Ultp newspapers & other media texts

Using Language to Persuade - Unit 1 Â

Newspapers and other Media text Newspapers and television news programs are traditionally the two most popular sources of information about news and current events. Radio news is another important source of this information. However, more and more people are now accessing news on the Internet. Online versions of newspapers are the most popular online sources of news, but blogs and social networking sites are becoming increasingly important in the creation and distribution of information about society, politics and significant events.

Print versus online newspapers Most major newspapers have an Internet presence. However, the version of the newspaper that appears online is often quite different from its print equivalent. The table on the following page shows some of the main differences between print and online newspapers.

PRINT

ONLINE

Content cannot change once printed.

Content changes; stories are updated and developed throughout the day.

Uses cartoons, illustrations (e.g. graphs) and photographs.

Has many images, and may also include video footage and photo galleries.

Each day features a specific supplement, e.g. TV guide, entertainment guide or a home improvement lift-out.

No supplementary sections, but often provide auxiliary (supportive) content such as blogs, forums, links or related articles.

Articles appear in full under their headline, though front-page stories are sometimes concluded on a later page.

The reader must click on a headline or image to see the full article. The home page is dominated by images and headlines.

VCE ENGLISH UNIT 1&2

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Using Language to Persuade - Unit 1

Newspaper text types The table below shows the different forms in which news is presented in newspapers.

TEXT TYPE FRONTPAGE STORY

PURPOSE

STYLE-TABLOID

STYLE - BROADSHEET

• Simple clear language • A number of images or a large image that dominates the page

• More complex language • Detailed stories • Balanced and considered viewpoints

NEWS • To present the news as factually as possible REPORTS

• Simple clear language • Can present a viewpoint on the story

• Clear language • More complex language and attempt to show different viewpoints

OPINION • To present a popular viewpoint on a current issue ARTICLES

• Strongly persuasive • Direct simple language

• Persuasive • Social and political subject matter • Use of evidence • More sophisticated language

• Persuasive • Short and to the point

• Persuasive • Vary in length • Written in a more balanced way

• To announce the most important story of the day • To grab the attention of potential buyers

LETTERS TO • To give a clear point of view on an issue THE EDITOR EDITORIALS

• To clearly state the paper's official position on an issue • To provide a moral stance on issues

FEATURE • To inform on an issue • To present various view points ARTICLES • To give extensive coverage of a subject PHOTOGRAPHS CARTOONS

• To attract attention • To add information or provide evidence • To illustrate the emotional content of the story

• Persuasive • Encourages the public to agree with the paper's stance on an issue • Often presents one viewpoint convincingly • Uses a number of images • High quality writing • Eye-catching • Adds to the persuasive power of the article

• Persuasive • Expresses one viewpoint with evidence • Sophisticated language • Provides a moral position • Openly or subtly persuasive • Considers both sides of an argument • Longer articles • High quality writing • Same as tabloids

• Present a point of view with humour • To provide insightful comment on current issues with • Highly persuasive • Same as tabloids humour • Text and image work together to make a point

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Using Language to Persuade - Unit 1 Â

Headlines Headlines summarise the point of the article in as few words as possible. Generally speaking, broadsheets opt for longer, more detailed headlines, while tabloids use short, succinct headlines. To attract the reader's attention, the editor creates headlines that use a number of persuasive techniques such as emotive language, alliteration, assonance, sensationalism, puns (plays on words) and humour.

Look at the list of headlines below. Can you identify which headlines are from The Age and which are from the Herald Sun? Explain your choices. Answers are at the bottom of the page.

1. 'A winner, a loser and a damaged tournament' 2. 'Pokies gorge on pension bonus' 3. 'Pink power proves a record-breaker with 12th show announced' 4. 'Victory seals top-two finish' 5. 'Killer nurse in our hospital' 6. 'Heath's glory can't diminish the pain' 7. 'Gaza destruction heartbreaking: UN chief’ 8. 'Tennis turns ugly' 9. 'Afghan refugees granted asylum' Find a headline from the list that uses alliteration and complete this sentence: The headline ___________________________ uses alliteration which has the effect of______________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Find a sensational headline: The headline ___________________________ is sensational, creating the impression that ___________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Feature articles Feature articles provide background to a specific issue in the news. They present various viewpoints and give an indepth discussion of an issue. Feature articles often use more expressive language than the objective, fact-only language style used in other types of newspaper articles. They are carefully constructed and include interviews, personal anecdotes and well-researched evidence.

VCE ENGLISH UNIT 1&2

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Using Language to Persuade - Unit 1 Â

Exercise.

Analyse 'Video games kill driving skills' 1. Do you think the feature article above provides a balanced account of the issue of young drivers being adversely affected by video games? Why or why not?

Find three pieces of evidence from the article to support your answer. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

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Using Language to Persuade - Unit 1 Â

2. How does the layout and presentation of the article engage the reader's interest? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

3. Why has the photograph been included in the article? What is its effect on the reader? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

4. Write a paragraph outlining your own position on the issue of whether driving games affect young drivers _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

News reports News reports are objective, fact-based articles on social and political issues. Their aim is to be as balanced and objective as possible; news reports do not usually convey the writer's personal opinion or point of view. News reports may be structured around an individual's personal experience so readers will relate to the story: this is known as a 'human interest' angle.

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Using Language to Persuade - Unit 1 Â

Exercise.

1. Do you think the news article above is neutral on the issue of workers using Facebook during business hours? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

2. Give two examples of words or phrases used by the writer that suggest their point of view on the subject. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

3. What is the effect on the reader of the examples of persuasive language you selected? _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

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