This brings me swiftly to my second topic the use of science. We see in the Express that the E-coli is called, the “Killer food bug,” or the “bug known as E.coli 0157.” You will notice the use of the term bug, a common phrase which is used to describe and type of virus ranging from the common cold to a potentially life threatening disease in this case. The Telegraph on the other hand replaces the word bug with, “E coli 0157 bacterium.” The Telegraph also states where the disease s found and how it is transmitted, “It is found in the gut of cattle and is spread mainly through undercooked hamburgers and minces.” You will observe that the Express does not even bother trying to inform its readers of the scientific facts of the infection. The only point that both papers agree on is that this disease maybe fatal.
As we have seen from the scientific approach in both of the two newspapers an expert used to convey a message. Both newspapers use the same expert, Dr Sayed Ahmed. He is told to be a “County Health Official,” in the Express and, “a public health consultant with Lanarkshire Health Board,” in the Telegraph. This, I believe is one of the points which sets the newspapers apart. The Telegraph gives the full title of Dr Sayed Ahmed, but the Express simplifies this title and shortens it. Another difference is that the Express uses the quotation; “I think it is going to get worse,” which is an obvious attempt to stir up emotion in the readers. The Telegraph however, uses a quotation that presents you with statistics, “Five percent of people with the severe form (of the infection) can die.” Although the Express also uses this, the noticeable difference is that the Telegraph does not use the quotation that may evoke too much emotion.
My fourth topic is the use of shock tactics and bias. This is highly evident in the Express, it uses sensitive language in order to play on the emotions and not mind of the reader, the Telegraph however, although it tells you how many have died and that they are, “giving cause for concern,” does not try to create panic. The Express uses language such as, “fighting for their lives,” and, “a storm broke over why health official delayed public health warnings.” The Telegraph does not just show the negative points and says, “younger people …are more likely …to resist.” The Express says, “The source of the infection was traced to a butcher’s in Lanarkshire.” But, the Telegraph says, “Health officials believe that the outbreak has been caused by cooked meat sold by John M Barr & Son.” The terminology is completely different; the Express is looking for someone to blame so that there is a scapegoat for its readers to vent their fury upon. The Telegraph in contrast doesn’t so much look for a criminal and victim situation as it explains the facts of the matter. The Telegraph also contains a statement from Mr Marr’s solicitor, “ Mr Barr is over whelmed by how grave the situation has become. He is co-operating fully with the health officers.” The Telegraph helps to deal with the problem and not provoke it, in contrast to the Express. It advises people to, wash their hands if they have touched it (Wishaw meat) and contact the health authorities.”
The use of photographs is a key part of the layout of both a tabloid and a broadsheet newspaper. In this particular case I’ve found that the Express shows a photograph of Mr Barr the butcher who’s meat allegedly started of the virus and Mr Gardiner on of the victims of the infection. The Telegraph however, does not depict anyone. I believe that the reason for this is that whereas the Express finds the need to show a definite criminal and victims, the typical ‘name and shame’ policy of tabloids, the Telegraph’s main priority is to convey useful information and show an impartial view. I believe that the Express also needs a photograph to play on the emotions even more and ‘put a face to the crime’.
When you look at these two articles you will notice that both newspapers have printed this particular story on the front page. The Express uses this as the main story, but on the Telegraph it is just a small just a small section across the top of the front page. But, even though the whole of the front page of the Express is devoted to this story there is still less content than the Telegraph. I think that this article occupies the whole of the front page of the Express, because it describes a very sensitive situation, that includes two children …fighting for their lives in hospital,” so, it is obviously going to evoke a strong range of emotions. The story also includes a scandal as Mr Barr, who was recently, “named as this year’s Scottish Butcher of the Year,” was the butcher from whose shop the infection was spread. The Telegraph gives this article only a small amount of space as it is a local matter and does not concern an international problem. But, it is on the front page of the Telegraph as it concerns a very, “grave situation.”
I have already commented how the language differs in both papers; this is due to the language used in each newspaper mirroring the type of reader it is aimed at. At first glance you see that the article in the Express can be read with ease and taken easily, whereas to read the article in the Telegraph you need a certain level of understanding to grasp what is being described. The first main difference in language is the use of the word, “Food Bug,” in the headline of the Express and, “food poisoning outbreak,” in the headline of the Telegraph. The paragraphs in the Telegraph tend to be longer than those of the Express. The largest paragraph in the Express is two sentences long. Which is the amount of sentences per paragraph that an average six year old could use. The Express uses simple emotive language, for instance, “one of Britain’s worst food epidemics,” and two children were fighting for their lives in hospital.” The Telegraph however says, “the worst outbreak of food poisoning for 12 years,” therefore putting a figure to the claim. The Telegraph never claims anything without backing it up with factual or statistical evidence.
It was a pleasure analysing and comparing these two articles, and I have seen in many places how the audience, and the newspapers expectation of the ability of audience governs the way an article is presented and reported. It was amazing to see how both newspapers, although using the same story, and the same basic ideas for writing their report showed so many variations and similarities between their presentation of their report, the complexity of language used, what headlines were used, use of shock tactics, use of emotive language, use of experts, use of bias, use of science and their use of photographs. I loved the quantitative and balanced way in which the Telegraph dealt with the situation, and the way in which the Express played on my gut emotions. But, overall I believe that the Telegraph was more fulfilling to read. This because it engages your mind rather than emotions, and it gives a balanced and impartial view on the situation, which cannot be said for the Express. Tabloids are mostly superficial dealing with celebrities and scandals, but broadsheets truly analyse news and print what I consider to be a higher level of useful information. It is quite amusing to see how the editors of tabloids believe that they have to play on the instincts of their audience and do not expect them to think, but the broadsheet editors print articles that usually allow readers to think and come to their own conclusions with the help of bias. I do understand that this cannot be said for all broadsheets, as some are highly biased politically, but as a general evaluation I consider this to be true.
