SOC 3750 Lecture Notes - Lecture 15: Police Legitimacy, Erving Goffman, Constructed Script
29 Mar 2017
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Document Summary
We depend on mass media for crime and justice information. Entertainment and news media construct policing in specific, stereotypical ways o o o o. Been the case since early 19th century, especially the 20th o. The market has always capitalized on the police to sell to consumers. But news media and police have a complex relationship. Police and news media are mutually dependent (partners?) Police seek institutional legitimacy via news media o: news media help with police operations (awareness, tips, etc. , news media needs steady stream of crime stories. Further complicating matters: news media as watch dog o o o. Scrutinize police activity and keep state authority in check. In 60s poor police/public relations in us, canada, and uk o. In response, commissions were created to make strong argument police departments had to go out of way to improve community relations o. By 1970s media relations officers (mros) hired to do image work o o o o.
