The Times - Media

• The Product - The Times


  The Times newspaper is a British national 'quality' newspaper, first published in 1785. These newsapers can also be referred to as 'Broadsheets', derived from their original larger size. The Times has been published by Times newspapers since 1981, a subsidiary of News Uk which is wholly owned by News Corp, Rupert Murdoch's company. The company also publishes the sunday times, the Sun, The sun on sundays and until recently, The News of The World.
• The Product - Times politics

  Politically, The Times adopts a more neutral position compared to the explicit political allegiance of the tabloid press. However, it does have a right-wing allegiance and supports the Conservative party at key times, such as when there is a general election. The times is famous for having a range of journalists with varied political viewpoints which allows the newspaper to offer a more neutral and balanced political stance on some issues.
• The Product - how the newspaper describes itself


  The newspaper describes itself as the following: 'A faithful recorder of the times for more than 200 years. It is authoritative, credible, responsible, trusted and a part of the nation's cultural heritage. A premium British brand, recognised the world over.'
• The Product - 1st Feb 2022


  The set edition was published on February 1st, 2022 and focuses on the report into the investigation into parties held at Downing Street while the country was under lockdown restrictions.
• Political context - allegations of conservative parties


  This edition of the newspaper deals with the scandal surrounding allegations regarding parties and social gathering held by the Conservative Party at a time when its leaders had enforced strict restrictions on the people of England that prohibited such gatherings.
• Political context - First reported

  The story was first reported in November 2021 and alleged that during the lockdown Christmas of 2020, parties had been held at Downing Street, some of which has been attended by the Prime Minister Boris Johnson. This led to an inquiry being undertaken by senior civil servant Sue Gray, the results of which were published in January 2022.
• Political context - Boris' statement

  On the date this edition was published, Boris Johnson was due to give a statement to the Commons about what had happened. It was reported in the newspaper that Sue Gray had revealed that the Metropolitian Police were investigating serval possible breaches of lockdown by No.10 and Boris Johnson has refused calls for his resignation.
• Social and cultural contexts - demographic 


  All newspapers, including The Times, reflect the social and cultural contexts of the time in which they were produced. The Times largely targets a ABC1 demographic with cultural capital and an interest in news and analysis in detail. This demographic is targeted through the news values of the paper, the selection of stories and how particular social groups and issues are represented.
• social and cultural contexts - common theme


  The choice to focus on this particular story also reinforces a common theme for this newspaper to accurately present the news and its effect on society. Whilst it is not expicitly critical of the government on this front page, this story cut across political divides with many members of the Conservative party as well as Labour shocked by the revelations.
• Political context - the plug


  The newspaper's plug also reflects a cultural context with a lifestyle focus intended to broaden the appeal of the newspaper.
• Front page - what's on it?

  The page is split between political stories and a plug promoting Times 2, the lifestyle supplement of the paper which in this instance features an article on fitness and a personal story about being bitten by a puppy.
• Front Page - The layout


  The layout and design of the front page is conventional of this style of broadsheet, quality newspaper, which is generally text led rather than image led. The times usually has an image, which may be a standalone, a main story, a secondary story and a plug. There is also often an 'In the News' section at the bottom of the page with jump lines linked to the main inside stories.
• Front Page - The masterhead


  The masterhead is bold and recognisable and effectively signifies the ideology of the paper, suggesting that it reports and reflects upon the issues of the time. The typography chosen is strong and commands the front page and is placed either side of the crest and logo. The lion and unicorn are symbols appearing on heraldic crests, and the slogan Dieu et Mon Droit (God and My Right) dates to King Richard 1st. The fact that this remained unchanged suggests they intend to reinforce their traditional values and longevity.
• Front Page - Headline

  The headline 'Police investigate PM's four lockdown parties' is informative rather than dramatic and enigmatic. The same is true of the sub-heading 'Gray criticises leadership and drinking culture'. However, there is subtle, implicit criticism through the selection and use of language, for example including the number 'four' and choosing the specific aspect of the report that comments on a 'drinking culture'.
• Front Page - Pull quotes 


  Similarly, the pull quotes that accompany the central image are direct quotations from Sue Gray's report, denoted by the large quotation mark to emphasise their importance. Positioning them in white on the black background gives them prominence and means that they function as an anchor for the image of the Prime Minister.
• Front Page - Close up 


