'Zero Shame' - an analysis of the front page of the set edition of the Daily Mirror

How does the Zero Shame front page construct meaning?

This analysis is cobbled together from two classes responses, and therefore there will be some repetition

• In the headline, the yellow text/font connotes danger as the daily mirror as the daily mirror wishes to represent the PM as a dangerous and untrustworthy in the extreme
• The image selected has a dark background, which adds further emphasis to Johnson…
• Newspapers often referred to Johnson purely by his first name, which gives him a more friendly and personable representation. However. The Mirror refers to him as ‘Boris Johnson’, which presents a more formal mode of address. By referring to him by his full name, the seriousness of the situation is made clear, and Johnson appears as if a naughty schoolchild who has done something wrong 
• The image selected represents Johnson as smug, which is anchored through his smug smile. This smug smile suggests that the PM was not taking his job seriously, and does not care about the serious trouble he is in. The words ZERO SHAME are absolutely huge and in block capitals, and suggests the lack of consequences for his actions. The size of the crime is emphasised through the big numbers in yellow, for example ‘300 pictures handed over’ form a binary opposition with ‘zero shame’ which emphasises the nature of the crime.
• The yellow form a sort of countdown to zero, which makes intertextual reference thrillers and action films, which provides the audience with an entertaining mode of address 
• A single front page story, which almost exclusively focuses on Boris Johnson. This connotes not the importance of this story but also provides the audience with an exciting and eye-catching mode of address
• A mid-shot of Johnson constructs a representation of his importance. However, further meaning is inferred through the MES of Johnson’s smirking face. His expression further anchors the notion that he has no shame, and completely lacks embarrassment 
• “Boris Johnson again refuses to quit”, the lexis here suggesting that Johnson is unreliable. The forceful language functions as an intimidating mode of address towards Johnson
• The colour of Grey Report Fallout connotes an alarming situation. The colour red here clearly symbolises danger and seriousness, yet it forms a binary opposition with the MES of Johnson’s smug and annoying face 
• The list of issues and scandals that have affected Johnson, including “parties now probed by cops” presents a tedious and exhausting message to the target audience, and suggests that Johnson has been getting away with this for too long. This connotes that Johnson is nothing but a petty criminal, and is at best annoying 
• The MES of Johnson’s suit presents a binary opposition to the awful things he’s doing. The professionalism encoded through his suit suggests respectability, but his list of crimes conflicts with his respectable representation. This constructs a representation of Johnson as an untrustworthy hypocrite 

How does the ‘Zero Shame’ front page use intertextuality to construct meaning?

• The front page makes intertextual reference to action films through one liners, bold sentences, and straight talking. 
• The lexis of ‘cops’ connotes America, exciting crime dramas, and a dangerous problem to solve
• The bold numbers in yellow make intertextual refers to bomb countdowns from action films, providing the audience with an exciting and anticipatory mode of address 

An analysis of the masthead of the Daily Mirror

Masthead - the stylised title of the newspaper, and a statement of it's ideologies and values

• The lexis ‘mirror’ connotes a reflection of how things in society actually are. It suggests that the newspaper is going to truthful and honest
• Red has connotations of prestige, values, quality and passion (and excitement???)
• The colour white suggests simple and unfiltered news
• The slogan ‘heart of Britain’ suggests that The Mirror is Britain's treasure, and is of great value to British people. This suggests patriotism and a sense of belonging
• The colour scheme of white and red is eye catching, simple and straightforward, much like the content of the newspaper
• The sans serif font and the fact that the logo is in lower case suggests an inclusive, straight to the point message
• The use of the term daily suggests a habit that audiences will have to get in to, and can even connote that the newspaper is addictive 
• The word DAILY is in CAPITAL which reinforces it’s importance
• 95p is affordable for the working class audience it is targeting 
• The red and white connotes that this is a tabloid newspaper, which are often referred to as red tops. 
• The bold font is connotative of power and confidence
• Simple and straightforward: the font is simple and non-distracting presenting a straightforward mode of address
• The lexis of ‘the mirror’ suggests the newspaper will reflect the events of the day. It laso suggests that the newspaper reflects the ideology of the audience
• The colour red suggests love, in particular patriotic love for Britain 
• The slogan ‘the heart of Britain’ suggests that the newspaper has a fundamental role in running the country, and is part of the lives of its target. This is not only highly subjective, but also highly hyperbolic. A clear metaphor
• The word ‘daily’ has connotations of regularity, a diary or a calendar. It suggests the newspaper is important all year round