How do The Daily Mail and The Guardian Present Different Views about the Appointment of Boris Johnson as Prime Minister?

Refer to:

-Language

-Images

-Differences in form and political viewpoint

-Text of the main article

-Social Media

The Daily Mail presents an entirely positive view of Johnson and his appointment to the role, using an image of him in a powerful, positive pose that depicts him as a strong and confident leader. The image shows Johnson in a positive light as well as adding to the intertextual link of the bold headline stating ‘now bring us sunshine!’ to link to a Morecambe and Wise sketch, a show popular in the 80s that would appeal to nostalgia in the target audience of The Daily Mail who are generally older generations. The bright yellow font of the word ‘sunshine’ also implies that Johnson will bring an era of positivity and success to the UK, and contrasts the ‘looming’ shadow brought by the ‘plotting’ opposition. Alongside this the article could be said to promote Johnson as an underdog raised to the top to achieve a ‘boyhood dream’, and uses excessive positive language to describe Johnson and his impact on the ’re-energised’ nation and its ‘vision’ for the future.

In contrast to this The Guardian presents a sceptical, more negative insight of Johnson’s appointment, with the headline of ‘An ambition is fulfilled. But what next for Britain?’ possibly implying that Johnson doesn’t have the nation’s interest in mind, but instead only the desire to achieve his own goals, and perhaps that a Prime Minister should be appointed based on skill and merit rather than just because they want to fulfil an ambition. The image used isn’t the most flattering image, and a deliberate choice was likely made not to use an image of Johnson looking powerful or confident for the future. Alongside this The Guardian label the Conservative party as ‘fractured’ and ‘demoralised,’ a clearly negative image of the party at this time. The respective social media pages of each paper reflect these views in how they present the story, The Daily Mail gives a clearly positive message of ‘IT’S OFFICIAL!’ on its Facebook page, with a dominantly positive reaction from followers that mirrors the values of The Daily Mail. One commenter states that ‘it was time for the UK to take another course,’ possibly reflecting the mainly pro Brexit stance held by the paper. In contrast The Guardian garnered a more varied response, with more oppositional and negotiated replies from readers, one responder said that ‘as long as Boris has fulfilled his ambition then to hell with the rest of us!” – A more negative and demeaning view of Boris that somewhat conveys the more left leaning, anti-Brexit views that The Guardian and its readers hold.