education

1. Constructed Media
Constructed media: Media are not windows on reality or mirrors of society, from newspapers
to nature shows, media producers actively select and construct particular images of the
world.
A media literate person is aware that many decisions go into every media product, and that
even the most realistic images represent someone's interpretation of reality. They can also
produce media, so therefore offer their own construction of reality.
When we say that all media messages are constructed, we mean that all media messages
have been assembled by someone. That “someone” could be a single person, or it could be a
large organisation. The messages and values embedded in this particular piece of media are
those of the people who created it.
Unbiased:
~Unbiased as there are newspapers on both sides of situations.
~Photography can be used for proof of certain things.
~On social media, people have the right to write what they want so there isnt always a one
sided opinion.
~Journalists have to be objective as part of their job.
Biased:
~It can be selective when covering certain stories.
~The media groups people together and labels them.
~Only promotes things in their favour.
~Presenters etc, get told what to say as they need to look good.
How Mexicans are presented: Trump vs Obama
In Donald Trump`s speech about Mexicans, he is very against them. He describes them as:
~"rapists"
~"criminals"
~"drug dealers “This is because he sees them as a threat due to the fear of some Americans
of unemployment, less houses and overpopulation as he wants them to feel worried and be
on his side. This is a very biased and hypocritical opinion as there are also lots of Americans
who have also emigrated from all different areas of the world.
Trumps voters are mainly middle age, white, older and religious.
In Obama's speech about the Mexicans, he treats them with respect and shows equality .This
is because he appreciates their heritage. In addition, he states how lots of Americans have
also immigrated so there is no right for Mexicans to be discriminated for the same thing.
Overall, Obama respects heritage and race. He wants to unify the relationship between
Mexicans and Americans.
Obamas voters were mainly the ethnic minority, young and liberal minded people
This shows how because of this, in the media we are seeing 2 completely different opinions
on the same thing.

2. This shows how the sun is an anti-immigrant
newspaper so they do not believe that moving to live
in a new country is right. This therefore shows how
the sun is extremely one sided and biased due to it
being right wing and conservative.
In
these 2 newspaper covers about Theresa May, we get 2 very different perspectives of how
she is portrayed. In the left picture (The Daily Mirror), the language of “No hope” “No clue”
“No confidence” makes the audience or reader see her as useless. This therefore is giving the
impression that it is herself to blame for the loss of her job. This view is given due to the
paper being left wing and not agreeing with conservative views. In the picture on the right
(The Daily Mail) they portray the idea that Theresa May is struggling, so they create a tone of
sympathy. By saying “fighting for her life” it comes across that she will have nothing left if she

3. loses her job and that if she has no job, it is so bad that it comes close to losing her life. Also,
calling it a “bombshell” creates an idea of war and uproar and because they’re a right wing
newspaper, they want to show this idea as they have conservative views. They want to create
a sympathetic feel for her due to their views.
Left & Right Wing Newspapers
Left wing papers: Right wing papers:
~Guardian ~The Sun
~Independent ~The Telegraph
~Mirror ~Star
~Morning star ~Express
Left wing press are socially conscious and look after society. The left-wing is characterized by
an emphasis on "ideas such as Liberty, equality, fraternity, rights, progress, reform and
internationalism ".Overall, they have concern for those in society who are disadvantaged or
deserve better rights.
Right wing papers are capitalist and are focused around wealth. They have a focus on
authority, hierarchy, order and duty. Right-wing political thinking holds that certain social
orders and hierarchies are inevitable, natural, normal, or desirable.

