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 question 3 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 questions rely on some understanding of theoretical concepts – Richard Dyer’s typography of representation and Stanley Cohen’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

In August 2011, the streets of London erupted in civil unrest. This prompted a frenzy of media attention on the capital and prompted newspapers to feature some striking images of the events.

1. The events were labelled the ‘London riots’. What are the connotations of the word ‘riot’? Why not ‘civil unrest’, ‘dispute’ or ‘protest’?

2. One of the most popular images used by newspapers was the iconic image of a masked man on the streets of Hackney in front of a burning car. You can find the image here:http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/aug/08/london-riots-escalate-police-battle

Why was this image used? What does this image represent?

3. There are a range of images on the accompanying resource. Explore the following questions, based on Richard Dyer’s typography of representation:a. Who is being represented in the images and how are they portrayed?b. How is the representation made to seem ‘true’ or ‘natural’?c. Whose representation is it? For example, what sort of newspaper

would you expect this image to appear in and why?d. At whom is this representation targeted? What makes you think that?e. What does the representation mean to others? How could it be

interpreted?

4. The Daily Mirror reported of ‘Young thugs with fire in their eyes and nothing but destruction on their minds.’ This comment accompanied a front page with the headline ‘Yob rule' found here, and the first image is shown on the accompanying resource:http://www.politicshome.com/images/1.1.Front_Pages/Mirror_090811.png

How has the event been represented by The Daily Mirror through their choice of words and images?

Look online at a selection of other newspaper front pages from the London riots. How did other newspapers choose to portray the events?

5. Max Hastings wrote an article in The Daily Mail with some controversial representations of youth. As you read the article, highlight any points about how the youth are represented. The article is available here:

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Media representation of the London riotshttp://www.dailymail.co.uk/debate/article-2024284/UK-riots-2011-Liberal-dogma-spawned-generation-brutalised-youths.html

With your highlighted copy of the article, explain how the youth have been represented in the article, using quotations to support your arguments.

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Media representation of the London riots

6. The sociologist Professor Stanley Cohen defined six stages of ‘moral panic’ when the media report on events, and how they subsequently vilify social groups as a result. The six stages are as below:

i. A 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 riots? Explain how the media’s portrayal of the London riots fits Cohen’s model.

7. Produce an essay plan in response to the question:

How were the London riots represented and how were young people portrayed?

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