BBC Bitesize Test (modern journalism)

https://www.bbc.com/bitesize/guides/zy4rfrd/test?0=a&1=b&2=a&3=b&4=c&5=c&6=b&7=a

Score = 7 out of 8

Why have newspaper sales declined?

In the past 20 years, media and technology and progresses so rapidly that already, the number of hard copy newspaper sales have gradually dropped. Print sales have declined for a number of reasons, the main reason being technology and social media. With things like Facebook, Instagram, snapchat, twitter etc… news can be spread much faster and to a significantly larger audience of both larger age groups and locations around the world. So social media on its own is a worthy reason to why newspaper sales have decreased.

Another reason to which newspaper sales has decreased is online News websites. Since the late 1980s and early 1990s news papers began setting up their own online databases and websites to host their newspapers on the internet. To the current day, nearly all tabloid and broadsheet companies own their own website alongside the hard copy of their paper. This is another reason behind actual newspapers having a lower sale rate over the last 20 years.

However, although there has been a decline in news 'print' circulation, social media and technology together have allowed major newspaper companies to broaden their audience and send their name/reputation around the world.

Having newspapers online makes it easier for anyone to read to latest stories and headlines. For example if anyone is unable to access a hard copy, they can find the whole paper online. Furthermore, this allows for news to reach a younger audience alongside grownups and 'old agers'. As a result of this, the world as a whole can be made more aware of any political, conflict or citizen related news. Online news websites also provide other services beside articles and headlines, such as interactive features for all audiences and sub categories for all ethnicities, genders and interests (which can't always be found in a printed issue). Online newspapers overall seem more appealing than a printed copy, both pricewise and accessibility. Furthermore, television and the internet have enabled news to reach the consumer much faster and at a lower daily/weekly/annual price. This has also resulted in large newspapers like 'The Guardian, The Sun and The Daily Mail to lose revenue and subscription fees. This, alongside adverts, is the traditional main profit source for such companies. Online news and media requires much less to no payment at all, making newspapers seem like an added and now unnecessary expense in everyday life.

According to the BBC, some newspapers have declined by up to 28% since 2013.

According to the Guardian newspaper (Objective), the Daily Express for example sold an average of 391,626 each day in December 2016, which was 2.3% lower than the same month a year before.

Another example is the Daily Mail, which has a 'year on year' decrease in sales by 6.7%. Yet another case involving the "market leading" Sun, which sold 10.5% less in 2017 than it did 2016.

These statistics only support the fact that since the ever-improving online news websites have established, sales of hard copy newspapers have increasingly declined… and will undoubtedly continue to do so. 

The Guardian news values and target audience

- Traditionally, The Guardian focuses its attention towards a left-wing and middle class audience (any age above 18). The Guardian does well at including most cultures and ethnicities in its content/audience.

The Guardian is renowned for providing factual content and prompt updates (especially online) throughout its articles. As the target audience leans towards left-wing, the Guardian is mostly Objective (articles are not opinionated). However it does still provide an 'opinions' section in the paper.

- Since 2013, the number of visitors to 'The Guardian Online' has decreased from an average of 10,049 (2013) to 7,060 (2017)

The online mail viewing statistics for 2018: Female = 51%  /  Male = 49%

Daily Mail news values and target audience

- The Daily Mail is specifically aimed at an older target audience (50s and over). Statistically, females tend to use an online version of the mail, however males prefer a hard copy of the paper.

Online Mail viewing Statistics: Female = 51%   /   Male = 49%
Average online viewing time per person = 50 minutes

There are 3 Versions of this particular paper:
- Daily Mail
- Mail on Sunday
- Online Mail

The Daily Mail is renowned for being obsessed with the royal family (on every occasion).
This particular paper is mainly right-wing and strongly supports Brexit. It regularly consists of opinionated views, however publicises environmental campaigns.

The Guardian Case Study

The Guardian was first published in 1821.

It's not driven by profit and doesn't have a commercial owner - Scott trust

- Hoping to break even this year for the first time ever.

- Have reached 1 million subscribers this year.

- Hoping to break even this year for the first time ever. (2018)]

- Created a positive actions scheme to encourage ethnic minorities to break down barriers

  as the decision makers are white, male Oxbridge 'Home Counties types'.

- Proud of their Windrush coverage which was initially just one story and then grew to the extent that Amber Rudd had to resign. 

