Apologies, but I can't seem to put this images where I want!
According to the Guardian – ‘Politicians should stop sucking up to the tabloids It makes them look unprincipled and probably won't help them win elections either’
– is this just bitterness and rivalry between newspapers?
Looking at the graph (at top of blog entry!) – us Brits don’t seem as much as a ‘couch potato’ as the US!
Tabloids and ‘low budget entertainment closely link their work, it could be considered collaborative media coverage. This way the public get ‘double wammy’ and both succeed in gaining greater power and influence of our society.
Here is more food for thought:
The tabloids are highly influential, but to want extent are they telling us the truth? Typically the media, any form of media have an agenda; some social commentators have an agenda and pursue their agendas regardless of facts. In her article Demonised by the tabloid media, Terence Grange discusses the true agenda’s behind tabloids. (http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/about/CI/CP/the_edge/issue24/demonised.aspx)
“The tabloid newspapers and tabloid television and the hunt across TV channels for ever more CCTV footage demonstrating the fecklessness, violence and anti-social attitudes which prevail are clear evidence of two things; firstly, these things are happening and secondly, the tabloids, both press and media, are only too willing to show them. Is what they show evidence that modern youth has a problem, the problem being that modern youth is as pictured by the press and TV? Or is it evidence that the tabloid media has an obsession and is pursuing that obsession regardless of overwhelming evidence that what they show is the exception rather than the rule?”
Her writing demonstrates the high influence such media has in our country, and how much of it do we take literally and how much should we take with a pinch of salt? In this circumstance I consider the content in discussion, (teenagers in society today) a rather serious issue, but nevertheless is it a justice account that she is anaylsing. When the tabloid do decide to cover more serious issues, I believe they do not do it well, this is probably because they rarely cover ‘serious issues’ (in my eyes) so when they do it is merely their own obscured taking on the matter!
Here are some opinions of the media, taken from Yahoo comments:‘Its never the truth in the media, only what u wanted to hear’
‘The media is just a load of B******KS’
‘I love the media, I love juicy gossip’
Books such as Tabloid Prodigy: Dishing the Dirt, Getting the Gossip, and Selling My Soul in the Cutthroat World of Hollywood Reporting illustrate the role in which Tabloids play and the coverage they consist of. Tabloid press have a lot of power.
Here is another thought and evidence how much influence and the extent to which tabloids will go to to influence us – the death of Princess Diana - at the time tabloids were getting bad press because Princess Diana’s death was as a result of a car accident involving the paparazzi.
To conclude, if tabloids wish to present themselves informing the public of juicy, gossip and latest celeb news then is it their role to cover serious issues? Is this not what broadsheet newspapers and documentaries set out to do. The tabloids are aiming for different markets and if they were to cover serious issues then I believe that respectively their sales would drop! (I know I am being stereotypical – you might have guessed I am not a Sun reader!). Lastly, unfortunately I do believe that the media in general to hold far to much power and influence in this country, and with tabloid and ‘low budget entertainment’ popularity being greatest, the influence is not beneficial in my view. We are educating the people of our country with jargon! And not serious issues at all. However, it is up to the individual to seek their own form of education, and enlight themselves of the news that they wish to receive. It could eb argued that it is for this reason why we live in such an unsustainable, un manageable hooliganism world. However, it is going to take more that tabloid and ‘low budget entertainment’ coverage to change the greater problems that we face.
Most newspapers sold in the United Kingdom are tabloids. Only one broadsheet features in the top six selling newspapers of January 2009 (Audit Bureau of Circulations 2009).
1. The Sun 3,146,000
2. The Daily Mail 2,200,398
3. The Daily Mirror 1,366,891
4. The Daily Telegraph 783,210
5. The Daily Star 768,534
6. The Daily Mirror 736,340
The most watched television programmes in the United Kingdom have limited history of dealing with serious issues!
/e 8 Nov 2009
000's
1
THE X FACTOR RESULTS (SUN 1959)
15,003
2
THE X FACTOR (SAT 2000)
13,051
3
CORONATION STREET (MON 1932)
10,851
4
CORONATION STREET (MON 2029)
10,542
5
DOC MARTIN (SUN 2102)
10,285
6
CORONATION STREET (FRI 2029)
9,459
7
CORONATION STREET (FRI 1932)
9,164
8
CORONATION STREET (THU 2031)
8,601
9
EMMERDALE (MON 1900)
7,456
10
EMMERDALE (THU 2000)
7,379
so....To what extent do the best selling UK newspapers cover stories related to serious issues? To what extent would you think that it is their role to do so? In your opinion does the tabloid media and 'low budget entertainment' (reality shows, soaps) have too much power and influence in this country?
Firstly - What is considered a serious issue? This is a highly opinionated question in itself. For my little foster sister a ‘serious issue’ would be the fact that ‘Iggly-Piggle & Upsy Daisy soft toys’ have been recalled and are off the shelves due to the health and safety concerns of the buttons on their outfits, so she won’t be getting that for Christmas! Whereas for my dad a serious issue may be the falling interests rates of HSBC bank. When reading my thoughts about UK newspapers, media coverage, tabloids and TV please consider whether you have the same perception as me, because this is a highly controversial and opinionated subject in study.
