Newspapers Q2 - Daily Mail/The Guardian

Analysing the front covers:
What can you say about each headline?
- The Daily Mail has reported on a slightly different aspect of the COVID-19 pandemic as it doesn't mention the fatality of deaths, instead the increasing threat of scams. This fits with the more laid back feel midmarkets take from tabloids as they'd prefer to report on something other than deaths. They also used a pun: "plague" - referencing the pandemic as the global plague in the 1300's. This, again, backs up the more casual, tabloid-like aspects of the Daily Mail as it has put a spin on the word.
- The Guardian has chosen to report on the number of deaths. This much more like a broadsheet, as expected, since it is a serious report - something a left wing leaning paper would report on (wellbeing of people). They haven't used a pun or clever phrase, ensuring the headline is just as serious as the situation. It's small to make room for the picture of the NHS worker. This is much more respectful in acknowledging their work and their own suffering. Unlike the Daily Mail with no recognition to workers.

What is interesting about the choice of images?
- The Daily Mail has opted for no picture relating to the COVID-19 report. This could come across as insensitive, they haven't acknowledged the work of key workers or even the people who have raised the concern of scams. Instead it makes room for the larger headline to catch the attention. However, the image that is featured is of Harry and Meghan. This can easily be used to attract the audience that is more interested in the royal family than the serious situation. It's more invading on their privacy, especially when releasing texts.
- The Guardian has featured an image of an NHS worker which is very respectful. The woman is looking straight down the lens, directly at the reader, making it much more personal and hard hitting. She is completely covered with PPE, showing what the workers should look like, when in reality they're not that fortunate. It relates to the story because if the fatalities do increase, NHS workers will be on the job more than ever, unfortunately without the luxury of this equipment.

What do you notice about the choice of fonts?
- The Daily Mail has chosen to use a bold, all caps headline with is immediately striking. This will have been use to grab the audiences eye. It is actually more of a sophisticated font than a tabloid, showing the features a mid market takes from broadsheets. It takes up most of the page, leaving little room for the actual report - in order for it to carry onto another page, having people buy and look inside.
- The Guardian chose to use a simple, sophisticated font which suites their aim well. It is not flashy, bold or all caps. This makes it an easier read, almost seeming more down to earth when reporting on a incredibly serious topic.

Is there anything interesting about the sub-heading?
- The Daily Mail's sub-heading addresses the spy chief and actually explains the situation. It's short but makes the point needed. It is less creative than the headline however, still using 'crooks' to describe the hackers/scammers.
- The Guardian features a quote in declaring death is increasing. This makes the story more personal, as if it is one to one communication. It makes the reader connect with the struggles that are ongoing.

Is colour important?
- The Daily Mail uses mainly blue and yellow along with the standard B&W. This makes it more of a tabloid as it's still using colour but because there's no red, it comes across as more serious clean instead of a magazine feel.
- The Guardian uses blue and yellow too however they feature their quotes in red or orange, drawing the eye to them as it contrasts with the white background and two other primary colours. This can be used to their advantage to make the audience read that bit sooner, getting a feel for the story in more of a personal way.

Same features:
- colour
- basic font
- small reference to another story

Different  features:
- different stories
- TG has an image for the main story

Both papers have stuck with the general conventions of their genres. The Daily Mail is a midmarket anyways so it is expected to be more of a broadsheet along with tabloid features: pun in the headline. The Guardian has stuck to it's conventions by featuring one story, main image, small headline and covering the page. If anything the mid market has acted slightly more as a broadsheet, perhaps to compliment the seriousness of the story reported.

Genre influences these reports a lot because both papers haven't actually reported on the same things. This shows how a mid market is more relaxed, skipping the deaths involved. And how a broadsheet is more respectful, reporting on the increase in expected deaths. The mid market is clearly more relaxed in their report as it features some tabloid aspects.

Sources A and B cover the same news event but are from different genres of newspaper. How far has genre influenced the media language used in sources A and B? [15 marks]
- outline genre conventions
- analyse the contrasting use of media language in the sources
- make judgements and reach conclusions about how far genre has influences the media language used