CSP Newspapers: The Times

Language

1) What are the main stories on the front cover of the Times CSP edition (15 March 2017)?

The political decision on whether Scotland should remain in the UK
Well-known female celebrity Angelina Jolie goes to a prestigious university to give a lecture


2) What are the main stories on the inside page of the Times CSP edition (15 March 2017)?

Muirfield being accepted back into Open
A murder committed by a transgender individual
The channel 4 leader fired


3) What is the balance on the Times front page between images, headlines and text?


The times front page is mainly dominated by text with fewer headlines and some images.


4) How do we know that the Times is aimed at a wealthy, educated, middle class audience?

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5) What does a close analysis of the news stories in the Times CSP edition suggest about the Times political beliefs?

Audience

1) What is the target audience for the Times?

The times is aimed at an older demographic, mainly seniors or pensioners. The Times appeals to the psychographic of the Resigned as they are looking to achieve comfort from their media.

2) Why do the Times front page stories/features appeal to the Times audience?

The Times uses a formal style in their mode of address and advanced language, giving of a sophisticated and authoritative tone.

3) Why might the Muirfield golf story be of interest to Times readers?



4) Why might a reader enjoy the Times? Use Blumler & Katz Uses and Gratifications theory to add detail to your answer.


The reader may find pleasure in the surveillance of the Times as it offers them information on national current affairs


5) Times readers are mostly over 55 years old. Why is this?  

The Times is mainly written using values and beliefs from the past in which they prefer to give off the image of tradition and sincerity.

Representation

1) What representation of Great Britain can be found on the front page of the Times?

Great Britiain is represented as a strong, secure, educated and reliable nation as shown by the mentioning of one of the best universities, the current political events and the 'culture hotspots' they advise to visit.


2) How does the Times represent the gender in the Muirfield golf feature?


The Times represents the gender debate in Murfield as unnecessary and 


3) How does the Times represent big companies like Google or Channel 4? 


4) How does the Times present the story of the transgender runner jailed for stabbing an official? What does this suggest about the Times's attitude towards LGBT issues?


5) What clues can you find in the CSP pages that suggest that Times readers are more likely to support the Conservative Party?

Industries

1) Who owns the Times?

News International, News Corp owned by Rupert Murdoch

2) What is the The Times's circulation in 2018? How many papers did the Times used to sell back in the 1990s?

3) How has the Times reacted to the decline in print sales and the growth of the internet?

4) Using Galtung and Ruge's News Values theory, choose three factors that make a news story more likely to be placed on the front page of the newspaper.


5) Why have newspapers seen such a steep decline in sales over the last 20 years?

Grade 8/9 extension tasks

Read this Guardian column on IPSO, the press regulator. Why does Polly Toynbee suggest IPSO has been a "total failure"?


Read this short Press Gazette feature on the Times's paywall. Why does the Times head of digital describe the paywall as a success? 


Read this Guardian column on the pleasures of print newspapers and the dangers of the digital age. Do you think newspapers will continue to exist in the future? Why?