Newspapers and politics

Newspaper and Politics

Press freedom- In the UK, the 'press' is free. and most journalists believe this is fundamental to a democratic society. This means that news-makers should seek out and circulate news, information, ideas, comment and opinion and hold those authority to account. The press provides the platform for a multiplicity of voices to be heard.
-The newspapers are allowed to express opinions, and this includes political views. After the 2011 phone hacking scandals involving a range of newspapers, a major report
was published, by Lord Leveson
-IPSO was set up to ensure the press was more tightly regulated, which might have meant less freedom than under the previous system, where the press regulated themselves.

News Corp and politics-
-News Corp is a UK newspaper group and it is part of a much bigger global conglomerate.  In the UK they own some of the most popular newspapers including The Times and The Sun.  The group is owned by Rupert Murdoch, and his children work for the group.

Left wing- Traditionally aligned with the Labour party
-Beliefs are usually progressive in nature, they look to the future, aim to support those who cannot support themselves, are idealist and believe in equality.
-Believe in taxation to redistribute opportunity and wealth e.g. national health service, and job seeker's allowance
-Believe in equality over the freedom to fail

Left wing and Labour-
-The Labour party has had a left wing agenda, but in the late 20th century, with Tony Blair as a leader, it moved towards the centre.
-Since Jeremy Corbyn became leader, the party has been in conflict, as Corbyn has a traditional Labour left wing agenda

Left wing, Labour and Greens-
-In the UK the main left wing parties are the Labour party and the Green party.
-Believe in making laws that protect women, ethnic minorities, and gay people against discrimination.
-Believe that we should tax rich people more to support less well off
-Regulate big businesses so they serve people's interests.
-Good welfare system means people are healthier; more able to work, and will put more money back into the economy.

Right wing- Traditionally aligned with the Conservative party
-value tradition, they are about fairness, survival of the fittest, and they believe in economic freedom
-Businesses shouldn't be regulated, and that we should look after ourselves
-Right wing people tend to believe that they shouldn't have to pay for someone else's education or health service.
-Believe in freedom to succeed over equality

Right wing, Conservatives and UKIP-
-In the UK the main right wing parties are the conservative part, and UKIP who focus on the UK not being part of the European Union.
-If you have more money, you should get to keep it, and buy better education and health services for yourself.
-Businesses should be less regulated, and that the more money they earn, they'll bring more benefits to the country.

The centre- Liberal Democrats-
-The Liberal Democrats are another major party in the UK but people often argue about where they fall, politically. They have some traditionally left wing ideas, and some right wing ones as well.

Daily Mail- Right
The Guardian-Left

Daily Mail- (Right Wing)

-From the Daily Mail newspaper it is clearly evident that the newspaper company is left wing as, the company is clearly making a huge statement about people who are on benefits. From the headline 'Thousands of illegal workers claiming benefits', the newspaper company is directly lashing on people who are on benefits but, the company itself do not realise the harsh reality in what people suffer in order to live a decent lifestyle. The newspaper company is definitely offers an opposed viewpoint on people who are on benefits as, they believe that vulnerable people should work and provide for themselves.

The Guardian- (Right Wing)

-From The Guardian website it is clearly evident that the newspaper company is right wing as, the article mainly focuses on numerous people who are vulnerable and need the support from the government. In this news story, a specific example was used which narrates the lifestyle of a disabled women who wants to get benefits as she is disabled and can't afford to live her life at ease.

What are the politics of the UK press?
-The UK press is thought to be predominantly right wing.
-In March 2017 commentator Owen Jones said described the UK press as 'largely run by a very small group of very right-wing media moguls who defend the status quo of which they are part. If you are on the Left and want to change society, the media will always come and get you'.

YouGov findings-
-Out of the 8 national newspapers we asked about, 5 were seen to be predominantly right-wing, whilst the 2 were seen as predominantly left-wing.
-The independent, although no longer a physical presence in Britain’s newsstands, was seen as a broadly centrist publication.

Right wing and left wing newspapers-
-Daily Mail is seen as Britain most right wing newspaper (44% very right wing), (81% considered the paper to be right wing to one degree or another)
-The Guardian is seen as Britain's most left-wing newspaper (16%), closely followed by Mirror (11%)

Elections and the Press-
-After the 1992 election, when the Conservatives won the general election, the Sun famously claimed that they were responsible for this win. Since the 1950s, The Sun has been the most read print newspaper in the UK. It continues to be the most read print paper, but The Daily Mail is more popular when online readership is included.

The Sun-
-Ever since supporting Margaret Thatcher as Prime Minister in 1979, whomever The Sun has backed, has won in a general election.  In 1997 the newspaper dramatically changed allegiance to the Labour party to support Tony Blair, who is widely thought to have been a centrist, rather than a left-wing Prime Minister.