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You Will Need

Contents:

  • Newspaper mastheads

Investigation 2

How did newspapers in South Australia represent life in the colony?

In the early 1880s, South Australia had 47 different newspapers and journals that were published daily, weekly or monthly. Print media was often the only way many people could stay informed of local, colonial and international events, and for businesses to advertise their goods and services. Some newspapers had elaborate mastheads at the top of the front page. The mastheads allowed the newspaper to express the values of their communities and their readers – the people to whom they were trying to appeal.

Your Task

Examine how newspapers expressed the values of their communities and their readers.

Activities

  1. Examine the South Australian newspaper mastheads.
  2. Form small groups. Discuss the following questions about the masthead for Frearson’s Weekly Illustrated and record your answers.
    • What does the coat of arms in the centre of the masthead represent?
    • What kind of activities are taking place in the masthead?
    • Does the masthead represent city or country life? What evidence suggests this to be the case?
    • What kinds of technologies are apparent in the masthead?
    • Who might have been the readers of this newspaper?
    • Examine the twirling ribbons in the right and left corners of the masthead. What do the inscriptions say? In your own words, write what you think the inscriptions mean.
  3. In your groups, discuss the following questions about the masthead for The Illustrated Adelaide Post and record your answers.
    • Do you recognise the buildings in the masthead? Why might the designer of the masthead have chosen to include those particular buildings?
    • What kind of activities are taking place in the masthead?
    • Does the masthead represent city or country life? What evidence suggests this to be the case?
    • How are horses being used in the masthead? How is this the same or different to the way horses were used in the masthead for Frearson’s Weekly Illustrated?
    • Who might have been the readers of this newspaper?
    • Why might Britain’s Union Jack be shown flying on the flagpole rather than an Australian flag?
  4. Share your group’s responses with the rest of the class.
  5. Design your own masthead to represent Adelaide or another South Australian town in the years before Federation. When you have finished, share your masthead with the rest of the class.