The Times Newspaper Section A

Question 1

About the Times product

Answer 1

• The Newspaper is a broadsheet which targets ABC1s
• Owned by News corp which is owned by Rupert Murdoch
• The Times has a politically neutral position- However it has a right-wing allegiance and will support at key times.
• It is a highly credible newspaper which provides high quality news
• The set text provided focuses on the report in investigation of the parties that were held in lockdown

Question 2

Politcal context of the The Times set text

Answer 2

• This edition of the newspaper covers the allegations on the lockdown party scandal
• The story was first reported in November 2021
• On the same day the edition had come out, Boris Johnson was due to give out a statement to the houses of commons- He also refused calls to resign

Question 3

The social and cultural contexts of the Times

Answer 3

• Targets the ABC 1 demographic with cultural capitial. Therefore news will be more rich and content heavy
• The choice to focus on the story reinforces the theme of the newspaper to display the news of society- However it does not critque the goverment
• The newspaper plug reflects cultural context with a lifestyle focus to broaden the appeal of the newspaper

Question 4

The front page of The Times set text

Answer 4

• The page splits lifestyle stories and political stories to create a balance
• The layout and design is broadsheet- text led. The Times usually has a standalone image, a main story and a second story
• The masthead is bold and recognisable and signifies the ideolgoies of the newspaper.- The typography chosen is strong and commands the front of the page.
• The crest shows the Times intends to reinforce longeticty and tradtional values
• The headline- is more informative then dramatic which can reflect on the the Times political stance.
• Pull quotes that are with the central image are direct from the Sue report- Postioned as white on black background emphaises the importance as they function as an anchor for the prime minister
• The image is a close up with no direct mode of address of Boris Johnson which suggest he in enroute to the houses of common- Still not being explictly criticised
• ‘In the News’ section gives other ongoing news- including global aspects which the mode of address is serious and formal
• The language and the mode of address is formal with lots of impact hard news which abc1 readers can manage with

Question 5

How can Levi-Strauss theory be applied to The Times set text (media language)

Answer 5

• Meaning is dependent on how opposite newspapers of the Time portray their news through ideolgoies
• The times shows a less explicit poltical allegiance compared to a tabloid.

They create meaning through the way they are strucuted e.g. lanuage, format and types of news

Question 6

Key info

Answer 6

• Newspapers are opinion leaders and can influence how audiences will respond to issues/events

Question 7

Representation- Choice of pull quote

Answer 7

• ’ There were failures of leadership and judgement by different parts of number 10’- creates an engima that there is more to be uncovered

Question 8

Representation-Choice of language in Headlines/subheadings

Answer 8

• Represents the Pm in a negative way-‘ The word four emphaises the seriousness of the event due to it be a reoccuring event.
• phrase ‘Drinking culture’ Constructs a negative representation of the event

Question 9

The construction of representation in The Times set text

Answer 9

• Newspapers feel responsible to be the opinion leader to reflect the reactions of many people with different political views
• This set text does not reflect the usual political allegiance they usually have

Question 10

Construction of representation about the event

Answer 10

• It postions the audience to consider both sides of the event in an informative way.
• Gives the readership the choice to make their own decison about the event even though its a right-wing publication.
• Some will be shocked about the revleations but some will continue to support its government

Question 11

The subheading- ‘ The times verdict. Full analysis and comment inside’

Answer 11

Suggest binary opposties and this may be resolved through the inner pages therefore we have to reader the paper entirely to gather an opinion

Question 12

How can Stuart Halls represenation theory be applied for the The Times set text

Answer 12

• Front page products produce meaning through language- using recognisable signs that can be interpreted by audiences.
• Choices contributqe to the construction of the event- encode meanings which can be decoded by audiences

Question 13

Industry context- The Times

Answer 13

– Part of a mass media conglomerate which is News Corp

• News corp did produce news of the world before it got discarded due to a hacking scandal

Question 14

The relationship between technologies amd media consumption

Answer 14

– has a online subscription that had a paywall which could be accessed by subscription

• In 2016 they made a edition-based format which was exclusivley digtial- In 2020 they made Times radio to gain more viewership

-The Times is also part of the regulation framework of the IPSO

Question 15

Industries- How can curren and seaton be applied to the Times

Answer 15

• The Times is part of a vertically and horizontally intergrated company. - Being part of a huge company could limit the creativity in the newspaper creating large echo-chambers
• Murdoch is accused often to control his newspapers.
• Diverse ownership would lead to diverse products

Question 16

Industry- How can Livingston and Lunt be applied here to the Times

Answer 16

• They are facing pressure from the strict regulations in place.
• There is an underlying issue to protect readers from harmful content but also allowing freedom of the press to expose topics approbieatley
• Increasing power of News corp via digtial has placed tradtional regulation at risk such as social media which is not regulated

Question 17

Industry- How can Hesmomdhagh be applied to The Times

Answer 17

• The times is part of a news group which can offer a range of titles to minimise risk and maximise reward
• Due to the news corp being able to target many audiences The Time benefits from this and is finically protected
• They have allowed digtial content to be a expansion rather than a threat

Question 18

Audience- The Times their audience

Answer 18

• ABC1, liberal/right-wing, well-educated and middle-class and will engage with current affairs as well as global

Question 19

Audiences- How do newspapers target audiences

Answer 19

• Front page image, choice of headline
• Inclusion of both soft and hard news
• Launching a digital format which can target younger audiences with better daily updates

-Other platforms on the newspaper will convey their political allegiances

• The Times letter page is culturally iconic gives the chance of audience interaction
• The values, attitudes and beliefs will convey to the like-minded readers therefore readers will feel like they are part of the community- Audiences will accept the preffered reading of the paper

Question 20

How can Gerbner be applied through the audiences of the Times set text

Answer 20

• Audiences exposure to repeated platforms will influence their views on politcial ideologies but will depend on the what the audience already believes.
• Newspapers function as opinion leaders and will cultivate with those that are like minded in this politcal allegiance already

Question 21

How can Reception theory be applied to audiences in the Times set text

Answer 21

• Through encoding and decoding. Active audiences will agree with the newspapers viewpoint however opposite view points will disagree

Question 22

How can Shirky be applied to audiences of the Times set text

Answer 22

• consumers are no longer passive due to able interactions via technology
• Enables prosumer that can create their offering of stories for newspapers.
• Audiences can speak back to the media through social media. The Times uses this to make audiences feel they are part of a community