Press and Class in Britain
Abstract
This paper examines the historical and structural relationship between the British press and social class, analyzing how media
serves as a critical arena for class identity construction and cultural expression. Through a comparative study of the elite-oriented Times
and the mass-market Mirror, it reveals their class-based divergences in content production, audience targeting, and dissemination strategies: The Times caters to the upper-middle class with analytical rigor and conservative stances, while The Mirror dominates working-class
readership through sensational narratives and visual mobilization. Despite technological shifts, newspapers remain both mirrors of class
relations and spaces of power negotiation, sustaining traditional boundaries while enabling cross-class dialogue. This dynamic underscores
the dual role of British media in preserving the public sphere and fostering social inclusivity, reflecting its enduring relevance in a multicultural society.
serves as a critical arena for class identity construction and cultural expression. Through a comparative study of the elite-oriented Times
and the mass-market Mirror, it reveals their class-based divergences in content production, audience targeting, and dissemination strategies: The Times caters to the upper-middle class with analytical rigor and conservative stances, while The Mirror dominates working-class
readership through sensational narratives and visual mobilization. Despite technological shifts, newspapers remain both mirrors of class
relations and spaces of power negotiation, sustaining traditional boundaries while enabling cross-class dialogue. This dynamic underscores
the dual role of British media in preserving the public sphere and fostering social inclusivity, reflecting its enduring relevance in a multicultural society.
Keywords
British press; Social class; Media-class relationship
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PDFReferences
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.70711/rcha.v3i1.6525
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