Key Concepts
• Media Language – forms and conventions
• Institutions
• Audience
• Representation
Appropriate production skills also need to be practised in preparation for the Controlled
Test.
Media Language: forms and conventions
For Media language, a key area of study would be to explore the codes and conventions
used by the Popular Press. By studying a range of newspaper titles, this allows students
the opportunity to analyse and compare how the conventions of the Popular Press
appear in different newspaper titles. Key conventions include:
• Headlines. The most prominent feature of any article is the headline. Front page
headlines are particularly important as they aim to grab the reader’s attention and
help sell the newspaper. Headlines are usually short and catchy. The Popular
Press place particular value on headlines which can dominate the front page.
• The Pictures. As with the headline, a good picture is vital to grabbing the
attention of the audience. Newspaper photographs can be very powerful, and
sometimes tell the story in their own right. Some photographs are very famous
and have become the defining images of certain historical events.
• Captions. Photographs are accompanied by captions. Captions anchor an image
and help the reader interpret the photograph. The language of a caption rarely
just describes the image, instead it adds to the angle of the accompanying article.
• The Copy. Copy is written by reporters. It is written in a certain style and format
which aims to quickly establish the facts of the story, and to hook the reader into
reading the whole story.
• Masthead. The masthead is the title that identifies the newspaper. The use of
colour, language, symbol and design all help create the identity of the
newspaper. Many Popular Press titles are known as Redtops due to their use of
red in the masthead.
The key conventions of the Popular Press are common to all newspapers; however, the
way they are employed is quite distinct from the Quality Press. Typically, front pages are
designed to grab attention, and use short, bold headlines and a large dramatic
photograph. Even within the Popular Press itself, there is variety and difference between
titles. Examine the brand identities of different newspaper titles as expressed through their design, content and language. When analysing the generic conventions of the Popular Press, employ appropriate media terminology.
Another valuable area of study is to examine the use of photography and images. Using
large pictures and shorter copy than the Quality Press, the Popular Press often relies on
pictures to tell the story. Newspapers use a mix of snatched and posed photography and
images can be cropped or enlarged. The way a picture is positioned and the
accompanying caption are all part of a number of factors that can affect our
interpretation of an image. Compare the design and language of a print newspaper to its on-line version.
Institution:
Since the 1990s Newspaper institutions have started to produce on-line editions. The
first national daily to appear on-line was the Daily Telegraph in 1994. An on-line format
provides certain advantages over a print based format. On-line Newspapers can update
news stories and provide breaking news. The web allows for video and audio content
and access to searchable archives. An interesting area of study is to compare a
newspaper’s on-line and print editions, and to examine the relationship between the two
formats. In recent years technology has also allowed on-line newspapers to be accessed
via mobile phones. When studying Institutions, students need to examine how new
technology has affected the Popular Press.
Key Institutions connected to the Press:
News International Ltd. Owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, it publishes
The Sun, The News of the World, The Times, and The Sunday Times.
Associated Newspapers. A subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust, it publishes
the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, Metro and London Lite.
Express Newspapers. Owned by Richard Desmond they publish the Daily Express,
Sunday Express and Daily Star.
Trinity Mirror plc. A large British newspaper and magazine publisher. As well as 240
regional titles, it publishes the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, the People, Sunday Mail and
the Daily Record.
The Press Complaints Commission (PCC). Funded by the newspaper industry, it acts
as an independent regulatory body.
National Readership Survey (NRS).The NRS is a non profit making organisation which
provides estimates of the number and habits of people reading newspapers and
magazines.
Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF). An independent
organisation set up to promote a diverse, democratic and accountable media.
Political Allegiance.
Most newspapers are considered to have some political leanings. With a General
Election due in 2010, an interesting area of study is the political or ideological function of
the Popular Press. Students could be encouraged to follow political coverage, and
compare how different newspapers interpret political events. It has been known for
newspapers to shift their political position. Famously in 1997, the Sun switched its
traditional political allegiance and supported New Labour under Tony Blair. Research and analyse readership figures for different newspapers. Compare how different newspapers report the same political news stories.
