Newspaper essay LR

 WWW: This is an outstanding response – if you wrote this in an exam situation I would hope you would be looking at something close to full marks (certainly in the top band – 17-20 marks). This answer does everything required – a focused answer to the question, specific reference to the CSP editions we have studied throughout, hugely detailed paragraphs, confident use of media terminology, well organised... This is close to perfect! Well done!

 

EBI: In terms of content, it’s very difficult to criticise this. I suppose you could add a little in terms of politics to your final paragraph – the way the Conservative government is presented quite positively in the leak scandal story on the front of the Times. You could also discuss the way the Times presents the Royal Family very much as an important part of British history which fits their audience and conservative viewpoint.

Overall, I’m struggling to find anything to criticise here!

 

LR: Copy and paste this feedback into your Media blog and write THREE things you will revise or practice for the Newspapers topic before your next exam or assessment.​

• The language used.
• Blumler and Katz Users and Gratifications theory.
• Audience. 

Coursework film pitch

 1) What will be the title for your own original NEW horror film? If you're not sure, write down two or three possible titles and you can choose later.

Undecided but something maybe like 'secrets', 'revenge'. 'it's time' or 'times up' etc

2) Write a tagline for your film – it's effectively a slogan for the movie:

'night'/ 'tick-tock'/ 'they're watching you'/'she will come'

3) Write a logline – this is like a longer version of the tagline. It's one sentence that sums up the film and hooks the audience in under 25 words: 

A man tries to help a women who he thinks is suffering from her past. Little does he know she isn't telling him the truth and things begin to take a turn for the worst when he tries to get rid of her.

4) Write down any existing horror films that are similar to yours ("My film idea is like a cross between Scream and Contagion"):

Psycho/paranormal activity/woman in black

5) What is your narrative/storyline? Write a short paragraph that explains what happens in your film:

A man tries to help a woman who is suffering from her past-is she telling him the truth?

6) What is your main character’s name and what happens to them? You can also mention other characters if your wish.

Male 1

Female 1

Male 2

Female 2

Child

Names have not been decided yet

7) Who or what will be the villain or threat in your horror movie?  

Female 1- don't want to give too much away at this point

8) What is the name of your film's director? You can use your own name here if you wish.

Viraj S. Rattan

9) What costume/make-up/props will you need for your photographs for your website?

dark lighting, blood, house setting etc

10) What font/typography/colour you will use to create a brand for your film’s title and branding?  

black and white, thin and long/crocked edges. I want to stick with the conventions of a horror film. 

By completing these tasks, you will have the basic structure to create your photography, website and interview with the director or member of the production team.

Some minor changes will be subject to change depending on cast.

Coursework: Film website research

 Research: horror film websites

Visit the Come Play horror movie website.

1) How do you know that the film is from the horror genre?

• Type of font
• Colour
• Facial expressions in the pictures and trailer

2) How does the website make the audience want to watch the film?

It has the trailer which shows the important parts of the films but leaves it on a cliffhanger so the audience go to watch the movie.

3) Scroll down to see the whole homepage. What other content does the website offer?

The website offers trailers, behind the scenes, cast and crew, social media, pictures and clips from the film.

Next, visit the Mothers Of Monsters horror movie website.

1) What font/typography and colour is used for the title of the film?

The type of typography used is san-serif and the font looks like a Childs handwriting which say "M.O.M". The colour used is Red which signifies blood, death and horror.

2) Scroll down to see the whole homepage. How is the film described in the 'About' section?

It is  a hybrid film described as a family drama and psychological thriller.

3) Keep scrolling down. What other content does the website offer?

It offers the cast, cast Q & A, behind the scenes, who the cast, crew and company are, a subscription sign up and there social media pages.

  Finally, visit this website for horror movie The Invisible Man. 

1) What is the main image on The Invisible Man film poster (on the left of the website homepage)?

It is an image of a woman who looks she is suffering from psychological problems. 

2) What is the tagline for the film? (Clue: it starts 'What You Can't See...')

'What You Can't See Can't Hurt You.'

3) How is the story of The Invisible Man described on the site?

It is described with a lot of emotive language. The tagline 'What You Can't See Can't Hurt You.' has traces of psychological harm and oppression. It also makes the audience sympathies with the main protagonist.

 

Extension Tasks:

1) Research horror film posters - you could start with the low-budget horror films you've already researched above. What do you notice about the photography used?

Dark colours (black and white), close ups of facial expressions to show threat and blood.

2) What iconography can you see that creates connotations of the horror genre?

evil characters-clowns/monsters/dolls etc, shadows, blood dripping and dark lighting.

3) How could you use your phone to create a similar style images for your film website? 

Dark filters and close ups.

