GCSEMedia StudiesWJEC EduqasRevision NotesComponent 1 Section B: Industries & AudiencesNews Industry & AudiencesNews Audiences

News Audiences (WJEC Eduqas GCSE Media Studies): Revision Note

Exam code: C680

Written by: Nicola Elliott

Reviewed by: Bridgette Barrett

Updated on 15 July 2026

Audiences overview

Newspapers target specific audiences by shaping their content, language, design, and viewpoints to appeal to particular groups of readers
They choose certain types of stories, adjust their tone, and present information in ways that match the interests and expectations of their audience

Broadsheet vs tabloid

The differences between tabloid and broadsheet newspapers highlight bias and ways of targeting audiences
- Broadsheets mainly target older, more educated, higher-income readers who are interested in serious topics like politics and world affairs
- Tabloids mainly target a wider, working-age audience who prefer entertainment, celebrity news, sport, and sensational stories

Other key differences include:

Tabloids (The Sun, Daily Mail, The Mirror)	Smaller page size Focus on celebrity, crime, scandal, and human-interest stories Simple language, shorter sentences Sensational headlines (designed to shock or attract attention) More images, less text
Broadsheet (The Times, The Guardian, The Telegraph)	Larger page size Focus on politics, economy, world news More formal, complex language Less sensational, more serious tone More detailed articles, fewer images

Uses and gratifications theory (Blumier and Katz)

The news is now available to audiences in a variety of formats on different platforms

U&G Theory	Print	Digital
P	Readers often choose newspapers that match their political views or lifestyle Helps shape opinions and identity over time	Algorithms show news based on interests and beliefs People follow news that matches their views
I	Provides detailed, structured reporting of events Seen as more reliable due to fact-checking	Digital news gives instant updates on breaking stories Audiences can quickly search and personalise news feeds
E	Includes opinion pieces, celebrity stories and features Less interactive than digital news	Includes videos, live streams and interactive content Headlines and social media make news more engaging
S	Limited interaction - readers cannot respond instantly Discussion happens outside the newspaper through conversation only	Users can comment, like and share news stories News becomes part of online conversations

Worked Example

Briefly explain how newspaper websites attract audiences

[4 marks]

Newspaper websites attract audiences by using a range of digital features designed to be engaging and easy to access. They use attention-grabbing headlines and images to quickly draw readers in and encourage clicks on stories. They also update news in real time, which makes the content feel current and relevant compared to print newspapers. In addition, many sites include interactive features such as videos, comment sections and social media sharing buttons, which encourage users to engage with and spread the content.

Comparing The Sun to The Guardian

The two set texts for news are front covers for The Sun and The Guardian
The newspapers have key differences between their:
- Ownership
- Audience
- Ideology
These influence their construction

Industry

The Sun	Owned by News UK (part of Rupert Murdoch’s wider media group) Commercial tabloid Profit driven Relies on sales, advertising and brand promotions Historically high circulation and mass market reach One of the UK's most read tabloid brands Uses sensational headlines and celebrity/sport stories to attract large audiences and advertisers
The Guardian	Owned by Scott Trust Limited, which is designed to protect editorial independence Quality broadsheet/online news Relies on advertising and pushes digital subscriptions/voluntary membership Lower print circulation, very strong online/global readership Digital audience is central to its business model Uses investigative journalism and serious reporting to build trust and attract loyal readers

Audience

The Sun	Targets mainly working-class / lower-middle-class readers (C2DE/C1) Core audience 18-49, traditionally slightly more male Readers often seek entertainment, sport, gossip and simple news Appeals to people who prefer quick reading and striking visuals
The Guardian	Targets mainly middle-class / professional readers (ABC1) Slightly older audience overall, though strong online appeal to young educated readers Readers seek politics, world news, social issues and in-depth reporting Appeals to readers who value analysis, longer articles and trusted journalism

Ideology

The Sun	Often associated with right-wing / conservative viewpoints, especially on issues like immigration, nationalism, and law/order
The Guardian	Often associated with left-wing / liberal viewpoints, especially on social justice, equality, and environmental issues

Unlock more, it's free!

Join the 100,000+ Students that ❤️ Save My Exams

the (exam) results speak for themselves:

I would just like to say a massive thank you for putting together such a brilliant, easy to use website.I really think using this site helped me secure my top gradesin science and maths. You really did save my exams! Thank you.

Beth
IGCSE Student

This website is soooo useful and I can’t ever thank you enough for organising questions by topic like this. Furthermore, the name of the website could not have been more appropriate as it literally did SAVE MY EXAMS!

Fathima
A Level Student

Incredible! SO worth my money, the revision notes have everything I need to know and are so easy to understand. I actually enjoy revising! It makes me feel a lot more confident for my GCSEs in a few months.

Kate
GCSE Student

Absolutely brilliant, both my girls used it for A levels and GCSE. It's saves on paper copies, also beneficial exam questions ranked from easy to hard. It's removed a lot of stress from the exams.

Sameera
Parent

Just to say that your resources are the best I have seen and I have been teaching chemistry at different levels for about 40 years

Mark
Chemistry Teacher

Excellent