HOW IS THE NEWS HOW IS THE NEWS PRESENTED?PRESENTED?

ANALYSIS OF ARTICLE LAYOUTANALYSIS OF ARTICLE LAYOUT

 Copyright © Digital Explorer 2010

This resource may be reproduced for educational purposes only.

A resource by:

MEDIA EDUCATION – LESSON 2MEDIA EDUCATION – LESSON 2

MASTHEAD – contains MASTHEAD – contains the name and logo of the name and logo of the newspaper and the newspaper and other details such as other details such as date, website and pricedate, website and price

BYLINE – shows the BYLINE – shows the name(s) of the journalist name(s) of the journalist who has written the who has written the article. Some bylines article. Some bylines show a picture of the show a picture of the journalist too.journalist too.

HEADLINE – HEADLINE – the name the name given to the given to the title of an title of an article. article. When it is When it is written in written in large letters large letters on the front on the front page, it can page, it can be known be known as a as a ‘splash’.‘splash’.

STANDFIRST – the first STANDFIRST – the first paragraph of an article paragraph of an article in bigger text. It in bigger text. It normally summarises normally summarises the rest of the articlethe rest of the article

STRAPLINE – is a second STRAPLINE – is a second headline or title that headline or title that gives more of an idea gives more of an idea about what an article is about what an article is aboutabout

BODY COPY – the main BODY COPY – the main text of an article. It is text of an article. It is written in a series of written in a series of paragraphs and paragraphs and normally laid out over a normally laid out over a number of columnsnumber of columns

ART – the collective ART – the collective name used for images, name used for images, whether they are whether they are photos, maps or photos, maps or diagramsdiagrams

CAPTION – information CAPTION – information given under a photo, given under a photo, map or diagramsmap or diagrams

SIDEBAR – additional SIDEBAR – additional information on the topic information on the topic that doesn’t fit in main that doesn’t fit in main article. Often this is article. Often this is background information background information to give more context.to give more context.

ANALYSING THE MASTHEADANALYSING THE MASTHEAD

The masthead tells you which paper you are reading and also the date of publication.

Knowing the title of the newspaper. This is because each newspaper has different views and political ideas.

Daily Express: right wing middle –market tabloid

Daily Mail: right wing middle-market tabloid

Daily Mirror: traditionally left-wing tabloid

Daily Telegraph: traditional Conservative broadsheet

Financial Times: leading international business newspaper with a global outlook

The Guardian: liberal / left-wing quality broadsheet

The Independent: daily liberal broadsheet with wide international coverage

The Sun: tabloid known for sensational headlines and has varying political allegiance (currently Conservative)

The Times: slightly Conservative quality broadsheet

ANALYSING THE HEADLINE & ANALYSING THE HEADLINE & STRAPLINESTRAPLINE

The headline is what attracts the reader to an article.

The headline is written by the editor or sub-editor, and not the journalist who writes the rest of the article.

If the article is large and across the front page, it is know as a ‘splash’.

A strapline or second headline may also be used to provide extra information or to persuade people to read the article.

ANALYSING THE BYLINEANALYSING THE BYLINE

The byline tells you who has written the article.

Are the journalists specialists?

Have they written about similar topics before?

Bylines sometimes tell a little bit about the journalist. For example it might say, James Chapman, Political Editor. Then you know that the person writing the article is a politics specialist.

ANALYSING THE POSITIONANALYSING THE POSITION

Where in the newspaper is the story?

The most important news story is on the front cover.

Sports is usually at the back.

In the middle are other news stories, opinion pieces, feature articles, business articles and other information such as a TV guide and the weather.

ANALYSING THE ARTANALYSING THE ART

What art has been used to support the article?

Was it a photo, graphic or map?

How does the art help us understand the topic being written about?

Why do you think this particular piece of art was used?

Why was this caption chosen?

ANALYSING THE SIDEBARANALYSING THE SIDEBAR

Has a sidebar been used to support the article?

How does the sidebar help us understand the topic being written about?

Why do you think this particular sidebar was used?

Why was this title chosen?