  The central image is a close-up photograph of Boris Johnson with an indirect mode of address. His code of expression shows some trepidation of what is to come as he goes to the Commons. The newspaper has selected thsi photograph to suggest that he does have questions to answer, whilst not explicitly criticising him.
• Front Page - Caption


  The caption is long and gives information based on facts, placing the photograph in a context rather than taking an active stance. This is a typical convention of this style of newspaper.
• Front Page - 'In the News'


  The 'In the News' section at the bottom of the page offers a brief summary of other content in the newspaper including a global aspect. The mode of address is serious and formal.
• Front Page - Language and mode of address 


  The language and mode of address used for the stories on the front page are formal. The text is compact and detailed; subheadings are not generally used to split up stories into sections, suggesting that the readers are comfortable with detailed information and analysis. There is a sub-heading 'The Times Verdict' with jump lines to the analysis of the story on the inner pages, establishing the newspaper as an opinion leader.
• Front Page - Plug 


  The plug is constructed differently, using a bright colour palette to differentiate between the serious and lighter elements of the newspaper's content.
• Levi Strauss Structuralism - creating meaning


  Newspapers, like other media products, create meaning through the way in which they are structured. Their use of typical codes and conventions fulfil audience expectations and appeal to loyal readers. However, the way in which the conventions are employed across newspapers will communicate different meanings; for example, the use of headliners, language and mode of address differs between popular and quality newspapers.
• Levi Strauss structuralism - binary opposites 


  Meaning is dependent on pairs of oppositions; the way these oppositions are used and resolved reflects the ideology of the newspaper.
• Levi Strauss structuralism - The times 


  The times demonstrates less explicit political allegiance compared to a tabloid publication and therefore may offer more than one viewpoint on an issue. The resolution and more explicit in something such as an editorial or an opinion piece, where the political allegiance of the paper may be more obvious.
• Construction of representation on Front Page - central image


  The construction of the representation of the event and the key player on the front page is dominated by the central image of Boris Johnson, anchored by a headline, sub-heading and pull quotes.
• Construction of representation on Front Page - Selection and combination


  The choice of the image of Boris Johnson focuses on his code of expression of trepidation on his way to the Commons, anchored by the caption and the large quote from Sue Gray's report. Unlike a tabloid newspaper, the representation of the event and Boris Johnson's role in it is more implicit. However, the selection and combination of images and language constructs a subtly negative representation.
• Construction of representation on Front Page - negative selection and combination 


  The choice of pull quotes from the report, placed next to the image of the PM implicitly directs blame at his behaviour. 'There were failures of leadership and judgement by different parts of number 10...'. The inclusion of the ellipsis creates an enigma suggesting that there is more to be seen in the report.
• Construction of representation on Front Page - Construction and choice in language 


  The Construction and choice of language in the headlines and subheading represents the event and the PM in a negative way. 'PM's four lockdown parties' implies Boris Johnson's involvement and the use of 'four' points out the seriousness of the event. The use of the phrase 'drinking culture' also constructs a negative representation of the event.
• Construction of representation on Front Page - opinion leader


  This construction of the representation of the event does not reflect the newspaper's usual political allegiance, which would be to support the government. It may be that the newspaper feels responsible as an opinion leader to reflect the reactions of many people with differing political views to the transgresses of the government.
• Construction of representation on Front Page - Positions of audience


  The construction of the representation of the event positions the audience to consider the facts about the event, which are presented in an informative way, and to make their decision about it. Within the readership of The Times, although it is a right-wing publication, there will be those who are shocked by the revelations of the breaking of lockdown restrictions by those in positions of power and then there will be those who remain supportive of the government.
• Construction of representation on Front Page - Binary opposition 


  The Sub-heading 'The Times verdict, Full analysis and comment inside' suggests that these binary oppositions may be resolved by the newspaper's opinion contained in these inner pages.
• Stuart Hall - Front page 


  The front page of The Times produces meaning through the language used, by using recognisable signs that will be interpreted by the audience, for example, headlines, image choices, language, and mode of address.
• Stuart Hall - construction 


  These choices contribute to the construction of the event and encode meanings that are to be decoded by the audience.