Codes and Conventions of Newspapers

All newspaper which are published all follow specific Codes and Conventions which they follow to create a specific newspaper look. They will follow these Codes and Conventions at all times in all the newspapers which they create. I will create my own Codes and Conventions based on other newspapers so I can create a consistant feel and look.

Codes and Conventions: the familiar and predictable forms and techniques used by the media to convey a desired impression. Codes include the special devices of an individual media, such as the type of articles included, prices, what types of advertisements, whether the information is quantitative or quantitative and much more. Conventions are the typical plot elements including conflicts and resolutions of a particular medium.

Each medium has its own forms and conventions. Newspapers, radio, television, magazines, and the internet have a different look, a different method of communicating, a different purpose, and different codes and conventions. Within a specific medium, you may also find distinct codes and conventions. A good example of this involving newspapers is that different newspapers have more qualitative information with others having more quantitative. "The Times" national newspaper's cover price in the United Kingdom is 90p on weekdays and £2.00 on Sunday's this paper is more qualitative and is generally seen as a serious publication with high standards of journalism. Where as papers such as "The Sun" is only 30p and is seen as one of the cheaper newspapers with more quantitative information than qualitative.

I am going to make sure that I do the following:
- attract the readers into wanting to buy.
- reinforce the newspapers identity through easily recognisable style features.
- demonstare the newspapers attitude towards the news of the day (make the main headline stand out).
- Show the main stories that you will cover, hopefully including better coverage o these stories than any other paper in the area.

Newspapers Codes and Conventions
Photographs: this is there to grab attention. It may or may not be linked to the main story but more than often it is in colour. Sometimes pictures within the newspapers are pictures for other articles in the newspaper.

Caption: the words below a photograph which give it a meaning.

Banner Headline: main statement which spans the full length of the page.

Byline: this is the name of the writer of the article.

Masthead: this is the title block which includes the name of the newspaper.

Pug's: the pugs are the areas at the top left and top right hand side of the pages. They attract the reader's eye and also they are used to show the date, price etc.

Strapline: this is the introduction of the article. This is normally situated just below the main headline.

Standfirst: this is the first paragraph of a report. This may be in bold print and/or the first word maybe be in colours.

Splash: the splash is the main story on the front page of the newspaper.

Local newspapers generally have all the things which I jus listed but also they have some of their own Codes and Conventions which they follow. Normally local newspapers will include things such as:

- A section advertising local cars up for sale or wanted.

- Local School's details. (open days, addresses etc)

- Jobs in the area.

- Local companies advertisements.

- Classified Adverts.

- Local websites.

- Local shops in the area.

- A house section showing local houses for sale.