Tabloid ethics after leveson : a critical case study of meg…

Dissertation Instructions and Requirements

I am a journalist student and This project is an undergraduate dissertation of approximately 8,0009,000 words (including references). The dissertation will be assessed according to the following five key sections:

Assessment Sections

The dissertation will be marked based on:

Focus and Objectives

Clear research aim and rationale

Well-defined research questions

Strong justification for the study

Literature Review

Engagement with relevant academic sources

Critical discussion of existing research

Clear connection to the research questions

Focus on media ethics, tabloid journalism, and post-Leveson regulation

Methodology

Clear explanation of research design

Justification for using qualitative research

Explanation of data collection and analysis

Ethical considerations and limitations

Results and Discussion

Thematic analysis of findings

Interpretation of patterns in tabloid coverage

Links to ethical standards and regulation

Connection back to literature and research questions

Writing, Presentation and References

Clear academic writing

Logical structure

Correct Harvard referencing

Accurate reference list

Documents Provided

I will provide the following supporting materials:

The marking criteria

The dissertation template

These documents should be carefully followed to ensure the dissertation meets academic expectations.

Research Topic

This dissertation will use a qualitative research approach to examine how Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have been represented in UK tabloid journalism.

The study will focus particularly on:

Ethical journalism standards

Privacy and public interest

Representation

Post-Leveson regulation

Digital media influence

Methodology Approach

The dissertation will use a qualitative content analysis method.

The methodology section should:

Explain why a qualitative approach is appropriate

Justify the use of content analysis

Explain how tabloid articles will be selected

Describe how patterns and themes will be identified

Focus on interpretation rather than numerical data

Avoid quantitative statistical analysis

The methodology will:

Analyse tabloid articles about Prince Harry and Meghan Markle

Identify recurring themes and patterns

Examine ethical issues in reporting

Evaluate the use of public interest arguments

I would like to focus items published from 2020-2025 and would explain this in my method section I want to focus on around 45 tabloid pieces from the major uk papers eg the sun, the mirror maybe daily mail etc I want to focus majority on left wing news but compare right wing news too

The study does not require quantitative analysis or statistical data.

Research Questions

The dissertation will address the following three research questions:

Research Question 1

How do UK tabloids invoke the concept of public interest when reporting on Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and to what extent does this align with the ethical standards proposed by the Leveson Inquiry?

This question will explore:

How tabloids justify stories using public interest

Whether these justifications are ethically valid

Connections to Leveson Inquiry recommendations

Ethical journalism standards

Research Question 2

How do representations of Meghan Markle in UK tabloid journalism reflect ongoing issues of racial and gender bias, and what does this reveal about the effectiveness of post-Leveson ethical regulation?

This question will explore:

Patterns in how Meghan Markle is represented

Evidence of racial bias

Evidence of gender bias

Ethical implications

Weaknesses in media regulation

Research Question 3

In what ways have digital platforms and audience metrics shaped tabloid coverage of the royal couple, and do these shifts represent a departure from or continuation of pre-Leveson ethical challenges?

This question will explore:

The role of online journalism

Click-driven reporting

Audience demand for celebrity news

Ethical pressures in digital media

Changes since the Leveson Inquiry

Overall Aim

The goal is to produce a first-class dissertation that demonstrates:

Strong academic research

Clear argument

Critical analysis

High-quality academic writing

Correct referencing

A clear qualitative methodology

Strong links between theory and findings

This dissertation will need to be Harvard style written please