What do you understand by the phrase 'Trial by Media'? What are the implications of it becoming the norm in Britain?

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What do you understand by the phrase ‘Trial by Media’? What are the implications of it becoming the norm in Britain?

With 27 million newspapers bought and 99 percent of the adult population watching an average of 2½ hours of television every day, the British Media (mass media) has a massive audience. Since the 1920’s, sociological research has been conducted on the basis of concerns about the potentially negative influence over the media consuming public.  

Early research conducted by the Payne Fund studies found that the mass media had a powerful effect over its audience, which lead to the more recent ‘trial by media’ debate. ‘Trial by Media’ essentially translates as media bias. The Sun Newspaper’s switch from Conservative to Labour just before the general election in 1997, and Labour’s subsequent win, arguably demonstrates evidence of the powerful effect of bias within the media. (Jones M., Jones E. Mass Media 1998 p190) In the case of Jamie Bulger, murdered by two young boys in 1993, blame was attributed to the media for the 18-certificate horror ‘Childs Play3’ production, from which the boys were said to have ‘re-enacted’ some scenes. (Jones p76) The many studies into media effects on audiences have raised some valid arguments and theories. Belief as to who has more effect over media content (and bias of content) is divided into hegemonic Marxist theory (dominated by elite ideology) versus the pluralist approach (public autonomy). Debate into audience reception of media output falls into several different schools of thought; reception analysis theory, deviancy amplification and moral panic, and the argument over whether the media encourages violence. This essay will examine these issues with reference to the implications of media control and effect with argument and evaluation. This essay also intends to prove that trial by media is the norm in Britain and the implications are that media is of hegemonic rule and the public are acquiescent of elitist ideology perpetuated through the media.  

Antonio Gramsci devised the idea of hegemonic theory in the 19th century; Stuart Hall later developed the idea. Gramsci’s theory is founded on the basis that the subordinate population is socialised into dominant (capitalist) ideological ways of thinking. The media, education, the church, and the family are argued as being agents of social control that legitimise ruling ideas. A current example of hegemony can be seen in the national fire-fighters strike over pay (Maguire K. The Guardian p1 29/10/ 2002). The government believes that fire fighters should receive a 4 percent pay rise in line with inflation in contrast, the Fire Brigades Union have requested a 40 percent pay rise. In order to coerce the public into accepting this belief, the government has reasoned that;

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‘it is highly questionable that the nuclear industry, premiership football, cinemas, West End theatres and tube trains can operate safely’(as a result of

this action).

                                                                                                   (Maguire K. p 1).

In this case the government has attempted to undermine the firemen (through the media) by insinuating that their actions are putting innocent peoples lives at risk. However rather than accepting this argument the public chose ...

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