SOC 3750 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Neoliberalism, Surveillance, Subculture

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 3750
• Professor: Michelle Dumas

Document Summary

An episode, group, or person that is seen as a significant threat to society- the perceived threat is much less than the actual threat- 3 characteristics: exaggerating in reporting, repetition of fallacies, misleading pictures and snappy titles. If the media believes it to be a big deal, the government will get involved (politics arise here)- the media creates this. Hype and this causes people to believe it. Key elements of a moral panic 1) define threat2) recognizable3) public concern: response 5) results. Leaves out the notion of agency- individuals have the ability to evaluate a situation (can believe it or not believe it)- Assumes that the publicity of the issue is the most important thing within the public sphere. Police organization & news: gatekeepers to crime news, asymmetrical relations, objectives, methodology, newspaper beats. Hierarchy (chiefs 10% of quotes used in stories, captain 20%, lieutenant) Generic attribution officer himself/herself was not identified police said unaware of who that may have been.