The Martians Have Landed!: A History of Media-Driven Panics and HoaxesHistory is replete with examples of media-created scares and panics. This book presents more than three dozen studies of media scares from the 17th century to the 21st century, including hoaxes perpetrated via newspapers, radio, television and cyberspace. From the 1835 batmen on the Moon hoax to more recent bird flu scares and Hurricane Katrina myths, this book explores hoaxes that highlight the impact of the media on our lives and its tendency to sensationalize. Most of the hoaxes covered occurred in the United States, though incidents from Europe, Asia, Africa, South America and Australia are featured as well. Several are global in scope, revealing the power global media wields. |
Contents
1 | |
11 | |
It Came from the Small ScreenTelevision | 35 |
It Came from InkNewspapers | 77 |
It Came from CyberspaceThe Internet | 111 |
It Came from a Friend of a FriendMediaSpread Urban Legends | 129 |
It Came from Everywhere | 155 |
Notes | 213 |
Bibliography | 229 |
Index | 241 |
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The Martians Have Landed!: A History of Media-Driven Panics and Hoaxes Robert E. Bartholomew,Benjamin Radford No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
alarmist American appeared asteroid Auckland Star Avian Flu began believe bird flu broadcast bulletins called candy caused cell phones Chapter chemtrails Chicago child chupacabra circulated claims crime crying boy curse Daily Journal-Gazette death disease drama evacuees fear film fire Ghostwatch global Halley's Comet Halloween happened headlines Herald hoax Hurricane Katrina Ibid incident Internet Journal journalists Katrina killed Killer Knightley KROQ listeners live Mad Gasser Martian Mattoon media scares moral panic Morgellons movie murder mysterious myths newspaper officer organ theft pandemic panic parents percent phantom clowns photograph picture poison police popular predators Puerto radio reported ritual abuse rumors Satanic Cult satanic ritual abuse sensational Sept sex offenders Shark Attack slasher spread station story Superdome tabloid television threat told urban legend vaccine victims video nasties viewers virus warning watching York Zealand