video record
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Description
Between August 1972 and October 1973 Britain experienced a wave of 'muggings' - 'robberies following sudden attacks in the open' as they were officially defined. Stuart Hall, Director of the Centr...e for Contemporary Cultural Studies at the University of Birmingham presents a case study of the media's coverage of this epidemic. He examines the relationship between the mass media, large public institutions like the police, government and the courts and a social problem like 'mugging'. The programme is illustrated with news film, newspaper material and film animations.
Metadata describing this Open University video programme
Module code and title: D101, Making sense of society
Item code: D101; 09
First transmission date: 17-04-1975
Published: 1975
Rights Statement:
Restrictions on use:
Duration: 00:25:00
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Producer: Vic Lockwood
Contributor: Stuart Hall
Publisher: BBC Open University
Keyword(s): Animations; Britain 1972-73; Courts; Government; Mass media; Media coverage; Muggings; News film; Police; Public institutions
Footage description: Rolling credits of newspaper headlines on mugging. Hall, in office, introduces programme which will deal with the relation between the media and the problem. He begins by looking at the label 'mugging'. Pictures from Sunday Times article about New York. Hall continues by outlining how the media sensitize the public to the concept and how a standard image grows up. He then brings in the role of the police and definers of crime. Interview from BBC News with Robert Mark on the crime statistics and 'mugging'. Hall criticizes the statistics, pointing out inconsistencies. Various graphs are shown. Interview from BBC News with Colin Woods on 'muggings'. Hall develops his concept of the 'amplification spiral' between the media, news item and public. BBC news report from Handsworth on the Paul Storey case. Hall looks at the objectivity and impartiality of media reporting and their reliance on privileged institutional spokesmen. Interview with a community worker on the Storey case, putting an alternative view. Hall sums up on the role of the media in promoting and analysing social problems. He puts it into a wider political context. Speech by Lord Hailsham, over stills of a Conservative conference. Credits.
Master spool number: 6HT/71718
Production number: 00525_2161
Videofinder number: 1666
Available to public: no