One of the long-standing debates in society today are concerning the potential effects the mass media has upon the public when reporting news, which has contributed to their fear of crime. In their desire to sell more newspapers journalists often present the news in an distorted view as it attracts the public attention. One way this is achieved is by the media playing a vital role in agenda setting in relation to crime and deviance.
In 2011, Marsh and Melville defined moral panics as an “exaggerated reaction from the media, the police and the wider public” . Similarly, in the 1970’s a sociologist called Stanley Cohen generally accepted the definition of moral panic in his book on the “Mods and Rockers”. Cohen referred to a moral panic as
In 2011, Marsh and Melville defined moral panics as an “exaggerated reaction from the media, the police and the wider public” . Similarly, in the 1970’s a sociologist called Stanley Cohen generally accepted the definition of moral panic in his book on the “Mods and Rockers”. Cohen referred to a moral panic as