Newspaper Review - Tuesday 24th March 2020 - Lockdown

Newspaper Review - Lockdown

 Daily Star - 

• How have they addressed the story? Explain the use of language (formal/informal) - use of imagery connotation/denotation - Stuart Hall Reception Theory
• Do they show their political allegiance? If so which and how?
• How has the Prime Minister been represented in the photograph?
• Do any front covers include sell line? If so which, what and why?

The Daily Star have taken an informal approach in addressing the story. The mode of address is familiar and common; the paper talks to the audience using the slang 'naff off home' which may come across humorous to the audience and could potentially take away the seriousness of the subject. the use of vocabulary helps the content appeal to the audience in two contrasting ways. It is informal and uses direct address 'YOU', one of the sell lines also advertises 'making your own maccys', again using informal language which I don't think would appeal to the higher/middle class readers. However it is also formal in the indirect references to the Prime Minister. The war sergeant, which was used in propaganda in order to persuade Britons to join the army during the war, is used here to mimic the PM request for everyone in Britain to stay at home; this again takes away some of the seriousness of the subject because Boris Johnson, a figure of authority, is no where to be seen in terms of photograph, on the front page. 

The Daily Star is a UK based, tabloid style newspaper where the stories published typically revolve around celebrities, sport and gossip about popular television programs. The Daily Star generally do not have a political allegiance and so therefore this cannot be seen on the newspaper front page. This front cover includes various sell lines which help the reader to identify whether or not the content will be relevant to them. It advertises the 'corona chaos' and the news that '10 sunny days' are on the way. From these sell lines it can be inferred that this newspaper is for the less intellectual reader, as the headline and sell lines are simplified and lack detail. The masthead is located in the top left corner and uses the traditional font for the title of the newspaper, clearly branding the newspaper as recognisable to  alongside the sell line 'make your own maccy's' which also conveys the idea that this newspaper is not made for the middle class readers and people such as doctors as the information is not generally relevant to them and their stereotypical interests.

The Times - 

• How have they addressed the story? Explain the use of language (formal/informal) - use of imagery connotation/denotation - Stuart Hall Reception Theory
• Do they show their political allegiance? If so which and how?
• How has the Prime Minister been represented in the photograph?
• Do any front covers include sell line? If so which, what and why?

In contrast to the Daily Star, The Times newspaper have taken a much more formal approach to addressing the country's 'lockdown'. The mode of address is fairly serious, as the paper tells the reader they 'must stay at home'. The Times is a fairly right-wing newspaper and so therefore will paint the PM in a more positive light than newspapers like The Guardian. The political allegiance is also shown through the photograph chosen to represent Boris Johnson; he is sat upright at a desk, wearing a suit and has his hands on the desk. This presents him as a man who knows what he is talking about shown by his posture sat at a desk with his hands in front of him, and also the serious expression on his face. The Times is formal in its approach to referencing the PM and the middle-class readers. This helps the content appeal to the audience and directly addresses them so the audience can recognise themselves as right-wing middle-class because the way Boris is presented is directed to appeal to them. This newspaper only really includes one other sell line about Alex Salmond being 'not guilty'. The newspaper has chosen to keep the front page relevant to the news right now and relevant to what its readers are interested in - they are not going to want to 'make their own maccy's' in terms of crisis like this and instead are more appealed by the detail of what Boris has to say about the country's lockdown. The masthead has been placed top centre and again uses the traditional font for the title of the newspaper, clearly branding it as recognisable for its readers. Serif font is used fir the headlines and copy to reflect the traditional attitudes of the paper itself.

The Guardian - 

• How have they addressed the story? Explain the use of language (formal/informal) - use of imagery connotation/denotation - Stuart Hall Reception Theory
• Do they show their political allegiance? If so which and how?
• How has the Prime Minister been represented in the photograph?
• Do any front covers include sell line? If so which, what and why?

 

Like The Times, The Guardian have also taken a formal approach in addressing the lockdown. The mode of address is again fairly serious as the reader is told that 'this is a national emergency'. The Guardian is a centre-left newspaper and I think that to an extent its political allegiance is shown through the front page. The newspaper neither has a positive or negative tone towards the PM, and instead just presents the facts of what is happening in this country right now. Boris Johnson has been represented in a relatively positive light; the photograph used of him is similar to that of The Times, however he poses a less serious facial expression. He seems to be shaking his fist up in the air, which creates the idea of the country being united at this tough time - they have not used a photograph that paints the PM in a negative way. Also similar to The Times, there are very few sell lines and the ones featured regard to 'Salmond cleared of sexual assault' and 'free delivery for six weeks'. The newspaper have kept their sell lines relevant in order to keep the readers interest on the political and informative topics.