as media studies. historical context from the 1970s onwards, the uk newspaper market has been...
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AS Media Studies
Historical Context
From the 1970s onwards, the UK newspaper market has been divided into three distinct sectors.
At the ‘top’ – the broadsheets (large pages and long stories, balance between text and images)
In the middle – the mid market tabloids (small pages, short stories, more images)
At the ‘bottom’, the red top tabloids
Tabloid v Broadsheet
Assumption that ‘tabloid’ implies frivolous and dumbed down stories.
Broadsheets imply serious, intelligent, upmarket stories, aimed at a higher class of reader.
Tabloid newspapers are sometimes pejoratively called the gutter press.
Recently, broadsheet papers (The Guardian, The Times, The Independent) have started to launch tabloid editions – sales have improved.
Broadsheet
TabloidOr
Compact? Berliner
The Sunday Times The Sun
The Independent
The Guardian
Free Newspapers
Another significant aspect of newspaper distribution is the growing impact of free newspapers.
‘Freesheets’ carry very little editorial content and lots of display/classified advertising.
The first national free UK newspaper was ‘The Metro’ from Associated Newspapers, launched in 1999.
Freesheets are often used to wrap direct sales leaflets or ‘inserts’ – so called ‘junk mail’.
Key Terms – Newspaper layout
MASTHEAD
STRAPLINE
HEADLINE
LEAD
CAPTION
BYLINE
Tabloid v Broadsheet
Front page Ratio of images to words, size of headlines,
number of stories Style/tone – sensationalist and exaggerated with
alliteration/puns or serious and measured. Language – easy to understand/short paragraphs
or complex language/long paragraphs?
Whole paper How much content is about sport and which
sports are featured? How much content is about celebrities? How much of the paper consists of advertising
material? How much of the paper is about international
news?
The Mirror
Founded in 1903 Institution is Trinity Mirror. A red top paper with black top pretensions. Circulation in 2010 is at 1,213,323 copies
daily. Constant battle for supremacy with The
Sun. Political allegiance is the Labour party. Was heavily opposed to wars in Afghanistan
and Iraq. Previous editor is Piers Morgan. He was sacked after printing hoax photos of
British soldiers abusing Iraqi prisoners.
The Daily Mirror
Complete the key concepts diagram for your Mirror front page.
Comment on genre, narrative, representation, ideology, institution, audience and anything significant about the layout.
The SUN
Launched in 1964 Primary content is entertainment –
mostly show-biz gossip, sport and sensational scandals.
Eschews political correctness – page 3. Institution is News International – owned
by Rupert Murdoch. The UK’s biggest selling national daily Circulation approximately 3 million
copies a day.
The Sun
Complete a content analysis of The Sun – what is included in the paper?
Analyse the front page according to the key concepts.
The Guardian
A left wing broadsheet Aimed at a liberal, middleclass readership. Institution is the Guardian Media Group. Founded in 1821. It is unique among major British daily
newspapers in being owned by a foundation (the Scott Trust.
At the 2010 election it supported the Liberal Democrats.
The Guardian had a certified average daily circulation of 283,063 copies in March 2010
Its website is one of the most popular news websites.
The Times
Launched in 1785. Institution is Times Newspapers Limited
– a subsidiary of News International. Switched from broadsheet to tabloid in
2004 in an attempt to appeal to younger readers and commuters.
Seen as a serious publication with high standards of journalism.
Sister paper is The Sunday TImes