News (online) - Media Language

Question 1

Are newspapers still classified into quality and tabloid online?

Answer 1

Yes BUT the hybridisation occurs even more

Question 2

What are the online conventions of a quality paper? 5 things!

Answer 2

1. The home pages is filled with headlines, hard news near the top
2. Same traditional masthead
3. Use a four-column layout
4. Typography is mostly serif
5. The pages mostly consist of headlines and standfirsts, but the quantity of images roughly matches the text

Question 3

What are the online conventions of a tabloid paper? 5 things!

Answer 3

1. Lifestyle, showbiz and human-interest stories feature prominently
2. Fonts are sans-serif
3. There is saturated colours, especially red
4. Photography dominates
5. Language register is more informal

Question 4

What are the hydridised elements of a quality online paper?

Answer 4

More extensive use of colour, opinion/lifestyle/ports pieces appear on the home page (rather than buried in supplements in a print paper), some sans-serif fonts

Question 5

What are the hydridised elements of a tabloid online paper?

Answer 5

Little use of banner headlines, most headlines are not capitalised, les image/headline dominated and large number of headlines (unlike print where only a small number of headlines are shown)

Question 6

What layout do online papers rely on?

Answer 6

A conventional one of text and images

Question 7

A conventional one of text and images

Answer 7

Normally the same in terms of shot types, angles and locations

Question 8

What are the differences between online and print in terms of conventions?

Answer 8

There are lots but good examples; more headlines and feature rolling or “breaking news”

Question 9

What is a banner?

Answer 9

The section at the top of the website housing the masthead, navigation page links, sign in and search tools

Question 10

What is a sidebar?

Answer 10

A section to the right hand side of the website containing smaller news stories, images, copy and adverts

Question 11

What font is used?
Daily Mail (mainly)

Answer 11

Sans serif to make it easier to read

Question 12

What is a feature article?

Answer 12

It is longer than other articles and updated every few hours to keep the news current and encourage audiences to return

Question 13

How many colours are used online?

Answer 13

A three colour palette to link to print news and create a brand identity

Question 14

What is the main convention of social media?

Answer 14

The concept of belonging to a community and participation (link to audience theories!)

Question 15

How is the proliferation of technology relevant?

Answer 15

Multiple meanings can be communicated across a range of platforms using the same but also different media language elements

Question 16

If print news is considered a one-to-many form of media, what is online, social and participatory media considered?

Answer 16

Many-to-many (link to Shirky and Jenkins)

Question 17

Jenkins, Hall and Shirky - how is the audience encouraged to be active online?

Answer 17

Through sharing their interpretation of meaning and putting forward their views

Question 18

How can online news lead to globalisation?

Answer 18

Through the use of multiple global platforms

Question 19

How does online news incorporate viewpoints and ideologies?

Answer 19

1. The use of language and mode of address (particularly with regards to the headline)
2. Choice of main image
3. Layout of the image and caption to anchor meaning
4. The inclusion of comments buttons
5. inclusion of the byline for The Guardian

Question 20

How is Barthes theory relevant?

Answer 20

He argues that the signs (the media language) combine to create viewpoints and ideologies, positioning the reader to believe specific things

Question 21

How is Todorov relevant?

Answer 21

Most stories online follow his Narrative theory of Equilibrium, Disequilibrium and Resolution. (The Equilibrium is often assumed and sometimes the Resolution is not there)

Question 22

How is Neale relevant?

Answer 22

Repetition is used to link to print news to show the audience that the content is newsworthy and reliable.

Question 23

How is Levi-Strauss relevant?

Answer 23

Most stories set up a binary opposite which communicate ideological value (there is one opposition which is seen as “right”)

Question 24

How can Baudrillard be relevant?

Answer 24

The comments section can transcend class, gender, politics etc so can create a new identity and therefore a simulation