Revision Lesson - Newspapers

Component One: Section A

Media language - an unseen front page or interior page from an unseen newspaper

Representation - the set edition of either the Mirror or The Times ('partygate' editions) compared to an unseen product, probably another newspaper front page

Component One: Section B

Industry - the newspaper in general, including the website

Audience - the newspaper in general, including the website and may ask to refer to a print edition

Compare the ideologies conveyed through the representations in this newspaper and the set edition of the Daily Mirror you have studied

In your answer, you must:

• consider how representations convey ideologies
• consider the similarities and differences in the ideologies conveyed
• make judgements and draw conclusions about how far social and cultural contexts affect the representations

The Mirror uses a series of straightforward representations to construct a straightforward ideology to appeal to and to manipulate the ideology of the working class target audience in order to maximise revenue.

Newspapers spread ideologies through the use of images and lexis used within the media product, allowing the producer to spread their ideologies to the reader. Representations (the way that people, an issue or event are constructed) are used to present people, an issue or event in a way which has been chosen by the producer. The Daily Mirror evidently uses representations in a straight-forward and stereotypical way to reinforce the ideological perspective of the producers in order to attract the working class, C2DE male target audience with the intention of maximising profit.

• the mise-en-scene of his messy hair constructs an ideology where Johnson is presented as unprofessional, reinforcing an ideology where Johnson should not be listened to
• therefore, the newspaper constructs a manipulative ideology that positions the audience in direct opposition to Johnson
• a childish and informal mode of address
• this is further reinforced by the biased selection of images, where the mise-en-scene of Johnson's smug face anchors an ideological perspective that Johnson should not be prime minister
• therefore this representation of a privileged ruling class white man is used to position the audience
• further anchored through the sans serif, bold and blocky font, which constructs Johnson as a moronic child. playing with the citizens of the United Kingdom
• this is further reinforced through the highly leading and even stereotypical mise-en-scene of Johnson's ill fitting suit, constructing him as a clownish and unserious figure
• the lexis of the headline uses numbers in a highly leading way to construct the images of a countdown, perhaps a failed countdown to the target audience
• not only do these numbers connote actual factual evidence to present the audience, they also make intertextual references to a bomb detonation
• this intertextual reference to action films not only constructs Johnson as the evil antagonist of an action film, it also potentially positions the audience as the protagonist
• in order to win this battle, the audience must vote
• further emphasised through the mise-en-scene of Starmer talking to the audiencer
• this binary opposition also constructs Starmer as the helper in a classic narrative, and positions the audience in a perfect hyperreality where their ability to vote actually has a conceivable impact

Masthead

Stuart Hall

Red

Labour

Liesbet Van Zoonen

Barcode

Price

Bold font

Lexis

Main image

Left wing ideological perspective

Mise-en-scene

Colours

Yellow

Gender performativity

Anchorage

Typography

Colloquial language

Skyline

Gauntlett's identity theory

Baggy suit

MES of hair

Male gaze theory - subversion

Postcolonialism - Paul Gilroy

Stereotypes

Strapline

Caption

Binary opposition

Headlines

High key lighting

Candid image

Symbolic annihilation - lack of representation

Representation of ruling