The Mirror and The Times: Analysis

Analyse the following covers in terms of how the technical codes (main image, headline, pull quote, etc) persuade the audience to buy the newspaper and how the audience is being persuaded to respond to the main news story. Consider issues of iconography, binary depositions and semiotics. 

Daily Mirror- The newspaper has chosen to tie its main close-up image to iconography that represents American values through the Statue of Liberty. In this way, along with the mono-syllabic headline "What have they done?" the Daily Mirror emphasises the negative consequences of Trump's election. There's a contrast between what the image represents, bold liberty and how it is being represented, despaired. As according to Barthes' semiotics, the audience will be able to form meaning from their associations with the main image, which accompanied with the dark and shadowy background suggests an apocalyptic future. The subheading invites the reader to look inside as the readers are directly addressed ("what it means for you and the world") In this way the issue of importance is brought up, as the second headline, continuing the same bleak theme, is an accident that occurred in Britain, therefore in more proximity to the readers in Britain than an American news story, however as the sub-heading suggests the election will have consequences even to non-Americans ("you and the world") Therefore, readers are more likely to respond to the jump line and read on. 

The Times- The Times has iconography in the background of its main medium-shot image, with the American flag representing the country's values once again, however, in this front cover it is represented in a less negative way. The body language, with Trump's fist up and the vice-president's clap, suggest an emotive response, which along with the headline "the new world" shows a contrasting view of the consequences of the US election, as this 'new world' could be either good or bad. The pull-quote "You will be so proud of your President, you will be so proud" shows the recently elected Trump appealing to Americans. The repeated statement evokes patriotism, a value expected due to who they represent, Conservatives; the patriotism is not only suggested through the language of Trump's words but also his clothing, a red tie that along with Pence's blue tie lead back to the American flag. The constant utilisation of this iconography will capture the reader's attention as they will engage with the image as it holds cultural significance and it will have meaning to them through associations they make (semiotics).
Headlines, strapline, stand-first, by-line, stand-alone, slogan, central image, NIB/ sidebars, jump line, masthead, pull-quotes, adverts, puffs

Analyse which factors make up the news agenda (threshold, unexpectedness, elite nations/ persons, negativity, unambiguous, personalisation, proximity, continuity) are being considered in the choice of the cover story. 

Despite the different angle of coverage of the news story both newspapers take the same factors into consideration (1965 Galtung and Ruge's news values)

The Daily Mirror's front cover enhances the negativity through its two stories, a tram crash and the US 2016 election results. Given the unexpectedness of the results the news value of proximity is ignored, so even though the tram happened in the UK America's news story is given preference in order to maximise sales. Furthermore, the newspaper makes sure the audience doesn't feel ignored by directly addressing them ("what it means for you") including the threshold value.

Basic industry information

Tabloid or broadsheet? Tabloids generally contain more images, and its headlines often play on shock value and sensationalisation for a wider audience. Broadsheets generally tend to be more informative (covering more political and international news unlike tabloids) and have a more serious tone.

Tabloid (Red Top, popular press): Sensationalist, gossip and scandals, patriotic, concerned with national 'British' issues 

Broadsheet: Educated, middle to upper class, serious news, politics, more likely to have informed opinions and an open mind, international and not just national issues
Ownership? The Mirror: Reach plc (one of Britain's biggest newspaper companies) 

The Times: News UK, Times Newspapers Ltd. (British newspaper publisher + subsidiary of American mass media conglomerate News Corp)

Political bias? The Mirror- left-wing; The Times- right-wing. It means the newspaper is likely to hold values similar to its end on the political spectrum and not support political leaders from the opposite party.

IPSO (Independent Press Standards Organisation) is responsible for the regulation of the content of British newspapers. It considers complains from newspapers and magazines with IPSO membership. Also, complains made under the Editor's code.