GCSE Media: Final CSP index - AQA Advance Information edition

Your Easter homework is to create a final index of the Close Study Products that will be appearing in the 2022 exams.

This will be useful for two reasons: firstly, if you have missing or unfinished blogposts then this will mean you can catch up and learn anything you may have missed over the two-year course due to lockdowns, covid or any other reason. Secondly, if you're aiming for the top grades then you can complete the grade 8/9 extension tasks for each CSP as part of your revision. This will also set you up perfectly for A Level Media in the future (remember these tasks do not usually require much by way of writing - it's usually just some A Level reading and a question to think about).

CSP case studies: Final index - AQA Advance Information list

Create a new blogpost called 'CSP case studies: Final index' and link to YOUR blogpost for each of the following. Note - this is in the order the products will appear in the exams and not in the order we studied them:

1) Magazines: Tatler
2) Advertising and Marketing: Galaxy Audrey Hepburn advert

3) OSP & Videogames: Lara Croft Go

4) Music Video: One Direction

5) Music Video: Arctic Monkeys
6) Television: Class - Language and Representation

7) Television: Class - Industry and Audience

8) Television: Doctor Who - Language and Representation

9) Television: Doctor Who - Industry and Audience
10) Newspapers: The Daily Mirror - Language and Audience

11) Newspapers: The Daily Mirror - Representation and Industry

12) Newspapers: The Times - Language and Audience

13) Newspapers: The Times - Representation and Industry

When you see your work in an index like this, it makes you realise what a brilliant job you have done over the last two years studying this extensive and varied course through covid, lockdowns and other distractions. Well done! This was NOT easy - and now you need to put the time in to revise and prepare for the upcoming exams to get the best grade you possibly can.

Walk-and-talk mock exam

After Easter, we'll be doing learner response tasks for the two mock exams we did earlier this term before a walk-and-talk Paper 1 exam in class. Revising the topics above will be perfect preparation for this! 

Revision tips

The most important revision tip is to make sure you have completed all the original blogposts and know the key information about each CSP. You also have paper copies of sample questions and mark schemes from the December mock exam period to help prepare too - let us know if you can't find your copy of these. 

Here's a good blog on how to write effective flashcards for revision - and you can always pop in to DF07 if you need some more flashcards.

It would be a good idea to re-watch the TV episode CSPs as that is a topic we know will definitely be in Paper 2. You can watch Doctor Who and Class here using your Greenford Google login. 

Due date for index on Google Classroom

Music video: Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor

Our second music video CSP is Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor.

Arctic Monkeys are an English indie rock band from Sheffield. The lead singer is called Alex Turner. Since forming in 2002, they have released six albums and won seven Brit Awards. They were one of the first bands to come to the public’s attention due to the internet, heralding a new way that bands are produced and marketed.

I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor is their first single from debut album Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not released with niche, independent record label Domino. It was released in 2005 and went straight to number 1 on the singles chart.

Unlike One Direction, Arctic Monkeys weren’t put together by a record label, they were all friends from school. They formed in 2002 and wrote songs based on their lives and what they saw on nights out in Sheffield. They played pubs and small venues in and around Sheffield, and built up a huge following online using Myspace. You can read more about the Myspace phenomenon on Forbes here and specifically find out more about Arctic Monkeys and Myspace here.



Video analysis and audience appeal

The power of the internet

• Social Media was only starting to be introduced in the early 2000s.
• You could chat to people with similar interests on chatroom or forums.
• You used AOL or MSN Messenger to talk to your friends, send emojis and share pictures and music.
• Myspace was released in 2003 and was one of the first major social networking sites. Myspace was used by bands and artists to gain fans without the need for a record company.
• Arctic Monkeys' music was shared on P2P sites, though this wasn’t known by the band or promoted when they found out. It allowed their music to be heard by a much wider audience.
• The sharing of their music encouraged people to talk about and share their music, which created a buzz about the band.
• Their fan base moved online, creating online communities where they could share songs and information.

Convergence and technology

• ‘Convergence’ is the process of combining different, often old and new, technologies to create a new or better product.
• Technological convergence is the development of technology (such as phones and tablets) that allows us to access all types of media through one device. This has fundamentally changed the way music videos are produced, consumed and shared. 
• Technological convergence has created both challenges and opportunities for the music industry - both artists and record companies.

