How story selection and treatment is influenced The Guardian and The Sun

Newspaper Structure The Sun is a compact tabloid Newspaper. The Guardian a broadsheet. (Changed to a compact recently). The Sun usually opts for a large and bold headline. The Guardian tends to have a far smaller and less bold headline, allowing for more of the lead story to be printed on the front page. The Guardian’s masthead appears as a band across the top of the front page.

Ownership The Guardian has been owned by Scott Trust Limited since 1936. The trust was previously dissolved and then reformed in 1948. In 1992, The Trust stated its central objective as being "To secure the financial and editorial independence of The Guardian in perpetuity: as a quality national newspaper without party affiliation; remaining faithful to its liberal tradition; as a profit- seeking enterprise managed in an efficient and cost-effective manner."

Ownership The Sun is owned by News UK, wholly owned by Rupert Murdoch’s News Corporation. When it was taken over by its current owners in 1969, it became a tabloid newspaper. Murdoch had a thirst for wealth, with politics as a secondary interest.

Political Affiliation Britons view The Guardian as heavily left leaning. However, the Guardian intends to remain neutral, and claims it has supported ‘all three political parties’ in its time. The Sun’s political stance is made firm by Rupert Murdoch’s affiliation with the Conservatives. The Sun are seen as one of the most right wing newspapers in the UK. They did support Tony Blair’s labour party in the past.

How this affects story treatment The Sun heavily supported British intervention in Iraq in 2003. The editor of the Daily Mail said, “I’m not sure that the Blair government – or Tony Blair - would have been able to take the British people to war if it hadn’t been for the implacable support provided by the Murdoch papers. There’s no doubt that came from Mr Murdoch himself.” This contrasts with The Guardians neutral and objective stance on British intervention. “There are good - and bad - arguments for and against military intervention. And there are some on both sides who have relied on weak and intellectually dishonest positions to further their own cause.”

Newsroom Culture – The Sun With The Sun’s history of controversy, it is well known that their journalists are under contestant pressure to find exclusives. Ex-editing manager Graham Dudman admitted fiddling with expenses, claiming it was ‘common practice’ within the newsroom. Murdoch does not dictate orders to his editors, as his political views are so well known already. “We pay cash for stories”.

Newsroom Culture – The Guardian Based on the nature of The Guardian’s reporting, we can estimate that their newsroom is under a lot less pressure than The Sun’s. The Guardian have more of an allowance for opinion within their newsroom, therefore we imagine a newsroom which involves discussion and debate. The fact that The Guardian is owned by a trust fund, rather than an individual, allows it to be less dictatorially run.

Target Readership –The Sun The Sun aims at a C2/D/E readership, although they do attempt to aim at the full scope at readers. Their newspapers usually consist heavily of celebrity news, and also has a large sport section which is aimed at the male readers. Their advertising also aims directly at the working class, with heavy focus on fashion and celeb news, aimed at middle/lower class women. The Sun focuses its stories based on what it thinks its readers want to see.

Target Readership –The Guardian The Guardian seems to aim at an A/B/C1 audience, targeting a higher class than The Sun. This is evident from the advertising in their newspaper, with adverts for more high end products. Their writing has a sophisticated tone, with a focus on current affairs and business news.

Conversion to Online News The Guardian dealt well with the conversion to online news, by having no pay wall. They set up a subscription to The Guardian which readers can sign up for, to help keep the newspaper running. The Sun previously had a paywall in 2013, only to remove it in 2015. The Sun is less concerned with money made from online news, as it achieves a lot more print sales than The Guardian.

Summary We clearly see how Murdoch’s editors and journalists are aware of his aims in terms of money and political alignment. With a drive for wealth, and politics as a secondary interest, the newsroom of The Sun goes to all ends to get their story. The Guardian having a more generally open range of viewpoints, which is linked to with them being owned by a trust fund, rather than an individual. This makes us understand The Guardian's open and objective nature, contrasting with The Sun’s aggressive, gritty and scandalous nature – which translates through to their stories.