Audience:
The Popular Press relies on advertising to cover much of the running costs of a
newspaper. The greater the circulation, the more they can charge companies to
advertise.
It is thus crucial that newspapers know about their readership and can target their
audience appropriately. In studying audience, students would benefit from examining
circulation figures for different newspapers, and analysing how the content, layout and
advertising are carefully targeted at a specific demographic. Another valuable area of
study is circulation. The overall picture is one of declining circulation, and some media
commentators have questioned the whole future of print based newspapers. Students
would benefit from examining the reasons behind this decline, and how newspapers
have tried to boost circulation. With so many other news sources available, it is
interesting to examine the role and appeal of newspapers over other news media. Examine Blumler and Katz theory of Uses and Gratifications, and how it applies to newspapers.
Analyse how a front page of a newspaper is designed to attract its target audience.
Representation:
What is the News? A common misconception is that newspapers faithfully and
accurately report on the significant stories of the day. But news is what newspaper
institutions have chosen to report on and think will sell to their readership. A useful area
to study, would be to examine how newspapers source and select news stories and to
examine the news values that underpin news selection. By analysing news values as
presented on front pages and in headlines from the Popular Press on one day,
conclusions can be made about audience appeal and newspaper identity.
Another area of study is to look at how newspapers represent events, groups and
individuals. While the industry is frequently criticised for its focus on gossip and celebrity,
events worldwide are less widely reported. When global stories are reported on, stories
of revolution, disasters, wars and famine give a very negative representation of other
countries, particularly third world countries. Another useful area of study is to examine
how different social groups are represented in newspapers. Are newspapers guilty of
creating and perpetuating stereotypes? Look at the controls and constraints under which the Popular Press operates, e.g. the National Union of Journalists Code of Professional Conduct, and the role of the Press Complaints Commission. Compare and analyse how different newspapers report the same story. Analyse the news values of a particular newspaper over a period of days.
How are young people represented in the Popular Press?
Productions Skills
Any production work required for the Controlled Test will need to be considered in terms
of the topic. Whatever production task is required on the paper should be tackled with
the same degree of confidence about the codes and conventions as any other.
Non-Contemporary Context
The Newspaper Industry has had a long history. The first daily paper in Britain was the
Daily Courant published in 1702. The Times was first published in 1785. However for the
purposes of the 2010 controlled test the non-contemporary context is focused on recent
history, particularly the last ten years and the rise of on-line newspapers.
Resources:
AQA GCSE Media Studies – Nelson Thornes ISBN: 978-1-4085-04-11
Media Studies for AQA GCSE - Pete Wall – Collins 978-0-00-723496-7
AQA GCSE Media Studies - Heinemann ISBN 978-0435-4040-62
Tabloid press – Jo Wilcock Auteur Publishing ISBN 978-1-9036-63-08-0
Websites:
www.nrs.co.uk (National Readership Survey)
www.pcc.org.uk (Press Complaints Commission)
www.newsinternational.com
www.associatednewspapers.co.uk
www.mediaedu.co.uk
www.thesun.co.uk
www.mirror.co.uk
www.dailymail.co.uk
www.express.co.uk
www.newsoftheworld.co.uk
www.dailystar.co.uk
Wednesday 9 December 2009
Key Concepts
As with coursework assignments a useful place to start when preparing for the
Controlled Test topic is with the key concepts:
• Media Language – forms and conventions
• Institutions
• Audience
• Representation
Media Language: forms and conventions
For Media language, a key area of study would be to explore the codes and conventions
used by the Popular Press. By studying a range of newspaper titles, this allows students
the opportunity to analyse and compare how the conventions of the Popular Press
appear in different newspaper titles. Key conventions include:
• Headlines. The most prominent feature of any article is the headline. Front page
headlines are particularly important as they aim to grab the reader’s attention and
help sell the newspaper. Headlines are usually short and catchy. The Popular
Press place particular value on headlines which can dominate the front page.
