the daily mirror

Question 1

what is the date of the set product edition

Answer 1

1 feb 2022

Question 2

is it a tabloid or a broadsheet?

Answer 2

tabloid

Question 3

when did the newspaper first start?

Answer 3

1903

Question 4

what is the demographic of the paper and what does this mean

Answer 4

C2DE
lower/working classes
C2 - skilled working class
D - working class
E - unemployed/receiving benefits

Question 5

what is the political alignment of the paper? therefore what is the paper referred to as?

Answer 5

left wing (since 1945)
red top

Question 6

who owns the daily mirror

Answer 6

Reach PLC (previously known as Trinity Mirror PLC)

Question 7

who was the mirrors political editor at the time of the set product publication?

Answer 7

pippa crerar

Question 8

what kinds of topics are covered on their website?

Answer 8

news, politics, celebs, football (sport), tv, choice, royals, lifestyle, travel, bingo, horoscopes, cartoons, competitions, dating, crosswords, funeral notices, offers, voucher codes

Question 9

what kinds of topics are covered in the physical newspaper?

Answer 9

front page (with jump lines), offers/ advertisements, travel, celebrity, puzzles, cartoons, weather / environment, tv, politics, double page spreads, international news, lottery numbers, crime news, royals, conflict/ war, lifestyle, movie/ theatre/ book/ music reviews, tv guide, sports

Question 10

what is a mast head, what is its purpose, and give an example from the set product

Answer 10

the title of a newspaper or magazine at the head of the front page
allows people to pick what kind of newspaper they want to read (based on class, politics etc)
= ‘The Daily Mirror’

Question 11

what is a plug/puff, what is its purpose, and give an example from the set product

Answer 11

front page promotion pointing to the choicest content in that days edition - generally above/near the masthead
broaden the audience appeal and distract from the headline
= ‘Tears for the King’ article

Question 12

what is a headline, what is its purpose, and give an example

Answer 12

big bold heading at the top of an article
draw people in by attracting their attention (especially if the article sounds interesting to them) and giving them a brief idea of what the article is about
= ‘ZERO SHAME’

Question 13

what is a strapline and give an example

Answer 13

a title below the main headlines, written in smaller font and gives further info about the article
‘Gray report fallout’ (above the headline in this case)

Question 14

what is a subheading and give an example

Answer 14

mini headline which gives further insight or support for the headline
‘12 parties now probed by cops… and still’

Question 15

what is a jumpline and give an example

Answer 15

a directional line of print
‘full story : 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9’

Question 16

what is a standfirst and give an example

Answer 16

an introductory paragraph in an article, printed in larger/bolder type/capitals
‘SHAMELESS Boris Johnson again refused…bashes at No10’

Question 17

what is a pull quote, what is its purpose, and give an example

Answer 17

made up of text from the article, copied onto the front page, to grab the reader’s attention
attention grabbing visual element which draws in readers
= ‘the civil servant …man without shame’

Question 18

what is a standalone

Answer 18

a picture that can exist on its own on a front page, leading to a story inside

Question 19

what is a splash and give an example

Answer 19

the lead story; the story given the greatest prominence
‘partygate’ article

Question 20

how is the target audience reflected in the newspaper front page (set product)?

Answer 20

Targeted at lower classes = less educated and lower literacy level: ​
- Red top masthead to symbolize left wing Labour party bias ​
- Image led rather than text led ​(large pic of boris takes up most of the page)
- Headline is brief and dramatic – more emotional ​(‘ZERO SHAME’)
- Slogan ‘Heart of Britain’ and paper name ‘Mirror’ shows that the newspaper is aiming to highlight the beliefs, needs and wants of the lower classes ​(meant to ‘mirror’ working class life)
- celebrity gossip, paparazzi shots and scandalous stories are typical of tabloid magazines
- Direct address from colloquialisms such as ‘cops’ and ‘lockdown bashes’ = common dialect of target audience ​

Question 21

analyse the pic of boris on the front page (set product)

Answer 21

• more value for money because they are being let into a ‘secret’ (behind the scenes)​
• His body and facial expressions emphasise his nonchalant demeanour ​
• Boris anchors the headline suggesting his failure to take responsibility for what happened​

Question 22

how does curran and seaton’s theory relate to the set product

Answer 22

The newspaper industry is dominated by a few powerful large companies which inhibits challenge and creativity. ​

There was initial concerns of Reach PLC taking over the newspaper due to the media dominance it has​

Question 23

how does gerbner’s cultivation theory relate to the set product

Answer 23

Audience exposure to repeated patterns of representation shape and influence their views and opinions of the world around them. ​

Left wing exposure = left wing​

Question 24

how does shirky’s theory relate to the set product?

Answer 24

Audience members are no longer passive due to technological advancements and the development of the idea of the prosumer and citizen journalism. ​

The daily mirror website allows reader to comment on stories and features, creating an active audience engagement rather than passive.​

Question 25

how does hesmondhalgh’s cultural industries theory relate to the set product?

Answer 25

Reach PLC has become a horizontally integrated company to maximise audiences and minimise risk. They have embraced digital expansion by introducing a subscription for a tablet edition for the newspaper.​

Question 26

how does hall’s representation theory relate to the set product?

Answer 26

Stereotypical representations of the Prime minister and government members to convey its left-wing agenda and raise awareness of inequality within society. ​