Y 11 Media Booklet Unit 1 Section B
Y 11 Media Booklet Unit 1 Section B: NEWS WEBSITES
Y 11 GCSE Media Studies – TV News & News Websites Section B – Thinking About The Media – Planning News SPRING TERM 2 - 2018 Lesson Content/tasks Theory introduced 1 - Introduction to News Websites Objective: to understand the growing importance of new media. Booklet task #1 comparing TV news with newspapers and news websites. Uses and Gratifications. 2 – Converging Media Objective: to understand how news media converges with different platforms. Booklet task #2 - answer questions based on converging media. Convergence, News Cycle. 3 – News Website Codes and Conventions Objective: to identify conventions of news websites. Booklet task #3 – annotate blank boxes with correct news website terms. URL/domain name, homepage, masthead, house style, navigation bar, subpages, lead stories, secondary stories, headline and copy, banner advert, ‘above the fold’ content… 4 – Analysing conventions of subpages Objective: to compare the conventions of a subpage with a homepage. Booklet task #4 – to identify the 5 W’s in subpage example. The 5 W’s. 5 – Representation in News Websites Objective: to interpret how each newsbrand represents class, gender and ethnicity with their own political stance on their website. Booklet task #5 – describe how C 4 News represents different groups in this lead story. Brand Identity (newsbrand), Ideology, news agenda. 6 – Audience demographics Objective: to identify who consumes which form of news media. Booklet task #6 – fill in demographics chart on news. Core terms: Demographics and target audience. High ability: psychographics, Hall’s Reception Theory and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. 7 – Designing your own webpage Objective: to create a webpage using the correct formatting conventions. Creative task – news website with Wix. com. Note: Refer to Lesson 3 Website codes. Resource: use sample stories/images provided. 8 – Mid-term assessment of progress Objective: to recap learning in preparation for an assessment. 1. Kahoot! Quiz 2. Complete booklet 3. Assessment Recap as much within the unit as possible.
Y 11 MEDIA – NEWS UNIT Topics Covered – TV News This Term’s Teaching – News Websites Historical context: BBC, ITV, C 4, Sky News – gatekeeping, regulation (Ofcom), remit. Converging New Media Hard News/Soft News Brand Identity PSB and Commercial News Websites News Values (Galtung and Ruge) The 5 W’s News types - National, global, regional, specialist, rolling news Theories applied - Uses and Gratifications Theory, Hall’s Reception Theory Mise-en-scene, visual codes and conventions of a News Programme Creating news websites News agenda and ideology (representation, bias) Demographics and Psychographics Comparing representations between news Tabloids and broadsheets packages - gender, race, age, class, nationality, faith, sexuality. Introduction to target audiences and demographics. Citizen journalism (user-generated content) – You. Tube, smartphone
Y 11 MEDIA – TV NEWS LEARNING RECAP QUESTIONNAIRE Topic of study The difference between public service and commercial broadcasting. The history of the BBC, ITV, Channel 4 and Sky News. The remit of the BBC. Galtung and Ruge’s News Values including Visual Imperative The difference between hard news and soft news. News types such as national, global, specialist and rolling news. The visual codes of a news programme such as direct address and medium shot (which are part of mise-en-scene). The differing representations of ethnicity, gender and class found on each news show. The ideology/agenda of each news producer. The differing demographics between Newsround and BBC News. The difference between right and left wing. The meaning of representation. I can identify and apply it in an exam response I think I know it but am not sure I can apply it I don’t know what this means and need to find out
Terminology #1 – TV News codes and conventions Categories Terms News Values Frequency, Threshold, Unambiguity, Proximity, Predictability, Unexpectedness, Continuity, Composition, Reference to elite nations, Reference to elite persons, Personalisation, Negativity, Visual Imperative, Consonance, Meaningfulness. News Types Regional, National, Global, Rolling, Specialist, Hard news/ Soft news, Public Service Broadcasting, Commercial, ‘Vox pops’, Interview, News Package, Outside Broadcast, Human Interest Story, Anchor/Studio Newsreader, ‘Newsbrand’. Also consider genre of broadcast: politics, economics, celebrity, sport, etc. Mise-en-scene Close up, medium shot, long shot, establishing shot, piece to camera, direct address, graphics, voiceover, diagetic/ non-diagetic, high angle/ low angle/eye level, pan/track/zoom, cut/dissolve/montage. News representation How is ethnicity, gender, class, faith and sexuality represented? What is the mode of address from anchors and correspondents? What is the ideology, bias and agenda of the news package? Is the broadcast ‘newsworthy and ‘in the public interest’? News audience Who is the programme aimed at – age, gender, class, race, faith, sexuality, profession? Consider specific demographics, psychographics, target audience. Higher level theory Hall’s Reception Theory (preferred/negotiated/oppositional), Uses and Gratifications Theory (cognitive, affective, tension release, social integrative, personal integrative).
