Modern Studies Media Influence

• Media


  The various ways information is communicated to a wide audience, including newspapers, TV, radio, social networks, blogs and video sharing websites
• Types of media


  • Print media
  • Broadcast media
  • Online media (social media)
• Print media


  • Material printed on paper, e.g. newspapers and magazines
• Broadcast media


  • Visual and audio information broadcast through radio and TV
• Online media


  • Information accessed over the internet or mobile devices, such as social media, blogs and podcasts
• Most of us interact with the media everyday, often without realising it
• There are currently 12 UK wide newspapers, as well as some which circulate in Scotland only and local papers which cover smaller areas/regions
• 95% of households in the UK owned a TV set
• There are five core TV channels, also known as terrestrial channels – BBC One, BBC Two, ITV/STV, Channel 4 and Channel 5
• In the year 2000, just 27% of adults used the internet; today, it is 92% of adults in the UK
• Politically neutral

  Not supporting a particular political party or view
• Roles of the media

  • Inform
  • Influence
  • Entertain
  • Educate
• The media had many stories covering Boris Johnsons breaking of covid rules by having parties at 10 Downing Street, which many believe played a big part in his resignation
• The THINK! campaign has been educating people about road safety since 2000 and has helped reduce road deaths by 46%
• Tabloids


  Biggest selling type of newspaper in the UK, with more pictures, less text, and easier to understand language, often focusing on celebrity news, entertainment, human interest and sport
• Broadsheets


  Traditionally larger newspapers that tend to have more writing and less pictures, with more complex language, reporting more on politics, world affairs, the arts and culture, as well as sport
• In the run up to the 2019 General Election, newspapers endorsed the party they wanted to win
• Newspaper circulation (the number of papers sold) fell from 22 million in 2010 to just 10.4 million in 2018 - a decline of 52%
• Newspapers that endorsed political parties in the UK

  • The Sun - Conservatives
  • Daily Mail - Conservatives
  • The Times - Conservatives
  • The Telegraph - Conservatives
  • Daily Mirror - Labour
  • The Guardian - Labour
• Most of the major newspapers in the UK endorsed the Conservatives in the last UK General Election
• The Conservatives went on to win the election with a large number of MPs and Boris Johnson remained as Prime Minister
• Print media's power and influence is declining
• Newspaper circulation (the number of papers sold) fell from 22 million in 2010 to 10.4 million in 2018 - a decline of 52%
• Newspaper circulation


  • The Sun - 3 million in 2010, 1.2 million in 2020
  • Daily Mail - 2.1 million in 2010, 1.2 million in 2020
  • The Guardian - 289,000 in 2010, 132,000 in 2020
  • The Times - 507,000 in 2010, 368,000 in 2020
  • Daily Record - 331,000 in 2010, 104,000 in 2020
  • Daily Telegraph - 683,000 in 2010, 318,000 in 2020
• Tabloid


  Also known as, types of stories, layout/appearance, language used
• Broadsheet


  Also known as, types of stories, layout/appearance, language used
• Newspapers are still powerful today
• Newspapers are not as powerful today
• Broadcast media (particularly television) remains the most popular form of media in the UK
• 95% of households in the UK have a TV
• There are hundreds of free channels available through Freeview, a huge change from just 20 years ago when there were only 5 free channels
• Many people pay to access more channels through Sky, Virgin Media and BT
• BBC TV is funded by TV licences


  In order to watch live TV legally in the UK, people must buy a TV licence. The money from this licence funds BBC programming directly, which is why there are no adverts on BBC channels. All other channels are funded by either advertising, subscriptions or both.
• 75% of people still get their news from television channels
• Impartiality


  Traditional broadcast media must be impartial by law, meaning they are not allowed to support a particular side/party/view and must be politically neutral in their reporting. This is different from newspapers and online broadcast media, which do not have to be impartial.
• Televised debates can influence how people vote
• TV interviews/speeches can influence how people vote
• The media is powerful as it can educate the public on important issues
• The media is powerful as it can inform the public
• The media is powerful as it can influence the public and politics