Features of red top tabloids

2. From the 1970s onwards, the UK
newspaper market has been divided
into three distinct sectors.
the broadsheets (large pages and long
stories, balance between text and
images)
the mid market tabloids (smaller pages,
shorter stories, more images)
At the ‘bottom’, the red top tabloids.

3.  Assumption that ‘tabloid’ implies frivolous and
dumbed down stories.
 Broadsheets imply serious, intelligent, upmarket
stories, aimed at a middle class audiences.
 Tabloid newspapers are sometimes pejoratively
called the gutter press.
 Recently, broadsheet papers (The Guardian, The
Times,) have started to launch tabloid editions – sales
have improved.

4. Broadsheet
Tabloid
Berliner
The Daily
Telegraph
The Sun The Guardian

5.  Large ratio of images to words, dominated by
headlines and sensationalist eye-catching stories.
 Style/tone – sensationalist and exaggerated with
alliteration/puns
 Language – easy to understand/short paragraphs

6. Founded in 1903
Owned by Trinity Mirror who have recently
also purchased the Daily Express.
Traditionally a populist ‘left leaning’
newspaper targeting working class
audiences.
Circulation in 2017 is at 897,786 copies daily.
Political allegiance is with the Labour Party.

7.  Complete an analysis of The Daily Mirror–
 Analyse the front page considering issues of industry
and audience.

8.  Launched in 1964
 Primary content is entertainment – mostly show-biz
gossip, sport and sensational scandals.
 Eschews political correctness and courts
controversy – Page 3, Hillsborough, Phone Hacking.
 Parent Company is News International – owned by
Rupert Murdoch and part of the vertically and
horizontally integrated News Corporation
conglomerate.
 The UK’s biggest selling national daily -
Circulation 1,564,249 copies a day.

9.  Complete an analysis of The Sun –
 Analyse a front page considering issues of
industry and audience.