Comparing Ways in Which Celebrities are Presented in Two Tabloid Newspapers

1085 Words3 Pages

Comparing Ways in Which Celebrities are Presented in Two Tabloid Newspapers

I will be focusing on the representation of celebrities in two

newspapers, the Daily Mail and the Daily Star. I chose these

newspapers as one is a redtop and one a blacktop. The Daily Mail is a

blacktop, these are generally aimed at the higher classes as they

contain more challenging language, and are for perhaps more

intellectual people. From this newspaper I chose "£2m bland bombshell"

(3rd January 2004), an article on the recent successes of TV star

Linda Barker. The Daily Star is a redtop, therefore aimed at the lower

classes. It uses more simple, colloquial language, as this is

generally the language that is best understood by this social group.

From this newspaper I chose "TV Barrymore flees UK and £1.4m tax bill"

(also 3rd January 2004). The Daily Star also tends to play more on the

'male gaze' (Mulvey); this is where scantily clad women are shown in

order to attract more readers (generally males).

Both articles are obviously chosen and written to serve the purpose of

the newspaper, but sometimes they are written to serve the celebrity

as well. The newspaper has to write articles that interest the public,

or the papers will not sell. Andrew Collins' theory is that newspapers

often represent celebrities using a "compliance, manipulation and

exploitation" sequence with celebrities. This means that as they

becomes famous the newspaper back them and make them look as great as

they can, then as they become old news they turn on the celebrity and

try to represent them in a negative way, thirdly they exploit the

celebrities a great deal and will do almost ...

... middle of paper ...

...n image and the caption of it. A quote that supports this is

where it says, "Barrymore's career has self-destructed".

In conclusion, in both articles, neither celebrity comes across well.

It is definitely the papers whose interests are served in both, as

both celebrities offer an interesting story to read. It is quite

ironic that the Daily Mail says Barker gets too much coverage, yet

they wrote an article on her, therefore giving her more. Barrymore's

article does not represent him well and suggests that he is incapable

of being famous. Andrew Collins said, "Tabloids feed off the famous to

fill their pages". I believe this is very true, as even though they

exploit them, without celebrities, newspapers whose main stories are

to do with famous people wouldn't have much to write about, therefore

would not be as popular.

More about Comparing Ways in Which Celebrities are Presented in Two Tabloid Newspapers

Open Document