# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
The Times is the UK's oldest current daily national newspaper, founded as The Daily Universal Register in 1785 before changing its name to The Times in 1788.

The Sun is currently Britain's biggest selling daily newspaper.

The Observer was first published in 1791 and is the world's oldest Sunday paper.

Have you ever wondered how newspapers came to exist or how newspapers decide what is 'news'?
Key learning points

A brief history of newspapers.

The differences between broadsheet and tabloid newspapers.

How to write like a journalist, creating memorable headlines and writing informative articles.

Video Transcript Video Transcript

Newspaper reports are written for different audiences - the same story could be covered in a tabloid, or a broadsheet newspaper.

However, there are likely to be differences in the way the story is reported and presented - starting with the headlines:
Baked Britain
Monday meltdown
Believe it or hot!
Tabloid headlines often use humour. They might also slightly exaggerate (only slightly, though!). They often feature alliteration.
Baked Britain Burns
Tabloids often use shock tactics to make their headlines dramatic and enticing. On the other hand, the headlines in broadsheet newspapers tend to be less dramatic, appealing to an audience interested in reading longer articles:
Hottest day of the year in UK heatwave
Whether they're writing for tabloids or broadsheets, journalists use facts to add substance and authority. Simple, succinct information can help to clarify specific details.
Hottest day of the year hits 37 C high
After the headline, comes the by-line. A by-line can just say who wrote the article, or it might add a short summary.
Amy Jones reports on how the heatwave is predicted to bring record-breaking temperatures.
Articles often follow an ordered structure, starting with the lead paragraph. The format is similar for either a tabloid or a broadsheet. Stories tend to start with the main news facts: what happened, when, who was involved and why it happened?

Then, in the main body of the article, we might find more details - facts, stats, quotations from relevant people or, perhaps, analysis. The main events of the story are described in chronological order. Quotes are often the heart of an article, and journalists try to build a picture of how this story fits into current trends or the wider world. The summary might point to the future.

So, the same story, a similar structure, but with a different approach to writing - to appeal to different audiences.

Informal, straightforward language in the tabloid, contrasted with more formal, often more complex language in the broadsheet.

And alongside the article, there's the layout, presentation and images to consider, but that's another story altogether.

Broadsheets

They first appeared in the 18th century to reduce the number of pages a newspaper needed, so as to reduce the amount of tax paid.

As they focused on political and business news, they had fewer readers.

They tend to have more in-depth, longer articles.

Tabloids

Their content was viewed as less 'serious,' less in-depth, for entertainment and easier to read.

Also recognisable by their large photographs and less text on the front page.

However, both tabloid and broadsheet newspapers have shared elements of serious news, business, general interest and entertainment. Today, some of the traditional broadsheet newspapers have become smaller in size and some newspapers are now entirely online - so it is not as easy to split them into these two types.

To attract people to buy and read the news, newspaper articles need to grab readers' attention. One way every article does this is through the use of headlines.

Headlinesheadlines Headlines are headings that title newspaper articles. inform the reader about the content and purpose of the article. Headlines are usually short and remove unnecessary words, for example, this headline: 'Baby found alive after earthquake' has removed all the little words: A baby is found alive after an earthquake.

Headlines can:

be informative

be humorous

use famous quotes

make bold statements

ask a question

shock the reader

They are often accompanied by subheadlines or subheadings. A subheadline is a smaller title beneath the headline that adds information or makes it clearer what the article is about.

Near the headline or sub-headline, there is a by-line. By-lines give the names of the journalists that are involved in researching, writing and contributing to an article. This gives credibility to an article by showcasing the author, who may be an expert or well-informed about the subject matter in the article.

Grabbing the reader's attention through headlines needs more than a big bold font. The words selected for headlines are important. The way they are arranged requires linguistic creativity. Since headlines need to be short and punchy, linguistic deviceslinguistic devices Words or phrases that convey a deeper meaning than the literal one. can be used to create as much impact as possible in the least number of words.

Linguistic device

Example

Puns (word play)

Wages Frozen for Ice-Cream Sellers

Alliteration (repetition of sounds and letters)

Pupils Prefer Pizza

Hyperbole (exaggeration)

Unluckiest Man in the World

Allusion (an indirect reference to something)

Love rat Ricky is no Romeo!

Colloquial slang (informal language and nicknames)

Wills and Kate Jet Off

Rhyme

Queen's Green Anger

Statistics or numbers

68% drop in Wildlife Populations

Rhetorical question

Is this lake cursed?

To attract a reader's attention, newspaper articles often use images that support the headline and the content in articles. 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.

