London Riots

It is important to become more involved in current affairs so that you can understand how the media works, how different viewpoints might be put across and be able to deconstruct an article and the messages (or ideology) behind it.

Below is a link to a clip of coverage of the London Riots which took place in August 2011.

Note that the clip is from BBC News and consider the style they use to present stories and the things that they choose to include or miss out. Is social media (twitter/facebook/bbm) to blame for the riots?

UK London Riots Coverage (Youtube)

Here are various newpaper front pages from the same time.  

Look at these closely and consider the different messages given out by different papers and the way that they present their stories in print form. (Think about images used, language in the headline and the focus of the story.)

Please write comments in the box at the bottom of the post. This can include ideas on how the rioters/police/government are presented, the different styles that the newspapers use, what has been included or missed and your own thoughts on the events in London. We will discuss this further in a lesson so be prepared to have something to say!