Media Theory Revision Guide
My Revision
Essential Film!
Now available - the Essential Revision for A Level Film textbook.
The Times
The Times lack of global appeal
Context
prev
next
Despite the Times’ global connections and its ownership by the globally positioned News Corporation conglomerate, the set text pursues a distinctly UK-oriented approach to newsgathering.
The heraldic Times logo foregrounds those UK based sensibilities, while domestic news stories routinely lead the editorial mix of the set text.
Significant sections of the paper are given over to more globally allied content but are constructed to give readers an understanding of the implications of foreign events on UK life.
Sports content is similarly focused on the UK Premier League, while softer editorial pieces are dominated by Royal stories that facilitate, primarily, the interests of a UK based audience. Business news too is globally aware, but again its profile oriented approach tends to focus on companies that have extensive UK based interests.
It could be argued that the various satellite digital services offered by the Times – its use of social media, the Times’ YouTube channel and it’s globally available online pay subscription service - have the potential to generate global interest, yet the content foregrounded on these digital platforms is similarly focussed to target a UK based readership.
Globalisation
Globalisation gives audiences access media content from around the world. This provides an ever-wider range of representations that audiences use to shape their identities.
Media terminology used
Internationalisation
Internationalisation allows media makers to maximise profits and audience reach via global distribution. Media conglomerates strive to operate in multiple countries to create this global reach.
Commercial viability
Describes a media product's capacity to make a profit. Commercially viable products tend to attract large audiences - creating profits from sales/subscriptions as well as advertising.