Terminology #2 – TV News codes and conventions Categories Definitions/Terms Converging media Media convergence is defined as a form of cross-media co-operation, usually involving broadcast, print, photography and internet sites – how does TV news converge with the internet and social media in order to create ‘New Media’? The 5 W’s What is the story about? Who is the story about? (Who is involved? ) Where does this take place? When has this event happened? (Is it ongoing? ) Why has this taken place? (How has this happened? ) News Websites Codes and conventions – URL (uniform resource locator), homepage, masthead, house style, navigation bar, subpages, lead stories, secondary stories, headline and copy, multimedia elements, external links, social media links, banner advert, pop up advert, white space, ‘above the fold’ content. Citizen journalism User-generation content (prosumer) - analysis of news and information by the general public, especially by means of the Internet (You. Tube, Twitter, Facebook, smartphones, forums). Language features Emotive Language, Hyperbole, Fact, Opinion, Statistics, Alliteration, Metaphor, Imperative, Direct address, Informal, Formal, Pun, Exclamation, Superlative, Tone. Higher level theory Mediation, Barthes Enigma Codes, Todorov’s Narrative Theory, Levi-Strauss Binary Oppositions, Propp’s Characters, Mulvey’s Male Gaze Theory, Two Step Flow Theory.
1 - Introduction to News Websites Objective: to understand the growing importance of new media. Date: Name: Booklet task #1: comparing TV news with newspapers and news websites. 1. Does BBC News on TV have the same masthead on the website? 2. Name one similarity you can find between today’s BBC TV News and website headline. 3. Name one difference you can find between their TV and website content. 4. What differences in layout do you notice between today’s Guardian newspaper front page and their website homepage? 5. What differences in content are there between today’s Daily Mail newspaper and their website homepage? 6. Why do you think TV News programmes also have a webpage? 7. Why do you think that newspapers also have news websites? 8. What is the difference between a tabloid and a broadsheet newspaper? 9. Who are the demographics for a tabloid? 10. Who are the demographics for a broadsheet?
Converging Media News Websites – www. bbc. co. uk/news Social media – Twitter, Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram Media convergence is defined as a form of cross-media co-operation, usually involving broadcast, print, photography and internet sites. (Newspapers) How does TV news converge with the internet and social media in order to create ‘New Media’? Advertising Phone apps You. Tube
Converging Media Questions to consider: How easy are news websites to navigate? Why do news websites place certain stories at the top? Why are smartphone apps now used to share news? What gratifications do the audience receive from certain news websites or apps (Example 1: The Guardian, Example 2: Mail Online)? • What are the codes and conventions of a news webpage? • How successful are internet/app only news brands? (Huff. Post, Buzzfeed, You. Tube start-ups)? • How do the audience mediate content on news websites? • •
2 – Converging Media Objective: to understand how news media converges with different platforms. Date: Name: Booklet task #2: Answer these questions based on converging media. 1. There is this new form of media known as ‘citizen journalism’ (user-generated content where the audience become prosumers of news). What platforms are a citizen journalist likely to use and have their content published on? 4. After a random attack on the Houses of Parliament, Muslim women stood in solidarity with victims of the tragedy. What platforms could this visual imperative image be found on when this was front page news? 5. Name one difference between the Daily Mail newspaper and Mail Online in front page content. 2. Other than the TV version of BBC News, what other news platforms does the corporation use? 3. What does the term convergence mean in relation to Media Studies? 6. Newspapers have ‘below-the-line’ comments after news articles where users discuss and debate the article’s issues. Why is this trend growing?
Booklet task #2: Answer these questions based on converging media. News Cycle A news cycle deals with media reporting on a particular event by reporting on the issue, considering a range of viewpoints which will include the public’s point of view, reactions from worthies (experts, celebrities, elites in the AB demographic) in society and will evaluate other reports. These considerations can include a range of media platforms like e-mails, blogs, text messages, tweets and forum posts. Extension task: How does the news cycle relate to media convergence?
