News: Analysis of print and online editions of the Observer

The Observer is a UK-based National Sunday newspaper. It is published in two different ways, as a traditional printed newspaper format and online.

Print out a copy of the printed version below and stick into your books.

Task 1: Using the News Glossary, label as many conventions as you can around the image in your book.

Refer back to the BBC News Media Review 2018 to help you think about the impact of technology on the newspaper industry.

Task 2: Working in pairs, you need to create a presentation, using whatever software or method you like, based on the following questions. Credits are awarded for a combination of the quality of written analysis and the clarity and creativity of the presentation. Click on The Observer logo above to find the newspaper website.

1. Media Industry
Who publishes the newspaper?
How long has it been running?
Who owns the newspaper?

2. Media Language
What stylistic features does The Observer newspaper format have?
Analyse the front page (deconstruct the conventions using the news glossary to help you label all of the elements). Explain in detail how The Observer uses these conventions to appeal to those readers.
What is the newspaper's Target Audience and how can you tell?
How does the layout of the newspaper work to appeal to consumers?
What features of the front page would you consider the most important and why?