How are representations mediated through media language on the front page of The Times ?

First, what groups of people, issues and events are re-presented on this front page? And broadly, is this representation positive or negative?

Politicians - negatively 

The covid pandemic - negatively 

Boris Johnson - broadly negatively

The police - positively 

Covid restrictions - positively 

Migrants - negative

The taliban - broadly negatively 

Finance and the economy - positively 

Middle class, middle aged women - positively 

Analysis

• A close up of Boris Johnson’s smirking face reinforcing the ideological perspective that Johnson is careless and somewhat incompetent. The selection of a close up image enables the audience to realise and to accept the fact that he has broken, and his personal responsibility. However, the use of a close up represents Johnson as tired and ineffectual. This representation is constructed through the MES of Johnson’s dark eyebags and prominent wrinkles. This presentation of MES anchors a reading that Johnson is pathetic, vulnerable and remorseful. This more sympathetic representation is typical of a right wing newspaper. However, since Johnson was remarkably unpopular with the voting public at the time, the newspaper cannot present a wholly positive representation. In supporting the hegemonically accepted idea that Johnson was unfit for purpose, the newspaper minimises risk and maximises profit.
• The pull quote suggests through the lexis “there was too little thought given to what was happening across the country” that ultimately it is Johnson to blame rather than the conservatives. This reality is reinforced through the direct mode of address of the pull quote, which encourages the audience to side with this version of events
• The headline “police investigate PMs four lockdown parties” presents a vague and factual mode of address that obscures the nature of the crimes, in order to more positively represent the prime minister.
• A further lead in-story references Vladimir Putin, yet inserts the narrative of Boris in tp the Ukraine crisis. In doing so, the newspaper constructs a more relatable mode of address for the target audience
• The colour splash skyline story “how to be fit do the bare minimum’ uses a soft news approach to constructing an identifiable mode of address. Not particularly glamorous, yet still wearing sporty gym wear, a healthy lifestyle is being presented to the target audience. The “bare minimum” mode of address will particularly appeal to a stereotypical middle aged middle class target audience who feel that they are overworked and have little time. Additionally, while being hegemonically attractive, the relatable and even aspirational representation of a middle class woman helps the newspaper to successful;ly target its audience.
• The masthead uses a bold yet subtle serif font that connotes that the target audience is older and more middle class. This luxurious crest, written in latin has connotations of private education and privilege 
• The Times uses a range of leading media language in order to construct a specific version of reality in order to appeal to the newspaper’s target audience, and to reinforce their political ideologies. In doing so, The Times can minimise risk and maximise profit. 
• The lexis of “he promised to change”, located in a caption under the main image presents a positive representation of Johnson, as someone who notices and is willing to deal with his mistakes. 
• The Times constructs a complex representation of Boris Johnson. The selection of image is unflattering, and the use of close up emphasises not only the MES of Johnson’s eye bags, but also the wrinkles on his face. This constructs a negative representation of older people, and infers that they are tired, ineffectual, and not suited for work
• The masthead of the Times connotes elegance and status through the selection of a serif and bold font. It suggests that the coverage of this newspaper is of great importance and of great accuracy. This is further anchored through the elaborate crest in the middle, which again connotes status, and the fact the newspaper is long established. Finally it reinforces the middle class target audience for the newspaper. The crest features writing in Latin, which appeals to a stereotypically wealthy and potentially privately educated audience. It also reinforces the luxurious quality of the newspaper. 
• The bullet pointed subheadings use the lexis “hundreds of photos”, suggesting irrefutable evidence of the PMs wrongdoing. This constructs a representation of politicians as being arrogant and ‘above the law’. However, the tone of the article is less scaNdalous that a tabloid, and takes a more moderate and even sympathetic approach, with johnson represented as old and tied rather than being a genuinely untrustworthy 
• The use of the pull quote further anchors the audience through the lexis of “failure of leadership”, which constructs a reality where Johnson’s authority is collapsing.  
• A direct mode of address is employed through a quote from a conservative aide suggesting Johsnon has “let us all down”. This helps the newspaper to appeal to and to include the target audience, and also suggests that even the conservative party are unwilling to associate with Johnson. 
• The skyline splash story “how to be fit” presents an appealing mode of address to the middle class female secondary. The lexis “by doing nothing” presents a surprising mode of address to the middle class audience, and constructs a reality where exercise can fit in around a busy lifestyle. The selection of a hegemonically attractive middle aged woman in gym kit constructs an appealing mode of address for the middle class target audience by constructing a relatable and aspirational mode of address. This use of soft news constructs a binary opposition with the other hard stories, and helps the audience to relate to a range of different representations. 
• The lexis of ‘investigated by the police’ constructs an intertextual reference to crime dramas, and presents this hard news story in a more exciting mode of address. The lexis of ‘police’ however is somewhat formal, and constructs a reality that Johnson, a wealthy middle class politician, is actually not above the law 
• The lexis “VAT cut is too risky” suggests an assumed knowledge of finance, which again  constructs a target audience who are wealthy and middle class and involved in finance.
• The choice of main image constructs a representation of Johnson as a naughty schoolboy. His embarrassed smirk and his scrunched up face allows the audience to negotiate a reality where his many crimes are forgivable