• The Pictures. As with the headline, a good picture is vital to grabbing the
attention of the audience. Newspaper photographs can be very powerful, and
sometimes tell the story in their own right. Some photographs are very famous
and have become the defining images of certain historical events.
• Captions. Photographs are accompanied by captions. Captions anchor an image
and help the reader interpret the photograph. The language of a caption rarely
just describes the image, instead it adds to the angle of the accompanying article.
• The Copy. Copy is written by reporters. It is written in a certain style and format
which aims to quickly establish the facts of the story, and to hook the reader into
reading the whole story.
• Masthead. The masthead is the title that identifies the newspaper. The use of
colour, language, symbol and design all help create the identity of the
newspaper. Many Popular Press titles are known as Redtops due to their use of
red in the masthead.
The key conventions of the Popular Press are common to all newspapers; however, the
way they are employed is quite distinct from the Quality Press. Typically, front pages are
designed to grab attention, and use short, bold headlines and a large dramatic
photograph. Even within the Popular Press itself, there is variety and difference between
titles. Students should be encouraged to examine the brand identities of different
newspaper titles as expressed through their design, content and language. When
analysing the generic conventions of the Popular Press, opportunity should be given for
students to learn about and employ appropriate media terminology.
Another valuable area of study is to examine the use of photography and images. Using
large pictures and shorter copy than the Quality Press, the Popular Press often relies on
pictures to tell the story. Newspapers use a mix of snatched and posed photography and
images can be cropped or enlarged. The way a picture is positioned and the
accompanying caption are all part of a number of factors that can affect our
interpretation of an image. Compare the design and language of a print newspaper to its on-line version.
Institution:
Since the 1990s Newspaper institutions have started to produce on-line editions. The
first national daily to appear on-line was the Daily Telegraph in 1994. An on-line format
provides certain advantages over a print based format. On-line Newspapers can update
news stories and provide breaking news. The web allows for video and audio content
and access to searchable archives. An interesting area of study is to compare a
newspaper’s on-line and print editions, and to examine the relationship between the two
formats. In recent years technology has also allowed on-line newspapers to be accessed
via mobile phones. When studying Institutions, students need to examine how new
technology has affected the Popular Press.
Key Institutions connected to the Press:
News International Ltd. Owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, it publishes
The Sun, The News of the World, The Times, and The Sunday Times.
Associated Newspapers. A subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust, it publishes
the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, Metro and London Lite.
Express Newspapers. Owned by Richard Desmond they publish the Daily Express,
Sunday Express and Daily Star.
Trinity Mirror plc. A large British newspaper and magazine publisher. As well as 240
regional titles, it publishes the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, the People, Sunday Mail and
the Daily Record.
The Press Complaints Commission (PCC). Funded by the newspaper industry, it acts
as an independent regulatory body.
National Readership Survey (NRS).The NRS is a non profit making organisation which
provides estimates of the number and habits of people reading newspapers and
magazines.
Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF). An independent
organisation set up to promote a diverse, democratic and accountable media.
Political Allegiance.
Most newspapers are considered to have some political leanings. With a General
Election due in 2010, an interesting area of study is the political or ideological function of
the Popular Press. Students could be encouraged to follow political coverage, and
compare how different newspapers interpret political events. It has been known for
newspapers to shift their political position. Famously in 1997, the Sun switched its
traditional political allegiance and supported New Labour under Tony Blair. Compare how different newspapers report the same political news stories.
Audience:
The Popular Press relies on advertising to cover much of the running costs of a
newspaper. The greater the circulation, the more they can charge companies to
advertise.
It is thus crucial that newspapers know about their readership and can target their
audience appropriately. In studying audience, students would benefit from examining
circulation figures for different newspapers, and analysing how the content, layout and
advertising are carefully targeted at a specific demographic. Another valuable area of
study is circulation. The overall picture is one of declining circulation, and some media
commentators have questioned the whole future of print based newspapers. Students
would benefit from examining the reasons behind this decline, and how newspapers
have tried to boost circulation. With so many other news sources available, it is
interesting to examine the role and appeal of newspapers over other news media. Examine Blumler and Katz theory of Uses and Gratifications, and how it applies to newspapers.