Arctic Monkeys: performance video

• This is a performance video designed to look like a 1980s TV performance on programmes such as Top of the Pops or The Old Grey Whistle Test. It was filmed using old 1980s Ikegami 3-tube colour TV cameras to give it an authentic, nostalgic effect.
• The simple performance video subverts music video conventions that became steadily more complicated and narrative-based in the 1980s and 1990s.
• It opens with the singer introducing the song and adding the words 'Don't believe the hype'. This could be a reference to the online following the band built up using Myspace.  

Audience 

• Arctic Monkeys' audience are likely to be predominantly white, middle class and reasonably young. Psychographic groups might include Reformers and Explorers. Recent global success pushed the band into bigger psychographic groups such as Mainstreamers.
• Audience pleasures would include diversion - the song is upbeat and fast-paced. Fans who followed the band from the early days might find a sense of personal relationship while many young people would get a sense of personal identity from the lyrics to the song (about going out to a club and drinking).
• Older fans would enjoy a sense of nostalgia from the 1980s-style performance video.

Music video regulation

Music video regulation is controlled by the BBFC who set certain standards and ratings for different age groups who they believe should be exposed to content specific to their age via age ratings and certification. YouTube and Vevo work in partnership with the BBFC to age rate all music videos for artists who are signed to Sony Music UK, Universal Music UK and Warner Music UK (the 'big three').  However, not all music producers sign up to this though and the BBFC does not have the power to regulate content on YouTube.

The BBFC regulate many different aspects of music videos. The sort of issues the BBFC considers in classifying music videos include:

• drug misuse
• dangerous behaviour presented as safe
• bad language
• sexual behaviour and nudity
• threatening behaviour and violence 

Arctic Monkeys - I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor: Blog tasks

Arctic Monkeys: Industry

1) How did the Arctic Monkeys first achieve success and build up their fanbase?

2) Why was P2P file sharing and MySpace an unexpected aspect to Arctic Monkeys' early success?

3) How does the rise of Arctic Monkeys differ from how One Direction were formed and became famous?

4) Who is Arctic Monkeys record label and how many copies did they sell of their debut album? Why did they choose an independent record label?

5) Looking at the wider music industry, has the internet been a positive or negative development for record companies and artists? Why?


Arctic Monkeys: Audience

1) What is the main Arctic Monkeys audience - demographics and psychographics?

2) What audience pleasures are offered by the music video for I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor?

3) Pick out three particular shots, scenes or moments in the video that would particularly appeal to Arctic Monkeys fans. Why did you choose those moments?

4) How did fans take a leading role in making Arctic Monkeys famous back in 2005?

5) How are fans positioned to respond to the band? What does Arctic Monkeys want fans to think about their video?


Grade 8/9 extension tasks

Read this excellent Guardian feature on the Arctic Monkeys on the 10th anniversary of I Bet You Look Good on the Dancefloor. What key statistics can you take from the article concerning developments in the industry and the Arctic Monkeys' role in these changes?

Read this BBC News report from the time - documenting the records Arctic Monkeys broke.

Read this short blog on how the social media website Myspace helped the Arctic Monkeys make it big. What did the website allow the band to do?

Finally, read this short Guardian feature asking if Arctic Monkeys changed the music industry. What does the article suggest?


You'll need to finish this case study for homework - due date on Google Classroom.

Music video: One Direction - History

Our first music video CSP is One Direction - History.

One Direction are an English-Irish pop band forming during Series 7 of hit show X Factor and going on to come third. They were propelled to success through social media and become one of the most successful groups ever, breaking many records. Their third album was the best selling album in the world in 2013.

After finishing the show, they signed a record deal with Syco Records (Simon Cowell’s record label) which is part of Sony, one of the ‘Big 3’.

History is their final single and is taken from album Made in the A.M. By the release of this album, Zayn had left to pursue solo projects. The single is their last before taking a career break. They reflect the lyrics (looking back on their huge success) through featuring footage of X Factor, behind the scenes at tours, anecdotes and videos of all the members.

