RESEARCH AND PLANNING
OF NEWSPAPER
what are codes?
Codes are systems of signs, which create meaning. Codes can be divided into two categories – technical and symbolic:
•Technical codes are all the ways in which equipment is used to tell the story in a media text, for example the camera work in a film. •Symbolic codes show what is beneath the surface of what we see. For example, a character's actions show you how the character is feeling.
Some codes fit both categories – music for example, is both technical and symbolic.
What are conventions?
Conventions are the generally accepted ways of doing something. There are general conventions in any medium, such as the use of interviewee quotes in a print article, but conventions are also genre specific.
How codes and conventions apply in media studies
Codes and conventions are used together in any study of genre – it is not enough to discuss a technical code used such as camera work, without saying how it is conventionally used in a genre.
For example, the technical code of lighting is used in some way in all film genres. It is a convention of the horror genre that side and back lighting is used to create mystery and suspense – an integral part of any horror movie.
Codes and Conventions of Newspapers
Front Page
Every newspapers published follow specific Codes and Conventions which they follow to create a specific newspaper look. I will create my own Codes and Conventions based on other newspapers therefore I am going to analyse the generic codes and conventions of the following newspapers: Daily Mail, The Daily Telegraph, The Independent, The Harrow times and The Times. There are several generic and conventions of the newspapers.
Codes and Conventions of Newspapers
Codes and conventions are how to identify a newspaper by knowing its features and what it needs to have to be known as a newspaper. The papers that I am comparing are examples of a tabloid and a broadsheet.
Tabloids are small sized newspapers (approximately A3) written in a simple way which are often sensational in style and are aimed for the working class. It contains the following things; gossip and tales about celebrities, more graphics than text and it dramatizes events (e.g. tabloids sometimes have a page which exaggerates and overstates situations where celebrities are involved, ''LOVED.SEX etc...
Broadsheet are bigger in size and written in an advanced way and are aimed to more educated people (middle to upper class). It contains news from the real life, education. Pictures are not that attractive because the audience are more concerned of the quality of the newspaper rather than the quantity.
Codes and Conventions of Newspapers
Codes and Conventions: the familiar and predictable forms and techniques used by the media to convey a desired impression. Codes include the special devices of an individual media, such as the type of articles included, prices, what types of advertisements, whether the information is quantitative or quantitative and much more. Conventions are the typical plot elements including conflicts and resolutions of a particular medium.
Each medium has its own forms and conventions. Newspapers, radio, television, magazines, and the internet have a different look, a different method of communicating, a different purpose, and different codes and conventions. Within a specific medium, you may also find distinct codes and conventions. A good example of this involving newspapers is that different newspapers have more qualitative information with others having more quantitative. "The Times" national newspaper's cover price in the United Kingdom is 90p on weekdays and £2.00 on Sunday's this paper is more qualitative and is generally seen as a serious publication with high standards of journalism. Where as papers such as "The Sun" is only 30p and is seen as one of the cheaper newspapers with more quantitative information than qualitative.
I am going to make sure that I do the following in my Newspaper>
-> Attract the readers into wanting to buy my local newspaper
- >Reinforce the newspapers identity through easily recognisable style features.
- >Demonstrate the newspapers attitude towards the news of the day (make the main headline stand out by using a powerful name and eye catching colours).
- >Make sure that the main story stands out
- >Make sure also that the picture are high quality and that they also look good.
Newspapers Codes and Conventions
Photographs: this is there to grab attention. It may or may not be linked to the main story but more than often it is in colour. Sometimes pictures within the newspapers are pictures for other articles in the newspaper.
Caption: the words below a photograph which give it a meaning.
Banner Headline: main statement which spans the full length of the page.
Byline: this is the name of the writer of the article.
Masthead: this is the title block which includes the name of the newspaper.
Pug's: the pugs are the areas at the top left and top right hand side of the pages. They attract the reader's eye and also they are used to show the date, price etc.
Strapline: this is the introduction of the article. This is normally situated just below the main headline.
Standfirst: this is the first paragraph of a report. This may be in bold print and/or the first word maybe be in colours.
Splash: the splash is the main story on the front page of the newspaper.
Local newspapers generally have all the things I listed above but also they have some of their own Codes and Conventions which they follow.
Normally local newspapers will include things such as:
- A section advertising local cars up for sale or wanted.
- Local School's details. (open days, addresses etc)
- Jobs in the area.
- Local companies advertisements.
- Classified Adverts.
- Local websites.
- Local shops in the area.
- A house section showing local houses for sale.
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