Different Perspectives- The Times vs Daily Mirror

Bias in the Newspaper

1)  Bias through pictures/graphics- camera angles, captions

2) Word choice and tone in the body of the text

3) Choice of writer (journalist) and source- who is writing and what is their beliefs?

4) Where is the article in the paper? - is it prominent or hidden? Front page or back?

5) Bias through omission or selection- whether an article is even published or not.

6) Bias through headline

7) Bias by use of names and titles (terrorists or freedom fighters)

8) Bias through statistics and crowd counts

Newspaper screencast

Newspaper Article Homework

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-5092263/Man-United-step-pursuit-Tottenham-star-Danny-Rose.html
Language- the average words in each sentence is around 20-30. In this article there are a lot of quotes used that try and back up what the journalist is trying to point to in the article. For example, 'I am not saying buy 10 players, I'd love to see two or three — and not players you have to Google and say, 'Who's that?' I mean well-known players. 

Content- At the start of the article, it is basically a background and vague information of what the article will be about, with information about the football player involved and personal information about him. This is done so the reader understands what the article will be about and so they have some background information. It then goes on to quotes that he has said in the past that link to what the article is about so there's evidence to what the journalist is trying to say. There are then pictures and more quotes from people related to the story about the transfer of this player and how they feel about it.

Style- Although it is a serious article, it is only rumours so its not as serious as it would be if the football transfer was a done deal. A lot of the article is quotes so this gives it more of a formal tone rather than a chatty tone.

Values and Attitudes- I wouldn't say there is any bias in this article as we do not know what football team this journalist supports. Also the article is just information and quotes from a various range of people so we can't really use this as bias. The journalist who wrote this article doesn't give his own opinion on the story so its not bias at all.

Photographs- There are 4 photographs used in this article (3 of the footballer involved Danny Rose and 1 of Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho). They used the pictures of Danny Rose to show who the person is but also some show him with a smile on his face which could contradict what the article is about. This could suggest that this story is only a rumour and he is actually happy at the football club he is at at the moment. 

Headlines- "Manchester United 'to step up pursuit' of Tottenham star Danny Rose as Jose Mourinho seeks January deal." There are also 3 little headlines under the main one to show what the article is going to be all about and reasons that back up what the article is trying to state. 

Right Wing vs Left Wing

Right Wing:

• Conservative supporters, UKIP, BNP
• Right Wing newspapers: Daily Mail, The Telegraph
• 'You earn what you work for, and you should keep what you earn'
• Survival of the fittest
• Believe in Privatisation of things like healthcare, education etc.
• In favour of Brexit
• Anti-Immigration
• Many voted against equal rights for gay people, some have 'traditional' views of women and pay.
• Often tied to the church and Christian Beliefs.

Left Wing:

• Labour supporters, Green party, Socialist Worker party (extreme)
• Spread the wealth, more equality
• Taxation of the rich to pay for support for the poor
• Support nationalisation (public health, state education)
• Pro- Europe, Pro- immigration and multi-culture
• Pro-gay marriage, women's rights etc.
• Pro environment and worried about climate change.
• The guardian, The mirror

Owen Jones-'If you are on the left and want to change society, the media will always come and get you'

News and Online Media

Barthes

Roland Barthes was born on the 12th November 1915 and died at the age of 64 on the 25th March 1980. He was a French literacy theorist, philosopher, critic and semiotician (study of cultural signs and symbols). He explored a diverse range of fields and he influenced the development of schools.

Barthes suggested that there will be one or more of the 5 codes that describe the meaning of the text. Barthes said that texts may be 'open' (unravelled in a lot of different ways) or 'closed' (there is only one obvious thread to pull on).

The 5 codes:

• Hermeneutic/Enigma code
• Proairetic/Action code
• Semantic code
• Symbolic code
• Referential code

Hermeneutic/Enigma code

• This code refers to mystery within a text. Clues are dropped, but no clear answers are given. 
• Enigmas within the narrative make the audience want to know more.
• Unanswered enigmas tend to frustrate the audience.

Proairetic/Action code

• This code contains sequential elements of action in the text.
• Proairetic elements add suspense to the text.

Semantics code

• This code refers to parts within the text that suggests or refers to additional meanings.
• Elements of the semantic code are called Semes.
• The seme has a connotative function in the text. It has an extra layer of meaning in addition to its literal meaning.

Symbolic code

• This code is about symbolism within the text.
• It exercises opposites to show contrast and create greater meaning, creating tension, drama and character development.

Referential code

• This code refers to anything in the text which refers to an external body of knowledge such as scientific, historical and cultural knowledge.