Ethnicity

• Van Dijk 


  Journalists have demonised young black people, who are seen as a threat to the law abiding white society.

  Moral panics have been constructed around:

  1. Immigrants - who are seen as a threat in terms of their 'numbers' and because of the impact they supposedly have on supply of jobs, housing and other facilities
  2. Refugees and asylum seekers - who are often portrayed as coming to Britain to abuse the welfare state
  3. Muslime - who are often portrayed as the 'enemy within'. Muslims are often demonised and seen as using their faith to be threatening for personal and political again
• Moor

  • Found that between 2000-2008 over 1/3 of stories focussed on terrorism.
  • And 1/3 focussed on the difference between Muslim communities and British society.
  • There were 4 negative media messages about Muslims:
  • Islam is dangerous, backwards and irrational.
  • Multiculturalisms is allowing muslim extremists to spread their message.
  • Islam is presented as intolerant and oppressive.
  • Islam is a major threat to British life.
• Institutional bias


  It is suggested that when members of minority ethnic groups do appear on TV the experience institutional problems.

  1. They are portrayed in stereotypical low-status roles.
  2. They may appear in the programme because of tokenism, this is the idea that ethnic minority groups are put on TV screens regardless of whether they fit the programme.

  This gives the appearance of racial equality.
• Best and Kellner - Gangsta rap

  • Rap music articulates the experiences of young blacks living on the margins in inner city areas or on deprived council estates who feel that they are stereotyped and stigmatised.
  • Argue that rap provides the means which they can communicate their anger and sense of injustice about racism and inequality.
  • It supplies a voice to those who are excluded from mainstream society.
  • It is a symbol of blackness as it celebrated black culture.
• Pluralists

  • Journalists are seen as watch dogs of the public interest and content is driven by the public.
  • The problematic representations of black people or Muslims as a threat reflect real fears within society.
  • The newspapers are acting on the interests of their readers by demanding those in power to take control of immigration or recruit more police officers.
• Marxist

  • Hall suggests that ethnic minorities may be subject to media moral pains which aim to criminalise them to present them as folk deals with threaten the stability of the white society.
  • This justifies spending money on social control of ethnic minority.
• Hegemonic marxism

  • Ethnic minority groups are represented negatively because they are underrepresented in positions of both in both society and within the media itself.
  • Hall says that ethnic minorities have been used as scapegoats for societies larger economic problems.