This document provides information and guidance for answering an extended response question about representation in newspapers and online content. It discusses 19 academic theories that could be relevant, including those relating to representation, audiences, industries, media language, and contexts. It also provides sample responses and outlines of genres in tabloid and broadsheet newspapers to consider how media language may follow or subvert conventions in different publications.

1. Paper 1
* *
Extended response
answer. You will be
marked on the quality
of your essay. Line of
reasoning, evidence an
summary

2. Paper 1 Newspapers and Online
content
• Representation
• Audiences
• Industries
• Media Language
• Academic Theories (Ideas and Arguments) x 19
• Context: Economic, Historical, Political, Social &
Cultural

4. Planoutyouransw

5. 19 Theorists

6. • Representation – DRCAGES
• How are features characters being portrayed? Dyer: How, Why, by
Whom. Response?/Reading?
• Stereotypes (challenge/subvert or follow)
• Patriarchy (a society run or dominated by males)
• What do you know/remember about Van Zoonen?

7. Page 5 Sample Mark Scheme

8. • How far (for and against - subvert or follow - argument) + summary
at end
• Genre conventions (Tabloid v Broadsheet + Hybrid Middle Market)
• Contrasting Media Language (camerawork, mise en scene, linguistics)
• Summarise how far these front pages subvert or follow their
conventions (usual rules of content and style)

9. Genre conventions?
Tabloid – Images take up a lot of the front page, less copy/editorial. Short
words. Puns/ alliteration. Attention grabbing headlines.
Entertainment/Celebrity based stories. Lower reading ability. Red top,.
Gutter press. Sensationalist. Subjective. Target audience C2DE.
Inform/Entertain
Broadsheet – Quality. traditional. More editorial. More detail. Often more
objective. Less/smaller images. Educated target audience. Inform. ABC1 / AB
Hybrid – middle market – Mail and Express – possess some elements from
each genre

10. Genre
Tabloid – Images take up a lot of the front page, less copy/editorial. Short
words. Puns/ alliteration. Attention grabbing headlines.
Entertainment/Celebrity based stories. Lower reading ability. Red top,.
Gutter press. Sensationalist. Subjective. Target audience C2DE.
Inform/Entertain. Adverts in skylines. Competitions/ give aways
Broadsheet – Quality. traditional. More editorial. More detail. Often more
objective. Less/smaller images. Educated target audience. Inform. ABC1 / AB
Hybrid – middle market – Mail and Express – possess some elements from
each genre

11. Media Language
• Industry terminology – Masthead, stand first, skyline etc
• Colour
• Size of image (layout)
• Shot sizes of photos
• Framing
• Facial expressions/body language
• Type face/ typography
• Linguistics / language (formal/informal/slang)
• Empathy/ sympathy v aggressive

12. Media Language
The Sun
• Sun tabloid sensational style Headlines that try to sell – shock
• ‘exclusive’ connotes unique selling proposition
• Advert above masthead (skyline) – Iceland voucher (3rd party with similar
target audience)
• Target audience – right wing therefore empathy with PMs decision
• C2DE readership - ‘Cam Quit’
• Sans serif connotes modernity (Sun)
• Serif font connotes tradition (The Times)
• Shot sizes – XCU Cameron = sensational. Eyes filled with tears

13. Media Language
The Times
• Serif font connotes tradition (The Times)
• Shot size. WS Times traditional, conservative, calmer, objective.
• AB readership
• older target audience
• IN depth editorial

14. In conclusion (Don’t repeat anything)
In conclusion, the differences in media language between the Sun and
the Times do reflect the generic conventions of the popular and quality
press in terms of layout, use of photography, language used and
typography, as demonstrated. However the domination of both front
pages by the same hard news story – the resignation of the Prime
Minister does not reflect the typical entertainment focus of the red top
tabloid press, but rather the exceptional news value of this unusual
event. Even so the way this story has been personalised in the Sun
reflects its tabloid conventions, as does the more objective treatment in
the Times

15. Page 7
The Sun C2DE – simpler vocabulary. (‘Cam Quit’) Colloquial language. Right wing political affiliation. Explanation –
reader need it explained. Sensationalist. Big news sells newspapers (when less people are buying) Both Ring Wing
Both owned by NewsUK / NewsCorp (Rupert Murdoch)

16. Page 11

17. THE GUARDIAN and THE DAILY MAIL
• Political context
• Political ideologies
• Influences
• Values
• Ownership (Oligopolies)
• Media Conglomerates (Horizontal & Vertical Integration)
• Regulation v Freedom of the Press / democracy (Press and ON-line)

18. Political Context:
Values?

19. Political Context:
Values
The Guardian is a Liberal newspaper. Some
examples of Liberal Political Values.
• Support for EU membership.
• Support for Immigration.
• Support for Gender Equality and LGBT rights.
• Hostile to 'Big Business' and support for the less
well off.
• Internationalist.
• The Guardian supports the Labour Party
although in the past it has supported the Liberal
Democrats and is seen as hostile to current
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn
OWNERSHIP – GMG & Scott Trust. Not for Profit

20. Political Context:
Values?

21. The Daily Mail is a Conservative newspaper. Some
examples of Conservative Political Values.
• Anti EU
• Anti Immigration.
• Support for traditional social values such as
marriage often hostile to LGBT rights and
Feminism.
• Supports Free Market Economy and interests of
Business.
• Nationalist
• The Daily Mail supports the Conservative Party,
but has also at times shown support for UKIP.
Under its new editor the paper has been more
supportive of Theresa May, having been more
hostile under its previous editor Paul Dacre.
OWNERSHIP – DMG Media (Metro, Mail + many
Co.s) Financial risk spread across many subsidaries
Political
Context: Values

22. Page 13

23. Useful Theory?
How might Gerbner be
relevant to discuss here?
AUDIENC
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