The Times Section A

Question 1

Product context

Answer 1

• National ‘quality’ newspaper (broadsheet)
• First published in 1785
• ‘The Times’ has been published by Times Newspapers since 1981, a subsidiary of News UK which is owned by News Corp
• Right-wing allegiance and supports the conservative party at key times

Question 2

Political context

Answer 2

• Deals with the ‘Partygate’ scandal surround allegations regarding parties held by the conservative government
• On the date this edition was published, Boris Johnson was due to give a statement to the Commons about what had happened

Question 3

Social and cultural contexts

Answer 3

• The Times largely targets a ABC1 demographic with cultural capital and an interest in news
• This story cut across political divides with many members of the Conservative party as well as Labour shocked by the revelations
• The newspaper’s plug also reflects a cultural context with a lifestyle focus intended to broaden the appeal of the newspaper

Question 4

Media Language: Front Page - Plug

Answer 4

• The page is split between political stories and a plug promoting Times2, the lifestyle supplement of the paper which in this instance features an article on fitness and a personal story about being bitten by a puppy
• Constructed differently, using a bright colour palette to differentiate between the serious and lighter elements of the newspaper’s content.

Question 5

Media Language: Font Page - Layout and design

Answer 5

• Conventional of this style of broadsheet, quality newspaper, which is generally text led rather than image led

Question 6

Media Language: Front Page - Masthead

Answer 6

• 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 is strong and commands the front page and is placed either side of the crest and logo
• The lion and the unicorn are symbols appearing on heraldic crests, and the slogan Dieu et Mon Droit – God and My Right – dates to King Richard 1st, they intended to reinforce their longevity and traditional values

Question 7

Media Language: Front Page - Headline

Answer 7

• Informative rather than dramatic and enigmatic
• ## There is subtle, implicit criticism through the selection and use of language

Question 8

Media Language: Front Page - Pull quotes

Answer 8

• Direct quotations from Sue Gray’s report, denoted by the 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 of the Prime Minister

Question 9

Media Language: Front Page - Central Image

Answer 9

• Close-up photograph of Boris Johnson with an indirect mode of address
• His code of expression shows some trepidation of what is to come as he goes to the Commons
• He does have questions to answer, whilst not explicitly criticising him

Question 10

Media Language: Front Page - Caption

Answer 10

• Long and gives information based on facts, placing the photograph in a context rather than taking an active stance
• Typical convention of this style of newspaper

Question 11

Media Language: Front Page - ‘In the news section’

Answer 11

• Offers a brief summary of other content in the newspaper including a global aspect
• The mode of address is serious and formal

Question 12

Media Language: Front Page - Language and mode of address

Answer 12

• Formal
• 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
• There is a sub-heading ‘The Times Verdict’ with jump lines to the analysis of the story on the inner pages, establishing the newspaper as an opinion leader

Question 13

Structuralism, Claude Levi-Strauss

Answer 13

• The way in which the conventions are employed across newspapers will communicate different meanings
• The Times demonstrates less explicit political allegiance compared to a tabloid publication and therefore may offer more than one viewpoint
  on an issue
• The resolution of oppositions may only be evident and more explicit in something such as an editorial or an opinion piece, where the political allegiance of the paper may be more obvious

Question 14

Representation theory, Stuart Hall

Answer 14

• The front page of The Times produces
  meaning through the language used by using recognisable signs that will be interpreted by the audience

Question 15

How representations are constructed: Front Page

Answer 15

• The construction of the representation of the event and the key player on the front page
  is dominated by the central image of Boris Johnson, anchored by a headline, sub-headings and pull quotes
  -

Question 16

Representations through selection and combination: Front Page

Answer 16

• 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: ‘There were failures of leadership and judgment by different parts of number 10 …’. The inclusion of the ellipsis creates an enigma suggesting that there is more to be seen in the report.

Question 17

How representations are constructed: Front Page - Image

Answer 17

• The choice of the image of Boris Johnson focuses on his code of expression of trepidation on his way to the Commons, anchored by the caption and the large quote from Sue Gray’s report

Question 18

How representations are constructed: Front Page - Language

Answer 18

• In the headlines and subheadings represent the event and the PM 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

Question 19

How representations are constructed: Front Page - Political allegiance

Answer 19

• 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 to the transgresses of the government

Question 20

How representations are constructed: Front Page - Audience

Answer 20

• Positions the audience to consider the facts about the event, which are presented in an informative way, and to make their decision about it
• Within the readership of The Times, although it is a right-wing publication, there will be those who are shocked by the revelations of the breaking of lockdown restrictions by those in positions of power and then there will be those who remain supportive of the government