Examine the article relating to the "Kilroy" story in a broadsheet (The Times) and the tabloid (Express) newspapers.

English Media Coursework

Examine the article relating to the “Kilroy” story in a broadsheet (The Times) and the tabloid (Express) newspapers.

What similarities are there in the style of reporting of this story in both newspapers?

What possible deductions can you make about the readership of theses newspapers?

We are looking at two different mainstream newspapers. The “Express” and the “Times” both have very different styles of newspaper and have also taken different approaches to the article, taking in to consideration the format of each, the way the information is perceived and what information that you are reading. I am going to compare and contrast these two newspapers.

Both newspapers cover the “Kilroy” story but there is a page and a column on it in the middle of the “Times”. While the express has it front cover, with a further five pages following. The “Express” has the story as an exclusive, meaning that they have been able to get interviews from “Kilroy” and he has played a big part in producing the articles. This suggests that it will be very supportive for Kilroy. While the “Times” has put in inside the newspaper not attracting as much reader to the article as the “Express”. The article in the “Times” may not take up as much page space but it has more to do with the actual matter at hand. It states facts rather then judgements. It answers questions Kilroy had brought up in his article and it gives answers, reasons and facts to them. When Kilroy claimed that Arabs had given no contributions to the modern world saying “Can you think of anything, anything really?” the “Times” replies to this with contributions Arabs have made. This shows how the “Times has gone through Kilroy’s article picking it apart and analyzing what he said. By giving facts and not opinions they can bring enough information to make a clear opinion on what he has said and if there is any truth behind it or if it was pre-terrorism anger, or racial haltered. They try to be as fair as possible by not using opinions as I have mentioned. The writer on the article for the “Times” Roland White has written the article the way Kilroy Should have, by backing up what he has said with facts and plain truth. He aggress with parts of Kilroy article and disagrees with some other points but always bring up facts, therefore readers can’t criticize him. While the “Express” has covered five pages and has it on the front cover it doesn’t say much about Kilroy’s article and has more information that is trying to persuade that Kilroy was just in what he said. They mention the fact that Kilroy had just attended his Mothers funeral and how he spoke strongly how his Father died in the Second World War defending free speech. This show how the writer Tim Shipman has tried to gain sympathy from the reader, which would help him to persuade them that Kilroy was just. It has also has taken a formal approach to the articles calling him Robert and mentioning his age “Robert, 61”. This gives the reader the impression that the writer and Kilroy “Robert” know each other and helps in making the article more persuasive and believable. The “Express” doesn’t mention Kilroy’s article much and focuses on Kilroy himself and what he is like as a person. While the “Times” focuses on what the actually matter is, being Kilroy’s article. The “Times” provides all the information you need to make a clear opinion on what Kilroy said, while the “Express” try’s to cloud your judgement and backs Kilroy trying to perceive is article as just.

This is a preview of the whole essay

The “Times” features the story again on page 23 and is presented with long columns of writing. The writing is not broke and is consistent in looks. It is very plain and not that easy to read or follow. It has one big picture at the top that is the main focus of the page. The picture is of Kilroy wearing a turban and next to it has “Kilroy of Arabia” in an Arabic font. This shows how the writer has used quite a witty headline and picture and suggests that the article has a witty approach to it. This helps attract readers. Also there next to the picture there is a strap line that reads “lots of oil, medieval views and a deep permatan. But that’s enough about Robert Kilroy Silk” again this is an example of how the writer is using an amusing approach to attract readers. Also it starts to show that writer dose not agree with Kilroy, which will attract readers because readers who do not agree with Kilroy will feel the need to read it because it relates to them. Also people who support him will want to find out what the writer has to say. Also the strap line goes on to say “ Are Arabs great people” this shows that the article really has some serious issues and it gives you a idea to what questions will arise throughout the article.

The “Express” has taken a very formal approach to there article. On the front page the first two things that stand out is the headline that reads “Kilroy my Anger” and at the top it says exclusive. Both these things suggest that it is very supportive of Kilroy. It then has a picture of Kilroy looking very depresses, this pictures helps to gain sympathy. There is a quote next to the headline my reads “Too many honest and descent people are afraid to express there views for fear of being labelled politically incorrect”, the way in which this is wrote gives the impression that this is a fact and it can be easily believed. It try’s to show that there are more people who feel like Kilroy dose. I’m sure there is but the way the reader reads it gives the impression that Kilroy is honest, descent and not in a minority. All this can gain the reader attention and persuade them to support Kilroy. Also there is a strap line that’s reads “STAND BY ME: Robert Kilroy Silk yesterday at home where he pleaded with Britain to supports his right to free speech” this is very cleaver because it dose many things. It obviously gains sympathy for Kilroy by making him seem more a normal person by mentioning him at home. Also by pleading to Britain him speaks to the reader, the reader picks up that Kilroy is talking to them and not the BBC or Arabia. The front page has little to do with the actual matter at hand and the further pages don’t mention it at all. They also call him Robert instead of Kilroy, this gives you the idea that the writer knows him and helps add believability to the article. This is called emotive language. The “Express” mainly focuses on persuading that Kilroy was just rather then the “Times” that provides facts to make up your own mind. The pictures on the later pages show him with his wife and it perceives him as a happily married man with a lovely happy wife. This makes him seem like not a bad guy my helps persuade readers. Also it shows how Kilroy’s father was killed during the Second World War, Kilroy says “My father died defending right to free speech”. This all helps in persuading the reader, it makes them less guilty to support Kilroy or even changes they mind so they think that he has the right to say what he likes whether people agree or not. All this is propaganda to draw the reader away from what actually happened and make you feel like you know Kilroy, thus helping you to understand him. While the “Times” just places the facts which is what is need to determine an honest and unjaded opinion on the matter at hand.

Also the way in which the two newspapers are presented is very different. The “Times” uses large picture to attract there readers then long columns or writing. It dose not look very easy to read and it focuses more on the information and truth then presentation and what will sound good to a reader. While the “Express” has loots of pictures splitting up the columns and making it look easier to follow and read. The writing is broken up more the “Times” and is easier to digest. There are also many different articles in the “Express” different section. Rather then the “Times” which is all in one. The “Express is very stylized and uses lots of pictures and strap lines to attract its readers. Such as “the BBC let me down” and “Why there all backing Kilroy”. The “Times” uses complex words and is quite hard to follow with its long columns that seem never ending. It is aim at more intellectual readers that will be able to from an honest opinion and often like the cleaver wittiness. The type of readers it attracts are not easily manipulated. While the “Express” is easy to read and use more simpler and obvious words, it breaks the columns up and sections it into lots of articles. By doing this it makes it easier to take in and is aim at less intellectual readers that are easily manipulated or trick. You could say the working class which is a big majority which makes it a good idea.

The fact is Kilroy had said something many people didn’t agree with and must be judge fairly by reading what he wrote looking at any facts for the questions and issues that he brought up and then making your own decision on it. Which the “Times” provides. What he is like as a person or what he has gone through has nothing to do with it.

By William Oliver