The Times: Social and Cultural Context

Question 1

Target Socio-economic group of The Times

Answer 1

• 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.

Question 1

The Times’ Pledge to Recount the events of The Times

Answer 1

• The choice to focus on this particular story also reinforces a common theme for this newspaper – 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.

Question 2

Lifestyle Elements on the Front page

Answer 2

• The newspaper’s plug also reflects a cultural context with a wide-ranging lifestyle focus intended to broaden the appeal of the newspaper.

Question 3

Rupert Murdoch

Answer 3

• Rupert Murdoch is probably the world’s most famous media and news mogul - the Australian born, American naturalised businessman came from humble journalistic editorial beginnings, now the majority shareholder of both Fox News and News Corp. (Owner of the Times).
• Murdoch’s continued dominance
  in news media has often been cited in the argument against one individual being so influential, as the owner of such a vast and far reaching media empire. His own personal political affiliation is widely recognised as right wing in nature, and he was donated heavily to Donald Trump’s presidential election campaigns.

Answer 4

• The Times is a (slightly) right-wing publication in a largely right-wing press. Issues and events will be represented differently in different newspapers according to their ideology and the expectations of their
  audience. The Times, although generally neutral in its stance, will tend to implicitly favour the government and its policies.