The media is highly influential and has gained more power as it has become more established. According to McQuail (1969:2)’mass communications comprise the institutions and techniques by which specialized groups employ technological devices (press, radio, films, etc.) to disseminate symbolic content to large, heterogeneous, and widely dispersed audiences’. The mass media – particularly television – have become ‘the cultural epicentre’ of our world (Castells, 1996:336, 333). It has become part of our daily rountine to encounter the media and media production is now one of the largest and most lucrative industrial sectors in the global economy. Connel (1988) says media, particularly the TV have been credited with ‘fabulous’ powers to change people and have been blamed for contributing to most social ills. This fact does not bode well especially as the most newspapers sold in the United Kingdom are tabloid, commonly know for not being compiled of intellectual discourse!
Below is a list of what Wikipedia claim to be Newspapers focused on serious journalism
Broadsheet format
Daily
The Daily Telegraph (est. 1855) – owned by David and Frederick Barclay – Conservative
Financial Times (est. 1888) – owned by Pearson PLC. A business-oriented daily. Economically liberal.
Sunday
The Sunday Telegraph (est. 1961) – owned by David and Frederick Barclay – Conservative
The Sunday Times (est. 1822) – owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Centre-Right.
Berliner format
Daily
The Guardian (est. 1821) — owned by the Scott Trust; The Guardian switched to Berliner size on 12 September 2005. Left-of-centre, socially liberal
Sunday
The Observer (est. 1791) — owned by the Scott Trust; switched to Berliner size on 8 January 2006. Left-of-centre, socially liberal
Compact format
Daily
The Independent (est. 1986) – Daily compact from May 2004. Centre-left, liberal views.
The Times (est. 1785) – Daily compact from November 2004. Owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Centre-right, Conservative.
Sunday
Independent on Sunday (est. 1990) – Sunday paper compact from October 2005. Centre-left, liberal views.
But these papers are not the commonly read in the UK – tabloids are! The Sun itself even advertises its content as ‘Get the latest news and features at The Sun - Showbiz, TV, babes, celebrities, sport and racing, national and international news’ – in which news is mentioned last!
1. The Sun 3,146,000
2. The Daily Mail 2,200,398
3. The Daily Mirror 1,366,891
4. The Daily Telegraph 783,210
5. The Daily Star 768,534
6. The Daily Mirror 736,340
The most watched television programmes in the United Kingdom have limited history of dealing with serious issues!
/e 8 Nov 2009
000's
1
THE X FACTOR RESULTS (SUN 1959)
15,003
2
THE X FACTOR (SAT 2000)
13,051
3
CORONATION STREET (MON 1932)
10,851
4
CORONATION STREET (MON 2029)
10,542
5
DOC MARTIN (SUN 2102)
10,285
6
CORONATION STREET (FRI 2029)
9,459
7
CORONATION STREET (FRI 1932)
9,164
8
CORONATION STREET (THU 2031)
8,601
9
EMMERDALE (MON 1900)
7,456
10
EMMERDALE (THU 2000)
7,379
so....To what extent do the best selling UK newspapers cover stories related to serious issues? To what extent would you think that it is their role to do so? In your opinion does the tabloid media and 'low budget entertainment' (reality shows, soaps) have too much power and influence in this country?
Firstly - What is considered a serious issue? This is a highly opinionated question in itself. For my little foster sister a ‘serious issue’ would be the fact that ‘Iggly-Piggle & Upsy Daisy soft toys’ have been recalled and are off the shelves due to the health and safety concerns of the buttons on their outfits, so she won’t be getting that for Christmas! Whereas for my dad a serious issue may be the falling interests rates of HSBC bank. When reading my thoughts about UK newspapers, media coverage, tabloids and TV please consider whether you have the same perception as me, because this is a highly controversial and opinionated subject in study.
The media is highly influential and has gained more power as it has become more established. According to McQuail (1969:2)’mass communications comprise the institutions and techniques by which specialized groups employ technological devices (press, radio, films, etc.) to disseminate symbolic content to large, heterogeneous, and widely dispersed audiences’. The mass media – particularly television – have become ‘the cultural epicentre’ of our world (Castells, 1996:336, 333). It has become part of our daily rountine to encounter the media and media production is now one of the largest and most lucrative industrial sectors in the global economy. Connel (1988) says media, particularly the TV have been credited with ‘fabulous’ powers to change people and have been blamed for contributing to most social ills. This fact does not bode well especially as the most newspapers sold in the United Kingdom are tabloid, commonly know for not being compiled of intellectual discourse!
Below is a list of what Wikipedia claim to be Newspapers focused on serious journalism
Broadsheet format
Daily
The Daily Telegraph (est. 1855) – owned by David and Frederick Barclay – Conservative
Financial Times (est. 1888) – owned by Pearson PLC. A business-oriented daily. Economically liberal.
Sunday
The Sunday Telegraph (est. 1961) – owned by David and Frederick Barclay – Conservative
The Sunday Times (est. 1822) – owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Centre-Right.
