2.9.3

Media Language

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Genre Conventions and Layout

A range of techniques are employed in newspapers to encode meaning and it is important to identify and examine issues such as genre conventions, the use of images and the language used.

Genre conventions

Genre conventions

  • Some of the common features or conventions of a newspaper are as follows:
    • A Masthead - the name of the newspaper which often reflects its values and house style.
    • Headlines - a phrase summarising the story.
Conventions

Conventions

  • Splash - the main story on a front page.
  • Plug - an advert for other items or features in the newspaper.
  • Use of columns.
  • Standfirst - the introductory paragraph of a story.
  • By-line - name of writer for the stories.
  • Anchorage - the placing of captions with text to create a specific and more definite meaning.
Conventions cont.

Conventions cont.

  • Trail - when a story starts on one page and is continued on another.
  • Main body.
  • Captions.
  • Quotes.
  • Photographs.
  • Advertisements.
Layout and design

Layout and design

  • It is important to analyse the composition of a newspaper.
  • The way the front page or double page spread has been designed will create certain connotations.
Consider the following:

Consider the following:

  • The rough ratio of text to image.
  • The use of images and the images selected.
  • The use of colour.
  • The use of typography.
  • If the newspaper has a house style.
  • How captions and/or quotes are placed to anchor meaning.

Verbal Codes and Narrative

A range of techniques are employed in newspapers to encode meaning and it is important to identify and examine issues such as genre conventions, the use of images and the language used.

Verbal codes (language)

Verbal codes (language)

  • The language style used in newspapers is important.
  • It can reflect the target audience and affect the representation of events, people or places.
Make sure to identify the following:

Make sure to identify the following:

  • The use of pun, alliteration, sensationalist or emotive language.
  • The mode of address adopted.
  • Whether the newspaper takes a balanced objective approach to the story or is biased.
  • If the stories covered are examples of hard or soft news.
Narrative

Narrative

  • Some important factors to do with narrative to remember when analysing a newspaper are:
    • Is there evidence of any Binary Oppositions (Strauss)?
    • Can you apply Propp’s theory of character roles?
      • For example is anyone represented as the hero/villain?
Narrative cont.

Narrative cont.

  • Do any of the stories create a moral panic in relation to any issues or social groups?
  • What narrative techniques are used to tell the stories in the newspapers?
    • For example the use of statistics or quotes from witnesses.
Jump to other topics
1

Overview

1.1

Media Language

1.1.1Media Language1.1.2Media Language 2
1.2

Audience

1.2.1Audiences1.2.2Audiences 21.2.3End of Topic Test - Media Language & Audience
1.3

Representation

1.3.1Stereotypes1.3.2Gender1.3.3Audiences
1.4

The Media Industry

1.4.1Media Industries1.4.2Ownership1.4.3Funding & Regulation1.4.4End of Topic Test - Representation/Media Industry
2

Component 1: Section A

2.1

Magazines - Vogue

2.1.1Magazines2.1.2Vogue - Context2.1.3Vogue - Narrative2.1.4Vogue - Representation
2.2

Magazines - GQ

2.2.1GQ - Context2.2.2GQ - Narrative2.2.3GQ - Representation
2.3

Advertising & Marketing

2.3.1Advertising & Marketing2.3.2Analysing Adverts2.3.3Analysing Adverts 22.3.4Theories & Principles2.3.5End of Topic Test - Magazines & Advertising
2.4

Print Advertisements - Quality Street

2.4.1Quality Street - Context2.4.2Quality Street - Narrative2.4.3Quality Street - Representation
2.5

Print Advertisements - (2026 Exams) This Girl Can

2.5.1This Girl Can - Context2.5.2This Girl Can - Narrative2.5.3This Girl Can - Representation
2.6

Print Advertisements - (2027 Exams) NHS 111

2.6.1NHS 111 - Context2.6.2NHS 111 - Narrative2.6.3NHS 111 - Representation
2.7

Film Posters (Marketing)

2.7.1The Man with The Golden Gun2.7.2The Man with The Golden Gun 2
2.8

Film - No Time To Die

2.8.1Context2.8.2Narrative2.8.3Representation
2.9

Newspapers

2.9.1Ownership & Regulation2.9.2News Selection2.9.3Media Language2.9.4Genres2.9.5Newspaper Conventions2.9.6Representation2.9.7Audience2.9.8Theories2.9.9End of Topic Test - Newspapers
2.10

