Creation of Masthead

 I will be using Adobe Illustrator to create the pages for my newspaper. I am able to use the tabloid setup on the program which allows me to scale the features on the page more easily.

Before creating the draft for my masthead, I looked at other examples of mastheads, including the local papers. I found that the sizes ranged on average between 18cm – 25cm, the average being around 21cm. This made it a lot easier towards creating it on the page and being aware of where I will be placing the puff, the images, etc.

Choosing the font meant I had to find one that was formal enough that it fit the idea and style of a newspaper, but not so much so that it came across as a higher brow paper like The Times. Local newspapers use serif fonts usually to keep the traditional feel of them intact and make the audience feel that the paper is reliable, as it doesn’t change. The red colour is usually a sign of the paper’s political stance (labour in the case of red). The area that I live in is predominately Labour so it is more fitting with the target audience. Also it is a bold colour that will catch the eye and it is more acceptable too as it is a primary colour and most widely used amongst newspapers.

The text around the main title I used sans serif text in bold. The main title is supposed to give the feeling of never changing/traditionalist, whilst the information around it is built upon constant change, as the date of the paper is never the same and the inclusion of a web address tells the audience that the newspaper is still trying to keep up with the times whilst not sacrificing anything.

 

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

Language of newspapers

Aside from graphology, language is the main way in which newspapers influence their audience.  The language however is dependent on the type of newspaper. For example tabloids are more likely to use dramatic, sensationalised language and occasionally hyperbole to hook the audience, which when combined with the graphology (images) can create whatever emotion the paper is aiming for.




 

For example, this excerpt from the Daily Mirror shows how blunt the language can be in newspapers. Some headlines can be sensitive for some, but this is the main aim of the paper – to create emotion within the reader and entice them to purchase the paper.

Opening the story is perhaps the most important part of the article, as this is where they need to hook the reader so that they will continue. They are succinct and will condense the main gist of the article down. These small opening paragraphs are often snappy and to the point and like the headline will try to grab attention.

The excerpt above shows an example. The first word seen is “Shocked”, which has bolded for added

emphasis. Already the reader will be intrigued. The inclusion of “Liz Hurley” is also hooking the reader as it we have a celebrity that has been “shocked”. Tabloids exist for this kind of purpose, insight into the lives of those we see on television everyday.  Word choice is also a big influence, “confronted”; “striking” and “screaming” all give the story a violent, chaotic tone. Stories with these sorts of themes are often topical as they are happening every day and both us as readers and the writers are drawn to negative topics more so than the positive.

(an example of an American study carried out over a 20 year period, showing ‘war’, ‘disaster’ and ‘crime’ were constantly popular topics in the news: http://pewresearch.org/pubs/574/two-decades-of-american-news-preferences)

Tabloids also strive to develop their relationship with the reader through synthetic personalisation. This is the use of personal pronouns, rhetorical and inclusive language to create trust and an almost friendship with the reader so they are more likely to absorb and take in the ideas and information the paper puts across. For example, saying “we are not happy” automatically includes the reader as though they are on board with what is being said. Rhetorical questions are a way of getting the reader to think about the story and invite them to state their opinion. Depending on how they are worded, they can sometimes lead the reader into the same state of mind as the writer.

Facts/statistics and personal stories are also used to do this. Facts and statistics are vital almost as people will trust them, especially if backed up by a professional (doctor, scientist, ect).  Personal stories are not common on main stories, but editorials and columns often include them as people often feel better about something knowing someone else has been in that situation.

Wordplay and wit are often used in headlines, for example:

This is usually used positively like the instance above, but it can be used to mock and make the story more scathing, particularly towards celebrities and politicians depending on public opinion. They inject humour and because they are informal, they again allow a connection to form between writer and reader.

Images Used:

http://www.politicshome.com/images/Dec_2010/Mirror_Dec14.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbdW4PDYeDikjOzUg9OBfpabqvIQ1XQ33ueJE8Wb4m_ceYtzDwwR2pS5pYGhe7S5p76u2urkaclS0u1-AQ2TAQ9FTCEHbIoHb5WyUHrpVulvH3V8FWBKr3gSI6OOs5HaQps0VF5mStbkgx/s1600/hurley.jpg

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo3clJjKOK0JxeA0TAu8EyYrVGfo06FNcIq5YtEnQLpMPtcfxhC4xD_poMK7cBTr1IFogUezajv1RpE5iJUaaPcJjoJTAhtsm3gfoXWiAwdQ8fLkwjvY5RsTqW45IeVlRUtHusz6IDuwzq/s400/ObamaWinsFrontPageUK

Comparison of newspapers from different countries.

I decided to compare some newspaper front pages from different English speaking countries to see if there were any major differences. I chose to look at broadsheets because I thought that the differences here may be more prevelant than those of a tabloid.

Sources for images:
Toronto Star (Canada):

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/4/47/Toronto_Star_frontpage.jpg

Washington Post (USA):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/interactivity/images/frontpage-1-13-950.jpg

The Times (UK):
http://www.bridgemanart.com/Media%20library/IMAGES/NEWS%20AND%20FEATURES/EN-GB/IMAGES%20IN%20ACTION/2010/TIMES-FRONT-PAGE.JPG

Sydney Herald (Australia):
http://geotypografika.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/sydney-paper.jpg

Timeline for Newspaper Brief

·         The first two pages of a new local newspaper, together with two of the following three options:

 

Timeline

July 2012:

·         Began to look into the conventions of a newspaper.

·         Collecting local newspapers, to compare the layout of each and see if they fit the conventions.

·         Analysing 3 local papers

September 2012:

·        Questionnaire from the analysis of local front covers to aid in the creation of your own (10 minimum).

·        Research into layout styles, fonts, editing, writing styles used in creating newspaper pages.

·        Research into ideology of newspapers – ideas, representations.

·        Info tree – synergy between newspaper, local companies, parent companies, job roles. Also separate one for national papers.

October 2012:

·         Sketches of the front cover and inside page layout, using information gathered from research.

·         Ideas for stories on the inside and front cover, name of paper.

·         Ancillary tasks – Radio advertisement & Poster for paper.

·         Gather/create images that will be used.

·         Drafts for pages.

November 2011:

·         Evaluation begun (see the tips and questions over the page)

·         Editing completed – end of month

·         Blog updated with all research and planning elements and the paper itself.