The Guardian CSP: Blog tasks

The Guardian newspaper and website analysis

Use your own purchased copy plus the notable front pages above to answer the following questions - bullet points/note form is fine. 

1) What are the most significant front page headlines seen in the Guardian in recent years?

Democracy has prevailed - Joe Biden becomes president of The United States

Brexit has finally happened - The biggest gamble in a generation

2) Ideology and audience: What ideologies are present in the Guardian? Is the audience positioned to respond to stories in a certain way?

Left-wing ideologies are present. Audiences are positioned to respond to stories.

3) How do the Guardian editions/stories you have studied reflect British culture and society?

Brexit is an important piece of British history

Now visit the Guardian newspaper website and look at a few stories before answering these questions:

1) What are the top stories? Are they examples of soft news or hard news?

Iran's air strike on Israel: The full story so far (Hard news)

Memorials held for victims of Australian shooting (Hard news)

2) To what extent do the stories you have found on the website reflect the values and ideologies of the Guardian?

There is an overwhelming amount of soft news compared to hard news

3) Think about audience appeal and gratifications: what would an audience enjoy about the Guardian newspaper website?

Surveillance

The Guardian newspaper Factsheet

Read Media Factsheet #257 The Guardian Newspaper. You can access it from our Media Factsheet archive on the Media Shared drive or download it here via Google using your school login details. Answer the following questions:

1) Who owns the Guardian and what is their ownership designed to achieve?

The Guardian is owned by The Guardian Media Group (GMG), which is ultimately controlled by The Scott Trust Limited. The trust was established in 1936 to ensure the newspaper's financial and editorial independence, safeguarding its journalistic freedom and liberal values from commercial or political interference. The ownership structure is designed to prevent any individual from benefiting from the newspaper's profits or exerting total control over it.

2) How is the Guardian regulated? Note its very unusual regulatory approach and give examples where you can.

The Guardian is not regulated by the Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) like most British newspapers. Instead, it has its own regulatory board in collaboration with The Financial Times. This board oversees the paper's adherence to journalistic standards and handles complaints and corrections. Additionally, The Guardian employs an internal ombudsman known as the "readers' editor" to address complaints and ensure accountability.

3) Pick out some key statistics on the Guardian's audience (see beginning of page 2).

The Guardian's readership demographic consists of 86% ABC1, with 54% male readers and an average print reader age of 54. The digital readership reaches 18.4 million, with a monthly circulation of 3.2 million. Internationally, the website attracts over 62 million unique browsers monthly, with significant traffic from outside the UK.

4) What are the institutional values of the Guardian? What does it stand for?

The Guardian's institutional values revolve around delivering fearless investigative journalism, giving a voice to the powerless, and holding power to account. It emphasises independence from political and commercial influence, prioritising stories that align with its progressive stance on social issues and global affairs.

5) How is the Guardian's international audience described? See the end of page 2 and pick out some more useful statistics here about their audience.

The Guardian's international audience comprises predominantly male (79%) readers, with 89% holding a degree or above. The average age is 44, and 34% are expats. Over two-thirds of international visitors are daily users of the site, with a significant portion holding senior positions in business.

6) Now look at page 3 of the factsheet and the Guardian online. Select a few examples of the different sections of the website and copy them here.

Examples of sections on The Guardian website:

- Headlines

- Spotlight

- Sport

- Newsletters

- Climate Crisis

- Tip us Off

- Take Part

- Explore

- In Pictures

- Culture

- Lifestyle

- Video

- Opinion

- Editorials and Letters

- From the UK

- Around the World

- Most Viewed

7) What different international editions of the Guardian's website are available and what example stories are provided as examples of this?

The Guardian offers four editions of its online newspaper targeting different country demographics. For example, the UK edition may feature stories related to British politics, while the US edition may highlight stories relevant to American audiences, such as political developments or investigations into public figures.

8) What is the Guardian's funding model? Do you think it is sustainable?

The Guardian's funding model includes revenue streams from the sale of print newspapers, digital subscriptions, patron support, traditional advertising, and philanthropic partnerships. Despite challenges in the print industry, digital subscriptions and international revenues have grown significantly, making up the majority of the revenue. However, the sustainability of this model depends on maintaining audience trust and continued growth in digital readership.

9) What is the Cotton Capital Commission and how does it link to the Guardian's values and ideologies?

The Cotton Capital Commission was commissioned by The Scott Trust to investigate the newspaper's historical links to the slave trade. This initiative reflects The Guardian's commitment to transparency and accountability, aligning with its values of social progressiveness and investigative journalism. By addressing its own historical connections to problematic issues, The Guardian demonstrates a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths and uphold its ethical standards.

10) What audience and industry theories could be applied to the Guardian? How?

The Guardian's audience can be analysed through theories such as Blumler and Katz's uses and gratifications theory, which examines how readers seek information, surveillance, and entertainment from media sources. Additionally, Bourdieu's concept of cultural capital can explain how engaging with The Guardian enhances readers' understanding of global issues and reinforces their social and cultural values. From an industry perspective, the newspaper's ownership structure and regulatory approach reflect concepts of media ownership and control, emphasising editorial independence and accountability.