The Sun

2.10.1Context2.10.2Narrative2.10.3Language & Images
2.11

The Guardian

2.11.1The Guardian2.11.2Narrative2.11.3Language & Images
2.12

(2028 Exams) The Sun

2.12.1The Sun - Context2.12.2The Sun - Narrative2.12.3The Sun - Representation
2.13

(2028 Exams) The Guardian

2.13.1The Guardian - Context2.13.2The Guardian - Narrative2.13.3The Guardian - Representation
3

Component 1: Section B

3.1

Video Games

3.1.1Video Games
3.2

Video Games - Fortnite

3.2.1Fortnite (2017) - Media Industries3.2.2Fornite (2017) - Audience
3.3

Film

3.3.1The Big Six3.3.2Technology3.3.3End of Topic Test - Video Games & Films
3.4

Radio

3.4.1The Radio Industry3.4.2Categories of Radio Station3.4.3Technology & Radio Audiences3.4.4Theories3.4.5End of Topic Test - Radio
3.5

Radio - The Archers

3.5.1Production3.5.2Media Industries3.5.3Media Contexts3.5.4Audiences 13.5.5Audiences 2
3.6

(2027 Exams) Radio - Desert Island Discs

3.6.1Media Industries3.6.2Audiences3.6.3Media Contexts
4

Component 2: Section A

4.1

Television

4.1.1The Television Industry4.1.2Types of Broadcasting4.1.3Media Language & TV4.1.4Representation & Audiences4.1.5Theories
4.2

Sitcom

4.2.1Sitcoms4.2.2Friends4.2.3Friends 24.2.4End of Topic Test - Sitcoms & Friends
4.3

Sitcom - Modern Family

4.3.1Media Language4.3.2Representation4.3.3Media Industries4.3.4Audiences4.3.5Media Contexts
4.4

Sitcom - Man Like Mobeen

4.4.1Media Language4.4.2Representations4.4.3Media Industries
4.5

(2026 Exams) Luther

4.5.1Context4.5.2Media Language4.5.3Representation4.5.4Audience4.5.5Industry
4.6

The Sweeney

4.6.1Context4.6.2Media Language4.6.3Representation4.6.4Audience4.6.5Industry
5

Component 2: Section B

5.1

Music Video

5.1.1Music Videos5.1.2The Music Industry
5.2

Lizzo - 'Good as Hell'

5.2.1Context5.2.2'Good as Hell'5.2.3Media Language5.2.4Representation5.2.5Audience5.2.6Industry
5.3

Taylor Swift - 'The Man'

5.3.1Taylor Swift5.3.2Media Language5.3.3Representation5.3.4Audiences5.3.5Media Industries5.3.6Media Contexts
5.4

Stormzy - 'Superheroes'

5.4.1Stormzy5.4.2Media Language5.4.3Representation5.4.4Audiences5.4.5Media Industries5.4.6Media Contexts
5.5

Justin Bieber - 'Intentions'

5.5.1Justin Bieber5.5.2Media Language5.5.3Representation5.5.4Audiences5.5.5Media Industries5.5.6Media Contexts
5.6

TLC - 'Waterfalls'

5.6.1TLC5.6.2Media Language5.6.3Representation5.6.4Media Contexts
5.7

Duran Duran - 'Rio'

5.7.1Duran Duran5.7.2Media Language5.7.3Representation5.7.4Media Contexts
5.8

Online Media - Lizzo

5.8.1Media Language5.8.2Representation5.8.3Audiences5.8.4Media Contexts & Industries
5.9

Online Media - Taylor Swift

5.9.1Media Language5.9.2Representation5.9.3Audiences5.9.4Media Contexts & Industries
5.10

Online Media - Stormzy

5.10.1Media Language5.10.2Representation5.10.3Audience5.10.4Media Context & Industries

Practice questions on Media Language

Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.

  1. 1
    Common newspaper conventions:Fill in the list
  2. 2
    Newspaper layout and design: Fill in the list
  3. 3
    Newspaper language style analysis:Fill in the list
  4. 4
    Analysing newspaper narrative:Fill in the list
  5. 5
    Who came up with the theory of character roles?Multiple choice
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News Selection

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