This 2015 video self referentially covers the bands own history since their creation during 2010s X Factor. Their debt to Simon Cowell is acknowledged in this video.



Video analysis and audience appeal

Narrative

• The song is about the history of the band and about moving on towards the future. 
• The band said it marked a ‘period of closure’ for them after the departure of Zayn Malik, who has left the band to pursue a solo career. 
• It features a performance element with each of the band performing live and dancing in unison, cut with black and white footage of all 5 original members on tour and ‘behind the scenes.’ This is nostalgic and will appeal to loyal fans as it will remind them of the band’s success and younger appearances, right back to the start of their career on X Factor (featured in the opening of the video) in 2010. 
• Lyrics such as ‘now my heart’s breaking’ and ‘you and me got a whole lot of history’ and ‘all of the rumours, all of the fights’ can be applied to a relationship between a girl and a boy, but also to the other members of the band. 

Audience pleasures

• Diversion through a feeling of nostalgia
• Personal relationships: Fans were used to contribute to the single’s chorus. (Collaboration / example of Prosumerism)
• Personal identity with the band members (following through Twitter etc.) who were marketed as ‘the funny one’ and the ‘handsome one’ and also relating to other like-minded fans. 
• Surveillance – insight into behind the scenes.
• Intertextuality of previous tours and footage 

One Direction - History: Blog tasks

Industry

1) How were One Direction formed and how is this reflected in the music video for History?

2) What is vertical integration? You may need to check your book for this (or remind yourself from this Year 1 blogpost.)

3) What is horizontal integration? (See link above for help again!)

4) How has technological convergence changed the way audiences consume music videos?

5) As a manufactured band, what influence do Simon Cowell and the record company Syco (part of Sony) have over the content and release strategy of One Direction music videos? You may want to read this text from an article in The Inquisitr about the relationship between 1D and Simon Cowell.


Audience

1) What is the One Direction target audience - demographics and psychographics?

2) What audience pleasures are offered by the music video for History?

3) Pick out three particular shots, scenes or moments in the video that would particularly appeal to One Direction fans. Why did you choose those moments? 

4) What is nostalgia and why is it a key audience pleasure for the History music video?

5) How are fans positioned to respond to the video? What do the producers want One Direction fans to take from the video?


Grade 8/9 extension tasks

Read this Huffington Post article about the video. What extra details are provided in the article regarding the construction of the video?

Read this short Teen Vogue feature on the video. What does it suggest regarding the ending of the video?

Try reading this excellent Medium blog on the future of the music video in the digital age. Summarise the main points of the blog in 100 words.

Read this Independent columnist writing about why she loves One Direction. What audience pleasures can you pick out from this article?

You'll need to finish this case study for homework - due date on Google Classroom.

Music video: Introduction

Our final media topic is Music Video.

We will be studying the industry and audience contexts for this topic and need to cover two CSPs:

One Direction: History



Arctic Monkeys: I Bet You Look Good On The Dancefloor



We need to study the industry and audience contexts for these products: 

Industry: how music video is produced and marketed and how this has changed over time.
Audience: Target audience and audience pleasures. How the internet has changed the position of the audience.
PLUS: Historical, cultural and social significance of the music videos and the impact of the internet on the music industry.

Music video will appear in Paper 1, Section B of Exam
Section B is only on INDUSTRIES and AUDIENCES and will consist of:
1 short answer question
2 medium answer questions – one on audience, one on industry
1 extended essay style question on one of the media forms we have studied - which is very likely to be Music Video due to the advance information we have from AQA about the Summer 2022 exams.  
This essay question will require you to make judgements and draw conclusions. 

Music video: introduction and history

Music video key conventions

Music videos typically feature movement – often fast paced either in terms of actors, camerawork or editing. Many contain a performance element or narrative. Music videos can also feature visual effects and intertextuality.

Music videos were originally designed as a promotional device to sell the band or artist’s music but have developed over time to become a recognised artform or product in their own right. Modern music videos no longer have the huge budgets of the 1980s and 1990s but digital media means they are now more accessible than ever. Videos such as Psy’s Gangnam Style have received over 3 billion views on YouTube.

Intertextuality

Intertextuality is when one media text references another media text – through genre, conventions, mise-en-scene or specific cultural references.

