Features of Broadsheet newspapers

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Text type: Broadsheet article

Definition

The name broadsheet traditionally refers to the larger (hence broader) size of these newspapers in

comparison to their tabloid counterparts. However, in recent years, many newspapers (in the UK

specifically) have decided to adopt a more compact size, to allow for convenience when read on public

transportation and commutes. The Guardian, for example, has switched to a smaller format called the

Berliner, but nevertheless it retains the label of a broadsheet.

Nevertheless, the terms broadsheet and tabloid do not refer only to the newspaper size in these days.

These terms are rooted also as a description of the type of newspaper according to the news they

present. Broadsheet is perceived as a reliable and trustworthy press, whereas tabloid is more about

scandals, life of celebrities and disasters.

Distinguishing features and conventions

Features Description

Headlines Headline is the heading located at the top of the article, intended to attract the

interest of the reader and to give readers an immediate gist of the entire article.

By-line A sentence that states the author of the article.

Lead The lead sentence captures the attention of the reader and sums up the focus of

the story. The lead also establishes the subject, sets the tone and guides readerinto the article.

In a news story, the introductory paragraph tells the most important facts and

answers the questions, namely, the 5 Ws. In a featured story, the author may

choose to open in any number of ways, including the following:

an anecdote a shocking or startling statement pure information and facts a description a quote a question a comparison

Body The progression of most broadsheet articles, or any piece of news reporting,

takes the approach of an inverted pyramid. The widest part at the top

represents the most substantial, interesting, and important information the

writer means to convey, illustrating that this kind of material should head the

article, while the end of the article is left for less important pieces of

information.

The purpose of this is so that readers can immediately grasp the gist of the

article, after which they will decide whether or not to proceed reading the rest

of the article. Secondly, the inverted pyramid approach allows editors to


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remove excess words from the bottom up (in the event that the article needs to

be shortened), without compromising the quality and substance of the article.

Quotes are used to add interest and provide evidence and first-hand accounts

to back up the story. These can be direct (e.g. The PM stated: ) or indirect

(e.g. the PM remarks that upcoming budget cuts)

The progression of the article may take several approaches, such as:

chronological the article may be a narrative of some sort. cause and effect the reasons and results of an event or process are

examined.

classification items in an article are grouped to help aidunderstanding

compare and contrast two or more items are examined side-by-sideto see their similarities and differences

list A simple item-by-item run-down of pieces of information. question and answer such as an interview with a celebrity or

expert.

Text layout Texts are typically written in columns.

Photos Broadsheet articles typically only displays one primary photo (especially if the

article is located on the front page), under which there is often a caption to

elucidate its relevance to the article. Broadsheet articles are very modest with

illustrations or any forms of pictorial representations, being primarily text-

dense by nature.

Articles located in the spreads within may not contain any photos at all.

Tone In the Anglophonic press, broadsheet newspapers are commonly perceived to

be more intellectual in content than their tabloid counterparts. (N.B. This

connotation does not exist in newspapers coming from other countries).

Their greater size is used to examine stories in more depth, while carrying less

sensationalist and celebrity material.

Newsworthiness

Broadsheet newspapers often have a set of criteria that serves to determine which stories are deemed

worthy of publishing. A difference in the standards of newsworthiness explains why some stories can

only be seen on a broadsheet, while others only on a tabloid. A list of widely accepted news values was

created by Johann Galtung and Mari Ruge (Kroupova, 25), which includes:

Frequency: As newspapers are published daily, single events are more likely to be reportedthan a long process. Newspapers report about what happens that day, pertinently the day

before, they present up-to-date information for example about the earthquake applicable for

that day.

Threshold: the extent and size of that particular problem. A devastating earthquake in a wellknown country such as Japan causing thousands of dead is more likely to be published than aweak earthquake in the middle of the ocean.


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Unambiguity: For the reader to be able to understand the content, it is necessary for thejournalist to write clearly and understandably.