News website codes and conventions • • • URL/domain name Banner advert Masthead Lead stories Copy Layout - columns Dominant images Secondary images Search box • ‘Above the fold’ content • ‘Below the fold’ content • Graphics/illustrations • Interactive elements • Multimedia features • Flash elements • White space • Content convergence
Booklet Task #3: Annotate website visual codes 3 – News Website Codes and Objective: to identify conventions of news Conventions websites. Date: Name:
News website visual codes EXAMPLEANSWER Masthead Navigation bar – BBC site in general Layout – columns for secondary leads Search box Navigation bar Lead story – headline, copy, subpages Secondary leads – headings, subheadings, copy ‘Above the fold’ content. ‘Below the fold’ content. Feature article – film review (4/5 stars)
Booklet Task #3: Annotate website visual codes Search box
URL News website visual codes EXAMPLE ANSWER Banner advert Search box Navigation bar Masthead Secondary leads – secondary images, subpages Lead stories – dominant images, headlines Copy White space ‘Above the fold’ content. ‘Below the fold’ content. Layout – columns – topics in red, headline in black
Website Template Notice the use of columns, navigation bars, space for lead stories, the masthead, copy, secondary leads and images. With a template like this, will you be able to design an original news websites whilst using all the appropriate codes and conventions? Extension task: draw a news website front cover design featuring masthead, headline, main image, sub-headings and a navigation bar.
4 – Analysing conventions of subpages Objective: to compare the conventions of a subpage with a homepage. Date: Name: Booklet task #4: identify the 5 W’s in this subpage example. Headline: Manchester United’s Romelu Lukaku sinks Huddersfield despite VAR (Video Assistant Referee) chaos 1. What is the story about? 2. Who is the story about/who is involved? Caption: Romelu Lukaku warmed up for Manchester United’s Champions League trip to Sevilla by putting Huddersfield to the sword in the FA Cup. Columnist/date: Paul Wilson Sat 17 Feb 2018 19. 34 Paul Pogba missed this game through illness, leaving Manchester United to book their place in the last eight of the FA Cup without him. Thanks to Romelu Lukaku’s 20 th and 21 st goals of the season they managed it comfortably enough, the striker showing the value of possessing an accomplished goalscorer when chances are few and far between. Huddersfield could have done with a similarly potent spearhead, since for all their attacking intent they came up short in front of goal. With the benefit of an early lead United could afford to be economical, letting their opponents have most of the ball then hitting them effectively on the counter. The visitors were not at their swaggering best, yet the home side ended up grateful to a VAR call at the end of the first half for helping keep the scoreline respectable. 3. Where does this take place? 4. When has this event happened? Is it ongoing? 5. Why has this taken place? 6. How has this happened?
The 5 W’s EXAMPLE ANSWER • What is the story about? • Who is the story about/who is involved? • Where does this take place? • When has this event happened? Is it ongoing? • Why has this taken place? • How has this happened? In a surprise visit, The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh (WHO) today (WHEN) visited the studio set of the TV series ‘Games of Thrones’ (WHAT) during their 3 -day tour of Northern Ireland Belfast (WHERE). They were shown around the studios by the Mayor (HOW) to see the effect that the series had on local employment and opportunities (WHY). A convention of news reporting is to include the 5 W’s in the first paragraph or opening sequence of a news broadcast.
Extension task: identify the news website codes and conventions on this subpage.
5 – Representation in News Websites Objective: to interpret how each newsbrand represents different groups with their own political stance on their website. Date: Name: Booklet task #5: describe how C 4 News represents different groups in this lead story. Headline: May condemns Trump for retweeting anti-Muslim videos Date: 29 November 2017 News Anchor: Krishnan Guru-Murthy US Correspondent: Kylie Morris Website Correspondent: Paraic O’Brien URL: http: //www. bbc. co. uk/news/world-uscanada-42166663 Extension: what language features are used by the website correspondent which reveals the ideology of the news package? 1. How are the following groups represented in this news package: (a) Donald Trump and US Republicans (b) Theresa May and Conservative Party (c) Far-right group Britain First (d) Muslim people 2. What are the producers’ (Channel 4 News) intentions in these representations? 3. What verbal and visual codes reveal Channel 4 News’ ideology on the news package? 4. Why was this considered a lead story on 29 th November 2017? 5. How is this news package an example of converging media?
