Comparing a popular (The Mirror) and a quality newspaper (The Guardian) The Mirror The Guardian Headlines 7 Minutes from Safety Mystery of crash pilot's last message effect on the reader effective? incomplete sentence, topic unclear, sensational, emphasis on how close rescue was emotional, tribute to flight captain in subheading ("Brave captain almost made it …") reader's interest is aroused: what is it about? effective in causing the reader's interest fairly long, inaccurate grammar, formal, no big print, catching because of the words "mystery" and "last message", also sensational and eye-catching reader wants to find out what the mystery is complete front page devoted to large photos and topic use of quite a number of photos from the crash scene and also of victims and coffins, a long subheading, two more headings in the text (different letter type), three columns sensational and emotional, trying to get reader's compassion in terms of personal involvement this article only small article on front page, no photos, also use of quite a number of large photos from the crash scene (on another page), focus on the same scene (coffin) clearing up process and a photo of the type of airplane, no sub-headings, also sensational, showing people died and the mess at the crash scene a more detached approach for people who do not want to be emotionally strongly appealed this article 3 eye-witnesses (residents: Boyle, Martin, Fralick) experts (British Airways captain Eric Moody, Christian Stuessi, Swissair's top MD-11 pilot), relatives (an elderly couple, a Mexican woman) and the flight captain 60-70 % of the article are direct or indirect quotes, more different people, partly the same as in The Guardian more lively, more personal and direct, reader feels much more involved, emotive, but a great deal of 3 eye-witnesses (residents: Boyle (!), Martin (!), ZinckGilroy), , an expert (a Swissair spokesman) a Canadian TV reporter, the flight captain effective in causing reader's interest Layout use of photos, subheadings, maps and illustrations function of elements? the best? Quotes list of people who are quoted in groups differences/ similarities effect of quotes two of the residents quoted are the same as in The Mirror but with partly different quotes giving credibility and authority, support the article statements, make the report complete the quotes do not convey facts or knowledge Language and style classification more persuasive, more evocative (~bewegend), more dramatic, more vivid, more informal examples "40 desperate minutes", "heroic battle", "crippled airliner", "distraught relatives", "terrible tragedy", "doomed airliner", "worstsounding deep groan", "The 229 on board had no chance", "no survivors", "burst into tears" sentence structure a mixture of complex and long and shorter sentences, very often interrupted or followed by quotes " word choice sensational, emotional, evocative "Boom" "Slammed" – onomatopoeia "terrible tragedy" – exaggeration / hyperbole instead of passengers = 229 stylistic devices Target group Intention of writer entertaininformmanipulate for less demanding reader, who is not interested in detailed news reports but rather in "human interest" stories predominantly to entertain but also to inform more factual, more serious, more formal "… and it has perplexed investigators", "The first sign of trouble", "The situation had deteriorated", "The plane descended from its cruising altitude", "the captain prepared to dump hundreds of tonnes of fuel into the ocean", "But there was no indication of crisis on board.", "The situation, however, was about to become critical" mostly complex and long sentences "Within the hour, scores of fishermen had put to sea on a cloudy night joining the four planes and helicopters in the search for survivors." serious, detached, linking phrases to structure chronological order "There was nothing unusual … when it took off" – "The first sign of trouble" – "Shortly afterwards" – "By this time", - "Then" "Within the hour" finishing the article with a moving quote for more demanding readers who want background information to inform but also to entertain Content + Structure Approach blurred structure first lines and units: description of the "heroic battle" of the crew before they lose control – also details but not as precise and informative, focus on humans, imagination, spectacular aspects short units/paragraphs, not according to topics or sense but to make it easy to overlook and read – onesentence paragraphs! the development of the crash is not told in a chronological order the account is filled with redundant although personal remarks e.g. by the captain "He said "Fine" and headed for Halifax." The story of the people involved is interrupted by certain factual details "About 30 miles south of Halifax, the plane disappeared from the radar screens. His voice choked with emotion…" comments on the heroic crew and their efforts to safe the plane clear structure first paragraph: ll. 1-11: starts out with details: who (the captain of the Swissair flight…), what (mysterious emergency call), when (seven minutes before crash), where (Canada), why (not a mayday but only a "Pan" call), third and the following paragraphs: more details, article gives an exact account of the events in chronological order as to retrace the steps that led to the disaster, no mentioning of struggles in the cockpit article sticks to facts and statements that are known and provable, contains a lot more technical and informative aspects, ninth paragraph: evaluation of the situation ("… was about to become critical.") further paragraphs include reports about the crash itself and rescue measures article finishes with an emotional and moving last quote completely different approach of dealing with the topic: focus on people, their feelings, their struggles, their fate approach: focus on relating the critical events in a chronological order with many relevant details and the clear intention of finding out what went wrong