4. Constructed media of print media
Conventions:
~Short text
~Bright colours
~Celebrity Gossip
~Smaller than
broadsheets
~Informal mode
of address – puns
~Not serious-
less detailed
~Paparazzi shots
~Big pictures
Analysis of
Newspaper
The sun is a
tabloid, meaning it is informal, which is shown just by the front cover. At the very top of the
cover, the mast head is extremely bold in order to grab attention from people in the shops.
This becomes beneficial for their company as it then leads their tabloid to become well-
known by people due to their memorable logo. In addition, the use of the colour bright red
on the mast head also helps the branding of the newspaper. This is because, typically
newspapers are all black and white but for this paper-The Sun- they are using a much more
noticeable and obvious colour so that people who see it will automatically attach that colour
to their paper as it is well known.
At first sight of looking at the newspaper, the main picture is dominant and the first thing you
will see due to many reasons. One reason why is because the image is very outgoing and
informal so could be seen as shocking or strange to the customer. In addition, as Jeremy
Corbyn is portrayed as ‘trash’ in this picture, it would cause huge conflict for those who see
this and have left wing views. As the sun is a right wing paper, the may want this conflict to
be seen so people can read their point of view so they are using the picture to draw readers
in. This would also sell more papers for them as they are aimed at a right wing audience, so
they would like the look of the image used. The use of this picture is to get their point of view
across which is that they are a conservative paper and disagree with the labour views.
In the copy, all the bold writing is the first thing that the reader is drawn to, implying that it is
important and should be read. In this, it says you can “rescue Britain”. This word choice
shows how strong their views actually are and once again shows they’re very against

5. Corbyn's control. Also in the copy, “35 years” is in bold. This shows how they believe that it
has been too long with Corbyn's power and so they feel like things should be better.
On the front cover, there is also the stand first. This straight away opens with how their side-
conservative- is the only option when it comes to voting. By starting off with this and
including it on the front cover, it shows how their main goal is to draw people in and get
them on their side. Secondly, it shows how the newspaper is very open about their views due
to how informal it is, so they treat it like gossip. Furthermore, by saying in the stand first that
this will “save Corbyn” it shows how they want readers to think they’re doing this for a good
cause-saving the position of Jeremy Corbyn. This would be good for their right wing audience
as they would agree even though it is bias because they are a right wing paper so they are
only saying it to promote their beliefs/views.
On the left side of the paper there are bullet points written in San Serif font. This is used for
clarity. This font also shows modernity and minimalism. This font is also sometimes used as a
device for emphasis due to their blacker colour.
Finally, the headline is also written in a certain way to create a humorous tone whilst also
disregarding left wing views. The use of the pun “cor-bin” shows how their mode of address
is extremely informal. In addition, the picture and this text work together to show how they
are using a pun in order to make fun of Britain's government- which should actually be
serious which hence shows the informality
Semiotics: The study of making meaning. It looks at how signs function.
Every sign for example a photo of a politician, is made of two elements.
Signifier – another word for the sign itself: the image, word, etc.
Signified – this refers to the meaning associated with the signifier.
Denotation – the actual meaning of the sign
Connotation – the additional meanings that attach to the sign and are socially or culturally
developed and accepted.
Sign/signifier A red rose
Denotation A plant with thorny stems
that has flowers
Connotation A symbol of love and
romance

6. Analysis of GQ magazine
In this magazine, Jeremy Corbyn is presented very differently to how he is shown on the front
cover of ’The Sun’.
The colour palette for this magazine is black, grey, white and red.The grey and white work
together as modern colours and show class and sophistication and the black and red are used
for boldness so that important words can be seen easily and will stand out.
The colour grey is used for the mast head.This is a very modern colour nowadays so it can
show profession and modernity which can make readers think they are knowledgeable, so
should agree with what they read. The font is also big and easy to read. This is useful because
it means it can be seen from a distance and is also possibly well known.
The headline has the largest font on the whole of the front cover. It also includes bold colours
to grab the attention of readers. By using his full name on the cover unlike other papers who
just go by “Corbyn” it shows how they have respect for him, and they have a formal mode of
address. In addition, in the headline he’s also described as “hostile”. This is written in red so
that the first thing people will read is shown as a good impression of Corbyn, once again
showing that the GQ magazine is on his side due to their left wing labour views which cause

7. them to be bias. This would also then impress their left-wing audience as the paper is both
complimenting him and showing how he deserves more respect.
In the main image, Jeremy Corbyn is once again presented as a respectable and honourable
man. This therefore shows how GQ magazine has a formal mode of address.In addition, the
editor of the magazine would have chosen to use this picture because the way it shows
Jeremy corbyn makes him look good, so they are promoting a good image for the Labour
Party. This could also encourage more people who quickly glance at the picture to vote for
him and his party due to him looking very professional.
Along the right hand side of the front cover, the writing is still bold. By enlarging the font
written when it says ‘50’ it shows how it must be important. This enlargement is also their
way of attracting people to read more about him. It’s also a way of bragging about his high
number placement of the best dressed men.