Analyse how a front page of a newspaper is designed to attract its target audience.
Representation:
What is the News? A common misconception is that newspapers faithfully and
accurately report on the significant stories of the day. But news is what newspaper
institutions have chosen to report on and think will sell to their readership. A useful area
to study, would be to examine how newspapers source and select news stories and to
examine the news values that underpin news selection. By analysing news values as
presented on front pages and in headlines from the Popular Press on one day,
conclusions can be made about audience appeal and newspaper identity.
Another area of study is to look at how newspapers represent events, groups and
individuals. While the industry is frequently criticised for its focus on gossip and celebrity,
events worldwide are less widely reported. When global stories are reported on, stories
of revolution, disasters, wars and famine give a very negative representation of other
countries, particularly third world countries. Another useful area of study is to examine
how different social groups are represented in newspapers. Are newspapers guilty of
creating and perpetuating stereotypes? Look at the controls and constraints under which the Popular Press operates, e.g. the National Union of Journalists Code of Professional Conduct, and the role of the Press Complaints Commission. Compare and analyse how different newspapers report the same story. Analyse the news values of a particular newspaper over a period of days. How are young people represented in the Popular Press?
Productions Skills
Any production work required for the Controlled Test will need to be considered in terms
of the topic. Whatever production task is required on the paper should be tackled with
the same degree of confidence about the codes and conventions as any other.
Non-Contemporary Context
The Newspaper Industry has had a long history. The first daily paper in Britain was the
Daily Courant published in 1702. The Times was first published in 1785. However for the
purposes of the 2010 controlled test the non-contemporary context is focused on recent
history, particularly the last ten years and the rise of on-line newspapers.
Resources:
AQA GCSE Media Studies – Nelson Thornes ISBN: 978-1-4085-04-11
Media Studies for AQA GCSE - Pete Wall – Collins 978-0-00-723496-7
AQA GCSE Media Studies - Heinemann ISBN 978-0435-4040-62
Tabloid press – Jo Wilcock Auteur Publishing ISBN 978-1-9036-63-08-0
Websites:
www.nrs.co.uk (National Readership Survey)
www.pcc.org.uk (Press Complaints Commission)
www.newsinternational.com
www.associatednewspapers.co.uk
www.mediaedu.co.uk
www.thesun.co.uk
www.mirror.co.uk
www.dailymail.co.uk
www.express.co.uk
www.newsoftheworld.co.uk
www.dailystar.co.uk
As with coursework assignments a useful place to start when preparing for the
Controlled Test topic is with the key concepts:
• Media Language – forms and conventions
• Institutions
• Audience
• Representation
Media Language: forms and conventions
For Media language, a key area of study would be to explore the codes and conventions
used by the Popular Press. By studying a range of newspaper titles, this allows students
the opportunity to analyse and compare how the conventions of the Popular Press
appear in different newspaper titles. Key conventions include:
• Headlines. The most prominent feature of any article is the headline. Front page
headlines are particularly important as they aim to grab the reader’s attention and
help sell the newspaper. Headlines are usually short and catchy. The Popular
Press place particular value on headlines which can dominate the front page.
• The Pictures. As with the headline, a good picture is vital to grabbing the
attention of the audience. Newspaper photographs can be very powerful, and
sometimes tell the story in their own right. Some photographs are very famous
and have become the defining images of certain historical events.
• Captions. Photographs are accompanied by captions. Captions anchor an image
and help the reader interpret the photograph. The language of a caption rarely
just describes the image, instead it adds to the angle of the accompanying article.
• The Copy. Copy is written by reporters. It is written in a certain style and format
which aims to quickly establish the facts of the story, and to hook the reader into
reading the whole story.
• Masthead. The masthead is the title that identifies the newspaper. The use of
colour, language, symbol and design all help create the identity of the
newspaper. Many Popular Press titles are known as Redtops due to their use of
red in the masthead.
