2.9.5
Newspaper Conventions
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Conventions of Tabloids
Conventions of tabloids commonly include the following.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
News selection
- A focus on hard news.
- E.g. political events, environmental issues, crime, education and health, global issues.
Use of language
- Elaborated language code.
- Formal mode of address.
- Largely objectivist epistemology.
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.
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.
Readership
- High socio-economic status of reader.
- Generally more educated than tabloid readerships.
- Often attracts, carers succeeders or aspirers.
1Overview
1.1Media Language
1.3Representation
2Component 1: Section A
2.1Magazines - Vogue
2.2Magazines - GQ
2.3Advertising & Marketing
2.4Print Advertisements - Quality Street
2.5Print Advertisements - (2026 Exams) This Girl Can
2.6Print Advertisements - (2027 Exams) NHS 111
2.7Film Posters (Marketing)
2.8Film - No Time To Die
2.9Newspapers
2.11The Guardian
2.12(2028 Exams) The Sun
2.13(2028 Exams) The Guardian
3Component 1: Section B
3.1Video Games
3.2Video Games - Fortnite
3.4Radio
3.5Radio - The Archers
3.6(2027 Exams) Radio - Desert Island Discs
4Component 2: Section A
4.1Television
4.3Sitcom - Modern Family
4.4Sitcom - Man Like Mobeen
4.5(2026 Exams) Luther
5Component 2: Section B
5.1Music Video
5.2Lizzo - 'Good as Hell'
5.3Taylor Swift - 'The Man'
5.4Stormzy - 'Superheroes'
5.5Justin Bieber - 'Intentions'
5.6TLC - 'Waterfalls'
5.7Duran Duran - 'Rio'
5.8Online Media - Lizzo
5.9Online Media - Taylor Swift
5.10Online Media - Stormzy
Jump to other topics
1Overview
1.1Media Language
1.3Representation
2Component 1: Section A
2.1Magazines - Vogue
2.2Magazines - GQ
2.3Advertising & Marketing
2.4Print Advertisements - Quality Street
2.5Print Advertisements - (2026 Exams) This Girl Can
2.6Print Advertisements - (2027 Exams) NHS 111
2.7Film Posters (Marketing)
2.8Film - No Time To Die
2.9Newspapers
2.11The Guardian
2.12(2028 Exams) The Sun
2.13(2028 Exams) The Guardian
3Component 1: Section B
3.1Video Games
3.2Video Games - Fortnite
3.4Radio
3.5Radio - The Archers
3.6(2027 Exams) Radio - Desert Island Discs
4Component 2: Section A
4.1Television
4.3Sitcom - Modern Family
4.4Sitcom - Man Like Mobeen
4.5(2026 Exams) Luther
5Component 2: Section B
5.1Music Video
5.2Lizzo - 'Good as Hell'
5.3Taylor Swift - 'The Man'
5.4Stormzy - 'Superheroes'
5.5Justin Bieber - 'Intentions'
5.6TLC - 'Waterfalls'
5.7Duran Duran - 'Rio'
5.8Online Media - Lizzo
5.9Online Media - Taylor Swift
5.10Online Media - Stormzy
Practice questions on Newspaper Conventions
Can you answer these? Test yourself with free interactive practice on Seneca — used by over 10 million students.
- 1Tabloid use of images:Fill in the list
- 2Tabloid readership:True / false
- 3Tabloid news selection: Fill in the list
- 4Mid market use of language:Fill in the list
- 5Mid market use of image:Fill in the list
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