Media Influence On Moral Panics

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The media, reporting on the latest news around the country, there is no doubting that the media had influenced the 'moral panic' seen over Australia's youth. With article headlines such as "BODGIE RAZOR ATTACK", in the Daily Mirror , to "SAVAGE BODGIE BRAWLS" and another "BODGIE IN BOTTLE ATTACK" . These doom-laden headlines about the youth would cause mass hysteria and concern among man 'respectable' Australians. Moral panic fosters intense hostility towards the group in question as they are "fueled by a dichotomization process whereby folk devils are distinguished from folk heroes in a morality play of good versus evil" . Through the media, there may have been a mass wave of stereotyping taking place over what was considered a Bodgie/Widgie until it became anyone of youth. There will always be a bad proportion of society, so labelling a true juvenile delinquent as a Bodgie or a Widgie simply because of his or her age helps create the belief that the mistrust towards the ostracized minority group is justified. …show more content…

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