The key conventions of the Popular Press are common to all newspapers; however, the
way they are employed is quite distinct from the Quality Press. Typically, front pages are
designed to grab attention, and use short, bold headlines and a large dramatic
photograph. Even within the Popular Press itself, there is variety and difference between
titles. Students should be encouraged to examine the brand identities of different
newspaper titles as expressed through their design, content and language. When
analysing the generic conventions of the Popular Press, opportunity should be given for
students to learn about and employ appropriate media terminology.
Another valuable area of study is to examine the use of photography and images. Using
large pictures and shorter copy than the Quality Press, the Popular Press often relies on
pictures to tell the story. Newspapers use a mix of snatched and posed photography and
images can be cropped or enlarged. The way a picture is positioned and the
accompanying caption are all part of a number of factors that can affect our
interpretation of an image. Compare the design and language of a print newspaper to its on-line version.
Institution:
Since the 1990s Newspaper institutions have started to produce on-line editions. The
first national daily to appear on-line was the Daily Telegraph in 1994. An on-line format
provides certain advantages over a print based format. On-line Newspapers can update
news stories and provide breaking news. The web allows for video and audio content
and access to searchable archives. An interesting area of study is to compare a
newspaper’s on-line and print editions, and to examine the relationship between the two
formats. In recent years technology has also allowed on-line newspapers to be accessed
via mobile phones. When studying Institutions, students need to examine how new
technology has affected the Popular Press.
Key Institutions connected to the Press:
News International Ltd. Owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation, it publishes
The Sun, The News of the World, The Times, and The Sunday Times.
Associated Newspapers. A subsidiary of the Daily Mail and General Trust, it publishes
the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, Metro and London Lite.
Express Newspapers. Owned by Richard Desmond they publish the Daily Express,
Sunday Express and Daily Star.
Trinity Mirror plc. A large British newspaper and magazine publisher. As well as 240
regional titles, it publishes the Daily Mirror, Sunday Mirror, the People, Sunday Mail and
the Daily Record.
The Press Complaints Commission (PCC). Funded by the newspaper industry, it acts
as an independent regulatory body.
National Readership Survey (NRS).The NRS is a non profit making organisation which
provides estimates of the number and habits of people reading newspapers and
magazines.
Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom (CPBF). An independent
organisation set up to promote a diverse, democratic and accountable media.
Political Allegiance.
Most newspapers are considered to have some political leanings. With a General
Election due in 2010, an interesting area of study is the political or ideological function of
the Popular Press. Students could be encouraged to follow political coverage, and
compare how different newspapers interpret political events. It has been known for
newspapers to shift their political position. Famously in 1997, the Sun switched its
traditional political allegiance and supported New Labour under Tony Blair. Compare how different newspapers report the same political news stories.
Audience:
The Popular Press relies on advertising to cover much of the running costs of a
newspaper. The greater the circulation, the more they can charge companies to
advertise.
It is thus crucial that newspapers know about their readership and can target their
audience appropriately. In studying audience, students would benefit from examining
circulation figures for different newspapers, and analysing how the content, layout and
advertising are carefully targeted at a specific demographic. Another valuable area of
study is circulation. The overall picture is one of declining circulation, and some media
commentators have questioned the whole future of print based newspapers. Students
would benefit from examining the reasons behind this decline, and how newspapers
have tried to boost circulation. With so many other news sources available, it is
interesting to examine the role and appeal of newspapers over other news media. Examine Blumler and Katz theory of Uses and Gratifications, and how it applies to newspapers.
Analyse how a front page of a newspaper is designed to attract its target audience.
Representation:
What is the News? A common misconception is that newspapers faithfully and
accurately report on the significant stories of the day. But news is what newspaper
institutions have chosen to report on and think will sell to their readership. A useful area
to study, would be to examine how newspapers source and select news stories and to
examine the news values that underpin news selection. By analysing news values as
presented on front pages and in headlines from the Popular Press on one day,
conclusions can be made about audience appeal and newspaper identity.
