CTK: A-Level Media Studies

NEWSPAPERS (THE PRESS)

RESEARCH - LESSON 1 - Computer Room
The purpose of this exercise is to get you thinking about THE UK PRESS and newspapers

TASK: Answer the following questions below in as much detail as possible. You can use the
computer room to research - You have the whole lesson - Be prepared to feedback next
lesson. Task 1: Write a definition for each convention:

NEWSPAPER CONVENTIONS
MASTHEAD? The title of a newspaper
on the first page

BYLINE?
A line in the newspaper
naming the writer of
the article

SLOGAN? A memorable phrase

used for advertisement

HEADLINE? Heading on top of an article

of a newspaper magazine
 CTK: A-Level Media Studies

LEAD STORY? The main news

presented in the
article, usually
shown on the first
page.

SECONDARY LEAD STORY? The second leading story of the

newspaper, after the lead story.

STAND FIRST/LEAD
PARAGRAPH?
A paragraph summarising
the main ideas of the
article

UK NEWSPAPERS

Research at least 5 UK newspapers and: 1) Write their name 2) Decide whether they are a
tabloid or broadsheet 3) What is their political stance?

1) The Telegraph: Broadsheet and their political stance is the Conservatives.

2) The Metro: Tabloid and has no political stance
3) The Times: is tabloid but can go broadsheet and their political stance is Conservatives
4) The Sun: Tabloids and their political stance is the Conservatives
5) The daily mirror: tabloids and their political stance labour party
 CTK: A-Level Media Studies

DEFINE:
TABLOIDS BROADSHEETS

A newspaper having half the size of a broadsheet, A large piece of paper, printed with
with sensational stories
information on the side.

UK NEWSPAPER TABLOID or BROADSHEET POLITICAL STANCE

The Telegraph Broadsheet Conservatives

The Metro Tabloid No political stance

The Times Tabloid Conservatives

The Sun Tabloid/broadsheet Conservatives

The Daily Mirror Tabloid
Labour Party

THE FOURTH ESTATE

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1.WHAT IS THE FOURTH ESTATE?

The profession of Journalism

2.WHAT IS MEANT BY A ‘FREE PRESS’

A press not restricted to a political or government censorship of

ideology

3.WHAT LINKS THE TWO?

The journalist’s opinion and their political views

Arguments For and Against: Statutory Regulation of

the Press?
EXPLAIN:

People should be aware of the regulations of the press, for the privacy of other people’s
lives and safety.

Sometimes the regulations of the press can be broken, since some members of the press
can take advantage of the regulations. This shows there could be a thin line between
breaking the regulation of the statuary regulation of the Press.

PRESS REGULATION
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Q) WHO ARE/WHAT IS THE: Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) and the
IMPRESS

A) Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO)

This is an independent regulator of newspapers in the UK, and all newspapers must hold up to their rules and
regulations to their journalism as well as still giving them a sense of freedom of expressing their views.

Q) WHO ARE/WHAT IS THE:

A) The Press Complaints Commission (PCC) is a regulatory body for British printed
newspapers and magazines, consisting of representatives of the major publishers in the UK

EXTENSION ACTIVITY
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RESEARCH THE FOLLOWING THEORY

STRUCTURALISM – CLAUDE LEVI-STRAUSS

HOW CAN YOU APPLY THIS TO NEWSPAPERS?

RESEARCH THE FOLLOWING THEORY

REPRESENTATION – STUART HALL

HOW CAN YOU APPLY THIS TO NEWSPAPERS?