The Daily Mirror Section A Flashcards
1
Q
Product context
A
- British daily national tabloid newspaper
- Established in 1903
- Predominantly WC readership and has a traditional left-wing reader stance
- Main competitor is The Sun
- Slogan ‘The Heart of Britain’
2
Q
Product context of text
A
- Published 1st February 2022
- Critical of the was the Conservative government have been handling the Coronavirus pandemic
3
Q
Political context
A
- This edition deals with the scandal surrounding allegations regarding parties and social gatherings held by the Conservative party
- Leaders had enforced strict restrictions that prohibited such gatherings
4
Q
Political context within the text
A
- The Daily Mirror first reported this in November 2021
- Led to an inquiry by senior civil servant Sue Gray, the results published in January 2022
- Scandal became known as ‘Partygate’
- Suffix ‘gate’ also used in 1970 ‘Watergate’ scandal
- Boris Johnson refused calls for his resignation
5
Q
Social and cultural contexts
A
- Targets a lower MC/WC readership and does so through the values of the newspaper, selection of stories and how social groups are represented
- ‘Us vs them’ (gov)
- Newspaper asserts itself as the ‘voice of the British people’
- Advertising feature on the Platinum Jubilee, reinforcing cultural heritage of the UK
6
Q
Media Language: The Front Page - Plug
A
- Promoting the Platinum Jubilee feature, with the political story taking prominence
7
Q
Media Language: The Front Page - Layout
A
- Conventional of a tabloid newspaper
- Image led rather than text led
8
Q
Media Language: The Front Page - Masthead
A
- Bold and recognisable as a red top
- Typography chosen is strong
- Name of the newspaper conveys messages about how the paper may ‘hold the mirror up’ to what is taking place in society
9
Q
Media Language: The Front Page - Slogan
A
- Within the masthead
- ‘Heart of Britain’ suggests the role the newspaper has in society
- Care about what’s happening to the people in Britain
10
Q
Media Language: The Front Page - Headline
A
- Brief and dramatic
- Typical of the paper’s style
- Uses emotive language (i.e. ‘Zero Shame’)
11
Q
Media Language: The Front Page - Strapline
A
- ‘Gray Report Fallout’ sums up the context of the story with negative connotations
12
Q
Media Language: The Front Page - Anchors
A
- Image of Boris Johnson dominates the front page and anchors the headline
- He appears unconcerned
13
Q
Media Language: The Front Page - Caption
A
- ‘I’M NOT GOING’ suggests his failure to take responsibility of what’s happened
- Caption accompanying the image of the Labour leader Kier Starmer reinforces the left-wing stance of the newspaper
14
Q
Media Language: The Front Page - Language
A
- Emotive and reflects the values and attitudes of the newspapers
- Shows their political allegiance, i.e. referring to Boris Johnson as ‘shameless’
15
Q
Media Language: The Front Page - Mode of address
A
- Direct
- Uses colloquialism such as ‘cops’ and ‘lockdown bashes’
- To engage with target readership
16
Q
Media Language: Double Page Spread
A
- Busy and eye-catching
- Incorporates a range of different newspaper features (i.e. editorial, letter, personal direct quotations. cartoon, large images and central story)
- Unusual to have all these features on the same page
- Suggests the story’s importance
17
Q
Media Language: Double Page Spread - Branding
A
- Branding of the newspaper continues onto these pages with the use of colour linking
18
Q
Media Language: Double Page Spread - Colour palette
A
- Colour red linking to the ‘red top’ masthead’
- Subheading, Pull Quote and Kier Starmer’s name also in red
- Connotes the political allegiance of the newspaper
19
Q
Media Language: Double Page Spread - Headline
A
- Large and emotive
- Echoing the front-page headline with repetition of the word ‘shame’
- Conveys values and beliefs of the newspaper and opinion of what’s happened
20
Q
Media Language: Double Page Spread - Central Images
A
- Emotive and dramatic
- Juxtaposing the scene from the hospital ward with one of PM smirking, looking furtive and holding a glass of wine
- Selection of these images further reinforces the point that MPs broke rules while people were suffering
21
Q
Media Language: Double Page Spread - Tone
A
- Supported by direct quotations from ordinary people telling their own tragic Coronavirus stories
- Pull quotes in this section emphasised using large quotation marks
- Use language that conveys the feeling of the newspaper (i.e. ‘continues to lie’, ‘mockery’)
22
Q
Media Language: Double Page Spread - Language
A
- Vilifies the government and their actions
- Binary opposites used (i.e. ‘quiet dignity’ set against ‘lying bombast’)
- Conveys the feeling of the newspaper
- The editorial ‘Voice of the Mirror’ is more opinion led
23
Q
Structuralism, Claude Levi-Strauss
A
- Binary Opposition between the government, Boris Johnson and ‘the people’
- Feeds into the ‘us vs them’ ideology of populism
- Signs that are recognisable to audiences and connote meanings
24
Q
How representations are constructed through selection and combination: The Front Page
A
- Large image of Boris Johnson anchored by the dramatic headline and sub-headings
- Focuses on his code of expression and the anchor of the caption
- Conveys the attitudes and beliefs of the newspaper whose political allegiance of left wing is suggested by more active image of Kier Starmer and the anchor ‘crushing’
- Uses numbers to highlight misdemeanours
- Inclusion of ellipsis constructs a dramatic pause
- Negative representation of the event and the PM’s role in it
25
Q
Representation of event: The Front Page - Response of readers
A
- Accept the newspaper’s view as it reinforces their own ideas about the government
26
Q
How representations are constructed through selection and combination: Double Page Spread
A
- Focuses on different responses to ‘Partygate’
- All construct a negative representation of the government
- Use of direct quotations and the inclusion of individual stories and representations of ordinary people personalises the story
- Build emotional engagement
- Selection and combination of images represents the issue and the people involved
27
Q
Representation of event: Double Page Spread - language and mode of address
A
- Contributes to construction of representations
- Use of emotive and declamatory language constructs a negative representation of Boris Johnson
- Use of ‘our’ encourages the audience to join with the newspaper in condemning these actions
28
Q
Representation theory, Stuart Hall
A
- Uses stereotypical representations of the PM and MPs to convey its left wing agenda and raise awareness of inequalities in society
- Representation of the event constructed through language of recognisable signs
- Codes of clothing used to convey messages about social standings
- The glass of fizz in the hand of Boris Johnson connotes a party and is juxtaposed against the signs that suggest the ‘Critical care’ ward, leading the audience to draw negative conclusions about his behaviour.