Another area of study is to look at how newspapers represent events, groups and
individuals. While the industry is frequently criticised for its focus on gossip and celebrity,
events worldwide are less widely reported. When global stories are reported on, stories
of revolution, disasters, wars and famine give a very negative representation of other
countries, particularly third world countries. Another useful area of study is to examine
how different social groups are represented in newspapers. Are newspapers guilty of
creating and perpetuating stereotypes? Look at the controls and constraints under which the Popular Press operates, e.g. the National Union of Journalists Code of Professional Conduct, and the role of the Press Complaints Commission. Compare and analyse how different newspapers report the same story. Analyse the news values of a particular newspaper over a period of days. How are young people represented in the Popular Press?
Productions Skills
Any production work required for the Controlled Test will need to be considered in terms
of the topic. Whatever production task is required on the paper should be tackled with
the same degree of confidence about the codes and conventions as any other.
Non-Contemporary Context
The Newspaper Industry has had a long history. The first daily paper in Britain was the
Daily Courant published in 1702. The Times was first published in 1785. However for the
purposes of the 2010 controlled test the non-contemporary context is focused on recent
history, particularly the last ten years and the rise of on-line newspapers.
Resources:
AQA GCSE Media Studies – Nelson Thornes ISBN: 978-1-4085-04-11
Media Studies for AQA GCSE - Pete Wall – Collins 978-0-00-723496-7
AQA GCSE Media Studies - Heinemann ISBN 978-0435-4040-62
Tabloid press – Jo Wilcock Auteur Publishing ISBN 978-1-9036-63-08-0
Websites:
www.nrs.co.uk (National Readership Survey)
www.pcc.org.uk (Press Complaints Commission)
www.newsinternational.com
www.associatednewspapers.co.uk
www.mediaedu.co.uk
www.thesun.co.uk
www.mirror.co.uk
www.dailymail.co.uk
www.express.co.uk
www.newsoftheworld.co.uk
www.dailystar.co.uk
Friday 3 October 2008
Soap opera
A soap opera is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on television or radio. Programs described as soap operas have existed as an entertainment long enough for audiences to recognize them simply by the term soap. The name "soap opera" stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers such as Procter and Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, and Lever Brothers as sponsors. These early radio serials were broadcast in weekday daytime slots when mostly housewives would be available to listen; thus the shows were aimed at and consumed by a predominantly female audience.
The term soap opera has at times been generally applied to any romantic serial, but it is also used to describe the more naturalistic, unglamorous UK primetime drama serials such as Coronation Street. What differentiates a soap from other television drama programs is the open-ended nature of the narrative with stories spanning several episodes. The defining feature that makes a program a soap opera, according to Albert Moran, is "that form of television that works with a continuous open narrative. Each episode ends with a promise that the storyline is to be continued in another episode".
A soap opera is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on television or radio. Programs described as soap operas have existed as an entertainment long enough for audiences to recognize them simply by the term soap. The name "soap opera" stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers such as Procter and Gamble, Colgate-Palmolive, and Lever Brothers as sponsors. These early radio serials were broadcast in weekday daytime slots when mostly housewives would be available to listen; thus the shows were aimed at and consumed by a predominantly female audience.
The term soap opera has at times been generally applied to any romantic serial, but it is also used to describe the more naturalistic, unglamorous UK primetime drama serials such as Coronation Street. What differentiates a soap from other television drama programs is the open-ended nature of the narrative with stories spanning several episodes. The defining feature that makes a program a soap opera, according to Albert Moran, is "that form of television that works with a continuous open narrative. Each episode ends with a promise that the storyline is to be continued in another episode".
Soap opera stories run concurrently, intersect and lead into further developments. An individual episode of a soap opera will generally switch between several different concurrent story threads that may at times interconnect and affect one another or may run entirely independent of each other. Each episode may feature some of the show's current storylines but not always all of them. There is some rotation of both storylines and actors so any given storyline or actor will appear in some but usually not all of a week's worth of episodes. Soap operas rarely "wrap things up" storywise and generally avoid bringing all the current storylines to a conclusion at the same time. When one storyline ends there are always several other story threads at differing stages of development. Soap opera episodes typically end on some sort of cliffhanger.
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