News And online media

News stats:

•Print media is in decline , the extent of that change is reflected in the growth of on-line versions as indicated below

Difference between Tabloids and Broadsheets

Tabloid newspapers use gimmicks such as bingo games, free travel tickets etc. whereas broadsheet newspapers may include free

Broadsheets often include magazines or pull-outs but they are usually of an educational nature.

Owen Jones described the UK press as : 

•“largely run by a very small group of very right-wing media moguls who defend the status quo of which they are part. If you are on the Left and want to change society, the media will always come and get you”.

•Learners can research Gramsci’s hegemoney to gain further insights  on why the press is dominated by the right wing.

Curran and Seaton:

•Curran and Seaton.  - The idea that the media is controlled by a small number of companies

primarily driven by the logic of profit and power. ... - The idea that more socially diverse patterns of

ownership help to create the conditions for more varied and adventurous media production

•Capitalism (Right Wing Politics)

Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the means of production and

their operation for profit. Characteristics central to capitalism include private property, capital

accumulation, wage labor, Capitalism is an economic system based on the private ownership of the

means of production and their operation for profit. Characteristics central to capitalism include 

private property, capital accumulation, wage labour.   THE CONSERVATIVES ARE CAPITALISTS,

the Telegraph and Mail Newspapers believe in Capitalism.

 •Socialism (Left Wing Politics)

Socialism is a range of economic and social systems characterised by social ownership of the means

of production and workers' self-management, as well as the political theories and movements

associated with them. Social ownership can be public, collective or cooperative ownership, or citizen 

ownership of equity.   - - THE LABOUR PARTY ARE SOCIALIST and are considering bringing

back into state ownership the Rail service.

•Liberalism

Liberalism is a political and economic doctrine that emphasises individual autonomy, equality of 

opportunity, and the protection of individual rights (primarily to life, liberty, and property)

- Guardian newspaper supports many labour policies and has a liberal view on e.g individual 

autonomy i.e. they support multi-cultural-ism, they advocate freedom of expression e.g. gender and

sexuality. 

Media language theories:

Barthes:     enigma code, connotation and denotation associated with a sign, open and closed
narrative…
Todorov: theory of narrative disruption.
The Telegraph Headline and Splash (UK Internet Laws will be the toughest in the world)  the 
contents of the article discusses the harmful affects of the internet on children :  discuss using
Todorov’s theory how the story links to disequilibrium and an attempt to restore equilibrium.
Levi Strauss:   Binary oppositions
Neale: Genre theory: (page 16 revision notes)  covered previously and relates to a
shared code linked to a genre (e.g. genre conventions of Broadsheet and Tabloid
Newspapers)  However Neale insisted that the genre conventions are constantly
changing therefore the Guardian’s transformation to Tabloid format with more
human interest stories (page 9 revision notes)  is a clear example of hybridisation) - the daily mail is a
hybrid as it does serious content and funny content. 

Media Contexts 

Consumerism.   The ideology that we should judge ourselves and others

based on our material possessions.    The colourful nature of newspapers,

the presence of advertisements (DFS in the Telegraph) points towards a

consumerist society

Celebrity Culture. high-volume perpetuation of celebrities' personal lives

on a global scale.

Multi-culturalism. Assumes the equality of different cultures and pays

equal respect to diverse cultures.   The absence of content linked to multi

culturalism in both the Telegraph and the Mirror tends to suggest an

ethno-centrist ideology

Feminism.  Assumes the equality of women.    As a movement there is an

ongoing struggle to fight against patriarchal views.   The Telegraph headline

"Hey Presto women magician’s teaching men a trick or two” could be

interpreted as patronising as there is no reason why women should not be

as skilled in magic as men.

> individualism, putting James interest first, Telegraph doesn't show how hes always been putting his career first.

>patriarchy, James leaves his role as a father at home and leaves the patriarchy in the home to turner who has to play the role of the expressive mother.