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Features of a Newspaper
Masthead
The mastheadis the name of the paper written at the top of the
front page always inthe same colour and font as a kind of logo. The
use of colour, language, symbol and
design all help create the identity of the newspaper.
Headlines
The most prominent feature of any article is the headline. Front
page headlines are
particularly important as they aim to grab the readers attention
and help sell the
newspaper. Headlines are usually short and catchy. Headlines
often use a special
kind of tabloidese language. This saves space and makes the
headlines more
dramatic.
Types of stories
The news values (what it thinks is an important story)
The Copy
Copy is what we call the written part of the paper, the stories.
It is written in a certain
style and format which aims to quickly establish the facts of
the story, and to hook
the reader into reading the whole story. Is the style of writing
is informal, chatty or
even slangy? This would suit a C2, D and E reader demographic.
We refer to this as
the tabloids mode of address.Or is the mode of address of the
more formal and
middle class which suits its more A, B and C1 readership
demographic? Tabloid
stories often have the word exclusive at the top; although other
papers often have
the same story and the same exclusive headline (tabloids are not
too worried
about telling the truth!).
The Pictures
As with the headline, pictures are important to grab the
attention of the audience.
Captions
Photographs are accompanied by captions. Captions anchoran image
and help thereader interpret the photograph or understand it. The
language of a caption doesnt
just describe the image; it adds to the angle of the article and
tells the reader how to
interpret the picture.
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A Glossary of Newspaper and Printing Terms:
Break: the point at which a story turns to the next column.
Broadsheet: One of the two standard sizes of newspaper around
the English -speaking world (see also Tabloid).
Byline: The name of the reporter or photographer printed with
the story orphotograph.
Features: Stories which are longer than and give background to
the news stories.
Layout: As a verb, to place the various elements of a page
pictures, headlines,byline and body copy. As an adjective, for
example a layout sub , the designer wholays out pages, and as a
noun, the design of a page.
Lead: The main story on a page, usually the biggest story, as
opposed to downpage
stories.
Leader: The "leading article" that is, the editorial states the
newspapers viewon a particular issue. Now somewhat anachronistic
for readers, they are still oftenquoted in Parliament if they
support a particular partys view.
Logo: An identifying symbol often used by companies.
Masthead: the name of the newspaper and other information ,
usually at the top ofthe front page.
Serif: These are the little decorative feet at the top and
bottom of letters in some
typefaces, known as Serif Types. Typefaces without serif are
call Sans Serif Types.
Splash: The Page 1 lead story.
Strapline: Long, small-pointsize headlines and rules that run
across the top of apage.
Tabloid: One of the standard sizes of newspaper around the
English -speaking world(see also Broadsheet). Usually about 63picas
wide and 38cm deep. The SundayMail is a tabloid.
