Newspaper audience response (Gerbner) - Task 1

George Gerbner: Argues that exposure to repeated patterns of representation over a long period of time can shape and influence the way in which people can receive the world around them.

Representation in Newspapers:

Newspapers including the following topics:
- Pro Corbyn
- Anti - Corbyn
- Pro May
- Anti - May
- Pro Trump
- Anti - Trump
- Pro Brexit
- Anti - Brexit
- Immigration
- Muslims
- Refugee Crisis.
- Free schools?
- Rich VS Poor ft. Grenfall
- NHS funding
- Strikes
- Mass Shooting
- US Gun Laws
- ISIS
















- How do the Newspapers represent the issues/ topics?

The newspapers above show all different, big topics and issues from different points of view based on whether they are left wing or right wing and also how biased they are. First of all, Jeremy Corbyn is presented in two different ways, pro Corbyn and Anti-Corbyn. The Daily Mirror has praised Corbyn by saying that his promises will be fulfilled but The Sun has gone against Corbyn by saying that he will ruin Britain if he becomes Prime Minister. Similarly, Theresa May is praised by the Daily express by calling her an 'Iron Lady' but the Daily Mirror has made May seem unappealing through the use of the bad photo and calling her 'Mrs U-turn.' Trump is divided between supporters such as The Daily Mail or opposition such as The Daily Mirror, each Newspaper has shown their opinion through the use of images, The Daily Mail portrays him as 'The people's President' by showing a flattering photo but The Daily Mirror has portrayed him as a disgrace to the USA by showing Lady Liberty, the icon of America, holding her head in her hands to show disappointment. Brexit is also a big topic that divided the newspapers, The sun was pro-Brexit showing that if you 'believe' in Britain then you should leave but the Daily Mirror was Anti-Brexit showing that if we remain then our future will be better. Different newspapers have different takes on topics such as Muslims, immigration, ISIS, guns, shootings, class, wealth etc. Some papers show the story in support for the people and victims, others show it from an outsider, political view which is government biased.

- How does the selection of images and language shape and influence the audience?

Audiences are easily influenced over repeated patterns shown by their favored Newspaper, for example, if you are a regular buyer of The Daily Mirror then you would influenced to support Corbyn, oppose Thersa May, be Anti-Trump and be Anti-Brexit. This is done because the paper shows their views through their chosen language and images so the readers see the topics from the papers biased point of view. For example, the readers of the Daily Mirror would continually see Theresa May in a bad light because the newspaper always shows pictures of her that are unflattering and put her in a bad position but they put flattering photos of Corbyn in the paper to praise him and put him in a good light. The Sun is very good at influencing and brain-washing their audience by using their headline gags to over-exaggerate (Cor-bin). This can influence the audience because they use their language to persuade and attract the reader by putting them in bold, often one word or few word headlines. The Sun often write their headlines in the victims point of view, for example, 'run', 'they told they were safe', etc. This attracts and influences readers as they see the stories from the readers point of view.

- What is the cumulative effect of these "repeated patterns or representation over long periods?" 

These repeated patterns over long periods of time can brain-wash audiences to side with what their paper says as the papers biased version of events is the one that their audiences believe that is true so therefore will believe in what their paper believes if they continue to read the same paper over long periods of time. This can decide how audiences vote, think and act in certain situations, papers can shape their readers political views so they have a big impact and responsibility on people's lives. It is easier to notice the political difference between papers if readers read a variety of Newspapers but if they only read one then they are easily indoctrinated to follow the papers beliefs.