Music videos often use intertextual references – often to classic films but also to television, popular culture, news, videogames or even other music videos.

Music video history

Originally, music videos were made like mini ‘films’ of the bands performing (e.g. The Beatles, Elvis)

MTV was launched in 1981 as a platform for music videos and the first music channel on television. Programs such as BBC show Top of The Pops also showcased music videos from the charts alongside ‘live’ stage performances. 

In the 1980s and 1990s big budgets were spent on producing innovative and creative music videos such as Michael Jackson’s Thriller that had a film narrative, a well known director and featured intertextuality (horror films)

Music video in the digital age

In 2005 the launch of Youtube changed the way that consumers access and enjoy music video. Now self-promotion is more common.

The rise of new and digital media paved the way for bands such as One Direction ‘manufactured’ by the industry and increasingly promoted through convergence on social media to maximise profits for the record companies.

Other artists were able to make it big thanks to YouTube, digital media and fans' word of mouth:









Problems with piracy

Piracy became a huge problem for the music industry as they could not keep up with illegal downloading and streaming services where fans shared content for free therefore… The 2000s saw the rise of streaming services with subscriptions such as Spotify, Apple Music, Beats Music and (most recently) Youtube Music. 

New platforms and music apps on smart phones mean that listeners are now becoming one-device consumers and using their phones for all media access. 

Introduction to Music Video: Blog tasks

Answer the questions below to complete your introduction to the Music Video topic: 

1) What are the key conventions of music video?

2) What is intertextuality?

3) When did music videos first become a major part of the music industry?

4) What launched in 1981 and why were music videos an important part of the music industry in the 1980s and 1990s?

5) How are music videos distributed and watched in the digital age?

Extension tasks

Read this Guardian feature asking whether YouTube is good or bad for the music industry. What is your opinion on this crucial question?

Read this Guardian feature on how videogames are now more important than music videos for breaking new artists. Do you agree videogames are now more influential than music videos?

Complete for homework if you don't finish it in the lesson - due date on Google Classroom.

Newspapers: The Times - Representation and Industries

The second part of our case study for The Times focuses on Representation and Industries.

This is the final part of our case study work for Newspapers and is full of information that could easily come up in our exams.

Notes from the lessons

Here's a reminder of your two CSP pages for The Times:

 

 

The Times: Representation and Industry notes

The Times: Representation

Front page

Some key aspects of the representation on the front page:

• Slogan ‘Britain’s most trusted newspaper’ represents the British press as traditional and authentic / trustworthy. Expected to uphold British values. 
• By using the crest, the newspaper is associating itself with being British and part of an established heritage and tradition.
• Values tradition (the caption talks about the ‘remembrance poppy’ worn by the Duchess. Focus is on patriotic values, respect for armed services and her title as a member of aristocracy.  
• Views education as important and represents fee paying schools (private schools) in a positive light. More elitist.
• Story about potentially criminal government leak is angled to defend the government and contains multiple denials of any wrongdoing. This supports the government and creates a representation of the Conservative Party as being law-abiding and open to scrutiny. This reinforces the fact that the Times usually supports the Conservative Party in British politics.

Inside page

Some key aspects of the representation on the inside page:

• Focus on future King of England and his wife/family and role in international diplomacy (similar to The Mirror but more positive, less gossip)
• Positive focus on Conservative Royal family and the traditions they espouse: church services, prayers and military tributes, formal parades. 
• Focus on the traditions behind the celebration more than the relationships between them: ‘Royal Anzac Day’.
• Story about Henry VIII: history and facts. More traditional view of Royal Family (linking present day to Tudor ancestors.)
• Sri Lanka tourists: warning British tourists about foreign terror attacks. More of a Right-Wing viewpoint and suggests readers have money for exotic holidays. Also a more right-wing negative view of minorities as ‘other’ and potential threat.
• Easter Sunday bombings: threat of Islamist extremism in Sri Lanka and infiltrating Britain: ‘Extremist preacher encouraged students…’ Fear of minority religions and ethnic groups. 

Politics

The Times generally supports the Conservative Party and is against the more leftwing 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 two main news stories on the front page of the CSP edition of the Times.

