The Daily Mirror (L,R,I&A) Flashcards
When did the Daily Mirror first report this story?
November 2021
What is the newspaper scandal known as?
‘Partygate’ in reference to he ‘watergate’ scandal in the US in the 1970s which resulted in the resignation of President Nixon
References the fact that Boris is corrupt and untrustworthy.
What does the Daily Mirror present itself as?
The voice of the British people (they align themselves by using the personal pronoun ‘us’)
(Daily Mirror) Plug
The advertising feature on the front of the paper is of the Platinum Jubilee which reinforces the cultural heritage of the UK.
The queen is wearing fancy clothing and jewellery which would be quite expensive (upper class) which may be an escapist fantasy for a lot of readers (working-class readership)
The use of the old photo suggests the length of her reign - representing the monarchy as being a part of tradition.
What type of newspaper is The Daily Mirror?
Tabloid
What party does The Daily Mirror support?
Labour
What does The Daily Mirror’s slogan suggest?
“The Heart of Britain”
It suggests that the newspaper stands up for the ordinary person and is a key part of cultural life in the UK.
Significance of The Daily Mirror headline
“ZERO SHAME”
It is brief and dramatic (which is typical of the paper’s style)
(Daily Mirror) Main image FP
The image is large which suggests that he is important and powerful - especially to this story.
Johnson is wearing a suit and tie which we typically associate as being wealthy and high status - but looks disheveled (connoting that he is lazy and unprofessional)
Johnson appears unconcerned/unapologetic (smirk). Along with the caption “I’m not going” suggests his failure to take responsibility for what has happened.
(Daily Mirror) Language
The language is emotive and reflects the values/attitudes of the newspaper and their political allegiance as they refer to Johnson as “shameless” which also creates a negative representation of BJ.
“Stain” - negative connotations, Conservative Party is dirty and they have ruined the country not just for a short time either
(Daily Mirror) Mode of address
It is direct and uses colloquialisms such as ‘cops’ and ‘lockdown bashes’ to engage with the target readership
(Daily Mirror) Busy DP
It incorporates a range of different features which is unusual for a newspaper to have all of these on the same page - it suggests the story’s importance.
(Daily Mirror) Main image on DP
They are emotive and dramatic. They have juxtaposed te scene from the hospital ward to one with the prime minister smirking with a glass of wine.
Represents BJ as being lazy, enjoying luxuries as opposed to saving lives.
(The Daily Mirror) Levi-Strauss’ structuralism theory - conform or challenge?
It conforms!
There is a binary opposition between the government and ‘the people’ which feeds into the ‘us vs them’ ideology of the newspaper.
Discusses how BJ was out partying “while the rest of the nation was diligently sticking to the rules” - helping the audience feel like they were doing the right thing
Pitting BJ against the rest of Britain
“Compare Hannah’s quiet dignity with his lying bombast”
- real member of the public
- see her as good vs Boris as villain
(Daily Mirror) Direct quotations on DP
They represent ordinary people’s stories (from diverse and W/C backgrounds) and makes it about the experiences of individuals rather than a complicated political story. This builds emotional engagement.
-will appeal to DM readers as they are in similar situations
Connotes that BJ is unpopular with a lot of people and makes the representations of him feel more accurate and untrustworthy.
(The Daily Mirror) Hall’s representation theory - conform or challenge?
The paper is using stereotypical representations of the prime minister to convey a left-wing agenda and raise awareness of the equalities in society.
Also, the representation is constructed through signs e.g. dress codes are used to convey messages about social standing.