Brand Identity • • • Brand Identity consists of the visual elements of a brand. These include the colours, the logo design and the use of font style that together identify and distinguish the news programme in the audience’s mind. Brand reputation is developed over time with distinctive features based on its credibility. Ideology • • • The science of ideas. In other words, the views, attitudes, values and belief that the producer has. Each news outlet has a value system that they will express in representations – they can be quantified as left wing (socialist), centrist (liberal) or right wing (conservative). Each newsbrand sets its own agenda (which may aim to be impartial but will show bias in their representation of news). Active audiences are known to challenge representations whilst passive audiences are more likely to be ‘cultivated’ by propaganda.
Language features which can reveal the producer’s intentions and ideological agenda: • • • • Emotive language – emotionally fuelled language (often expressed in adjectives) Hyperbole – exaggeration for sensationalised effect. Facts and opinions – these can be combined to create a variety of effects. Statistics – detailed data can be persuasive in creating a point of view. Alliteration – “Amazing Arsenal” – an attention grabbing device used often on tabloids. Metaphor and simile – comparisons can create fantastical parallels. Imperatives – command verbs can create authority. For example: “Stop!”, “Go!” Direct address – confronts the audience and includes them in the discussion. Informal – this can create a relaxed tone (body language, slang, composition). Formal – this tone reinforces the idea that this issue is serious and requires a professional attitude when discussed. Exclamation – this can create shock, emphasis and increase the effect of an emotional response. Pun – play on words often used by tabloids. For example: “Roomania!” Superlative – another emphatic technique which is often emotive and hyperbolic. For example: “Britain’s Best Newspaper” Tone – mood and atmosphere can be created by a variety of methods. News programmes are often formal, intense and emotive when discussing hard news stories and are lacking to be more informal for soft news items.
6 – Audience demographics Objective: to identify who consumes which form of news media. Date: Name: Booklet task #6: create a demographic profile for the following news programmes: Demographics C 4 News Type National PSB? Yes Age group 35 -70 Gender Male/female Location National Class/ occupation Middle-to-upper Interests Politics/ hard news ABC 1 C 2 DE ABC 1 C 2 Ideology Liberal Newsround Sky News 24 The Guardian Metro The Sun Extension: choose one news programme and identify the following: Which psychographics classification does it appeal to? Which needs on Maslow’s hierarchy does it appeal to? Which reading of the programme do you receive (according to Hall’s Reception Theory) and why?
Demographics • • • A way to categorize audiences by age, gender, race and other categories. Demographics are broken into bands depending on peoples’ jobs or status (as shown in the table on the right). Demographics takes the idea of target audience to a more academic stage of analysis. Psychographics • • The study and classification of people according to their attitudes, aspirations, and other psychological criteria, especially in market research. Key classifications: - The Aspirer – core need in life is status. - The Reformer – core need in life is enlightenment. - The Explorer – core need in life is discovery. - The Mainstream – core need in life is security. - The Succeeder – core need in life is for control. - The Struggler – core need in life is for escape. - The Resigned – core need in life is to survive. Hall’s Reception Theory • According to Hall, audience members adopt one of the following three positions when decoding or responding to a media text: - Preferred reading – the audience understands the producer’s intended meaning to the text and responds favourably to it. - Negotiated reading – the audience accepts part of the producer’s views with a fairly positive response but has their own take on it as well. - Oppositional reading – when the audience rejects the preferred reading of the text and creates their own meaning.
Psychographics – Young and Rubicam’s Four Consumers Theory
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs Audiences have particular needs that media producers try to feed. Maslow created a hierarchy of needs – producers often appeal to higher tiers, particularly for the ABC 1 demographic:
7 – Designing your own webpage Objective: to create a webpage using the correct formatting conventions. Date: Name: Booklet task #7: Creative task – news website with Wix. com. Step #1: Create a homepage for a news site aimed at a younger 15 -24 year old demographic. - Devise a name for your news site. - List 3 stories that will appear. - Choose one story and explain why you have included it. Step #2: Design the homepage. Use the typical features of a website homepage. - Explain the layout. - How is brand identity established? - Explain how your webpage appeals to the target audience.
Summary of Assessment Objectives Grade Boundaries A* = 90% A = 80% B = 70% C = 60% D = 50% E = 40% F = 30% G = 20% 80 of 200 marks can be gained from the Unit 1 exam, 40 of these relate to Section B which we are studying this half term.
Overall grade descriptors
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