The Times

Question 1

Representation - The Photo of Theresa May

Answer 1

• Looks stressed
• Pale skin
• Tired, bags under her eyes
• Pained expression
  All come together to suggest she is not coping with her job

The photo is very large which suggests she is important but the photo itself represents her as being weak.

Question 2

Caption under the photo

Answer 2

Theresa May leaving parliament last night after her heavy defeat. She told Mps that they had to face unenviable choices.

She is clearly being represented as defeated.

Question 3

Wording in the first paragraph

Answer 3

• “all but lost control”

Represents her lack of power and failure.

Question 4

The design of the cover

Answer 4

• The black and white apart from the picture suggests that the issue is serious.
• The size of the picture and the article with no other stories even being mentioned on the front reflect The Times and their target audience of well educated readers.

Question 5

Audience of The Times

Answer 5

Upper/Middle class audience, more likely to be interested in political issues and the economy

White males

Question 6

Representation - Gender

Answer 6

• The cover reflects the gender stereotype that woman are vulnerable and emotional.
• “Driven to despair” suggests that she can’t control her emotions
• The darkness under her eyes suggests she is tired or has been crying
• This representation of Theresa May as weak might be because The Times is aimed at a mostly male audience
• Challenges Van Zoonen as Theresa May is not sexualised, this might be because The Times is a more upper class newspaper and not a tabloid

Question 7

Representation - Theresa May

Answer 7

• Wording such as “unenviable choices” suggests that she had a difficult job and that we should feel sorry for her, the photo could also draw sympathy

Question 8

The Times ownership

Answer 8

• Professes itself as a central newspaper with no political leaning
• Owned by Pubert Murdoch who is more right wing