The “flesh-eating bug” story. A comparison of two different newspaper stories.

The simple yet exaggerated headline evokes fear. This is because a strong, graphic image is created by the words used. The phrase "killed my mother in 20 minutes" frightens the reader, because people automatically associate death with fear, and the idea that this woman was killed by the bug in only twenty minutes shocks the reader even further. The word "bug" in the headline also helps to create a feeling of trepidation.

The use of crossheads creates a natural pause in the reading of the article, and this slows down the pace of the passage. On the other hand I realise that some readers may feel that the use of crossheads increases the pace.

In the broadsheet article, the title is printed in very large, bold font, as is the title in the tabloid article, to capture the attention of the reader. One thing that stands out in this article when compared to the tabloid story is that there are no crossheads to break up the columns of text. Some would agree that this could speed up the pace of the article, as no natural pauses are created in the reading. This also means that the reader's attention is not maintained constantly throughout the piece, as "The Times" is not as focused as "The Mirror" on shocking and frightening the readers. The title of this article is much less shocking than the title of the tabloid story. The bold font is still used, but it is not as large, and there is no use of additional presentational features to catch the attention of the readers, for example a strapline. Therefore the article contains more text, and is more informative. As a result of simply investigating the presentational devices of the stories, we can see that the aims of the two newspapers are very different. The broadsheet news story has a much more discursive attitude when compared to The Daily Mirror. The times uses longer, more complex sentences, and also more mature vocabulary throughout the article. throughout the article. The mirror makes constant use of short sentences in order to gain attention, and does not use complicated language.

In an attempt to persuade the readers that the story is accurate, the writer of the tabloid article uses quotations from witnesses who are referred to by impressive titles, such as "Dr. Keith Cartwright, head of Gloucestershire's public health laboratories". The readers are more likely to believe the shocking account, as it is backed up by witnesses who have a wide knowledge of the subject. The article also contains some very short sentences, such as "Three have died". This increases the impact that the paragraph has on the reader, and adds to the mood of shock and fear that is built up.

Furthermore, The Daily Mirror uses various scientific language for example "streptococci necrotising fascilitis". This gives the impression that the newspaper has first-rate information about this bug, and that the writer has a superior knowledge of the subject. This helps in making the reader feel that they can trust the account.

The writer of the times story writes to, among other things, belittle the articles that have been produced by tabloid newspapers such as the mirror. The writer says, "Editors fought for the most lurid headline". The use of the word "lurid" in this sentence is connected with disgust by the reader. These cutting remarks put the tabloids into a different light, and they are put across as being shameful, and deceitful to the readers of their articles.

The story written by the broadsheet newspaper also scorns the tabloids, by including an amusing story about the reactions of the public to these over-exaggerations - "One Scottish GP arrived to find five croaky patients waiting anxiously on his doorstep".

The article provides facts and information for the readers throughout, and also uses medical terminology, which creates an intellectual tone. However, the newspaper also portrays the bug in similar ways to the tabloid. The bug is personified as in the Daily Mirror article, with the use of some phrases such as "poised to eat into the hearts and minds of the public" and "tentatively renewed their assault on mankind". The words "poised" "eat" and "assault" are very powerful in that they make the reader associate the bug with humans because the words describe human actions. This gives the impression that the bug is alive and has character. Furthermore in the same style as The Daily Mirror article, the times gives the impression that the bug is out of the ordinary, by saying the bug "could have been created by Stephen Spielberg". Some aspects of the bug are also exaggerated, for example the writer says that the bug ate into the public's minds "as surely and as fast as it had eaten its way through it's victims". The word "ravaged" in the tabloid news story creates a word echo, as it rhymes with "savage", which conjures up an image of death and destruction in the reader's mind. The reader therefore associates the bug with devastation and suchlike, and this makes them anxious. This adds to the growing tension.

Another way in which the writer of the Daily Mirror story aims to frighten the reader is by generalising the symptoms of the bug. The writer says that the sufferers of this bug "break out in blisters, have diarrhoea, and feel generally unwell." Excluding blisters, in many cases these are the symptoms of a basic stomach bug or illness. This could make readers worry and become uneasy, which is precisely the effect that the writer is aiming for.

The writer of the tabloid article personifies the bacteria with the use of words like "bug killed", "devoured", and "bug feeds". The writer also exaggerates the bug's speed and size, with use of hyperbolic language such as "devours inches of body fat an hour", and "killer bug". This language is used because the writer's aim is to shock the readers, and to strike fear into them.

The main aim of both of the newspapers is obviously to sell copy.

The writer of the tabloid article uses hyperbolic language such as "killer bug". This language is used because the tabloid's purpose is to shock the readers, and to strike fear into them. Also, the writer creates a story which is gruesome, and which implies that the bug is rare. This appeals to the morbid curiosity evident in human nature. The reader is engaged by the story, and the aim is that therefore more sales of the newspaper will be generated. In contrast, the broadsheet uses an informative and reassuring tone in order to restore the reader's confidence and improve their understanding regarding the bug. The broadsheet newspaper makes use of more intellectual vocabulary in order to convert the reader to their way of looking at the story.