Second Page Layout

This is the layout of my second page of the newspaper. Inside you will usually find the continuation of the main headline from the front and a couple of smaller stories that will be told in full. If the main headline didn’t include an image on the first page, it is usually because it is a major piece of news that doesn’t require one. It will most likely be on the inside page. Unlike national newspapers, there may be a strip on the page that gives information for locals to get in contact with news and stories. Because local papers operate on a much smaller scale they are able to do this.

The name I have decided on for my newspaper is ‘The Lakes Gazette’. I obviously had to include the name of the area so the audience knows where the paper is focused. I made a list of other names that I considered to use:

·         The Cumbria Messenger

·         The Lakes Daily

·         The Lakes Tribune

·         The Furness Gazette

·         The Lakes Chronicle

·         The Cumbria Prophet

After asking more people, the feedback seemed most positive for “The Lakes Gazette” rather than the others, and I personally liked it the most, so this is the name I have decided to use.

First Page Layout - Draft

This is the draft for how I want my first page to look. Like most local papers there is room for advertising local businesses and sections that show that there is information about events that is crucial to a local paper as it means that people can get involved with their community (which again fuels the paper).

Getting the balance and symmetry correct on the front page is important as it is what people form a first impression of your paper from. The image is the main focus of the page as it is usually the most vibrant thing on the page. This is why I have placed it in the centre, as this is usually where we look first. The other sections have to be mirrored, so that the balance is kept. For example the masthead and strip beneath it are equalled with the advertisement at the bottom. The strip along the side is mirrored with the space opposite it. Keeping it organised is also a sign of professionalism and sets up a rough narrative - an order in which the paper should be looked and read.

Target Audience

Target Audience

The target audience of a newspaper is the most important aspect of putting it together. Without a target audience you cannot build up the language, style, content, etc. as you have no one to suit it to. A target audience is the main group/type of person that you will be aiming your product at. To do this I need to come up with an idea of the type of person I will be aiming for and how I can use this to tailor my newspaper to represent my target audience.

My target audience firstly will be aimed more at adults, roughly anyone over the age of 18. This isn’t to say that anyone younger couldn’t read it as these people will make up a secondary audience, but the content will not be orientated towards them.

Apart from the age range, I expect my audience to be educated and have an interest in the news. The class I would be aiming at would be working class and middle class, although I am not looking at being a middle class paper, similar to The Guardian. To do this I have considered the pricing of my paper. High end papers often pass the £1 boundary, but the local papers that I have looked at are not as cheap as tabloids (around 20 – 35p) and are around the 40p – 80p price range.

From looking at my local paper and others, the main topics are usually local politics, for example plans for the area, buildings or they are of public interest, which include stories such as accidents, fights, deaths etc. It is rare that a story is positive, much like any newspaper (negativity is one of the main criteria that fit how “newsworthy” something is according to studies carried out by Galtung & Ruge). Many connect more with negative stories because they can empathise, especially if they knew that this story was local and happened close by or possibly to someone they knew personally.

Links to information that I have read:

http://www.slideshare.net/osmithas/newspapers-target-audiences

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/News_values