The media creates and perpetuates stereotypes; critically examine this view of reference to the portrayal of ethnic minorities in the media.
The roles of ethnic minorities are represented sometimes very negatively in both newspapers and the television. This is the idea of newsworthy ness, It maybe due to the fact that newspapers and T.V needs story's with dramatic twists where racial conflict stories sell best, however it is their constant l reports on negative black violence that influence peoples views and these views can present a very dim stereotypical picture of people in the ethnic minorities. .
There has been research by Hall et al (1979) proving the theory that the more often than not ethnic minorities are presented as the problem, where they are reported as the cause of social disorder. Although this research was made in 1979 it came at a crucial time when the race riots of 1981 in Toxteth were reported as "black" or "race" riots. Even though there were white youths involved in the riots it seems that this crucial fact was ignored. Another incident in 1979 was the "new" crime of mugging where it was reported as a "black" crime. The media, in this case the press, fed by police reports completely blew the problems out of proportion, reporting that it had reached "epidemic proportions." However the police reports" muggings as covering less than 1% of all recorded crime. As always the media does have influence in peoples views and this was carried over to the police where it encouraged them to take on a stricter style of policing. Operation "Swamp 81" was enacted where in Brixton where over if you were black you would be stopped on the ground s that because of the colour your skin you would be stopped and searched. Over a thousand people were stopped and less than a hundred were charged. This was a clear violation of personal rights and it shows the breakdown of communication between the police and the community its there to protect.
