The Times: Newspapers - Made For Audiences

Question 1

Front Pages

Answer 1

• Heavy emphasis on text (copy) and headlines with only one main medium
  sized colour image.
• Fairly monotone (mostly black and white) and plain in layout.
• One main story boxed in by two smaller ones (one at top / bottom and one at the side).
• All front page stories have jump lines to continue inside but more of story is on front page.
• Puff strip informs of spread stories and content of supplements in the centre of the newspaper.
• Emphasis of domestic news over world news. Some News in Briefs

Question 2

Back Pages

Answer 2

• One main sports story (not always football related - in some cases can be more elite sports such as rugby union, golf, tennis, etc.) which appeal to middle to upper class readers.
• Two or three smaller News in Brief (NIB) sports stories listed on sidebar.
• All stories have jump lines to remainder of story inside.
• Bottom third = Times Crossword

Question 3

Centre Spreads

Answer 3

• Reserved for special sections and pull-outs. World, Fashion, Business, etc.
• Lots of emphasis on graphical representations to display the state of events in a more logical and pictorial manner, using maps and icons, etc.
• Lots of guest writers with ‘insider knowledge’ writing about topics relating to these short pull-out sections.
• Lots of adverts and advert pull-outs for exotic holidays, cruises, banking, etc. are located near the centre spread indicate advertising revenue is high to subsidise the paper manufacturing costs.

Question 4

Editorials

Answer 4

• A reserved ’Comments’ section contains all editorials (lots of text, smaller pictures - if any) to one location over a number of pages.
• Each editorial article concerns some aspect of current affairs - usually (not always) political in nature (‘Partygate’ etc.).

Question 5

Adverts/Advertorials

Answer 5

• Tend to advertise more luxurious consumables (such as expensive cars - BMW, Jaguar, etc.) and experiences, (such as cruises) - all of which require some element of disposable income whether through current employment or afforded through a high earning private pension (if retired).