Introduction to newspapers.
Why do we study media?
- To understand the things that we see everyday. eg. news, social media, films, TV, adverts.
- To learn where the media text comes from and why.
- To produce media texts, understand how they are made.
In the newspaper section there are two set texts, The Times and The Daily Mirror.
Newspapers will almost certainly come up in the final exam. Newspapers could come up in Component section A for media language and representation and also section B for audience and industry.
If it comes up in Section A as an unseen analysis questions- will refer to the SET TEXT newspapers. However if it comes up in Section B you will refer to the newspapers in general, including a print edition and the websites for both.
Newspapers are completely subjective.
Why study news media with a focus on newspapers?
- Newspapers still exist and newspapers are still extremely popular with older demographics.
- Demographic: a way of categorising an audience.
- Newspapers without exception demonstrate significant political bias.
- Media is everywhere and it unarguably influences our opinions
- Newspapers can exaggerate and dramatize reality itself.
- Newspapers use shocking and manipulate modes of address to maximise profit.
- Political bias of newspapers can unarguably influence election results.
- Digitally convergent media allows access to news to news in ways that we couldn't have predicted.
Tabloid- a newspaper with an informal mode of address, celeb news etc. It appeals to a working class audience.
What is 'news'?
'News is new information of a subject of interest to the recipient. All cleverer... definitions reveal the preoccupations of their authors'- Ian Hargreaves
'News enlarges a mind'- Samuel Johnson
Why do we read the news?
We read the news to enhance our understanding of topics, and see different view points of the topics so you can build your own view.
We read the news as it is interesting to read.
Newsworthy- Interesting and important enough to be reported as news. Weather or not a topic is interesting enough for people to want or need to know.
News Values
The decisions that journalists make to decide what is included in a newspaper, and what is not. More important stories are on the front page, less important stories are tucked away further back in the newspaper. And more important stories may be favoured with a double page splash. This whole hierarchy of importance is called ‘newsworthiness’. The following four points help journalists to decide what is newsworthy:
1 - Agenda
An agender is a list of things that are important. But it’s subjective: what’s important to one person may be of no importance to another. By selecting which stories are included and which stories are not included, journalists are able to set public agendas, and arguably tells audiences what is important and what is now. Agendas are often political.
2 - Minimising risk and maximising profit
Newspapers are commercial products, and they exist to make money. The selection of stories must get people to buy newspapers, preferably every day, which involves knowing exactly what an audience wants, and giving it to them! Also, if a certain group is providing financial incentives to a newspaper, it might be in the newspaper’s interests to give them an easy ride…
3 - Immediacy
News is all about being new. The latest news very quickly becomes ‘old news’ and therefore there is often a struggle to publish the most scandalous news as quickly as possible… whatever the cost! The Phone Hacking Scandal is an excellent example of journalists putting human decency to one side to get the biggest ‘scoop’
4 - Gatekeeping
News coverage isn’t just about what’s included: it’s also about what’s left out. Every time we see a certain group being represented, another group is being excluded. And it’s a relatively small group of people who decides what goes in and what doesn’t!
The Daily Mirror is a left wing (labour) newspaper.
How do these editions of The Times and The Daily Mirror demonstrate news values?
The Daily Mirror has prioritised the death of four teens in Wales. However, this is not headline in the Times, which suggests a different agenda.
The Times headline story is about tax cuts, which suggests the economy is more important that the loss of human life.
The Daily Mirrors headline story dominates the front page, and the lexis of 'tragic' confirms to the audience the sad situation. This scandalous and hyperbolic mode of address will ensure big sale that day.
The Times is far more wordy in its mode of address, which suggests an educated and middle class audience. This reinforces the values of a middle class audience.
The Times is generally presented in stark black and white, which suggests a serious mode of address and reinforces the news values of seriousness and maturity.
However, The Times features a colourful purple splash with the headline 'how to spice up your marriage', an example of soft news.
The combination of soft and hard news in both newspapers suggests that we live in a busy world with a lot of things happening.
The Times front page is stuffed with a variety of stories which suggests to the target audience that the newspaper is good value for money. Even to buy the newspaper Mon-Fri costs £14, which is perhaps why they take this approach.
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