Journal 7: More Comparing and Contrasting

This week if I get everything done it'll be about numerous subjects. This one's about comparing and contrasting different newspaper styles.

This week I'm going to compare and contrast The Irish Times and the HeraldAM in their coverage of the renewed Lisbon Treaty referendum.

The Irish Times has a detached, professional style which it is well know for in their coverage of major events. They always go with the obvious headlines, such as here with "EU set to offer Ireland guarantees on Lisbon". It is a very matter-of-fact style with an emphasis on facts and informative writing.

In contrast, the HeraldAM leads with "It came from Brussels" and "Lisbon II" making light of the fact that this will be the second time the country has voted for the same treaty.

In another contrast with The Irish Times, the HeraldAM relegates the story to the fourth page. Comparing the two papers, the HeraldAM seemed a little more quotation-based and also Ireland based, with The Irish Times giving a broader European view of the subject.

However both papers are filled with facts about the announcement. The Irish Times ends with a long quote by an oft-quoted source in the piece, Minister Michéal Martin. The HeraldAM ends with the assurances that were made, but both papers are broadly comparable to each other in terms of the style in which the information has been delivered - short, simple and clear, with all quotes attributed and roughly the same length.