An analysis of the front pages of ‘The Guardian’ and ‘The Daily Mail’ from 16th March 2001.

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How do editors of tabloids and broadsheet newspapers use content, language, layout and images to attract and reflect their target readership?

An analysis of the front pages of 'The Guardian' and 'The Daily Mail' from 16th March 2001.

Targets:

. To show insight into the idea of readership.

2. To analyse the way that the style and presentation are used in the media.

3. To analyse the way that language and images are used to create an impact.

4. To present and explain my opinions clearly and logically.

British newspapers have been around for nearly three centuries. There are ten British national papers divided into two main categories: the tabloids and the broadsheets. The tabloids contain many articles on celebrities and gossip, some news and many large pictures. The most popular tabloids are 'The Sun' and 'The Mirror' ('red tops'). The broadsheets are larger papers and more serious. They include more news stories and cover politics and world issues. The most popular broadsheet is 'The Daily Telegraph'.

The circulation of the national papers has lowered from 15,672,431 in 1989, to 14,270,111 in 1994. This is because there is more technology today. People can receive instant news on the television, radio and internet.

It is important for newspapers to know, target, attract and reflect their readership. With this information, they can write articles that interest their readers. It creates an image of what the readers are attracted to.

'The Guardian' is a broadsheet. It is a slightly left-wing newspaper generally supporting the Government and Labour Party. According to stereotypes, people with professional jobs mainly read this paper. Statistics show that about twenty per cent of people aged 20-45 read 'The Guardian'.

'The Daily Mail' is one of two newspapers called the middle market dailies. It is a tabloid paper, but has a balance of news and feature articles. Stereotypes of the readers of 'The Daily Mail' suggest that this paper is read mostly by less professional people. However, statistics prove that mostly professionals or people in junior management read 'The Daily Mail' with a wide age group.

The top of a newspaper can encourage sales if the readers are interested in what they see. As 'The Guardian' is a very large newspaper, it is folded when in the shop so that only the top is seen by the customers. For this reason, the top of 'The Guardian' has to be attractive and contain articles that interest its readers;

"Rewriting history. Why South Africa's schools are stuck in the past."

This is in the strapline that focuses on a different story than the main article. This suggests that the newspaper's readers are interested in history and world issues, as this paper focuses on Africa and education. It seems that the editor of the newspaper wants to include all articles that its readers are interested in.

The top of 'The Daily Mail' is quite different to 'The Guardian'. The style of the name suggests the newspaper is traditional as it has a royal crest in between. This suggests that the newspaper wants to create a traditional style paper.
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The main strapline reflects the readership of the newspaper;

"Britain's farmers are suffering terribly. For them, and for the sake of our rural heritage..."

Firstly, this shows that 'The Daily Mail's' readers are concerned about Britain and its farmers. Secondly, it shows that its readers are interested in the countryside and want to keep up the tradition of farming. 'The Daily Mail' uses emotive language as it asks for their readers' contribution to their "Farm Aid Appeal". An emotional photograph is placed in the top right corner of newborn lambs, which attracts people, especially animal-lovers. This ...

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