The Times Flashcards
What is the target audience for the times?
Middle class
Well-educated
ABC1
35+
Centre right political stance
Political context of the times cover?
This edition of the newspaper deals with the scandal surrounding allegations regarding parties and social gatherings held by the Conservative Party.
This led to an inquiry being undertaken by senior civil servant Sue Gray.
On the date this edition was published, Boris Johnson was due to give a statement to the Commons about what had happened.
Social and cultural context of the times cover?
The Times largely targets a ABC1 demographic with cultural capital and an interest in news and analysis in detail.
This demographic is targeted through the news values of the paper, the selection of stories and how particular social groups and issues are represented.
The newspaper’s plug also reflects a cultural context with a lifestyle focus intended to broaden the appeal of the newspaper.
Who owns the times?
The Times is part of The Times newspaper group which is a subsidiary of News UK.
News UK is a British-based, American- owned newspaper publisher, and a subsidiary of the American mass media conglomerate News Corp.
What political allegiance is News Corp?
They typically take a right wing stance.
What was the phone hacking scandal and what did this result in?
News International journalists were involved in hacking people’s phones for information.
The News of the World was closed down in 2011.
Who regulates the times?
IPSO (Independent Press standards organization).
Why is IPSO possibly controversial for regulation?
It is not backed by the government and is fully funded by the industry itself.
It is generally anti-Leveson in its approach.
This makes regulation difficult.
How can Curran and Seaton be applied to the times?
The times is run by a vertically and horizontally integrated company meaning it is a mass conglomerate.
Rupert Murdoch is often accused of controlling his newspaper content and editorial teams which would support this point.
This inhibits creativity.
How can Livingstone and Lunt be applied to the times?
There are increased concerns over regulation following the Leveson inquiry.
There is an underlying issue of protecting citizens from harmful news while maintaining choice and the freedom of the press to expose wrongdoing and injustice.
The increasing power of News Corp and their expansion into digital media has also placed traditional approaches to regulation at risk.
How can Hesmondhalgh be applied to the times?
The Times Newspaper group is part of a vertically and horizontally integrated company with a wide range of titles on offer in order to maximize audiences and minimize risks.
The reach of News Corps spans a range of different cultural industries enhancing their global power.
This can benefit the newspaper greatly in terms of production and promotion.
How can Clay Shirkey be applied to the times?
The Times newspaper and website offers interactive opportunities for readers to comment on stories and features, thus giving them a voice as part of the newspaper’s community.
There has been a rise of the prosumer who can create their own content submitting stories as a citizen journalist.
How can Gerbner’s cultivation theory be applied to the times?
Newspapers function as opinion leaders and mediate the news for the readers with their political allegiance in mind.
This is seen in ‘The Times Verdict’
What did the launch of the edition-based digital format allow for audiences?
It addressed both the need to target a broader audience and understanding that readers of The Times preferred a digital edition that closely resembled the print format.
Digital platforms appeal to younger audiences, as will the launch of Times Radio.
