The Media and the Manufacture of Deviance
Description
For this assessment you will create a front page of a newspaper reporting on a moral panic of your choice. Your front page will be approximately 200 words. Accompanying this, you must submit a 1000 word report detailing how your front page could be considered a moral panic. Drawing on moral panic theory (e.g Cohen; Thompson; Jewkes) you should consider:
The language used in your newspaper report; in particular examples of exaggeration and distortion
The stages of deviancy amplification
Who are the moral entrepreneurs of your story?
Who are the folk devils that are being created?
Your newspaper front page should be appropriate; not only in topic, but also in terms of content (i.e. it should not contain overtly racist or sexist language or inflammatory language – even mainstream tabloids do not resort to such language). There will be further guidance provided by seminar tutors to help you construct your front page and report.
