TOPIC 7: THE MEDIA

British pp. _ watch a lot of television & the world’s most dedicated home-video users & the
world’s third largest news. buyers (the Japanese & the Swedes buy more).
THE IMPORTANCE of THE NATIONAL PRESS
_ The national press (appears in the morning) dominates news. publication _ # 80% _
households buys a copy of one of the main national papers every day.
_ Non-national news. _ significant circulations _ published in the evenings.
_ Most local news. _ not to Sundays => national press _ absolute à “Sunday papers”.
THE TWO TYPES of NATIONAL NEWSPAPERS

1. The “quality papers” or “broadsheets”:

+ printed on large pages & serious in tone.
+ cater for better educated readers.
+ devote much space to politics and other serious news (but not completely ignore sex
& scandal).
+ have editorials which comment on important issues & reflect the political views of
the paper’s editor.
_ The main quality dailies: The Times & the Daily Telegraph (political right), The Guardian
(pol. Left), The Independent, the Financial Times.
_ Sunday papers: the Sunday Times, The Observer and The Independent on Sunday _ more
pages than the dailies, supplements (extra sections) on, eg. motoring & the arts.
2. The “popular papers” or “tabloids” (a word first used for pharmaceutical substances
compressed into pills):
+ printed on small sheets of paper & report news in less depth.
+ sell to a much larger readership.
+ use larger healings & write in a simpler style of Eng. & less print, more pictures.
+ concentrate on “human interest” stories (sex & scandal & personal life of famous
pp.).
_ The most popular papers: The Sun, The Mirror, The Express, the Daily Mail. The News of
the World, a Sunday tabloid, sells more copies than any other newspaper in Britain.
_ The difference b/w the two types: the treatment of the topics they cover & which topics are
given the most prominence.
_ # 1,500 local news., many are weeklies _ news of local events, sport, ad. for local businesses,
details of houses, cars, & other items for sale à some paid for by advertisers => delivered
free.
THE CHARACTERISTICS of THE NATIONAL PRESS: POLITICS
_ None of large news. _ belongs to a pol. party _ many _ in favour of (or against) policies of
this/that party.
_ Primary concern _ news. publishers à business & make money.
_ B. press _ controlled _ small number of large multinational co. _ 2 features:* freedom fr.
interference fr. gov. infl. The press _ so powerful _ referred to as “the fourth estate” (the
Commons, the Lords and the monarch). This freedom _ ensured à “freedom of speech” basic
constitutional right.
□ Fleet street.
THE CHARACTERISTICS of THE NATIONAL PRESS: SEX and SCANDAL
_ * The other feature _ nat. press _ its shallowness.
_ Late 20th C., broadsheets in B. _ attract more readers of all cost ß look more “popular” _ a
lot of coverage to news with “human interest” angle when they have opportunity.
_ Complaints regarding invasions of privacy _ dealt with by the Press Complaint Commission
_ made up of news. editors, journalists = the press is supposed to regulate itself _ following a
Code of Practice _ set limits on the extent to which news. should publish details of pp.’s
private life.
RADIO and TELEVISION
THE BBC
_ BBC _ “the mother of information services” _ reputation for its impartiality & objectivity in
news reporting.
_ It depends neither on advertising nor on the gov. for its income. Those who used a television
set have to pay (license fee).
_ 1932 BBC World Service _ set up _ broadcast first to the empire and then to other parts of
the world.
_ During WW II, BBC _ identified w. the principles of democracy & free speech _ BBC’s
fame à international.
_ BBC runs 5 national radio stations inside B. & several local ones.
TELEVISION: ORGANIZATION
_ Since 1970s, 98% of B. households have had TV sets _ able to receive 5 pro. : BBC1, BBC2,
ITV (Independent Tele.) called Channel 3 & Channel 4 and channel 5 pro.
_ 1989-90, Commercial satellite and cable TV _ grow significantly.
_ Every household with TV must by law pay for a license, which cost the same for a yr. as a
pop. News. every day. Pp. with non-color TV pay less (In 1988, a color TV license cost
£62.50, a license a black-and-white TV cost £21.00).
_ No advertising on the BBC & ITV gets its money fr. advertisers _ pay to show films
advertising goods b/w pro. and during breaks in pro. à “commercial breaks” _ 6 minutes /
hour.
_ Commercial TV _ not develop habit _ showing programs sponsored by manufacturers &
advertisers _ never have influence over programming that they have in USA.
_ Some quiz-shows & “soap operas” (long-running sagas) attract large numbers of viewers.
_ The law of 1990 leaves the Home Secretary _ general resp. for radio and TV. _ appointing 2
ind. bodies to act as safeguards against abuse.
+ Broadcasting Complaints Commission (members _ appointed by Home Sec.)
dealing
w. complaints about unjust or unfair treatment.
+ Broadcasting Standard Council _ consider the portrayal of sex & violence _ to draw
up a code of practice & consider complaints & monitor programmes & undertake
relevant
research.
TELEVISION STYLE. (Tesxtbook _ p.159-161)