Representing fear; moral panics in the press and online (5) (6)

Moral panic analysis: Past, present and future
Author: Chas Critcher (Media and communications studies, Swansea University)

Examples used of past moral panics- Pedophilia (Maddie McCan), Gun crime (Ryan 'Reece' Jones), Binge drinking, recreational drug taking, media violence, immigration, dangerous dogs (Dogfight goes wrong, granddaughter is killed)

• "Britain appeared to be experiencing orchestrated moral panic."

Useful when speaking about moral panics.

Identities and the media. How do the contemporary media represent the identities of different groups.

Examples used within this- Feminism- Sexuality, black actors in the UK, Mackelmore 'Same Love' 

• 'Identity isn't fixed, but changes over time and in different situations, and we can have multiple identities. For example: our online identity can be very different from the identity we have at college or at home.'

This is useful when speaking about internet safety or internet user stereotypes.

• "Through the interactivity of digital media, audiences can increasingly select, manipulate or reject media representations, and thus can create their own identities."

This would be used when speaking about  the internet and mediation or when speaking about internet users stereotypes.

• "Online technologies have enabled audiences to participate more actively, to play a bigger role in constructing their identity, exercise more choice in the media they use, and also find new ways to display their public identity."
• "Online technology can also contribute to the construction and display of collective identities."