The Times Flashcards
When was The Times first published?
1785.
Who is The Times published by? When were they first published by this company?
Times Newspapers.
1981.
Times Newspapers is a subsidiary of News UK which is wholly owned by News Corp
Is The Times a broadsheet or tabloid?
Broadsheet.
What political position does The Times adopt?
More neutral.
However, it does
have a right-wing allegiance and supports the Conservative party at key times, such as when
there is a general election. The Times is famous
for having a range of journalists with varied
political viewpoints which allows the newspaper
to offer a more neutral and balanced political
stance on some issues.
When was the set edition published?
1st February 2022.
What topic does the set edition deal with?
The scandal surrounding allegations regarding parties and social gatherings held by the Conservative Party at a time when its leaders had enforced strict restrictions on the people of England that prohibited such gatherings.
When was the story in the set edition first published? What was said?
November 2021.
During the lockdown Christmas of 2020, parties had been held at Downing
Street, some of which had been attended by the
Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
When the set edition was published was Boris due to give a statement to the commons about? What did Sue Gray reveal?
What had happened.
Sue Gray revealed that the Metropolitan Police were
investigating several possible breaches of
lockdown by No 10 and Boris Johnson had
refused calls for his resignation.
Who took on the inquiry into the parties? When was the report published?
Sue Gray.
Sue Gray = senior civil servant.
January 2022.
What demographic does The Times target?
ABC1.
Over 35.
Those with an interest in news and analysis in detail.
Liberal / right-wing political stance.
What common theme of The Times is seen its choice to focus on this particular story?
To accurately present the news and its effect
on society.
Whilst it is not explicitly critical of the government on this front page, this story cut across political divides with many members of the Conservative party as well as Labour shocked by the revelations.
Is the layout and design conventional of a broadsheet? How do you know?
Yes.
Broadsheets tend to be text led rather than image led.
The Times usually has a standalone image, a main story, a secondary story (usually in a right-hand column) and a plug.
There is also often an “In the News” section at the bottom of the page with jump lines linked to the main inside stories.
What could be said about the masthead and typography in the set edition?
The masthead is bold and recognisable and effectively signifies the ideology of the paper,
suggesting that it reports and reflects upon the
issues of the time.
The typography chosen is
strong and commands the front page.
What could be said about the title of the set edition?
The headline “Police investigate PM’s four
lockdown parties” is informative rather than
dramatic and enigmatic. The same is true of
the sub-heading “Gray criticises leadership and
drinking culture”.
However, there is subtle,
implicit criticism through the selection and use
of language, such as choosing the specific aspect of the
report that comments on a “drinking culture”.
What could be said about the pull quotes in the set edition that accompany the central images?
Direct quotes from Sue Gray’s report.
With a large quotation mark to emphasise their importance.
Positioning them in white on the black background gives them prominence and means that they function as an anchor for the image.
What could said about the central image of Boris Johnson in the set edition?
Close-up photo with an indirect mode of address.
His code of expression shows some trepidation
of what is to come as he goes to the Commons.
The newspaper has selected this photograph to suggest that he does have questions to answer,
whilst not explicitly criticising him.
What could be said about the caption in the set edition?
Long.
Gives information based on facts.
This places the photo in a context rather than taking an active stance.
This is a typical convention of the newspaper.
What is the language and mode of address in the set edition?
The language and mode of address used for
the stories on the front page are formal.
The text is compact and detailed; subheadings
are not generally used to split up the stories
into sections, suggesting that the readers are
comfortable with detailed information and
analysis.
Why does the plug in the set edition have a colourful background?
To differentiate between the serious and lighter elements of the newspaper’s
content.
How can structuralism, Levi-Strauss’s theory, be applied to The Times?
Newspapers create
meaning through the way in which they are
structured.
Their use of typical codes and conventions fulfil audience expectations and
appeal to loyal readers. However, the way in
which the conventions are employed across newspapers will communicate different
meanings; for example, the language and mode of address differs between
popular and quality newspapers.
What is the representation of Boris Johnson in the set edition?
The representation of the event and Boris
Johnson’s role in it is implicit.
However, the selection and combination of images
and language constructs a subtly negative
representation.
The choice of pull quotes from the report, placed next to the image of the PM, implicitly directs blame at his behaviour.
How does the construction and choice of language in the headlines represent the event and Boris Johnson?
In a negative way.
“PM’s four lockdown parties” implies
Boris Johnson’s involvement and the use of
“four’” points out the seriousness of the event.
The use of the phrase “drinking culture” also
constructs a negative representation of the event.
How does the representation of the event in the set edition compare to the newspaper’s typical representation of the government?
Does not reflect the newspaper’s usual political allegiance, which would be to support the government.
It may be that the newspaper feels responsible as an opinion leader to reflect the reactions of many people with differing political views.
How does the construction of representation in the set edition position audiences?
Positions the audience to consider the facts about the event, which are presented in an informative way, and to make their decision about it.
What is significant about The Times in relation to technology?
One of the first companies in the UK to introduce an online newspaper.
Also introduced paywalls requiring readers to pay a subscription to use the site.
This was introduced in response to the
fall in print sales.
What did The Times and The Sunday Times launch in 2016?
A combined website.
They made the decision to
move from a rolling news to an edition-based
digital format, updated three times a day to match the reading patterns of their audience more
effectively.
What did News Uk launch in 2020?
Times Radio in an attempt to increase the take-up of digital subscriptions for the newspaper.
Do The Times have higher print sales or higher online sales?
Print.
What regulatory framework is The Times part of?
IPSO.
An independent body which is not backed by the government and is fully funded by the industry itself.
This is a regulatory body that maintains press standards.
How can Curran and Seaton be applied to The Times?
The newspaper industry is dominated by a small
number of powerful companies.
The Times is part of a horizontally and vertically integrated company and subsequently a large conglomerate.
Being part of a huge press organisation could limit or inhibit creativity and journalists’ freedom.
How can Livingstone and Lunt be applied to The Times?
The Times Newspaper Group and News Corp are
facing increased pressure alongside the rest of
the UK press industry to adhere to strict rules and
regulations on industry practice.
There is an underlying
issue of protecting citizens from harmful, or more
recently, “fake” material while maintaining choice
and the freedom of the press to expose wrongdoing and injustice through responsible journalism.
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 maximise audiences and minimise risks.
Rather than seeing digital media as a threat, the
company has embraced its digital expansion and
introduced paywalls to allow for online content
to be viewed while still generating income.
How does the launch of the edition-based digital format appeal to audiences?
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. Distributing the publication
across digital platforms allows it to be updated,
which will appeal to younger audiences, as will
the launch of Times Radio.
How do the values, attitudes and beliefs of The Times appeal to audiences?
The way in which they represent particular stories will resonate with like-minded readers who may have chosen this newspaper because of its right-wing stance.
Readers will be
made to feel part of the newspaper’s community
and that the stories and articles reflect their
views.
How does Clay Shirky’s end of audience theory apply to The Times?
The concept of audience members as passive
consumers is no longer tenable in the age of digital
technologies.
Consumers can actively engage and “speak
back” to the media.
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.
