Audience
1) What is the Daily Mirror's audience? List the key statistics here.
The Daily Mirror audience is older with almost half the audience aged 65+. In terms of social class, most are in the C1, C2 DE social classes. They are likely to be in the Struggler, Resigned or Mainstream psychographic groups.
2) Why do the Mirror stories on the CSP pages appeal to the Daily Mirror audience?
With the increase in technology, the Daily Mirror now offers its audience opportunities to engage with the stories on a much more personal level as well as watching video content. The newspaper is speaking directly to the reader and allows them to comment or share their views on social media.
3) Why might a reader enjoy the Daily Mirror? Use Blumler & Katz Uses and Gratifications theory to add detail to your answer.
Surveillance – the main reason we read newspapers is to find out what is going on in the world around us. We find out news, different opinions and catch up with the latest gossip and scandal.
Diversion/Entertainment – One of the main reasons we read newspapers is for entertainment. Whether it’s enjoying reading the opinions of others, reading the cartoons or completing crosswords. We want to be entertained.
Personal Identity – the newspaper you read reflects what type of person are. A Daily Mirror reader will probably think very differently from a Times reader. Even if a reader does not always agree with a viewpoint the newspaper puts forward, they may still be agreeing with the values being shared and thus reinforcing their own values.
Becoming an active participant – increasingly newspapers, especially online editions, encourage audiences to get involved through comments and social media. This contributes to a sense of personal identity for audiences.
4) Why are print newspapers generally read by older audiences?
The younger generations now have access to accessible to on demand news which interests them and is free. However since older people aren't as active on technology they prefer traditional paper prints.
5) How is the inside-page story on our CSP pages constructed to appeal to Daily Mirror readers? Think about text and selection of images.
The story applies to a wider audience as it mentions kids and global problems
Industries
1) What company owns the Daily Mirror and why are they struggling?
The Daily Mirror is owned by Reach, which used to be called Trinity Mirror. Reach publishes over 240 regional titles in addition to the Daily Mirror and Sunday Mirror - including our local newspaper website getwestlondon.
The Daily Mirror's circulation has fallen drastically over the years from over 3 million a day in 1990 down to around 250,000 a day in 2023.
2) Who was the Daily Mirror editor between 2018 and 2024 and what was the Partygate scandal that the Daily Mirror exposed?
The Daily Mirror recently announced its editor Alison Phillips will be leaving the newspaper after more budget cuts at Reach. Phillips was the Mirror's first female editor since 1903 and was loved by the staff at the paper. While Phillips was editor, the Mirror ran major investigations including into special advisor Dominic Cummings and Barnard Castle
3) What is the Daily Mirror's circulation in 2023? How many papers did the Daily Mirror used to sell back in the 1990s?
245,829 in 2023 and 3 million in 1990
4) How has the Daily Mirror reacted to the decline in print sales and the growth of the internet?
Recent falls have been due to the rise of the internet which is why the Mirror's audience is much older now.
5) List five of Galtung & Ruge's News Values and explain how they link to the stories in our CSP edition of the Daily Mirror.
Immediacy: Global warming and climate change is a current environmental issue
Familiarity: Includes representation of our own politicians (Boris Johnson)
Amplitude: is it a big event or one which involves large numbers of people?
Frequency: does the event happen fairly regularly?
Unambiguity: is it clear and definite?
