2.6.5

Newspaper Conventions

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Conventions of Tabloids

Conventions of tabloids commonly include the following.

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Use of language

  • A focus on sensationalised news such as celebrity gossip and political scandal/sport/entertainment news.
  • Restricted language style.
  • Tabloids often employ an informal, direct and humorous or satirical mode of address.
  • Mainly Sans Serif font with lots of different font styles.
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Use of language cont.

  • A largely subjectivist epistemology.
  • Use of pun, humour, rhyming, metaphor, alliteration and emotive language.
  • Captions and image manipulation used to deliberately alter meaning of photos to create persuasive and sensationalist anchorage.
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Use of images

  • Large headlines and images used to convey narrative.
  • Elaborate use of colour.
  • Low ratio of text to image.
  • Use of blocks of red, white and black on cover.
  • Cover contains mainly images and large text.
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Readership

  • Tabloids generally attract a lower socio-economic status reader.
  • Tend to attract mainstreamers or strugglers.
  • Often use binary opposites to attract and position audiences.
  • Tabloids often foster and uphold public opinion, often resulting in moral panics.

Conventions of Mid-Market Tabloids

Conventions of a mid market tabloid may include the following.

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News selection

  • Mid market tabloids tend to use a combination of both sensationalism and hard news but will use a more informal approach to hard news stories than broadsheets.
  • They will use a combination of objectivist and subjectivist language although often they do have clear views on many news stories.
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Use of language

  • Use of both restricted and elaborated language code.
  • Mainly informal mode of address.
  • Combination of serif and sans serif typography.
  • Some use of pun and exaggerated or emotive language.
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Use of image

  • Some use of colour but not as elaborate, colour often still used on masthead.
  • Relatively low ratio of text to photography.
  • Some use of captions to anchor meaning of photos to create specific representations.
  • Use of image manipulation used at times.
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Readership

  • Slightly higher socio-economic status of reader compared to tabloids.
  • Can attract a combination of readers in terms of psychographic profile.

Conventions of Broadsheet Newspapers

Conventions of broadsheet newspapers may include the following.

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News selection

  • A focus on hard news.
    • E.g. political events, environmental issues, crime, education and health, global issues.
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Use of language

  • Elaborated language code.
  • Formal mode of address.
  • Largely objectivist epistemology.
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Use of image and typography

  • More subtle use of colour.
  • Mainly Serif font to connote tradition and sophistication.
  • Largely uses black typography, often serif-some colour but usually more subtle.
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Interaction of language and image

  • Higher ratio of text to photography.
  • More serious approach to headlines; although can be very direct and dramatic at times.
  • Captions used to describe and anchor meaning of images to add depth to image rather than passing judgement.
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Readership

  • High socio-economic status of reader.
  • Generally more educated than tabloid readerships.
  • Often attracts, carers succeeders or aspirers.

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1Overview

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3Component 1: Section B

4Component 2: Section A

5Component 2: Section B

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