the times Flashcards
what date was the set product published?
1 feb 2022
is it a tabloid or a broadsheet
broadsheet (however now physically smaller and just referred to as ‘quality’)
when did the newspaper first start
1785
by john walter
what is the demographic of the paper and what does this mean?
ABC1
middle and upper class
A - upper middle class
B - middle class
C1 - lower middle class
what is the political alignment of the paper?
claims political neutrality but holds a conservative bias
who owns/publishes the times newpaper?
Times Media, which is a subsidiary of conglomerate News UK and Ireland ltd
who was the times’ executive editor at the time of the set product’s publication?
daniel finklestein (who is a member of the house of lords and, although no longer executive editor, he remains a weekly political columnist)
- is also a conservative supporter
what kinds of topics are covered on their website?
politics, business and finance, society, sport, arts and culture, life and style, luxury, travel, Russia - Ukraine War, Israel - Hamas War, environment, puzzles, times radio
what topics are covered in the physical newspaper?
front page, international / conflict news, times radio schedule, lifestyle, royals, crime, letters to the editor, politics, advertisements, weather / environment, business / economy, invitation to subscribe, celebrity, critics / reviews, real estate (home of the week), travel offers, tv guide/ schedule, puzzles, sport, electoral commission advertising
give an example of the masthead from the set product?
‘The Times’
give an example of a plug/puff from the set product?
How to be fit? article promoting Times2
give an example of a headline?
‘Police investigate PMs four lockdown parties’
give an example of a strapline
‘detectives examining hundreds of photos… gray criticises leadership and drinking culture’
give an example of a subheading
‘The Times’ verdict’
give an example of a jumpline
page 2, page 30
give an example of a pull quote
“there was so little thought given to what was happening across the country … There were failures of leadership and judgement by different parts of No 10…
give an example of a splash
‘partygate’ article
how is the target audience reflected in the front page?
- text led rather than image led
- formal language
- full sentence headlines/strapline
- bland colouring
- lion and unicorn on heraldic crest in masthead make is seem royal
- blue in the plug reflects conservative party
what is the significance of the plug?
it is constructed differently using bright colours to differentiate between the serious and lighter elements of the newspapers content (binary opposition)
lifestyle focus intended to broaden appeal
analyse the image of boris
close up of Boris with an indirect mode of address
his expression showing anxiety of what is to come when he goes to the commons to address the political scandal/ possible regret for what is happening
how does curran and seatons theory relate to the set product?
Newspapers industry is dominated by a small number of powerful companies
The times is part of a horizontally and vertically integrated company (also cultural industries theory)and so a large conglomerate – being part of a large press organisation can limit/inhibit creativity and journalistic freedom
Rupert Murdock is often accused of controlling his newspaper content and editorial teams supporting this theory
how does shirky’s theory relate to the set product?
There are no longer passive audiences due to technology which enables the prosumer and citizen journalism. Consumers can also actively engage and ‘speak back’ to the news media through the times’ website which offers interactive opportunities for readers comment on stories/features
how does hall’s reception theory relate to the set product?
Producers encode newspapers to be decoded by audiences
Those with different political biases to that of the newspaper will take an oppositional response to the message intended
