Connotations in Tabloid Journalism.

After an introduction to Semiotics, we went on to analyse particular stories from tabloid paper, and I chose the story...

"PUNISHING THE POOR"

> Fury as massive council rent rises

>ConDem plans 'attack the vulnerable'

From Daily Mail's 23.11.10 publication.

From the very beginning, from the three word title "punish the poor" it is clear to see which social stance the paper is taking on this issue- having empathy with the "hard-up families", and the Government Ministers clearly being depicted as "the enemy" in a quote from Defend Council Housing campaign group, "ministers must rethink this madness".

The signifier in this article is:

*The written/spoken/imagery- analysis.

*The image of the Minister, Grant Shapps, looking confident, bold, finger-pointing, perhaps somewhat aggresively.

*Concil housing- dirty, unkept examples of ill living- emphasising the "lower class vulnerability" of the persons whom may experience the forthcoming rise in council housing rent payments.

The signified in this article is:

*The summary of the article- anger and frustration as Government plan to raise the cost of counil house living, attacking those most economically vulnerable.

The denotation (what is being denoted) in this article is

*People's basic understanding of Goverment and Council Housing-

*The contrast between the two social groups- the lower classes "vs" the upper classes- the most powerful placing the poor in even greater stages of economic vulnerability.

The connotation (what is being connoted) in this article is:

*The associational meanings of Government and council housing, what the public potentially percieve (notes here specific to the article):

*Corrupt

*Powerful

*Manipulative

*Vulnerability

*Lower-Classes

*Lieing

*"Savage"

*Hardship

*Struggles

The myth in this article is:

*The system and rise in council house costs will affect as many people, if not more so, in a negative way that the positive aspects the exsisting council housing scheme has to offer- the negatives will outweight the positives.

*The current coalition Government is corrupt and manipulative "heads they win, tails you loose with this Governement".