Berliner format
Daily
The Guardian (est. 1821) — owned by the Scott Trust; The Guardian switched to Berliner size on 12 September 2005. Left-of-centre, socially liberal
Sunday
The Observer (est. 1791) — owned by the Scott Trust; switched to Berliner size on 8 January 2006. Left-of-centre, socially liberal
Compact format
Daily
The Independent (est. 1986) – Daily compact from May 2004. Centre-left, liberal views.
The Times (est. 1785) – Daily compact from November 2004. Owned by Rupert Murdoch's News Corporation. Centre-right, Conservative.
Sunday
Independent on Sunday (est. 1990) – Sunday paper compact from October 2005. Centre-left, liberal views.
But these papers are not the commonly read in the UK – tabloids are! The Sun itself even advertises its content as ‘Get the latest news and features at The Sun - Showbiz, TV, babes, celebrities, sport and racing, national and international news’ – in which news is mentioned last!
According to the Guardian – ‘Politicians should stop sucking up to the tabloids It makes them look unprincipled and probably won't help them win elections either’
– is this just bitterness and rivalry between newspapers?
In addition, analysis of the media power focuses on the growing popularity of the TV. The UK the average daily TV viewing time is 3 hours, according to OECD's “Communications Outlook 2007”, but this sounds a little unrealistic to me!- I double checked this with National statistics.gov.uk and they are coming up with complimentary figures, so I guess it must be right!
(sorry tried to include table from Office for National Statistics about Figures show the average time spent watching the television, video and DVD. but for some reason wouldn't let me copy and paste - if you are interested please find it on this website)
Looking at the graph (at top of blog entry!) – us Brits don’t seem as much as a ‘couch potato’ as the US!
Unfortunately a great proportion of viewing time is of ‘social’ programmes and not informative channels, such as documentaries. Which leads onto my next example:
X Factor viewing figures to top 12 million? The number of viewings reflects the popularity of the show, and then all the press afterwards shows its influence!
X Factor viewing figures to top 12 million? The number of viewings reflects the popularity of the show, and then all the press afterwards shows its influence!
Tabloids and ‘low budget entertainment closely link their work, it could be considered collaborative media coverage. This way the public get ‘double wammy’ and both succeed in gaining greater power and influence of our society.
Here is more food for thought:
The tabloids are highly influential, but to want extent are they telling us the truth? Typically the media, any form of media have an agenda; some social commentators have an agenda and pursue their agendas regardless of facts. In her article Demonised by the tabloid media, Terence Grange discusses the true agenda’s behind tabloids. (http://www.esrcsocietytoday.ac.uk/ESRCInfoCentre/about/CI/CP/the_edge/issue24/demonised.aspx)
“The tabloid newspapers and tabloid television and the hunt across TV channels for ever more CCTV footage demonstrating the fecklessness, violence and anti-social attitudes which prevail are clear evidence of two things; firstly, these things are happening and secondly, the tabloids, both press and media, are only too willing to show them. Is what they show evidence that modern youth has a problem, the problem being that modern youth is as pictured by the press and TV? Or is it evidence that the tabloid media has an obsession and is pursuing that obsession regardless of overwhelming evidence that what they show is the exception rather than the rule?”
Her writing demonstrates the high influence such media has in our country, and how much of it do we take literally and how much should we take with a pinch of salt? In this circumstance I consider the content in discussion, (teenagers in society today) a rather serious issue, but nevertheless is it a justice account that she is anaylsing. When the tabloid do decide to cover more serious issues, I believe they do not do it well, this is probably because they rarely cover ‘serious issues’ (in my eyes) so when they do it is merely their own obscured taking on the matter!
Here are some opinions of the media, taken from Yahoo comments:‘Its never the truth in the media, only what u wanted to hear’
‘The media is just a load of B******KS’
‘I love the media, I love juicy gossip’
Books such as Tabloid Prodigy: Dishing the Dirt, Getting the Gossip, and Selling My Soul in the Cutthroat World of Hollywood Reporting illustrate the role in which Tabloids play and the coverage they consist of. Tabloid press have a lot of power.
Here is another thought and evidence how much influence and the extent to which tabloids will go to to influence us – the death of Princess Diana - at the time tabloids were getting bad press because Princess Diana’s death was as a result of a car accident involving the paparazzi.
To conclude, if tabloids wish to present themselves informing the public of juicy, gossip and latest celeb news then is it their role to cover serious issues? Is this not what broadsheet newspapers and documentaries set out to do. The tabloids are aiming for different markets and if they were to cover serious issues then I believe that respectively their sales would drop! (I know I am being stereotypical – you might have guessed I am not a Sun reader!). Lastly, unfortunately I do believe that the media in general to hold far to much power and influence in this country, and with tabloid and ‘low budget entertainment’ popularity being greatest, the influence is not beneficial in my view. We are educating the people of our country with jargon! And not serious issues at all. However, it is up to the individual to seek their own form of education, and enlight themselves of the news that they wish to receive. It could eb argued that it is for this reason why we live in such an unsustainable, un manageable hooliganism world. However, it is going to take more that tabloid and ‘low budget entertainment’ coverage to change the greater problems that we face.
Good to see reference to a wide range of sources.
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