Eduqas, Intro to Newspapers, Practical task, Media Studies

1. Intro to Newspapers & Exam
Lesson 1

2. NEWSPAPERS
Component 1 Sections A & B
Focus Areas
• Section A
• Media language
• Representation
• Media contexts
• Section B
• Media industries
• Audiences
• Media contexts
on A
You will need to study the front and
back pages of The Times and the
front page and linked article in The
Daily Mirror
You will need to study a complete
edition for each newspaper (plus
selected pages from each of their
websites)

3. Learners will develop the ability to…
• analyse critically and compare how media products,
including products outside the commercial mainstream,
construct and communicate meanings through the
interaction of media language and audience response
• use a range of complex theories of media studies and use
specialist subject specific terminology appropriately in a
developed way
• debate key questions relating to the social, cultural, political
and economic role of the media through discursive writing
• construct and develop a sustained line of reasoning which is
coherent, relevant, substantiated and logically structured in
an extended response.

4. Media Language
Theoretical Framework
Media Language Media Forms
How the different modes and language
associated with different media forms
communicate multiple meanings
Advertising & marketing
Music video
Newspapers
How the combination of elements of
media language influence meaning
Advertising & marketing
Music video
Newspapers
How developing technologies affect
media language
Music video
Newspapers
The codes and conventions of media
forms and products, including the
processes through which media language
develops as genre
Advertising & marketing
Music video
Newspapers

5. Media Language
Theoretical Framework
Media Language Media Forms
The processes through which meanings
are established through intertextuality
Advertising & marketing
Music video
Newspapers
How audiences respond to and interpret
the above aspects of media language
Advertising & marketing
Music video
Newspapers
The significance of the varieties of ways
intertextuality can be used in the media
Advertising & marketing
Music video
Newspapers
The way media language incorporates
viewpoints and ideologies
Advertising & marketing
Music video
Newspapers

6. In the exam
Section A: Analysing Media Language and Representation
(45 marks)
One question (media language) will require analysis of an
unseen text – this may either be an advert, music video or
newspaper front pages.
The other question (representation) is based on an unseen
text and will require comparison to one of the texts your
have studied – this may be either an advert, music video or
newspaper front page.
One of these questions is likely to be audio-visual.

7. Section B: Understanding Media
Industries and Audiences (45 marks)
This section will assess knowledge and understanding of media
industries, audiences and media contexts in relation to any of
the forms studied for this section: advertising & marketing, film,
newspapers, radio and video games.
There will be two questions:
• Question 3 will be a stepped question assessing knowledge
and understanding of media industries in relation to one form
studied.
• Question 4 will be a stepped question assessing knowledge
and understanding of audiences in relation to a different
media form from that assessed in question one.

10. Newspapers:The Times and The Daily
Mirror
You will develop knowledge and
understanding of the two newspapers as
evolving media products in terms of the
relevant newspaper industry and audience
issues they illustrate.
In order to develop this awareness, you will
consider one complete print edition of each
newspaper chosen by me and selected key
pages from each newspaper's website,
including the homepage and at least one
other page.

11. Masthead
the newspaper's name, often in traditional gothic
lettering. It may not have changed for many years so
it's the easiest way to identify a newspaper. An
important part of branding – semantic codes of the
name can be identified.
Slogan
a 'catchphrase' summing up the newspaper's
philosophy or unique selling point
“All The News That's Fit To Print”—The New York Times
'Puffs' or ‘blurbs’
colour bands that aim to attract readers to additional
stories inside – usually more light hearted to broaden
the audience base
Headlines
the largest typeface on the page for the most
important stories. Popular newspaper employ
colloquialism and puns with quality newspapers being
more formal
Newspaperconventions

12. Strapline
in smaller typeface, above or below headline
that explain more about the story
Local School Rocked by Series Of Explosions
Standfirst
Block of text that introduces the story and offers
initial content
By-line
journalist's name & details, often includes a
photo
By Clark Kent, Special Correspondent
Standalone
A picture story used on the cover to offer visual
engagement
Central Image
Usually a dramatic picture filling most of the
cover, anchorage text/caption usually close by to
offer context

13. News in brief (NIB) / side
bars
Smaller facts or articles in a list / column
positioned at the side or bottom of the paper
Pull Quotes
Interesting quotes from the article extracted and
written in larger font to make it stand out
“I really like ice cream when it’s hot”
Jump Line
Follows the teaser headline on the front page
encouraging readers to buy and read on.
Adverts
Newspapers may included adverts and offer on
the cover – depending on the type – which will
appeal to the audience
‘Turn to page 6’

14. Visual Elements
White space
Area on the newspaper that has no text, image or advert is left blank
Margins and gutters
Lines to prevent text overlapping , newspapers have clear set areas of text, image, title
Frames
Shapes outlining the parts of text such as stories or columns, to make them visually separate
Columns
Newspapers always use columns when producing covers – it is the conventional layout
Serif Font – Italic style font
Sans serif Font – Plain font type

15. News Values Ideology

16. Threshold
Unexpectedness
Negativity
Elite persons/places
Unambiguous
Personalisation
Proximity
Continuity/currency
The bigger the impact and reach of the story
An event that is a shock or out of the ordinary
Bad news is more interesting ‘if it bleeds, it leads’
Stories about important people and powerful nations
Stories that are easy to understand and for papers to
report on
Stories that include human interest – ‘real’ people
Stories that are closer to home are more likely to be
included
Stories that are already in the news continue to run
and are updated