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Newspaper language

Newspaper language includes the written copy, the pictures used, the size and of the text and how these elements are presented in the design .

Words

Copy is the name given to articles written by journalists.

When writing copy, the journalist must establish the importance of the story in the first few sentences in order to hook the reader in and ensure they keep reading.

To do this, they must capture the key points of the story using as few words as possible.

Images

Photographs in a newspaper are chosen by a picture editor and these choices play a crucial role in determining the look of a newspaper, especially the front page.

The choice of photograph also plays a key role in influencing our reading of the story.

Photographs include captions, which provide information on what is depicted in the image and can emphasise the newspaper's stance on the story.

Newspapers get their photographs from these main sources:

  • A photographer goes to the scene of a story to get the best possible photographs. Photographers can be staff photographers who work for the newspaper or freelancers who sell their photographs to editors. Freelancers include what is known as photographers who provide photographs focusing on candid celebrity moments which they sell to newspapers for the highest price.
  • Photographs provided by members of the public.
  • Photographs from news agencies such as Reuters and the Press Association. Photo agencies are also used, such as Getty Images or Corbis - which are particulary useful for historical images.

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