This book investigates how social problems and deviance are constructed and amplified by the mass media. Stanley Cohen, a sociologist known for his work on deviance and social control, examines the symbiotic relationship between media representations and public perception. The book analyzes the processes through which certain phenomena become defined as social problems, focusing on the role of news reporting in shaping public discourse and policy.

Stanley Cohen's "Manufacture of News" is a foundational text in media sociology and the study of deviance. It is widely cited for its rigorous analysis of how media constructs social problems, particularly through the concept of moral panics. Scholars frequently reference its insights into the power of news reporting to shape public understanding and policy responses to crime and social issues.