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A-Level Media Studies: Newspapers Overview

May 15, 2025

A-Level Media Studies: Industries and Newspapers

Overview

  • For Section B of Component One in A-Level Media Studies (Eduqas exam board), focus is on industries and audiences.
  • Study a whole edition of a newspaper (Daily Mirror or The Times), their websites, and social media pages.
  • Section A covers media language and representation.

Key Topics

Ownership

  • Daily Mirror: Owned by Reach PLC (formerly Trinity Mirror).
    • Reach PLC publishes over 150 newspapers, both national and local.
    • Horizontal integration allows resource sharing (e.g., journalists).
    • Acquired Daily Express, promoting a leading market position.
  • The Times: Published by Times Newspapers, owned by News UK (a News Corp subsidiary).
    • News Corp is a global conglomerate involved in newspapers, TV, film.
    • Vertical and horizontal integration provides resources and leverage.
    • Rupert Murdoch influences via conservative, right-leaning tendencies.

Regulation

  • Regulatory Bodies: IPsO regulates The Times and Daily Mirror.
    • Newspapers like The Guardian use Impress.
    • IPsO potentially biased as industry-run, may not strictly enforce rules.
    • Regulation challenges include technology-use (online comments, bots, human moderators).

Impact of Technology

  • Challenges in moderating user-generated content due to complex contexts and volume.
  • Decline in print circulation; rise in online readership.
  • Alternative revenue streams: online advertising, premium rate services.

Audience and Content

  • Daily Mirror: Targets working-class, left-wing audiences (C2DE demographics).
    • Engages via soft news, large pictures, interactive elements.
    • Adverts cater to lower income (e.g., Tesco, Aldi).
  • The Times: Targets conservative, middle/upper-class audiences.
    • Offers in-depth articles, paywall for higher perceived quality.
    • Adverts cater to higher income (e.g., Waitrose, M&S).

Audience Interaction

  • Engagement via competition, interactive elements, social media.
  • Uses and Gratification Theory: Information, education, entertainment.
  • Reception Theory: Reader response varies based on political and demographic factors.

Additional Considerations

  • Curran and Seaton’s Theory: Profit and power dynamics.
  • Hesmondhalgh’s Theory: Minimizing risk, maximizing profit.
  • Examine adverts in newspapers and online for target audience insights.

Study Tips

  • Review specific newspaper editions and digital content.
  • Analyze how newspapers tailor content/advertising to audiences.
  • Familiarize with media theories relevant to newspaper industries.

For further details on media language and representation in newspapers, explore additional resources or lectures focused on The Times and The Daily Mirror.

Full transcript