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