To what extent do the best selling UK newspapers cover stories related to serious issues? To what extent do you think it is their role to do so? In your opinion does the tabloid media and 'low budget entertainment' (reality shows, soaps) have too much power and influence in this country?

The Media has alot of power in this country, It has the ability to guide, scare and comfort the nation. Newpapers being on the main sources of media produce, alot of information on various articles that can be considered important(serious) or in some cases a waste.

When i read the blogprompt, i wasnt to sure how to answer as im not really one for reading newspapers, so i took it upon me to do a little research on the internet.
The blogprompt stated that the Sun is the top selling newspaper and that there was only one Broadsheet in the top 6. So i therefore looked at 'The Sun' homepage and 'The daily telegraph' as it was 4th.
On The Sun's homepage, i found that the top stories include 'JLS wear Jedwrads Trainers' 'Jordan uncensored' and 'david beckham secretly smoking', on the otherhand those on The Daily Telegraphs homepage include 'Uni of East Anglia accused of manipulating climate change data' and 'Underperforming issue', there were other stories which could be considered of an insignificance as X-factor was also on their homepage. Just from looking at these two Newspapers homepages, allthough being a snapshot of what they produce, you can see that there is a clear difference in what both exhibit.

Although i dont read many newspapers i know that there is a difference in what the two different types produce, therefore i feel that those top selling newspapers do not cover serious issues to the extent that they should. They base the majority of their stories on sport and celeberity lifes. where as those that are infact broadsheet do produce information on issues such as climate change and politics.

I feel that it is their role to produce more information on serious issues, such as Sustainability and healthcare which from recent articles are clearly both an issue that needs to be dealt with.
The issue is, that each newspaper designs itself towards its target market, therefore if it was changed then it would lose out. If The Sun changes so it gives information on serious issues, the majority of people that buy The Sun, buy it for what stories it produces, they may not have any interest in climate change or sustainability, therefore will simply stop buying.

However we all know that Tabloids are extremely good in Scaring the nation, you dont even need to read newspapers to know, Their headlines say enough, therefore if they were to change would it be a good or bad thing. As they will catch the nations eye and get us thinking, but at the same time they do give the extreme.

Almost everyone has a T.V in their house and spent a good part of the day/evening watching it. The mainstream channels 1,2,3 and 4 mainly show soaps and reality T.V including X-factor, Hollyoaks, Eastenders and Im a celebrity,Get me out of here. i feel that there should be more documentarys on serious issues. We need to be informed on what is happening in the world and it shouldnt be down to the news to do this. Every now and the Channel 4 or BBc 1/2 will show a short series on an issue such as climate change, but is this enough?

Low budget entertainment definatly has too much power in this country.