Eduqas copyright Semiotic analysis of newspaper covers

1. Semiotic Analysis
1Media Studies - News | Semiotic Analysis
Media Studies - News
Every element of a newspaper can be analysed for us to conduct a semiotic analysis. But,
to get started, there are a few basics to consider to get you started and considering the
tone.
• Masthead
• Layout & Style
• Language
Look at the front page of the Guardian and the analysis below.
Masthead
The word ‘guardian’ has connotations of safety, custodianship and protection. Maybe
this links to the ownership by The Scott Trust Ltd, formed to “safeguard the journalistic
freedom and liberal values of The Guardian free from commercial or political
interference.” The suggestion is that this newspaper is the keeper of ‘good, honest
journalism’ as it is not controlled by owners, advertisers or political parties and is free to
say what it wants.
The masthead is written all in lowercase and a uses a curved font, unlike most other
newspapers, which use block, capitalised text. This uniqueness is, arguably, a more
personal mode of address, one which offers an alternative form of journalism to the rest
of the industry.
Language
As expected the language is formal and
at times suggests that a certain level of
education or at least a good vocabulary is
needed to understand the articles fully. For
example Rowena Mason’s article on the public
grilling of Theresa May uses phrasing such as,
“introduced external assessment of disability
claimants rather than self-assessment, and
introduced more stringent eligibility criteria.”
The paper also uses various devices expected
of the medium such as the use of statistics
and quotations directly from prominent
people in the articles. In keeping with the style
of the newspaper and the ideologies implied
by the masthead - the headlines are not
sensationalist or extreme - they are simple and
give the impression of just providing the facts,
suggesting that the reader is to make their
own minds up.

2. Semiotic Analysis
2Media Studies - News | Semiotic Analysis
Media Studies - News
Layout & Style
The page is very busy without being cluttered - it has an organised formal feel to it. The
image is almost central to the page and the audiences’ eye will be drawn to it. The main
headline is not related to the main image which suggests that no one story is more
important than another - encouraging the audience to make their own mind up.
There is the start of a few articles, which each continue inside - overall there is a calm
and formal tone - nothing feels over the top or ‘in your face’ which suggests that the
reader is not going to be bombarded with unnecessary information or exaggerations.

3. Semiotic Analysis
3Media Studies - News | Semiotic Analysis
Media Studies - News
Look at the front page of The Times and conduct a semiotic analysis.
Consider:
• Masthead
• Layout & Style
• Language
• Anything else you think worthy of comment

4. Semiotic Analysis
4Media Studies - News | Semiotic Analysis
Media Studies - News
Now look at the front page of The Daily Mirror and conduct a semiotic analysis.
Consider:
• Masthead
• Layout & Style
• Language
• Anything else you think worthy of comment