Component 1: UK Politics: Influence of the Media
Support Booklet for Advanced Information
Aims: Using this booklet, along with your PLCs and notes, you can review, deepen and
challenge your understanding of the key concepts and issues covered. The specification is
broken down in accordance with the Advanced Information with tasks for you to complete
in each section.
What is included in Component 1?
,Influence of the Media: What do I need to know?
1. The impact of the media on, and between elections
2. The role of opinion and exit polls in elections
3. The impact of media bias, in newspapers, TV and wider
4. Role of the media in persuading views
Step 1: What are the different types of media available?
When we explore the influence of the media, we need to consider the varieties of media that are available
for people. Your role is to know a series of different medias, but also specific examples of each and when
they have been used.
The following breaks down the different types of media available. For each, add in real life examples of
where this type of media has been used to influence elections – I have added some examples for you.
Print Media
Broadsheet Media
Usually seen as ‘highbrow’. These deal with weighty political debates and present information in a
measured, if partisan way. They include the Guardian and Times. Typically these address significant
political issues and tend to focus on facts, not hearsay.
Name them and where they sit politically
Tabloid Media
Populist newspapers, they focus more on sensation and entertainment. Designed to engage and
promote typically a viewpoint of the writer / owner. Examples include The Sun (very key in the
1992 Conservative election “it’s the sun wot won it”
Name them and where they sit politically
Magazines
Can provide an important check and help to inform high-level debates as political and satirical
magazines produce detailed reports on political activity as well as scrutinise the work of politicians.
Think more about ‘political magazines’ such as Private Eye. You may want to focus on Ian Hislop’s
Private Eye investigations.
Radio Media
News Headlines
Every radio station has to give regular news broadcasts, usually on the hour. Basic, informative
headlines, that present information without analysis or bias. The major sources of this include the
BBC, ITV etc which are regulated in the UK.
, For example?
Commercial Radio
A number of talk radio stations are designed to engage in political discussion and debate. These
might be privately run organisations or commercial bodies, such as Heart FM. Where have you seen
/ heard politics being discussed here?
For example?
Podcasts
A new format, designed to be shared to audience who share similar views. Very biased, and often
promoting a narrative that they choose.
For example?
TV Media
News broadcasts
All terrestrial channels are obliged to have regular and impartial news broadcasts, which occur at
set times and for a set duration. These are where all political broadcasts are shown, and are
regulated by the central bodies. We saw several of these during the COVID pandemic.
For example?
Party political broadcasts
5 minute broadcasts that occur at set times, usually after a news broadcast, across the channels.
There are regulations to ensure that all parties are given a fair and equal chance to influence public
opinion. What recent party broadcasts have there been? How effective have they been?
News channels
These provide 24 hour news coverage which can drive political events by raising public awareness
and ‘hyping’ events to make them appear more serious than they are.
For example?
Support Booklet for Advanced Information
Aims: Using this booklet, along with your PLCs and notes, you can review, deepen and
challenge your understanding of the key concepts and issues covered. The specification is
broken down in accordance with the Advanced Information with tasks for you to complete
in each section.
What is included in Component 1?
,Influence of the Media: What do I need to know?
1. The impact of the media on, and between elections
2. The role of opinion and exit polls in elections
3. The impact of media bias, in newspapers, TV and wider
4. Role of the media in persuading views
Step 1: What are the different types of media available?
When we explore the influence of the media, we need to consider the varieties of media that are available
for people. Your role is to know a series of different medias, but also specific examples of each and when
they have been used.
The following breaks down the different types of media available. For each, add in real life examples of
where this type of media has been used to influence elections – I have added some examples for you.
Print Media
Broadsheet Media
Usually seen as ‘highbrow’. These deal with weighty political debates and present information in a
measured, if partisan way. They include the Guardian and Times. Typically these address significant
political issues and tend to focus on facts, not hearsay.
Name them and where they sit politically
Tabloid Media
Populist newspapers, they focus more on sensation and entertainment. Designed to engage and
promote typically a viewpoint of the writer / owner. Examples include The Sun (very key in the
1992 Conservative election “it’s the sun wot won it”
Name them and where they sit politically
Magazines
Can provide an important check and help to inform high-level debates as political and satirical
magazines produce detailed reports on political activity as well as scrutinise the work of politicians.
Think more about ‘political magazines’ such as Private Eye. You may want to focus on Ian Hislop’s
Private Eye investigations.
Radio Media
News Headlines
Every radio station has to give regular news broadcasts, usually on the hour. Basic, informative
headlines, that present information without analysis or bias. The major sources of this include the
BBC, ITV etc which are regulated in the UK.
, For example?
Commercial Radio
A number of talk radio stations are designed to engage in political discussion and debate. These
might be privately run organisations or commercial bodies, such as Heart FM. Where have you seen
/ heard politics being discussed here?
For example?
Podcasts
A new format, designed to be shared to audience who share similar views. Very biased, and often
promoting a narrative that they choose.
For example?
TV Media
News broadcasts
All terrestrial channels are obliged to have regular and impartial news broadcasts, which occur at
set times and for a set duration. These are where all political broadcasts are shown, and are
regulated by the central bodies. We saw several of these during the COVID pandemic.
For example?
Party political broadcasts
5 minute broadcasts that occur at set times, usually after a news broadcast, across the channels.
There are regulations to ensure that all parties are given a fair and equal chance to influence public
opinion. What recent party broadcasts have there been? How effective have they been?
News channels
These provide 24 hour news coverage which can drive political events by raising public awareness
and ‘hyping’ events to make them appear more serious than they are.
For example?
