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Types of newspaper

Photograph of newspaper front pages

Newspaper front pages from just before the May 2015 General Election

The content and of each newspaper reflect its target readership. The top 10 best selling UK newspapers can be divided into two categories: Image led and Text led

Image led: Tabloids

Tabloids are image led, 'popular' newspapers and can be subdivided into two groups:'red tops' and 'middle market' dailies.

The 'red tops' are The Sun, Daily Mirror and Daily Star and are so-called because they have red mastheads.

The is the large title at the top of a newspaper front page containing the newspaper's title.

The 'red tops' report on politics and international news but tend to include more celebrity gossip and scandal.

They write short stories using simple language and they have more pictures than other newspapers.

The 'middle market' dailies are the Daily Mail and the Daily Express.

The description 'middle market' refers to the target readership of these newspapers, which is somewhere between the 'red tops' and the 'broadsheets'.

Text led: Broadsheets

Broadsheets are text led,'quality' newspapers. The top broadsheets are The Times, The Telegraph, The Guardian.

The 'broadsheets' have a higher news content than the 'red tops', cost more to buy and have a lower circulation. The style of writing differs from tabloids with longer sentences and paragraphs, and more articles offering in-depth analysis.

Tabloids and broadsheets produce Sunday editions.

These tend to have - additional sections - with a more specialised focus which can include magazines on culture, lifestyle and finance.

Local newspapers are also published daily and weekly in all regions of the UK.

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