ANALYSIS: Narrative in print media

The main image in print media is chosen to be as relevant to the media narrative as possible. For example, a magazine cover may feature an interview from a celebrity and use a picture of them on the front. This also lends more information about the narrative to those who don't recognise the celebrity's name but are able to recognise their face.

Using a tag line in print text adds to the narrative by providing more information that would be attractive to the audience. An example of this is a movie poster featuring a tag line to gives clues on what the movie will be about.

A good headline should be both consistent to the themes of the narrative and eye-catching. A newspaper headline, for instance, should give a quick summary of the media text while still being vague enough to attract audiences to read on to the rest of the article.

Cover lines are mainly used on magazine covers to influence consumers to buy their magazine. It includes information on the contents of the magazine while keeping a few specifics an enigma. Jump lines used on the front page of newspapers to continue a story beyond the cover are also used to tease the contents and pressure audiences to read on.

Enigma codes are useful for compelling an audience to consume a print text since it omits information that can be found elsewhere within the piece of media. It can be found in most elements of a magazine, but is most obvious in jump lines.

The language and mode of address are also important to establishing a narrative. For instance, the blurb on the back of a DVD cover will deliberately leave out certain plot points to create an enigma and prepare the audience for the potential of twists and cliffhangers.

The Daily Star (April 8th, 2013)

The first thing that people will notice about this newspaper cover is the main image of Margaret Thatcher. This alone gives a lot of information about the narrative of the contents of this issue since those who were aware of her recent passing away would have immediately known the story, while others would at least be able to tell that this edition of the Daily Star would focus on Margaret Thatcher. The smaller images are all of celebrities and sports stars, which emphasises the Daily Star's identity as a tabloid and lends more clues to the interior of the newspaper.

The title of the main article, "THE IRON LADY BOWS OUT", uses capital letters and a large font to reiterate that it is the subject that this issue will focus on the most. It immediately attracts the eye as opposed to the smaller articles featured. It also uses her nickname as "The Iron Lady" and refers to her passing as "bowing out" in a respectful manner. This shows the audience that the narrative surrounding her death and the life she led will either be reported without bias or positively. The titles for the minor articles are considerably less respectful, treating Simon Cowell, Holly Willoughby, and other celebrities personal lives as a source of gossip and entertainment, which is often the centre of discourse for the Daily Star. This consistent narrative allows them to hold onto their dedicated readers.

All of the articles featured on this front page end with jump lines directing the audience to read further into the magazine to learn more. The football article doesn't contain an obvious jump line but it's implied that a full match report will be available inside. The less dominant stories are given a few lines of text while the main story relies on peoples' interest in Margaret Thatcher's death to influence them to keep reading. The writers of the Daily Star know that their audience will need more encouragement to read these less topical stories and provides more incentive by giving readers more of a teaser of what's to come.