Journalism Now

Week 3 and 4, lessons 1 and 2

Basic principles

A news agenda is a running order of the news for a defined audience. The BBC and The Times mainly set this out. It is easiest to comprehend in National papers. The broadsheet agenda is stated as the 'official dangers of an official society'. The broadsheet news agenda consists of information surrounding;

1. Parliament
2. The courts
3. Annual meetings where issues are discussed.
4. London city annual meetings.
5. United nation's issues.
6. The European Union and any issues surrounding it.

A tabloid agenda, on the other hand, recognises the relationship between TV and newspaper. The Daily Times' 'line' is that it is a 'journal of record' and propose that in 1000 years time, by picking up the Daily Times, individuals will be educated about history in the UK.

The Daily Mail is directing towards a new audience; females. It focuses on health matters as females are stereotypically the main household caregiver.

The News agenda is mainly determined by journalist's views of what the audience want. The business of journalism is 'turning information into money' and is a defining characteristic of journalism.

The agenda of a particular type of newspaper has to try to appeal to everyone in a particular market.
The Sun focuses on audiences having several things in common;

1. Being alive!
2. Living in England - patriarchy
3. Television watchers
4. Sex - page. 3
5. Weather
6. Bathroom activities
7. The Royal family depicted as TV stars. The Princess Diana interview with Martin Bashir created the highest ever sales in a newspaper, other than world cup stories.

The Daily Star is only targeted at males. It did not even cover the general election and therefore is so far away from the official agenda.

Tabloids act as frozen television, hence why people like Rupert Murdoch are putting money into highly visual television channels such as Fox news.

Broadsheets are the opposite of this in so much as, stereotypically readers don't have time to watch television or look at pictures and so it is full of writing.

The Independent is mainly geared towards middle class, academics. It has a circulation of 300,000 and is predominantly bought in the south. It is not financially viable as it does not offer very many adverts in comparison to its competitors the Guardian and the Independent.

Today, 21/10/10 - the hard news story on the agenda is George Osborne's review of spending cuts.
This is the front page news of all the major newspapers today.
The Times goes with 'Osborne's remedy' and thus addressing policy makers.
The Sun on the other hand goes with 'Ouch! That hurts' and follows with pornography and Rooney's possible transfer.

Cars and food are important for the Target group index i.e. Is the reader a Volkswagen or a Mercedes driver? Does the reader shop in Tescos or Waitrose?