An exploration of the representation of white working class British in media texts

I have analysed a variety of medias representing the working class. Perhaps the one expected to deliver the most raw view was the one I studied most. The daily mail's mediation of the shannon mathews case. What I found was rather surprising as I researched reports from the week of the dissapearance to the week of her mothers arrest. I was expecting feelings of sympathy to turn to bitterness towards the working class however the reports remained unbias, sympathetic and informative. ( Later Reports )

Before Karen was found out

Early reports we're informative and gave little information on karen mathews and her lifestyle and was more focused on the dissapearance of her daughter. Later reports we're similar with the exception of unflattering photos of Karen being shown. I feel that some newspapers feel they must remain informative and it is not their job to create a heavily mediated perception of various classes in certain cases. ( Early reports )

After Karen was found out

On the other side of the sprectrum is various tv dramas that I have watched. As Jean Baudrillard stated "TV no longer represents the world, it is the world". This implies that all TV dramas we consume will influence our interpretation of whatever is being shown to us.

The Royle Family is a TV drama designed to give a comedic, yet relatable view of a working class family. Comedy can often create an exageration of certain characteristics ( such as class ) however I feel this drama does a good job of maintaing the typical working class family image.

Whilst some of the characteristics of the family are frowned upon (Living of the state) the drama portrays the family in a very real and likable way, creating a positive icon for the working class.