Monday, 18 January 2010

The Daily Express and Sunrise Radio: a summary


The Daily Express stays loyal to its central beliefs and values. Its news agenda fixates on a narrow-minded conservative perspective. It has a set of key doctrines. These doctrines are, in general terms:
  • Nationalism: it remains patriotic and opposed to international interference. This intolerance of internationals is shown by its current eurosceptic position against European integration between the UK and the EU
  • Criticism of government: it can be very 'politically incorrect' and will often bring new policies on taxation (inheritance tax for example), mortgages and other financial burdens on the public into disrepute
  • Local level issues: symbolised by its crusader aspect, it likes to give vehicle to the voice the ordinary people; locals who have something to say have the chance to go to print with their stories and opinions
  • Pro-family: matters of the household are given representation on a regular basis
Currently circulation figures for the Daily Express stand at 725,284 per day, which is relatively low. Readership stands at just 1,655,000 nationally. Compared to its main mid-market competitor, the Daily Mail, the Daily Express is lagging behind by more than a double of what its rival earns in circulation per day (2, 139, 178).

The Express's news agenda negotiates a conservative contract with its audience. At mid-market level they cater for a fair proportion of the UK adults around the C1C2 margin. The average age of the typical Express reader, according to its media analysis, is 59. Older members of their audience are both from the ABC1 and C2DE social grades.

According to its online media package, 58% of all Express readers can be grouped into the NRS social grade ABC1. This vague classification is probably accounting for those older readers in ABC1, and mainly those in C1. 40% of Express readers are 65 and over; compared to all other age groups this is the most significant.

Other audience numbers are: 15-24 (5%), 25-34 (4%), 35-44 (13%), 45-54 (18%) and 55-64 (19%). It would appear, based on these figures, that the Express is most popular with older members of its audience.

The Express appears to prefer an internal news appeal (basically national). The stories it prints are typically of a more populist fold, e.g. mother of five fights eviction from council flat.

Its coverage of current and global affairs is relatively minimal - it tends to restrict these to the very first few pages. The rest of the paper (excluding the sport section) indulges in articles that cultivate nationalist stances, feed the superficial needs of their audience and tend away from a diversity of viewpoints. It is evident what the Express prefers to publish.

Its lack of broad scope in the news is a result of its current ownership by Richard Desmond and a general slip in standards (some would attribute this exclusively to Desmond). Like ITV with the X-Factor, it is much easier and cheaper to focus on issues that aren't necessarily justified by topicality.

Sunrise Radio, owned by Litt Corporation, similarly provides a generally exclsuive content package. Its overarching purpose as a national broadcaster and internationally renowned Asian radio station is to provide support, perspective and entertainment to the Asian community, namely that of the UK.

The specific group it caters for are of an Asian Indian background, and typically practise the Muslim religion. The community it has provided for since 1989 is synonymous with its broadcast orientation. Without the intention of appeasing this community it has no unique appeal - it would be just another radio station.

Its online news archives indicate that the news agenda is fixed on a list of frequent subjects:
  • Crime
  • Justice
  • Politics
  • Community
  • International news
Other subjects might be spoken of, but these seem to be its key players in its community news updates. With topical issues such as terrorism, Muslim ethics and Sharia law appearing regularly in many aspects of media, it is no surprise that these should feature in the news updates at Sunrise.

Some might make the false suggestion that exclusive radio stations like Sunrise Radio are racist and unjustified, given that other radio stations cover more than just one community's viewpoint. But it is really a device of voice for a minority ethnic group. What the Asian Indian community in the UK asks for can usually be found at Sunrise.

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