Newspapers: Media Language

Become familiar with the term media language, which refers to the various technical and symbolic tools media texts use to communicate meaning.
Develop a clear comprehension of how newspapers utilise different elements of media language such as headlines, subheadlines, captions, and images to convey a story.
Understand the importance of the layout and structure of newspapers in guiding the reading experience.
Grasp the significance of typography and colour in newspapers which are often used to establish hierarchy and draw attention to specific elements.

Learn how to interpret the role of headlines in newspapers, which are used to summarise the story and attract readers’ attention.
Understand that a lead story, usually placed in the most prominent position on the front page, is designed to attract readers with the most significant news.
Note how headlines and lead stories use concise language and often employ techniques like alliteration, puns, or emotive language to captivate the reader.

Comprehend how bias can be present in newspapers, either consciously or unconsciously, based on the publication’s political affiliations, ideologies, or agendas.
Recognise framing, which dictates how information is presented to the reader, influencing their interpretation.
Understand how elements such as images, captions, headlines, and word choice can contribute to bias or framing in newspaper articles.

Acknowledge the significant role of images in newspapers which often support or accentuate the story being told.
Understand the role of captions, which provide context to the accompanying image and link it back to the related story.
Learn how images and captions can also contribute to the overall framing and message of an article.

Develop skills in critically evaluating and analysing newspaper content, examining key components such as headlines, layout, images, and text to understand how meaning is constructed.
Understand how to identify and analyse potential bias or framing, considering newspapers’ potential influences and the effect these could have on the reader’s interpretation.
Recognise the importance of considering a newspaper’s target audience when analysing its content, as the choice of stories, language, and presentation can vary greatly depending on the intended readership.