"you Cannot Believe a Word You Read In Newspapers" Discuss

You cannot believe a word you read in newspapers.

Newspapers have been seen to be a reliable source since 1704, this was an American newspaper called the Boston newsletter. Britain’s population is around 60million, of these about 10 million read newspapers daily , and many million more read electronic newspapers. The amount of online newspapers created has doubled since 1999, and the amount of people viewing them has rose by a phenomenal 350%. I am going to analyse the statement that ‘’you cannot believe a word you read in newspapers’’ and aim to produce a balanced argument.

Firstly it could be argued that tabloid newspapers or “red-tops” contain very little fact-based news; one view is that all they contain is half-naked women, celebrity gossip and sport. They are often seen and read as unreliable and disingenuous; they are can also be seen as nothing to take to seriously. Some people may say readers do not buy tabloid newspapers for factual information but for a quick read and also for something visually pleasing, however others completely disagree with this believing they do contain important and factual information, just in a more simple form. Tabloids tend to manipulate language to encourage bias and to also change the opinion of their target audience, “NHS cancer drug row” , when in fact it was a mother with cancer getting a life saving drug with no row involved. Adding to this The Sun also tells the audience surplus information, ‘’a son with lung cancer’’ even though the story was about a mother winning a case for cancer drugs, this is there to evoke sympathy among the newspapers audience. It can be argued that Tabloid newspapers such as The Sun do not and would not even consider lying because of the PCC, which has been tightened up heavily since the sad death of Princess Diana and the distressing pictures of her. Adding to this, the pictures of Diana were truthful however they were inappropriate and never needed to be shown; it is one view that it was partly due to paparazzi and the tabloids press that the accident happened. It can also be considered that tabloid newspapers are aimed at a specific audience, having a common sensicle approach towards the way each story is expressed. A common view is that tabloid newspapers tend to be the boldest and brave of newspapers with forthright opinions, this is because they are daring and bias using persuasive language, for example “Chelsea are going to win premiership” . Tabloid newspapers can be seen to be inconsiderate in the way they tend to have celebrity news on the uneven numbered pages, one view is that it draws our attention away from the more important stories such as scientific breakthroughs or political information. Taking all this into account The Sun and The Mirror’s appearance in the top ten most trustworthy newspapers gives lie to the assumption that red-top tabloids are considered wholly untrustworthy.

Secondly mid-market newspapers such as the Daily Express tend to be less confident in expression, and also slightly conservative. The Daily Express is very factual and detailed, using name ‘’herceptin’’ rather than ‘’wonderdrug’’ which is used in The Sun, this makes the audience see The Daily Express as impressive and professional with the use of scientific detail. Although the Daily Express is serious and sustained it still contains celebrity stories but in more depth such as George Best in hospital again , this may possibly mean they are trying to draw in a larger audience. The dominating image on the front page of the Daily Express is of a seductive woman, Mick Jagger’s current girlfriend. She could be there to draw in readers and want them to read this story as the dominating news of the paper; one view could be that this is a much less important image than the minute picture of the cancer mum winning a drug battle. Furthermore this image could be there to draw in a larger audience, showing an almost tabloid side to the newspaper.

Thirdly broadsheets are the most trusted newspapers and have also been voted the most trusted newspapers , it can also be said that they are thoughtful and take care and consideration with each article. Unlike the tabloid and the middle-market newspapers, the Daily Telegraph hid the fact that a cancer stricken mum had a child with lung cancer, as it was simply not necessary it was that reason it was not put in the article . Language used in broadsheet newspapers tends to be free of subjectivity and bias as using lots of reliable quotations to support each story put forward. One picture of Ms Clark in The Daily Telegraph shows an unhappy woman, before the trials for the cancer drug Herceptin possibly, this could be there to evoke sympathy for her. The connotation of the picture is that she is upset, the denotation is that she needs