relax and this is done through banter  and also saying journalists are one of the most popular individual tweeters, showing that twitter and news brands work together to benefit each other with banter being one of them.

4) Examples of banter:

Biggest cheer at the Emirates tonight by
#AFC? To an announcement for the MUFC
away fans that no more trains leaving Euston

Do these pants make Kim Kardashian’s bum
look big?

Favourite story all weekend has been Del Boy
killing the British sheepskin coat industry. LOL

5) I do not believe banter and jokes are harming journalism as they may gain more publicity from saying jokes. Especially on social media in where they can attract younger audiences in where they say a joke relating to younger audiences they may find this joke funny and then retweet them as well as follow them, so their reputation may be enhanced. However they still would need to consider how far they take the jokes as they would still need some seriousness about them and maintain their professionalism.

6) It says "Almost half of all Twitter users, and almost two thirds of newsbrand users, say it is important that news on Twitter is verified by a respected brand.This helps build trust in the content."

7) I believe that digital media as affected newspapers in both positive and negative ways. The negative ways being that on digital media such as Twitter you can find out news on the go and straight away and with newspapers you would have to wait daily to do so. Also digital media is free compared to newspapers which cost and also there is variation on digital media as you can look at the news from many different sources. H

However you can say it as had a positive affect on newspapers as they could work together to boost each others publicity. By doing so their brand image could also improve.

NDM story

Vine shifts from comedy clips to a valid journalistic tool

This article speaks about how Vine has become a journalistic tool in which it was before a comedy tool. Vine has become one of social media's biggest apps and is becoming bigger and bigger in which now it is going to be used in journalism and the news. Jerome Jarr went on to say "Vine is becoming an increasingly popular journalistic reporting tool".
In my opinion I believe this is a clever idea to use, as it is easy and simple to use as it is only 6 seconds long. However within 6 seconds it may be hard to convey your ideas within only 6 seconds of time. Overall I believe it would benefit the news as it is always becoming bigger. 

NDM story

Imran Khan to critics of his wedding: 'Marriage is not a crime'

This article speaks about how Imran Khan was criticised in the media for getting married again. He went on to say that marriage is not a crime, this was especially spoken about in his home country of Pakistan. He went on to say that “The reports of my marriage are greatly exaggerated!” Khan has been criticised a lot within the media for the amount of marriages he has especially as he is a muslim and marrying more than once is seen as wrong. However he is a human being and is allowed to do what he wants and if he believes he isnt in the wrong than he can do what he wants.