Newspapers: Final index

1) Newspapers: Introduction
2) Newspapers: Daily Mirror - Language and Audience
3) Newspapers: Daily Mirror - Representation and Industry
4) Newspapers: The Times - Introduction
5) Newspapers: The Times - Language and Audience
6) Newspapers: The Times - Representation and Industries
7) Newspapers: Essay question

Newspapers: Essay Question

 

‘Different newspapers address their audiences differently.’

How far is this true of The Times and the Daily Mirror (Close Study Products)?

[20 marks]

 

I strongly agree with the statement given above because both The Times (TT) and the Daily Mirror (DM) have constructed their newspapers to reach and catch their audiences. The Times are right wing so they concentrate on the Conservative people and views whilst the Daily Mirror are left wing so they base their content around the Labour party ideologies and views.

One way both The Times and the Daily Mirror addresses their audience is through the construction and layout of their front/inside pages. The Times uses serif typography. This is because it is more formal, traditional and reflects well educated and intellectual people. This reflects how TT target their audiences who are 55+ and in the ABC1 social class through their orthodox fonts. However, the Daily Mirror use a sans-serif typography. This is because it is much more modern and reflects the working class majority. This reflects how the DM is much more mainstream and targets a wider group of individuals (mainstreamers, strugglers and resigned). Additionally, in TT there are a less amount of images and the only ones are of the royal family. This could imply that upper class/professional people would like to read more than look at pictures because of their knowledge. Also suggests how upper class people are patriotic and idealise the royal family and aspire to be like them (‘opinion leaders’). However, in the DM there are a huge amount of pictures and less writing which includes a mix of the royal family and celebrities. This could imply that the working class and middle class are mainstream and like to be well-rounded in their news. An aspect of the ‘strugglers’ can be seen here because they may understand more through pictures.

Another way both TT and DM address their audience is through their content/type of news.  The Times focuses on hard news e.g. Economy, politics, international affairs and business. This can be seen through the headlines “Fee-paying schools ‘save the taxpayer £20 billion’ ”, through the images of the Duchess of Cambridge and the high standard vocabulary they use. This reflects the upper class intellectual people. The ABC1 aspire to be the best and go to the best places, they want to be seen as ‘Succeeders’. On the other hand, the Daily Mirror focuses more on soft news, e.g. entertainment, sports, movies, celebrity gossip and fashion. This can also be seen through the images (they use actor Daniel Craig, Kate and Prince Harry) and language (refer to Prince William as ‘Wills’). This reflects the kind of activities the working class people may be involved in and the type of language they may use.

Moreover, newspapers address their audiences through the representations they portray. The main headline on The Times is about “fee paying schools” (private schools) which only the upper class can afford to send their kids to. Only 7% of students go to fee paying schools which shows that The Times only aim to an intellectual/succeeder. However, the Daily Mirror’s main headline is about ‘MMR jabs’ which aims to state school students (which 93%of students attend). This is aimed at working to middle class people/the mainstreamers. Also, the slogan for Daily Mirror ‘fighting for you’ also links to the political party they support which is the Labour Party (left – wing).

Therefore, I strongly agree with the statement as the definitely do address their audiences in different ways through construction, language and representations. The Times are aimed more towards conservative ideologies and Daily Mirror are supportive of Labour ideologies.

The Times: Industries and representations

 Representation

1) What representation of private schools can be found on the main front page story of the Times?     

From the Times, we get a positive representation of private schools as it views education as important. It shows the eliteness of Britain. This compares with how public schools are seen as less elite and negative. Reflect their higher class audiences and their tastes/beliefs.

2) What representation of the Conservative Party can be found in the story at the top of the front page 'Calls for criminal enquiry as top ministers deny security leak'?

The Times represents the Conservative government in a positive way, as it is defending and protecting the Conservative government over the criminal inquiry.  This reinforces that it is a right-wing supporting newspaper aimed towards traditionalists.

3) How are the Royal Family represented in the Times? (See front page 'Fitting tribute' - Duchess of Cambridge picture and the inside page 'Royal Anzac Day on both sides of the world').

The Royal family are being represented as reflecting the British culture and traditionalism. This is because there is a photo on the front page of the Duchess of Cambridge wearing a poppy which shows that she is respecting the people who's lives were lost during the war- it's their duty to respect and follow British values. And in the inside page The royal family are going to church services, prayers, military tributes and formal parades. The inside page also focuses on 'Royal Anzac day.'      


4) How does the coverage of the Royal Family in the Times contrast with the reporting of the same events in the Daily Mirror?

In the Daily Mirror, the Royal Family are represented as a 'normal' family as they use their first names and nick names as they are 'normal' people. Whilst in The Times they are represented as they are a family that everyone should look up to and respect and that the family row should be solved. They also call them by their full name or their title which is much more formal than what The Daily Mirror addressed them as. The Royal family is seen as 'British culture' and that culture and tradition needs to be followed.


5) How are British people and Muslims represented in the article and sidebar 'Sri Lanka tourists warned of more terror'?

