Newspapers: The Times - Language and Representations

The first part of our main case study for The Times is focusing on Media Language and Representations.

Here are your two CSP pages for The Times:

The Times: notes

Media language

Language: The Times tends to attract an audience that is older and more traditional (Conservative politics), so the stories are targeted towards these values and beliefs to target their specific audience. 

Mode of address: The Times employs a formal style with advanced language to reflect the needs/education level of the audience.

Construction: The Times uses some layout design techniques to attract its audience (sell lines, kickers, pugs).  There are usually not as many as The Mirror, though.

Technical Codes: Whilst The Times employs colour, it is much more understated than the tabloid Mirror.  More traditional fonts, styles and sizes reinforce this traditional symbolism.

Conventions: The Times observes more traditional codes and conventions than the Daily Mirror, with less direct address and a more formal, authoritative tone as if giving the reader less active participation and more passive access to information.

The Times: Representation notes

Front page

Some key aspects of the representation on the front page:

• By using the crest in its masthead, the newspaper is associating itself with being British and part of an established heritage and tradition.
• Reporting on the Gary Lineker story is more balanced and doesn't criticise the BBC or Conservative government in the same way the Daily Mirror does. 

Inside page

Some key aspects of the representation on the inside page:

• These pages take the side of the BBC bosses in the Gary Lineker row rather than calling for Lineker to be given his job back.
• Look at the different headlines and how they talk about 'scabs' and 'give the bosses time to work things out'. 

Politics

The Times generally supports the right wing Conservative Party and is against the more left wing Labour Party. The newspaper will often act as a voice for the establishment (the wealthy and powerful) and will not support anything that threatens major changes to the status quo (how things currently are). This can be found in the front cover of the Times we need to study as the newspaper is not supporting Gary Lineker's criticism of the government's asylum and immigration policy.

Gary Lineker tweet row

If you're not sure about the main story in these CSP pages then this 90 second summary will help.

Blog tasks: The Times - Language and Representations

Work through the following questions to make sure you are fully prepared for questions on the Times and the newspaper industry.

Language

1) What is the main story on the front cover of the Times CSP edition and why does it appeal to Times readers?

2) How is the presentation of this story different to how the Daily Mirror presents it? 

3) How is the Times front page designed to reflect broadsheet newspaper conventions?

4) How can you tell the inside pages of the Times are a broadsheet newspaper? 

5) What does a close analysis of the news stories in the Times CSP edition suggest about the Times's political beliefs?

Representations

1) How does the Times represent Gary Lineker and the BBC bosses in the CSP pages?

2) What representation of the Conservative Party can be found in the CSP pages of the Times?

3) What does the word 'scab' refer to and how does this create a representation of striking workers? 

4) What representation of the BBC can be found in the CSP pages of the Times? What does Times owner Rupert Murdoch think of the BBC? 

5) What opinion would Times readers be likely to have about Gary Lineker and the BBC from reading these pages?

Grade 8/9 extension tasks

Read this Guardian feature looking back at the Gary Lineker row. What does Lineker think of it now?

How do the representations constructed in the Times position their audience to respond to this row? 

Due date: on Google Classroom