Reminder: News values

Media theorists Galtung and Ruge defined a set of news values to explain how journalists and editors decided that certain stories and photographs were accepted as newsworthy, while others were not. The following list is adapted from their work:

• Immediacy: has it happened recently?
• Familiarity: is it culturally close to us in Britain?
• Amplitude: is it a big event or one which involves large numbers of people?
• Frequency: does the event happen fairly regularly?
• Unambiguity: is it clear and definite? 
• Predictability: did we expect it to happen?
• Surprise: is it a rare or unexpected event?
• Continuity: has this story already been defined as news?
• Elite nations and people: which country has the event happened in? Does the story concern well-known people?
• Negativity: Is it bad news? Bad news tends to get more focus as it’s more sensational/ attention grabbing. 
• Balance: the story may be selected to balance other news, such as a human survival story to balance a number of stories concerning death.

The selection of particular news stories, images and text can create very different representations - as we can see in the same Royal Family story across the Daily Mirror and the Times.

The Times: Industries

The Times is owned by News UK (a subsidiary of News Corporation). News Corporation is a conglomerate mostly owned by Rupert Murdoch, an Australian media mogul with many business interests worldwide such as the Fox network in the USA.  

In July 2009 News Corporation had to pay large sums of compensation for the phone hacking scandal, where their journalists were accused of using illegal methods to obtain information.  

The Times circulation in 2019 was 376,000, down 12% in a year and much lower than the high point of over 800,000 in the 1990s. Since 2020, The Sun and The Times have not published their circulation figures, perhaps to prevent knowledge of how many readers they have lost.

In response to the decline in print newspapers, the Times has:

• Moved towards a multi-platform landscape. This means that it publishes and synchronises across its print, desktop and mobile platforms. Some newspapers (e.g. The Times) have a paywall on their online content. The Times has had a hard paywall since 2010, but it often experiments with making content available for free. Last summer, it began free registrations and has been adding around 30,000 a week.
• Created a social media strategy in collaboration with the digital team to drive growth of their Twitter and Facebook profiles. 
• In 2018, Times and Sunday Times hit 500,000 subscribers as digital outnumbered print for first time at an initial cost of £1 per week for a digital subscription.

Key question: Why have print newspapers declined?

ACCESSIBILITY / DIGITAL AGE: The growth of the Internet as a major source of news (since the 1990s). This has particularly impacted on advertising revenue for newspapers as we use the Internet (often free) for services. Television news is also available 24 hours a day so no need to make ‘appointment to view’ or buy a daily newspaper as updates on-line are more up to date.

COST: People are accessing news freely through social media and other online outlets.  Newspapers cannot compete with the speed and cost-free nature of this.  Twitter has no printing costs, printing factories, distribution costs and journalist wages.

CHOICE & VARIETY: Previously we would go to small number of outlets for our news (BBC and other national broadcasters, national and some local newspapers).  Now there are so many places we can access news (numerous TV channels, websites, social media accounts, blogs). 

IMMEDIACY: Critics of the newspaper as a medium also argue that newspapers haven’t moved with the times. The technology revolution has meant that readers accustomed to waiting for a daily newspaper can now receive up-to-the-minute updates from Web portals, bloggers and new services such as Twitter.

Newspaper regulation

How and why are UK newspapers regulated? The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) was a voluntary regulatory body for British printed newspapers and magazines. The PCC closed on Monday 8 September 2014 after criticism following the phone hacking affair. 

It was replaced by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO).

The role of IPSO is to:

• Regulate 1500 print and 1100 online titles.
• Listen to complaints about press behaviour.
• Help with unwanted press attention.
• Advise publication editors .
• Provide information to the public.
• Provide a journalist whistleblowing hotline.

There is currently a heated debate in the media regarding whether the newspaper industry requires stronger regulation. Some people argue that the newspaper industry cannot be trusted to regulate itself using IPSO and that stronger, statutory regulation should be introduced instead. This would also implement the recommendations of the Leveson Inquiry which followed the phone-hacking scandal. There are links in the extension tasks below if you would like to read more about the newspaper regulation debate.

Blog tasks: The Times case study

Create a blogpost called 'The Times - Representation and Industries' and then work through the following questions:

Representation

1) What representation of private schools can be found on the main front page story of the Times?

