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Language Study. Current Affairs TV. Comparison b/n Tabloid and Serious TV current affairs programs. Definitions of each Purpose Demographic/audience/ratings Content Visual Techniques Aural (sound) techniques Language Appeals to…. Tabloid - Definition.
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Language Study Current Affairs TV
Comparison b/n Tabloid and Serious TV current affairs programs • Definitions of each • Purpose • Demographic/audience/ratings • Content • Visual Techniques • Aural (sound) techniques • Language • Appeals to….
Tabloid - Definition • ‘Tabloid’ – originally refers to newspapers (size of the paper) with common features • Pictorial • Less educated readership – emotive stories, more dramatised • Primary focus is entertainment and high ratings
Serious - Definition • Higher educated audience – more complex stories • More sophisticated language • Less emotive techniques • Longer stories • More complex socio-political stories
Purpose • Serious – non-commercial • Investigation – done over time/carefully • Balanced reportage • Tabloid – commercial TV – make money • Increase Cut Rate for Ads • Increase/maintain ratings • Sustain emotional base - entertainment
Demographic • Specific Audience – target market • Signified by a number of factors • Age • Gender • Socio-economic status • Education
Ratings • % share of viewing audience • Two measures – • absolute (total viewers) • Comparative to opposition program Measured very accurately to the minute Types of stories that rate well are repeated
Cut Rate • The amount a TV station can charge per advertisment • Higher the ratings – the higher the cutrate • Targetting a specific audience eg motor sport
Tabloid Techniques - Content • Emotional Base – essential • Conflict and Drama • Heroes and Villains (Victims and Bullies) • Often artificial • Reinforcing of cultural stereotypes • Government/Business as ‘baddies’ • Working battler as ‘victim’ • Sexual content (Bras/lingerie!!)
Tabloid TechniquesDeath Knocks • Someone has died tragically • Reporter gets 1st and exclusive access to story • Emotional hook – grief
Chequebook Journalism • Paying large sums of money for: • Exclusivity • Controversy • Stories of survival • Revelations about public figures • Goes against Journalist code of ethics
Cultural/social stereotypes • Reinforced by Tabloid programs • Appeals to deep-seated prejudices – race, gender, age • Appeals to tabloid demographic (older – white low/middle class Australians) • Consistently a ratings winner
Tabloid Techniques - Visuals • Slow motion • Walk-ups • Selective editing • Interviews
Tabloid Techniques - Aural • Emotional music – reinforces core emotional hook of the segment • Dramativc • Auralscape is often subliminal • Necessity of listening careful
Language • Tabloid language – emotive. Linked to the emotional hook • Easy to understand (demographic appeal) • Exaggerated • Reinforces stereotypes • Reinforces hero/villain status • Deserving of close examination • Plenty of Appeals to……
Appeals to….. • Fear – eg foreigners/terrorists, financial ripoffs, not fitting in to norm etc • Love • Voyeurism – eg celebrity gossip, Youtube violence • Sexuality • Others…..?
Does it matter?? • Tabloid programs as entertainment • Serious programs – limited appeal • Nothing much has changed in 30 years.