They warn British tourists about FOREIGN terror attacks who may be in Sri Lanka on a holiday. They misrepresent Muslims and other non-white ethnicities of being extremists and preaching others to do the same. The represent right-wing ideologies and creates a fear of 'the other'.

Industries

1) Who owns the Times? Write the name of the company AND the billionaire who owns the company.

Owned by News UK (Subsidiary of News Corporation) and the company is owned by Rupert Murdoch an Australian with many businesses. 

2) What was the The Times's circulation in 2019? How many papers did the Times used to sell back in the 1990s?

Circulation in 2019 was 376,000, down by 12% and sold 800,000 in 1990s

3) How has the Times reacted to the decline in print sales and the growth of the internet?

They have mad an online website for their audience so they can still produce news. They are moving with changing of technology (to reach a wider audience) as well as still providing their traditional newspapers.

4) What does IPSO stand for and what is IPSO's job?

Independent Press Standards Organisation. They regulate the newspapers, listen to complaints, help with unwanted press, advise, provide information and provide a journalists. 


5) Why do some people want stronger regulation of British newspapers? 

Some people want this because of phone-hacking and the regulators not knowing about the newspaper or report.

Grade 8/9 tasks: Will be uploading them soon.

The Times: Language and Audience

Audience

1) What is the main readership demographic for The Times newspaper? Add as much detail as you can.

37% = 65+

83% = 35+

ABC1

It is aimed at well educated people who have high paying jobs.

2) What aspects of the front page of the Times CSP edition suggest that their readers are likely to be more educated and interested in hard news rather than entertainment?

There is a lot more  writing than what there was in the Daily Mirror. They talk about things like politics, economics and the royal family-which is hard news. They think that more educate people understand issues such as tax and the economy.

3) Times readers are mostly over 55 years old. Why is this and how is this reflected by the new stories and kickers in the CSP pages we have studied?  

This is because the older audience have always been reading newspapers and may not be able to know how to use technology. Older people have more traditional and one sided views. They tend to stick to what they are more comfortable with which are issues like tax and economy. Whilst the younger audience get their news from the internet or social media. This reflects the news stories as only older people would have an interest in economy and politics.

Examples in the text includes:

• 'Fee paying schools....': this is to do with tax and the economy.
• Most of the images are of the royal family-relates to traditional British values

4) What is the main audience pleasure offered by the Times? Use Blumler & Katz Uses and Gratifications theory.

• Surveillance; gives us information on hard news; the economy, royal family etc.
• Personal identity: sleep well article-some people may struggle to get sleep, they know they re in this together
• Personal relationships: --
• Diversion: 'Bedroom secrets...'

5) Why might a reader enjoy this CSP edition of the Times? Use Blumler & Katz Uses and Gratifications theory categories and write as detailed an analysis as you can.

This edition contains a lot about the Royal family- this is something the readers would love s they see them as an inspiration. They idealise the Royal family. They also appreciate the hard news and heavy writing content. 

The content is aimed at people who have conservative values. 

Language

1) What is the main story on the front cover of the Times CSP edition (26 April 2019) and why does it appeal to Times readers?

The main story is 'Fee-paying schools save the taxpayer £20 million'. This appeals to The Times readers as they are higher class people so always looking to send their kids to higher standard/private schools which obviously cost a lot of money. So this headline is showing them how to save money but still get your kid into an expensive school. Readers will feel happy and informed.

2) List the other news stories and kickers on the front page of the Times CSP edition. Why do you think the Times selected these for the front page?

• 'Calls for criminal...': hard news which is what these readers want
• 'Sleep well-...': older people tend to have more things to worry about (bills, kids, health etc' so this story can hep them relax.
• "Bedroom secrets: How to create a restful haven"-
  
• "Know your Thor from your Iron Man - Marvel beginners guide"- to try and  fit in with society?

3) What are the main stories on the inside pages of the Times CSP edition and how are they constructed to appeal to Times readers? 

• 'Sr-Lanka tourist...': the readers that go abroad usually have spending money especially to rich countries. Sri Lanka is considered to be a a lace which has expensive resorts. This is making readers aware of how it is getting under threat of terrorism.
• 'How death of grandmother put fear on Henry VII': again this is abused around the Royal Family. Conservative views.

4) Which of Galtung and Ruge's News Values apply to the Times's front page stories? Write about both the main story on private schools and the government leak enquiry. 

• Private schools: personalisation- majority of readers had/have kids that attend/ed a private school. Familiarity-private schools is a big part of Britishness.
• government leak enquiry; negativity-makes the government look shady. Elite nations-the government is what runs the country.

5) What does a close analysis of the news stories in the Times CSP edition suggest about the Times's political beliefs?

• Traditionalist: 
• Conservative
• Right wing ideologies
• Bias 
• High class
• ABC1