2) What representation of the Conservative Party can be found in the story at the top of the front page 'Calls for criminal enquiry as top ministers deny security leak'?

3) How are the Royal Family represented in the Times? (See front page 'Fitting tribute' - Duchess of Cambridge picture and the inside page 'Royal Anzac Day on both sides of the world'). 

4) How does the coverage of the Royal Family in the Times contrast with the reporting of the same events in the Daily Mirror?

5) How are British people and Muslims represented in the article and sidebar 'Sri Lanka tourists warned of more terror'?


Industries

1) Who owns the Times? Write the name of the company AND the billionaire who owns the company.

2) What was the The Times's circulation in 2019? How many papers did the Times used to sell back in the 1990s?

3) How has the Times reacted to the decline in print sales and the growth of the internet?

4) What does IPSO stand for and what is IPSO's job?

5) Why do some people want stronger regulation of British newspapers? 


Grade 8/9 extension tasks

How does the coverage of the Royal Family in the Times reinforce British social and cultural values?

Read this Guardian column on IPSO, the press regulator. Why does Polly Toynbee suggest IPSO has been a "total failure"?

Read this short Press Gazette feature on the Times's paywall. Why does the Times head of digital describe the paywall as a success? 

You may also want to watch this video from another Media teacher explaining The Times and the Daily Mirror for A Level students:



Due date: on Google Classroom

Newspapers: The Times - Language and Audience

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

Here are your two CSP pages for The Times:

 

 

The Times: notes

Audience & 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.

Target audience

The Times target audience is older with over half the audience aged 55+. In terms of social class, they are overwhelmingly in the ABC1 social classes - and largely the A or B groups within that group. This means Times readers are likely to be professionals, managers or company owners. They are likely to be in the Succeeder psychographic group.

Audience pleasures and representation

Surveillance/Information 

The main reason we read newspapers is to find out what is going on in the world around us.  News, different opinions, information about current affairs. Information about British politics (inquiry) and British Royal family (patriotic). Information about fee-paying schools also suggests education is important to the target audience and they are more likely to be on the side of the Headteachers rather than Labour. The Mirror focuses on the more controversial ‘anti-vax’ movement which is a scare-mongering tone when talking of schools.

Diversion/Entertainment

One of the main reasons we read newspapers is for entertainment. We want to be entertained.

Information about royals who are seen as an important part of British culture and also access to cultural ‘hotspots’ for leisure and house tips. This targets people with disposable income and an interest in culture/status and how they are perceived. 

Personal Identity 

A Daily Mirror reader will probably think very differently from a Times reader. Even if a reader does not always agree with a viewpoint the newspaper puts forward, they may still be agreeing with the values being shared. The Times newspaper seems to endorse the Conservative party and show their strong affiliation with the political party by phrasing the story with ‘top ministers deny security leak’. The placing of value on an education would be a belief shared by readers who attended, or have sent their kids to, independent schools. 

Becoming an active participant 

Increasingly newspapers, especially online editions, encourage audience input through comments and email. The audience are not targeted with informal language or direct address as often, leading to a distance between journalist and reader. This encourages less dissent and comment and therefore more passive audience members who will accept the dominant view point of the paper. 

Politics

The Times is right-wing and supports the Conservative Party. It is generally against the left-wing Labour Party. The Times newspaper will act as a voice for the establishment (the wealthy and powerful) and will not support anything that threatens major changes to the status quo. Here, the main story on the front page praises private schools and defends the Conservative government.

Language

Examine the use of language and the narrative in the right-leaning Times newspaper:

• “Fee paying schools 'save taxpayer £20 billion”
• “Calls for criminal enquiry as top ministers deny security leak”

Look at the tone and angle of the main article. The headline and article is positive about the role private schools play in British society, suggesting that they save the government money. This appeals to readers who may well send their own children to private school.  

The picture story of the Duchess of Cambridge reflects the newspaper being pro-Royal family and supporting longstanding British institutions. 

The secondary stories on the front page are also constructed to appeal to Times readers. The story at the top of the page - "Calls for criminal enquiry as top ministers deny security leak” - is a top political story about a security leak at the heart of government. This is an important British political story and something Times readers would expect to be covered on the front page.