Meaningfulness: Events connected with that particular country the newspaper is writing forare more interesting for the reader than events they do not understand and which do not have

any connection to that country.

Consonance: refers to types of events which people either expect to happen or want to happen. Unexpectedness The most newsworthy events are those which happens without warning, are

unusual and unexpected. An earthquake in Japan, for example, is undoubtedly an unexpected

event and thus would be very newsworthy.

Reference to elite peopleContents of broadsheet newspapers

Broadsheet newspapers are often divided up into specific sections, thus each article is listed under

different sections depending on their topics of interest and contents. Broadsheet newspapers typically

cover stories relating to a few common topics regarded to be significant and worthwhile, such as

politics, business or finance (see table below). These newspapers would not usually cover stories

relating to more trivial matters such as celebrity gossips, beauty, fashion, etc.

(Source: Connell, 10)

Example 1

Figure 1 (next page): The layout of The Guardians front page as seen on on 1stFebruary 2014. The front

page is dominated by a lead story, which in this case is said to be an exclusive cover, accompanied by

a large, bold headline. One single, large picture is used for visual impact. The level of newsworthiness

for this particular story probably would have trumped othersin the issue, as such giving it the front-

page status. However it is convention to not write the entire story on the front page, as the story is

usually continued in the inner spreads.


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Example 2

Ed Miliband's Labour reforms will give more

power to union chiefs

Labour insiders and academics say reforming trade union affiliation rules could

concentrate power and money in the hands of the union bosses

[photo]

Ed Miliband, leader of the Labour party.Photo: Getty Images

ByTim Ross ,Political Correspondent

7:55AM GMT 02 Feb 2014

Ed Milibands plans to reform Labourslinks with the trade unions could concentrate more money in

the hands of union bosses, party sources have admitted.

The Labour leader has announced sweeping changes to the way the party signs up supporters from

trade unions in an attempt to make the party more democratic.

His proposals will put an end to the automatic enrolment of union members into the Labour party.

However, party sources said that the reforms could mean more funds come under the control of

union leaders.

Under Mr Miliband's plan, all individual members of unions which are affiliated to Labour will be

asked to choose whether they want to donate money to the party and become associate members

themselves.

Currently, most union members cannot choose to pay into their unions political fund without also

agreeing that 3 of that money should go to Labour in an affiliation fee.

Under the new system, workers will still be expected to pay the same overall amount to their unions

political fund, even if they choose not to become associate members of Labour.

But that the 3 fee which would previously have been automatically given to Labour will instead sit in

the unions coffers to be spent at the discretion of the unions leadership.

Professor Roger Seifert, an expert in industrial relations at the Wolverhampton University, said the

reforms would put union bosses in an even more powerful position to influence Labour policy in the

run up to an election.

The big three unions Unison, the GMB and Unite will still give large sums to the Labour Party

because they really dont want a Tory government, he said.

But this reform alters the nature of the influence and in some cases the bargaining position of the

union leadership may be strengthened, particularly in the run up to the election in terms of what is in

the manifesto.
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Mr Milibands proposals, drawn up by the partys former general secretary, Lord Collins, will be

presented to a meeting of Labours national executive committee on Tuesday.They will then be

voted on at a special party conference on March 1.

Under the plan, every union member who chooses to become an associate member of Labour will

then be asked whether they want to become an affiliated supporter of the party.

Affiliated supporters, who will supply Labour with their addresses and contact details, will be asked

to take part in local campaigns and will receive a vote in leadership elections.

The role of MPs in choosing the party leader will be reduced, although they will still be required to

choose the candidates for the job who will then contest the national leadership election.

Mr Miliband believes his reforms will refresh the partys grass roots and recruit thousands of new

activists to help in election campaigns.

It is about letting the people back into our politics: giving people a real choice and a real voice in our

party; changing Labour so that Labour can change our country, he said.

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Features of Broadsheet newspapers