Daily Mirror Language & Representation: blog tasks

Language

1) Write the definition of the following key language for newspaper front pages (you may want to add an example for each from our Daily Mirror CSP):

Masthead: The title (main heading)
Pug: A promotional or significant message intended to draw the attention of the reader
Splash Head: The eye-catching headline that is often used for the main story
Slogan: Short and snappy phrase that encapsulates the brand
Dateline: Tells us the date of publication
Byline: Tells us the author of the article
Standfirst: Introductory paragraph of an article

2) What is the main story on the CSP edition of the Daily Mirror (see above)? Make sure you learn the headline and what the story is about.
Fujitsu post office scandal involving post office chief, Paula Vennells
3) What is the 'pug' or smaller celebrity story on the front cover? Why might it appeal to Daily Mirror readers?
Intrigues soft news readers with entertainment and gossip
4) Why is the choice of news stories, content and page design on the Mirror CSP front page typical of a tabloid newspaper?

Less text, more images, bold headlines and emotive language

5) What is the balance on the Daily Mirror front page between images, headlines and text?

Mostly images and headlines

Representations

1) What political party does the Daily Mirror support? Is there any evidence to support this in the CSP pages we have studied?

The Labour Party, due to their criticism of Conservative supporting companies (e.g. Horizon)

2) How does the Daily Mirror represent the Post Office in the CSP pages? Why do you think they present them in this way?

Daily Mirror portrays them as criminal and unlawful in order to reiterate their political stance and critique of Conservative 

3) How is Fujitsu represented in the Daily Mirror CSP pages? Look particularly at the use of images on the front cover and the section on Fujitsu on the inside page. Give detailed answers with evidence from the CSP pages.

Fujitsu is presented as criminal, scandalous and unjust due to the close-up camera shot image of Paula Vennells, intended to look like a mugshot, and the word "shameful" with big bold sans serif text under it, portraying her in a negative and criminal light

4) How are the Conservative Party represented in the Daily Mirror? Again, provide evidence from the CSP pages to support your answers.

The Conservative Party is presented as complicit in the scandal of Fujitsu (a Conservative-backing company) due to the close-up camera angle images of significant faces of the Conservative Party (e.g. Rishi Sunak and Liz Truss) that are intended to look like mugshots

5) Read the main articles on the inside pages. How are different people, groups and organisations represented in the Daily Mirror? Does this reinforce or subvert the stereotypes we usually see in the media?

The victims of the post office scandal are presented as innocent and completely ruined by the inconsiderate and selfish actions of Capitalist corporations, prioritising profit over people