Media Magazine articles

Media Magazine has two excellent features on our newspaper CSPs - a focus on Guardian front pages and a comparison of how the Guardian and Daily Mail cover the same story in different ways. You need to read both articles - MM78 (page 12) and MM87 (page 20) - our Media Magazine archive is here. Answer the following questions:

MM78 - The Guardian

1) What are the Pandora Papers and how does the story fit with the Guardian's ethos, values and ideologies?

The Pandora Papers refer to a massive leak of offshore financial data that exposed the financial dealings of the world's wealthy and powerful individuals. This aligns with The Guardian's commitment to investigative journalism and its ethos of speaking truth to power. The newspaper sees itself as a champion of transparency and accountability, and the Pandora Papers investigation reinforces these values by shedding light on secret financial activities that benefit a privileged few.

2) Pick out all the key statistics and quotes from the section on the Guardian's funding model. In particular, the fall in paper readership, the rise in digital readership and the number of contributors paying to support the journalism.

- The Guardian's paper sales averaged 105,135 copies per day in July 2021, down from 248,775 ten years prior.

- The newspaper had 3.5 million online readers per day and 129 million monthly visits.

- Almost 1 million readers provided ongoing financial support: 401,000 took digital subscriptions, 506,000 made recurring payments, and 508,000 made one-off payments.

- Over half of these online contributions came from readers overseas.

- Katharine Viner, the editor, emphasised the importance of investigative journalism, stating, "Investigative journalism is the lifeblood of The Guardian. It always has been and, with your help, it always will be."

3) What does it mean when it says the Guardian frames regular payments from readers as a "philanthropic act"?

When The Guardian frames regular payments from readers as a "philanthropic act," it suggests that contributing financially to support the newspaper's journalism is not just a transactional exchange for a product or service but an altruistic gesture towards a greater societal good. It implies that readers are not just purchasing a newspaper but actively participating in upholding the principles of a free press and making information accessible on a global scale.

4) What is the Scott Trust and do you think it is a sustainable model for newspaper ownership in the future?

The Scott Trust is a legal entity established to ensure the editorial independence and financial stability of The Guardian. It was created in the early 20th century to safeguard the newspaper's liberal voice and investigative principles. The trust owns The Guardian and operates for profit, but all profits are reinvested into the newspaper. Its aim is to keep editorial interests free from commercial pressures and maintain the paper's liberal traditions.

As for sustainability, the Scott Trust model has proven effective in maintaining The Guardian's journalistic integrity and financial viability. By reinvesting profits and prioritising editorial independence, it has allowed the newspaper to thrive in an increasingly digital landscape. However, whether it can serve as a model for all newspapers in the future remains uncertain, as it requires a dedicated commitment to journalistic values and a sustainable financial strategy.

5) Why is the Guardian criticised as hypocritical? Give some specific examples here.

The Guardian faces criticism for what some perceive as hypocrisy due to a misalignment between its liberal editorial stance and the actions of some of its prominent figures. For instance:

- Several journalists, such as Polly Toynbee and former editor Alan Rusbridger, sent their children to private schools despite advocating for a more equal society.

- The newspaper's ownership structure, while promoting editorial independence, sits within the broader Guardian Media Group, which has amassed wealth through ethically questionable means, such as offshore investments.

- The Guardian's liberal stance on capitalism is seen by some as contradictory, as it benefits from the capitalist system while critiquing its flaws.

MM87 - The Daily Mail and the Guardian front page analysis

1) What are the stories featured on the Guardian and Daily Mail on November 10, 2023?

The Guardian's lead stories on November 10, 2023, focused on negotiations for a ceasefire deal in the Israel-Palestine conflict and pressure on the British Home Secretary regarding a planned pro-Palestine march in London. The Daily Mail, on the other hand, featured a headline about a murdered teacher, Ashling Murphy, from the Republic of Ireland.

2) How do they reflect the values and ideologies of the two newspapers?

The Guardian's stories align with its commitment to serious news and its liberal sensibilities, emphasising humanitarian concerns and governmental accountability. In contrast, the Daily Mail's focus on the murdered teacher reflects its tendency towards sensationalism and emotional appeal, catering to its readership's interests and potentially reinforcing certain societal stereotypes.

3) Why does the writer suggest the front-page images on both papers might be exploitative? Do you agree?

The writer suggests that both papers' front-page images could be exploitative because they potentially sensationalise and capitalise on human tragedy for the sake of grabbing attention and selling copies. The Guardian's use of an image related to the Israel-Palestine conflict and the Daily Mail's coverage of the murdered teacher could both be seen as exploiting the victims for the newspapers' own purposes.

4) What else does the writer suggest regarding the Daily Mail's front-page image of murdered teacher Ashling Murphy?

The writer suggests that the Daily Mail's use of the image of Ashling Murphy might be considered more honest than The Guardian's approach. The Mail actively draws attention to its use of the image to sell copies, while The Guardian's inclusion of a poster within the photograph could be interpreted as an attempt to downplay the exploitation.

5) How does the rest of the Guardian's front page (features on Yoko Ono and Todd Haynes) reflect the values and ideologies of Guardian readers?

The features on Yoko Ono and Todd Haynes on The Guardian's front page reflect the paper's commitment to diversity, social justice, and progressive cultural values. Yoko Ono's association with anti-war protests and Todd Haynes' exploration of gender identity align with The Guardian's demographic, which is interested in complex and ambiguous representations of identity politics.