Photographs can provide evidence that the news article is authentic and truthful. They are usually accompanied by captions, below the picture, which describe what is happening in the picture.

Images can also include infographics, timelines, graphs - all of which collate and breakdown large and complex information for readers. Other images such as caricatures (distorted and exaggerated cartoons) can also be used to mock and parodyparody An imitation of something with deliberate exaggeration for a comedic effect. the subjects of the article.

Why images are used

Images provide fast and easily accessible information. The choice of photograph also plays a key role in influencing the reading of a story.

Images can influence readers through their ability to:

evoke emotion

'see' what is being written about

allow the reader to view the evidence for themselves

An image of a student peacefully protesting by giving flowers to an anti-riot policeman in Johannesburg, South Africa, accompanied by the headline, 'Let there be peace!' could evoke emotion in the viewer by:
A. Making them laugh
B. Making them take the side of armed soldiers
C. Making them feel concerned for the citizen's safety and touched by their bravery

Show more Show less

This image will C. Make the reader feel concerned for the citizen's safety and touched by their bravery

The juxtapositionjuxtaposition When two very different things are placed together for a contrasting effect. of unarmed peaceful protesters with armed soldiers could trigger shock and support.

News articles are usually written in short sentences with key information given straightaway. The journalist must hook the reader in and ensure they keep reading in the first few sentences. To do this, they must capture the key points of the story using as few words as possible.

The language reflects the readership of the paper, for example, tabloids may use shorter sentences with more informal language - broadsheets may use more formal and complex language.

The language used in newspaper articles also needs to reflect the topic. Lighter, less serious news can be written using humour, unlike more serious news articles on natural disasters or crime.

Click on the interactive graphic below to learn how news articles use an inverted pyramid structure:

Start activity

JavaScript is required to view this activity.

More on Non-fiction writing

Find out more by working through a topic

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
How to write a newspaper report guide for KS3 English students - BBC Bitesize

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Find out about the history and types of newspapers and how how to create your own informative article with this guide for KS3 English students aged 11-14 from BBC Bitesize..

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Parts of a NEWSPAPER -  / Perfect for Everybody /

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
If you need to interview someone for an article but you have never interviewed before, it can be intimidating. Here are some tips for preparing for and conducting a successful interview. Do your homework. Learn what you can about the...

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Latest news, sport and opinion from the Guardian

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Latest news, sport, business, comment, analysis and reviews from the Guardian, the world’s leading liberal voice

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
The latest UK and world news, business, sport and comment from The Times and The Sunday Time

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Copyright 2023 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.

Beta Terms By using the Beta Site, you agree that such use is at your own risk and you know that the Beta Site may include known or unknown bugs or errors, that we have no obligation to make this Beta Site available with or without charge for any period of time, nor to make it available at all, and that nothing in these Beta Terms or your use of the Beta Site creates any employment relationship between you and us. The Beta Site is provided on an "as is" and "as available" basis and we make no warranty to you of any kind, express or implied.

In case of conflict between these Beta Terms and the BBC Terms of Use these Beta Terms shall prevail.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Visit BBC News for up-to-the-minute news, breaking news, video, audio and feature stories. BBC News provides trusted World and UK news as well as local and regional perspectives. Also entertainment, business, science, technology and health news.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
The New York Times - Breaking News, US News, World News and Videos

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Live news, investigations, opinion, photos and video by the journalists of The New York Times from more than 150 countries around the world. Subscribe for coverage of U.S. and international news, politics, business, technology, science, health, arts, sports and more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Diccionarios de Español, Ingles, Francés, Portugués - WordReference.com

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Diccionario Ingles Español: 175.000 palabras con 240.000 significados.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Tech giants Google, Microsoft and Facebook are all applying the lessons of machine learning to translation, but a small company called DeepL has outdone them all and raised the bar for the field.
Its translation tool is just as quick as the outsized competition, but more accurate and nuanced than any we've tried.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
DeepL Translate: The world's most accurate translator

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Translate texts & full document files instantly. Accurate translations for individuals and Teams. Millions translate with DeepL every day.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.readable_text
Sign up for free and get access to exclusive content:

Free word lists and quizzes from Cambridge

Tools to create your own word lists and quizzes

Word lists shared by our community of dictionary fans

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Learn new words and improve your grammar with free quizzes and word lists.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Canva is a free-to-use online graphic design tool. Use it to create social media posts, presentations, posters, videos, logos and more.

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.title
Issuu | Create Interactive Flipbooks on our Digital Publishing Platform

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.description
Issuu converts PDFs and documents into an interactive flipbook and marketing assets. Embed flipbooks onto your website and distribute online. Create yours with Issuu.