HOW IS THE NEWS PRESENTED? ANALYSIS OF ARTICLE LAYOUT Copyright © Digital Explorer 2010 This resource may be reproduced for educational purposes only. A resource by: MEDIA EDUCATION – LESSON 2

MASTHEAD – contains the name and logo of the newspaper and other details such as date, website and price

BYLINE – shows the name(s) of the journalist who has written the article. Some bylines show a picture of the journalist too.

HEADLINE – the name given to the title of an article. When it is written in large letters on the front page, it can be known as a ‘splash’.

STANDFIRST – the first paragraph of an article in bigger text. It normally summarises the rest of the article

STRAPLINE – is a second headline or title that gives more of an idea about what an article is about

BODY COPY – the main text of an article. It is written in a series of paragraphs and normally laid out over a number of columns

ART – the collective name used for images, whether they are photos, maps or diagrams

CAPTION – information given under a photo, map or diagrams

SIDEBAR – additional information on the topic that doesn’t fit in main article. Often this is background information to give more context.

ANALYSING THE MASTHEAD The masthead tells you which paper you are reading and also the date of publication. Knowing the title of the newspaper. This is because each newspaper has different views and political ideas. Daily Express: right wing middle –market tabloid Daily Mail: right wing middle-market tabloid Daily Mirror: traditionally left-wing tabloid Daily Telegraph: traditional Conservative broadsheet Financial Times: leading international business newspaper with a global outlook The Guardian: liberal / left-wing quality broadsheet The Independent: daily liberal broadsheet with wide international coverage The Sun: tabloid known for sensational headlines and has varying political allegiance (currently Conservative) The Times: slightly Conservative quality broadsheet

ANALYSING THE HEADLINE & STRAPLINE The headline is what attracts the reader to an article. The headline is written by the editor or sub-editor, and not the journalist who writes the rest of the article. If the article is large and across the front page, it is know as a ‘splash’. A strapline or second headline may also be used to provide extra information or to persuade people to read the article.

ANALYSING THE BYLINE The byline tells you who has written the article. Are the journalists specialists? Have they written about similar topics before? Bylines sometimes tell a little bit about the journalist. For example it might say, James Chapman, Political Editor. Then you know that the person writing the article is a politics specialist.

ANALYSING THE POSITION Where in the newspaper is the story? The most important news story is on the front cover. Sports is usually at the back. In the middle are other news stories, opinion pieces, feature articles, business articles and other information such as a TV guide and the weather.

ANALYSING THE ART What art has been used to support the article? Was it a photo, graphic or map? How does the art help us understand the topic being written about? Why do you think this particular piece of art was used? Why was this caption chosen?

ANALYSING THE SIDEBAR Has a sidebar been used to support the article? How does the sidebar help us understand the topic being written about? Why do you think this particular sidebar was used? Why was this title chosen?