Thursday, 23 March 2023

Q3 - 2020 - POLITICAL CONTEXT

EXAMPLE QUESTION: 2020

EXPLAIN HOW POLITICAL CONTEXTS INFLUENCE INDIVIDUAL PRODUCERS WITHIN THE NEWSPAPER INDUSTRY. REFER TO THE GUARDIAN AND THE DAILY MAIL TO SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER [10]

INTRO

Individual newspapers may be influenced by a variety of political contexts: from the political bias of individual publications, to the ideology of the target audience, to the influence of ownership. The Daily Mail’s messaging is right wing, but seems to be influence by audience engagement more than external political forces. The Guardian is perceived as left wing, but it seems to be influenced more by journalistic integrity than political bias. 


Paragraph 1: By applying reception theory we can see how the ideology of readers can influence the political output of a newspaper. 
  • The Daily Mail would likely argue that its stridently right wing response to Brexit is in service to its middle class readership. 
  • The Guardian's seems to be more concerned with journalistic integrity than with a political agenda but still clearly has a left wing bias.
EVIDENCE

Paragraph 2: Curran and Seaton would argue that ownership is the most significant factor influencing media industries. We might expect the political ideology of the owner to impact the output of individual newspapers.

  • The Guardian  is owned by The Scott Trust  -  No Billionaire Owner  - means that they are free from the ideological influence of an owner. (Their priority is journalistic integrity).
  • Daily Mail - DMGT is owned by the 4th Viscount Rothermere - We might expect him to be right wing given the output, but evidence implies otherwise.
  • We could bring in Hesmondhalgh, suggesting that Paul Dacre's position is to excite audience engagement.

EVIDENCE

Viscount Rothermere: The Lord of Middle England | The Independent | The Independent

Chatham and Clarendon Media Studies Blog: - THEORY - MEDIA INDUSTRIES (chsmediastudies.blogspot.com)  (P.50 - P.94)


Paragraph 3: There are times when The Daily Mail and The Guardian go against the party political contexts that we have come to expect of them. 

  • January 5th 2021 - Lockdown - Reversal of Approach to Conservative Government
  • Guardian praises Mail for its approach to the Stephen Lawrence case.
  • Guardian's opinion editorial allows for condemnation of Corbyn.

EVIDENCE

- Lockdown 2 

Daily_Mail_5_1_2021_400.jpg (398×520) (thepaperboy.com)

Eq66vsNW4AQHsj6 (965×1200) (twimg.com)

- Stephen Lawrence (Daily Mail)

 2AFA75AA00000578-3180644-image-a-39_1438296976376.jpg (634×837) (dailymail.co.uk)

Stephen Lawrence case: How killers were finally brought to justice | Daily Mail Online

Stephen Lawrence's parents thank Daily Mail for 'going out on a limb' | Daily Mail | The Guardian

- Jeremy Corbyn (Guardian)

Corbyn sabotaged Labour’s remain campaign. He must resign | Phil Wilson | The Guardian

 

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