1. Sociology 23rd May 2005
Crime & the Media

2. Newspaper Articles

3. Lesson Aims
To know the meaning of keywords - Moral Panic, Folk Devils & Media Amplification
To understand why media exaggerate particular news stories
To consider the impact and consequences of moral panics on wider society

4. Keywords
Moral Panic - A high level of concern from the public that a particular individual or group is a menace and is dangerous to society.
Folk Devils - A person or group of people who are seen as a threat to the norms sand values of society.
Media Amplification - when the media exaggerate the details of a story to make it more interesting and news worthy to public

5. Research
STANLEY COHEN Sociologist & Author of “Moral Panics & Folk Devils”, 1972
Researched & wrote about the moral panic surrounding the Mods and Rockers and role of the media

7. MODS ‘You have to be a Mod or a Rocker to mean anything’
Interview with Mod girl in the Daily Mirror, 1964

8. A Mod being arrested in Brighton after clashes with Rockers (1964)

9. Moral Panics Flow Diagram
STAGE 1
A group of people perform some evil or anti social act, e.g. football hooliganism.
STAGE 2
Media picks up the story and uses it.
STAGE 3
Media produce headlines – groups are labelled as bad.
STAGE 4
Stories catch readers interest – ore papers can be sold and more viewers gained by continuing the story.
STAGE 5
Media compete and exaggerate in order to produce a more interesting story.
STAGE 6
Further interest, and even fear, is produced amongst the public. This is a moral panic, with everyone wishing to strengthen present laws and introduce new ones.

10. Plenary – Revisit Aims What is a moral panic? What is a ‘folk devil’?
How does the media amplify deviance?
Why does the media exaggerate particular news stories?
Why do certain groups get blamed for the moral panic of the moment?

11. Reflection
Consider the impact and consequences of moral panics and media amplification on wider society.