Conventions of a Local Newspaper

- A car section, with local people selling cars as classified adverts.
- Local stories.
- A property section, with local houses for sale.
- A job section advertising local jobs from all different sectors.
- Latest news from local schools
- Websites
- Classified ads.
- Crime stories around the area
- Local restaurant reviews 
- Local hotels and reviews
- Local church
- Events in the area
- Local sport events

Differences between tabloids and broadsheets

Here are two screenshots of the differences of broadsheets and tabloids that I found on the net.

Newspaper terminology

Here are technical terms and features for the conventions of a newspaper.


Box-out – A small part of the page, shaded in a different colour.
By-line – the name of the reporter.
Caption – text under the photographs explaining the image.
Crosshead – a subheading within the body of the text of an article.
Feature – not necessarily a ‘news’ item, but usually with a human-interest angle.
Headline – this is the main title of the article, usually in the largest and boldest font, describing the main story. A banner headline spans the full width of the page.
Kicker – this is a story designed to stand out from the rest of the page by the use of a different font and layout.
Lead Story – the main story on the front page.
Lure – a word or phrase directing the reader to look inside the paper at a particular story or feature.
Masthead – the masthead is the title block or logo identifying the 'brand identity' of the newspaper at the top of the front-page. Sometimes a motto is also placed within the masthead.The masthead is often set into a block of coloured print or boxed with a border; the ‘Red-tops’ (The Sun, The Mirror, The News of the World) are categorised by style and the use of a red background in the masthead. Local newspapers generally use 'calmer' colours such as blue or green.
Pugs – these are at the top left and right-hand corners of the paper and are known as the ‘ears’ of the page. The prices of the paper or the brand identity are positioned there. They are well placed to catch the reader’s eye.

Secondary Lead – this is usually only a picture and headline, it gives a sneak preview of a story that you might find inside the paper.
Sidebar – when a main feature has an additional box or boxed panel along side of it.
Spread – a story that covers more than one page.
Standfirst – this is an introductory paragraph,letter or sentence before the start of the feature.Sometimes it may be in bold.
Strapline – this is an introductory headline below the headline.


With writing the articles you have to keep them short and simple so they will be easy to consume and also so you can get straight to the point.

Newspaper staff

-Editor In Chief: The main editor.
-Editor: A superior person who controls the budgets and staff and they have the most important job which is checking the newspaper before publication.
-Editorial Assistant: Support staff for the editorial department.
-Editorial Board: Experts who advise the content.
-Fact Checker: Editorial staff who check accounts in the article before published.

Developing our Questionnaire

We studied the book 'Studying the Media' and we came across Rothwell's method and he had suggested that most questionnaires are made up of a number of standard components, although these will vary depending on the purpose and the scale of your project. The typical components include:

• A title
• An identifying number. This may be especially important were you wish to preserve the confidentiality of info collected. The number allows you to identify each individual respondent without necessarily revealing their name, status etc....
• Introductory remarks. These may take the form of a covering letter supplied with the questionnaire or maybe integrated into the opening section. This should explain the purpose of the survey, who is conducting it and why, and it is usual to provide assurances concerning anonymity or confidentiality of data to be collected.
• Instructions. For completing the questionnaire. Unless they are self evident, they are usually provided just before the particular sections or questions to be answered. Typically they will explain the mode of the response required- ticking boxes, circling numbers, etc....... You may also need to indicate how the questionnaire should be returned for analysis.
• Respondent details. These may cover such matters as name, dress, age, gender, occupation, etc. These details are often collected in an opening or closing sections of the questionnaire. Remember to indicate that confidentiality will be preserved with regard to these and other details, as this may have a bearing on how your respondents answer your questions.
• Focal data and questions. These are questions or items which you will use together data on the attitudes, opinions or practices which lie at the heart of my investigation, these may take the form of what are known of close questions, which response predetermined, typically the kinds which asks the respondents to tick boxes or circle. 

Analysis of Kent and Sussex newspaper

 

This newspaper is a Kent and Sussex local newspaper. As you can see the photographs are of cross country running and bike riding in country roads swell as fields. This seems to be the main attraction to this area as it is on the front page which is obviously attracts their audience. As this local newspaper is set for Kent and Sussex which are areas outside London. 

Research

We analysed Camden New Journal which is a local newspaper for Camden,Chalk Farm and Belsize Park. We looked through the stories and we realised that the newspaper is more targeted at the older generation as the stories wouldn't appeal to people are age as we were not interested in the stories. The newspaper seemed quite depressing as theres advertisements for funeral directors and adverts displaying people who have died. I think that people who read this local newspaper is of a lower class then someone who would read Ham&High as theres many adverts saying free courses as well as help to become employed.

Local Newspapers

Here is a screenshot I took of a website listing Local London newspapers. This website takes you onto all the different local newspapers and gives you info on them.

Analysis of Local newspaper front cover

The Islington Gazette is a weekly paid local newspaper which covers news relating to the borough of Islington in North London. This local newspaper includes articles which older aswell as the younger generation could read as they include north london property's which would appeal to uni students looking for flats aswell as the older generations looking for propertys in the community. "Butcher knifed to death" I say would appeal to the ages of 17-55 to read, as many young people are interested in reading crime articles. The Islington Gazette would more so appeal to the older generation but I also think a few young students would read a few of the articles. 

Analysis of Local newspaper front cover

The Enfield Gazette is a local newspaper for Enfield in North London. This newspaper mainly covers the news in the community and not world wide news. This local newspaper seems as it is aimed at a older audience as the articles are for the older community as they would be interested in "where is the british justice" whereas the younger generation would not be interested to read articles to do with politics and global warming etc.....

Audience Research

Ideas for research
Facebook survey group 
Questionaire
Handouts 
Blackberry messenger broadcasts
Research local newspaper covers and front page
Call local newspapers and ask what is their target audience and advice for our project

Start of A2 Media

Me and Ismene Luke have decided to work together for our coursework. We have chosen to do a local newspaper as well as a poster and a radio advertisement. We want our target audience to be the younger generation as we have researched that local newspapers are only targeted at the older generation because we wanted to create a bond between young people and the community. 
These are the ideas we came up with to include in our newspaper:

• London riots
• Police advertisement 
• Local celebs
• Local celebs influencing the younger generation to stop crime
• Wretch 32 (rapper) interview