Newspaper representation of terror

George Gerber argues that exposure to repeated patterns of representation over long periods of time cans have and influence the way in which people perceive the world around them.

Consider the representation of terror.

• How does your chosen newspaper represent the issue. 

By the Daily Mirror, having the stamp of 'The evil face of terror' up in the corner in a bold font, already represents the terror on the situation. Along with this there is also the bold font in capitals of the word 'BEHEADED' which is a literal and graphic word that represents the terror of the story and how it is very easy for readers to already of imagined what happened. The Daily Mirror also places the man in the centre of the photo whilst having a large commotion of people in the far background from him which could show how they are all terrified too. They also put '.. on a British street' to show to people in Britain that no-one is safe which then shows the terror for the audience. 

• How does the selection of images and language shape and influence the audience? 
  
  The image the daily mirror had selected covers the whole front page, which demonstrates how the audience will only be looking at that one photo and will be more easily influenced by it other then if there was more stories on the front page too. By the man holding a knife and having red all over it and his hands symbolises the terror as it is the only bright colour on the front of the newspaper which acknowledges audiences that this is possibly blood. Also by the man being black introduces racist views and how the daily mirror is influencing readers that black men are dangerous. Along with this it also say 'on a British street' which resembles the personalisation that the Daily mirror has used so that the readers feel a personal connection for the people. They also use this personalisation technique in the language that they have used by saying 'soldier in a help for heroes shirt' which adds another level of sympathy as the person who died was a soldier which demonstrates the Daily Mirror are influencing audiences even more to hate this one man who they have classed as a 'terrorist' in a smaller summary section to the side of the photo. 

• What is the cumulative effect of these “repeated patterns of representation over long periods”? 

By these representations being constantly showed in the media, audiences will soon start to believe that is true due to its repeated pattern and end up not asking why. This will then give a bad effect to society as it could create more riots, arguments, fights etc. due to the conflicted ways on which to believe if its true or false.  And instead will 'brainwash' audiences to believe in what the social media  want them to believe in to what actual individuals want to believe in.