- Osama Bin Laden wrote a column in the Guardian as a one off.

- Wikileaks and Ed Snowden story gained recognition abroad.

Newspaper Industry Research

 Who owns the Newspapers

1. In the Executive Summary on page 2, paragraph 4 the overview identifies that: ‘today’s aggregate advertising expenditure and net circulation figures equate to about half of their 2007 value.’ Bullet point why you think this is the case.

   Answer

   
   
2. On page 7, the market structure is analysed using data provided by the ABC. Who are the ABC and why is their data collection so important for newspaper owners and advertisers?

   The ABC is the American Broadcasting Company...
3. On pages 17-18, paragraph 2.14 the overview identifies the circulation figures of Sunday newspapers. Thinking about your set products and audience consumption, why do you think Sunday newspapers have traditionally sold more copies than their daily counterparts?

   Answer
4. What are the leading broadsheet, tabloid and mid-market tabloids in terms of circulation? What are their daily circulation figures?

   Answer
5. Think about The Guardian and the Daily Mail - describe their position in the marketplace.

   Answer
6. On page 12, the overview discusses how The Guardian is ‘owned by the Scott Trust, a private company whose core purpose is ‘to ensure the financial and editorial independence of The Guardian.’ How can this be linked with the news values of the newspaper?
7. In terms of digital distribution, what do you think has been more important to the brand identity of national newspapers, the online website or App mobile platforms?
8. On pages 25-26 the decline in ‘trust’ in newspapers is identified. Who is the offline and online regulator of the newspaper industry and how effective do you think they are in ‘policing’ the industry?
9. On page 37, ownership of newspaper industry via mergers is charted form 2007 to 2018. What are the three reasons given as tow wy consolidation has helped newspapers as a declining media form?
10. On page 45, how are platforms like Buzzfeed, Vice Media and The Huffington Post (The Huff Post) seen as a challenge to traditional newspaper industry online platforms?
    https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/720400/180621_Mediatique_-_Overview_of_recent_dynamics_in_the_UK_press_market_-_Report_for_DCMS.pdf

George Gerbner

George Gerbner's Cultivation Theory (The drip drip effect)

The repetition of images, stories etc... being to shape our beliefs. Below are stereotypical images surrounding these particular 'titles'.

Teenagers - Moody, lazy

Muslims - Religious, terrorism

Gypsies - Pikeys, dirty, cheating society

Americans - Fat, stupid, patriotic

Doctors - Safety, clean, well-educated

Girls from Essex - Orange, fake, chavvy

Online Newspapers: Advantage and Disadvantages

Online Newspapers have both Advantages and Disadvantages. These are listed below:

Advantages:
- More Accessible
- No payment needed (normally)
- Clear format/layout
- Can find any newspaper you desire
- Reaches more customers
- More interactive
- Daily Telegraph, Financial Times, The Times
  (You have to pay for these, so the free ones may reach younger generations)
- Saves trees
- Easier to share
- Portable/no waste
- Latest live updates
- More interactive

Disadvantages:
- Might not have internet
- Bad for environment
- Online adverts popping up
- Irrelevant and possibly false content

Broadsheets and Tabloids

A tabloid is normally full of opinions, and is crammed full of as many stories possible. The majority of these stories are ‘Soft News’ consisting of Sport, entertainment, fashion, celebrities, art and culture etc… . The layout of a Tabloid is less formal than a broadsheet, consisting of many colours, pictures and large fonts.

The font used for ‘The Sun’ logo is TheAntiqua Sun. Stories on the front cover are also written in larger font size, aiming to entice the reader inside the paper for the rest.

The Sun, for example, has multiple large pictures filling the front cover, one usually a celebrity, then a main ‘scandal’ and finally one or two side stories that aren’t relevant.

A broadsheet is usually the less opinionated paper and contains a larger amount of text on the front cover. The fonts used for The Guardian’s title is the original ‘Guardian Egyptian font’. Fonts used for front cover stories are also smaller, allowing more story to fit.

Broadsheets are the more objective papers and write about Hard News (politics, world news, conflict/war, crime etc…).

The layout of Broadsheets is also more formal. It consists of one main story on the front cover, surrounded by smaller yet still important news and photos.

Broadsheets are also typically less dramatic/colourful visually.

Comparison of 'The Papers'

Comparisons: