Recently, in the Mirror - a British tabloid publication that is known for taking a left political stance - reported a story with the headline:
The construction of this headline has, just like any headline, a clear purpose behind it. Belonging to a tabloid, the primary aim is to create a sense of sensationalism and attract a reader, rather than inform them. The fact that the headline is constructed in a way that makes it clear to a reader, whether they know any in depth contextual information or not, that a woman has made a man cry defies the usual gender stereotypes and creates a point of interest. Likewise, if the reader were to have any further contextual information is becomes shocking yet again that a reality television star has made a politician cry.
The use of the deictic language ("THAT gay comment") insists that the reader must understand the context of the title to understand it. Therefore it prompts the reader to read more if they do not, as to find out what "THAT gay comment" is referencing to.
The byline uses a similar use of language, providing enough information to attract readers but not enough to inform them:
Despite using strong adjectives to place the opinions of the writer in regards to the people discussed, there is no personal comment on the actual comments that the article is focused on. Instead, the reported speech is just stated. This is because the Mirror, as a tabloid, is easy reading and is not written to offer intellectual opinions but rather to publicise "shocking" news.
Gemma Collins makes Winston McKenzie cry after grilling him about THAT gay comment
The construction of this headline has, just like any headline, a clear purpose behind it. Belonging to a tabloid, the primary aim is to create a sense of sensationalism and attract a reader, rather than inform them. The fact that the headline is constructed in a way that makes it clear to a reader, whether they know any in depth contextual information or not, that a woman has made a man cry defies the usual gender stereotypes and creates a point of interest. Likewise, if the reader were to have any further contextual information is becomes shocking yet again that a reality television star has made a politician cry.
The use of the deictic language ("THAT gay comment") insists that the reader must understand the context of the title to understand it. Therefore it prompts the reader to read more if they do not, as to find out what "THAT gay comment" is referencing to.
The byline uses a similar use of language, providing enough information to attract readers but not enough to inform them:
The gobby Essex star couldn't believe her ears when she found out what Winston had said about gay couple adoptingSomething that could be considered a generic convention of a tabloid is definitely the way that they create sensationalism with strong adjectives, over-exaggerating events and characters. For example, the Mirror describe Gemma Collins as "gobby Gemma", which would be almost unheard of in a respected broadsheet.
Despite using strong adjectives to place the opinions of the writer in regards to the people discussed, there is no personal comment on the actual comments that the article is focused on. Instead, the reported speech is just stated. This is because the Mirror, as a tabloid, is easy reading and is not written to offer intellectual opinions but rather to publicise "shocking" news.
