The Voice (Newspaper) Flashcards

1
Q

When was the newspaper first published?

A

Began in print in 82. Independently published, London based, weekly newspaper.

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2
Q

Who did the newspaper target in 1982?

A

Specifically targets sub-section of Brits oft ignored, other than negative + stereotypical representations, from mainstream press: British Afro-Caribbean community.

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3
Q

What was significant about the 1980s in terms of race relations in the UK?

A

Troubled time for race relations- courts have since found there was systemic racism w/in police force, tensions in ‘81 led to violent riots- police clashed w/British African-Caribbean demonstrators.

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4
Q

What was the mission of the newspaper when it began in 1982?

A

Provide news + info to British-born black community. Plus, was written + edited by members of that community too. Acted as counterpoint to selective representations of community in mainstream press.

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5
Q

Who was the primary target audience of the newspaper in 1982?

A

Children of Windrush generation.

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6
Q

Why did immigrants from the Caribbean come to the UK from the late 1940s?

A

Residents members of Commonwealth, told they had full British citizenship. Brit govt promised better quality of life in UK w/more opportunities for them + their families + full access to rights offered to Brit citizens.

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7
Q

What was the reality for the Windrush generation?

A

Held Brit citizenship but found their daily lives oft marred by personal + systemic racism. In 1981, racial tensions came to a head- riots in London, Liverpool, Manchester + Bristol.

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8
Q

What did local councils do after the 1981 riots?

A

Had to acknowledge black communities in inner cities were oft overlooked, so they began to invest in black led initiatives to help create more opportunities for young black people.

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9
Q

How was the newspaper initially supported in 1982?

A

Supported mainly by local community purchases, but ad revenue could be generated once audience had
been consolidated.

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10
Q

Who currently owns The Voice?

A

2004: Bought by Jamaican company, the Gleaner Company, who own + publish newspapers in Jamaica, N. America, Canada + UK targeting readers w/Afro-Caribbean heritage.

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11
Q

Due to the rise of digital technologies, what has The Voice had to do?

A

Had to diversify to survive- in addition to print edition, the newspaper has online presence (website + social media channels).

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12
Q

How does front page of The Voice online follow media language conventions of news sites?

A

Front page- grid layout, banner at top identifies areas of website w/more specialised content. Most of these are conventional for a news site e.g Sport + Culture.

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13
Q

How does The Voice online do headlines?

A

Uses headlines w/image to illustrate stories- shows audience available type of content, hopes to persuade audience to stay on site, click through to stories themselves.

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14
Q

What is the purpose of the grid design on the front page of the Voice online?

A

Changes slightly further down page to maintain visual interest + to help group stories together in categories that link to headings at top of page.

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15
Q

What is the content generally like on the front page of the Voice online?

A

Most stories featured can be seen to be of interest + relevance to target audience, range from politics to sports + entertainment. Black British ppl oft featured + included in front page images.

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16
Q

How is the layout of the stories conventional?

A
  • Links lead to the full stories
  • Front page imagr oft repeated at top of story
  • Story presented in single column
  • Space on right of page for links to other stories
  • Ads + comments can be left below some stories.
17
Q

What is the purpose of the overall design of the stories?

A

Aims to be as legible + clear as possible, simplicity contrasts w/busy style of front page.

18
Q

Are the illustrations used on the Voice online original?

A

Images tend to be promotional or stock images not og illustrations. Many are sourced from image agencies (e.g. Shutterstock), some will have been provided as part of PR service.

19
Q

What are the traditional sources of news?

A
  • News Agencies
  • Official information
  • Reporting journalism
  • Investigative journalism
  • Press releases from PR companies + press offices
20
Q

New sources of news, often cheaper than traditional sources, have developed due to digital technologies. What are these new sources?

A
  • Citizen journalism
  • Social media
  • Direct use of press releases
  • Churnalism
21
Q

Define ‘Churnalism’

A

Practice of reporting on what other media outlets are reporting on. Mags interviews + events from TV programmes oft used by other media outlets, presented as news stories.

22
Q

What genre does the Voice emulate in terms of visual design?

A

Red-top tabloids- enormously successful in 80s.
Website banner is red, name of newspaper presented in large, bold sans serif font, all capitals. Visual similarities to more mainstream tabloids’ designs.

23
Q

How is the front page of The Voice online unconventional?

A

Inclusion of ‘Faith’-related stories in the banner.

24
Q

What type of news stories do tabloid newspapers tend to value?

A

Soft news over hard news, eg gossip, celebrity, sport + human-interest stories. Even when reporting on hard news (politics, economics etc.) tabloids tend to put a soft news spin on the stories.

25
Q

What kind of tone do tabloids tend to have?

A

Sensationalist- use emotive language, write headlines that intend to shock or surprise reader. Sensationalism plays on audience’s emotion. A story is successful if it has made reader laugh or shocked or angered them.

26
Q

What are the two types of tabloid newspapers?

A
  • Red-tops eg The Sun + The Mirror

- Mid-range (black tops) eg The Express + The Daily Mail

27
Q

What is the difference between red-top and black-top newspapers?

A
  • Red tops focus on human interest, sensationalist style commonly using puns, hyperbole and comic personalisation of public figures.
  • Black tops do cover many human-interest stories, but more likely to cover hard news stories in some detail.
28
Q

What is the main similarity between red-top and black-top tabloids?

A

Black-tops are also prone to sensationalism + tend to present stories in way that provokes anger, outrage and/or fear.

29
Q

What do all British newspapers (including broadsheets) have in common?

A
  • Take stance on their stories
  • Stories are told via paper’s specific ideological perspective, oft linked to specific political party or broader political perspective.
  • Editorial position led by editor
30
Q

Example of newspaper ideologies

A
  • The Telegraph + The Sun are both pro-Tory

- The Guardian is socially left-wing but doesn’t fully support Labour.

31
Q

Why was the Voice created in 1982?

A

Representations of diversity were lacking. News + entertainment media largely created by white ppl, focused on perceived needs + interests of white culture. Even when represented, usually shown from white perspective through what Hall calls ‘the white eye’.

32
Q

What is cultural imperialism?

A

When one culture’s ideas + values dominate over others. Non-hegemonic groups feel marginalised by dominant culture + limitations in representations in mainstream can create sense of otherness w/in sub-dominant groups.

33
Q

What is the appeal of The Voice?

A

Offers alt p.o.v + presents stories that are of interest to ethnically targeted audience, also provide representations that subvert stereotypes + challenge dominant perspectives.