A Level Media Studies Media Messages News

1. Comparing
news coverage
How do the different
newspapers cover the
same story?

3. On Monday 6th November, the main headlines covered leaked
documents revealing the financial details of the super-rich. It outlined
how many were allowed to keep money outside of the UK in order to
avoid paying tax.

4. • The Guardian spent a number of days publishing a series of
articles focusing on this ‘Paradise Papers’ story. The yellow
colour linked all of these front covers together.
Task: Consider why you think this kind of story would suit the ideology of The
Guardian. Write a short paragraph in your notes outlining why you think the paper
made the editorial decision to dedicate four days of coverage to this. What does it
suggest about the idea of a free press?

5. Other newspapers chose to cover the
story in different ways, according to their
news values and political ideology.

6. Other newspapers chose to cover the
story in different ways, according to their
news values and political ideology.

7. Online News
At the same time these stories are published
online at the newspapers’ online websites.
Check out the class blog to find out how both
The Guardian and The Daily Mail published
the stories. Consider how these editorial
choices reflect the Daily Mail and General
Trust and The Scott Trust Limited differing
political ideologies.
Look at the differing conventions (such
as images) and language register the
two newspapers use for the same story.

8. Social and Participatory
Media
Facebook
Twitter
Instagram
All of these social media sites
offer another way for readers
to interact with news stories,
sharing information and
making comment.
Task: Look at how the
newspapers generate further
interest from readers via these
sites.