The sidebar about sleep is a slightly lighter story about mental health and wellbeing but still contains quotes from neuroscience and medical fact which reflects the more educated nature of Times readers.

Look at the kicker stories advertised at the top of the page:

• "Bedroom secrets: How to create a restful haven"
  
• "Know your Thor from your Iron Man - Marvel beginners guide"

These features demonstrate that The Times is aimed at a high-flying workers in stressful jobs who have money to spend on their home and bedroom. Similarly, the fact that Times readers would need a Marvel "beginners' guide" suggests that usually Times readers like more highbrow entertainment such as theatre or opera.

Look at the stories on the inside page of the Times:

• "Royal Anzac Day on both sides of the world"
• "How death of grandmother put fear into Henry VIII"
• "Sri Lanka tourists warned of more terror"

The selection of news articles here reflects the type of audience that reads the Times. The Royal family story is presented in a more formal way than in the Daily Mirror although some of the same images are used. The story on the fear of Henry VIII suggests Times readers have a strong interest in British history and in particular the Royal family. Finally, the story on terror attacks in Sri Lanka suggests that Times readers can afford exotic holidays on the other side of the world and therefore will need to know about potential dangers from terrorists in countries like Sri Lanka.

Blog tasks: The Times - Language and Audience

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 (26 April 2019) and why does it appeal to Times readers?

2) List the other news stories and kickers on the front page of the Times CSP edition. Why do you think the Times selected these for the front page?

3) What are the main stories on the inside pages of the Times CSP edition and how are they constructed to appeal to Times readers? 

4) Which of Galtung and Ruge's News Values apply to the Times's front page stories? Write about both the main story on private schools and the government leak enquiry. 

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

Audience

1) What is the main readership demographic for The Times newspaper? Add as much detail as you can.

2) What aspects of the front page of the Times CSP edition suggest that their readers are likely to be more educated and interested in hard news rather than entertainment?

3) Times readers are mostly over 55 years old. Why is this and how is this reflected by the new stories and kickers in the CSP pages we have studied?  

4) What is the main audience pleasure offered by the Times? Use Blumler & Katz Uses and Gratifications theory.

5) Why might a reader enjoy this CSP edition of the Times? Use Blumler & Katz Uses and Gratifications theory categories and write as detailed an analysis as you can.

Grade 8/9 extension tasks

Read this Guardian column on the pleasures of print newspapers and the dangers of the digital age. Do you think newspapers will continue to exist in the future? Why? 

You may also want to watch this video from another Media teacher explaining The Times and the Daily Mirror for A Level students:



Due date: on Google Classroom

Newspapers: The Times - Introduction

Our second newspaper case study is The Times.

This provides an excellent contrast with the Daily Mirror. The Times is a right-wing broadsheet newspaper that generally supports the Conservative Party and is aimed at a more educated, middle-class audience. Remember, this is an in-depth CSP and needs to be studied with reference to all four key concepts: Language, Representation, Industries and Audience. We'll be covering all of those concepts over the next two weeks.

This is the front page of The Times we will be studying for the exam (see right).

The Times - Introduction: blog tasks

Read the About Us page of the Times website and answer the following questions:

1) What year was The Times founded and when did it start using the Times name?

2) What content did John Walter suggest the paper would offer in the first edition?

3) What does the page say about the political views in The Times? 

4) Who owns The Times today and how is editorial integrity protected?

5) What did The Times introduce in 2010 and why?

6) What was The Times named in 2018 by the Reuters Institute for Journalism at Oxford University?

7) What does the section on Editorial Standards say about The Times and newspaper regulation?

8) What does the section on Ownership say about The Times and who is the current editor? 

Extension tasks

Look at this News UK webpage with key information about The Times for potential advertisers and complete the following tasks:

1) Write down three key statistics from this page.

2) Look at the various sections of the newspaper outlined on this page (e.g. Entertainment, Announcements, Travel). What do these sections suggest about The Times newspaper's audience?

3) Click on three of the sections - your choice. Write down one key detail for each section you choose e.g. Travel - more Times readers took a holiday abroad last year than any other newspaper.

Due date: on Google Classroom