In the modern era, civilians acquire news through media— be it television, newspapers, or social media in order to understand and keep pace with the current events. However, often times the news are blown out of proportion by said sources, like the aftermath of Columbine High School shootings and the Hurricane Katrina incident. These two events are primary examples of what we now call as moral panics.
Moral panic is created usually by the media, politicians, and moral crusaders and is a process in which certain people or groups are labelled or stigmatized as the cause of an apparently huge social concern, thus triggering a widespread public alarm (Hall et al., 1978). This study is related to Criminology because individuals that do not conform …show more content…
In the meantime the Columbine High School massacre had the media simply giving more news coverage relating to the school shootings (Burns and Crawford, 1999, p. 151). In spite of media often providing exaggerated details or over-exposure, they at least deliver reports with some form of truth in …show more content…
The city officials “underestimated the danger posed by Hurricane Katrina, especially the risk of a catastrophic breach of the flood protection system” (Brezina and Phipps, 2010, p. 114). They were lacking efficient evacuation plans for the underprivileged population. When Superdome was opened as a last resort for shelter, it only ensured safety from the flooding. The refugees within the dome was left without food, water, or any basic services (Brezina and Phipps, 2010, p. 114). In order to avoid public criticism of their lack of facing a natural disaster, they had then shifted the blame onto the victims affected by the disaster, presenting themselves as capable figures who were overwhelmed under the so-called violent mob of victims who the officials even provided a possible explanation saying that the survivors had nowhere to vent its frustration and was therefore leaving destruction during its blind rage (Brezina and Phipps, 2010, p. 117). A New Orleans Police Superintendent Eddie Compass, “portrayed the situation as a desperate, ongoing battle between his police force and those residents who were attempting to thwart the relief effort. Rendering aid to storm victims was described as dangerous if not impossible” (Brezina and Phipps, 2010, p. 117). The officials simply pretended to act in the best interests of society when in reality,
Moral panic is created usually by the media, politicians, and moral crusaders and is a process in which certain people or groups are labelled or stigmatized as the cause of an apparently huge social concern, thus triggering a widespread public alarm (Hall et al., 1978). This study is related to Criminology because individuals that do not conform …show more content…
In the meantime the Columbine High School massacre had the media simply giving more news coverage relating to the school shootings (Burns and Crawford, 1999, p. 151). In spite of media often providing exaggerated details or over-exposure, they at least deliver reports with some form of truth in …show more content…
The city officials “underestimated the danger posed by Hurricane Katrina, especially the risk of a catastrophic breach of the flood protection system” (Brezina and Phipps, 2010, p. 114). They were lacking efficient evacuation plans for the underprivileged population. When Superdome was opened as a last resort for shelter, it only ensured safety from the flooding. The refugees within the dome was left without food, water, or any basic services (Brezina and Phipps, 2010, p. 114). In order to avoid public criticism of their lack of facing a natural disaster, they had then shifted the blame onto the victims affected by the disaster, presenting themselves as capable figures who were overwhelmed under the so-called violent mob of victims who the officials even provided a possible explanation saying that the survivors had nowhere to vent its frustration and was therefore leaving destruction during its blind rage (Brezina and Phipps, 2010, p. 117). A New Orleans Police Superintendent Eddie Compass, “portrayed the situation as a desperate, ongoing battle between his police force and those residents who were attempting to thwart the relief effort. Rendering aid to storm victims was described as dangerous if not impossible” (Brezina and Phipps, 2010, p. 117). The officials simply pretended to act in the best interests of society when in reality,