the times (conservative UK newspaper)

relevant for sections A and B

focus areas for A level component 1: media products, industries and audiences? (5 points)

• media language

• representation

• media industries

• audiences

• media contexts

general information about the times and its owners? (2 points)

• ‘quality’ broadsheet

• published by times, subsidiary of news UK owned by news corp)

other newspapers published by news corp? (3 points)

• sunday times

• the sun

• the sun on sunday

the political alignment of the times? (3 points)

• typically neutral

• conservative during general elections

• politically diverse journalism

give some political context for this feb 2022 issue of the times.

focuses on partygate (conservatives partying during COVID lockdown) first reported in nov 2021.

which demographic does the times try to target? how do they act on this goal? (2 points)

• ABC1, with cultural capital and a taste for detailed analysis

• targeted through the paper’s values, stories and representation

how does this front page reinforce the themes associated with the times? (2 points)

• unbiased news, including both labour and conservative parties

• lifestyle segment broadens appeal

readership stats? 3 points

• 844,000 mon-sat

• 1,077,000 print on saturdays

significance of the times’ digital presence?

adapting to current tastes