THE GUARDIAN
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world
Mission/Mandate:
“The Scott Trust […] owns the paper. It operates with a light touch. Trustees have a self-denying ordinance about discussing the paper's political line or the finer details of management or finance. They appoint editors […] and give them one instruction, and only one: to carry on the traditions of the paper "as heretofore". What does that mean? It means understanding, and being true to, the liberal and progressive ethos of the paper. It means an attachment to high journalistic ethical standards. It carries an assumption that the paper will be serious, politically independent and international in its outlook.” (Editor-in-chief Alan Rusbridger: Guardian Website, http://www.guardian.co.uk/values/socialaudit/story/0,,1926195,00.html, accessed on 1 October 2008)
Its political orientation is most commonly described as ‘centre-left’: “Guardian Feature Editor Ian Katz stated in 2004 that "it is no secret we are a centre-left newspaper". In 2008 Guardian columist Jackie Ashley claimed that editorial contributors were a mix of "right-of-centre libertarians, greens, Blairites, Brownites, Labourite but less enthusiastic Brownites, etc" and that the newspaper was "clearly left of centre and vaguely progressive". She also said that "you can be absolutely certain that come the next general election, The Guardian's stance will not be dictated by the editor, still less any foreign proprietor (it helps that there isn't one) but will be the result of vigorous debate within the paper".” (Wikipedia: The Guardian, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian#Stance_and_editorial_opinion, accessed on 1 October 2008)
Target group:
Internet users worldwide. “The latest audit of users shows that 13 million individuals a month are reading GU [Guardian Unlimited; comment by ACCORD]. About 20% of users are from the UK and, encouragingly, 40% sign on from the US, followed by Canada, Germany, Australia, France and Japan. But almost every country in the world is represented.” (Guardian Website, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2006/mar/09/howtheguardianworks1, accessed on 1 October 2008)
Funding:
“The Guardian is part of the GMG Guardian Media Group of newspapers, radio stations, print media including The Observer Sunday newspaper, the Manchester Evening News, The Guardian Weekly international newspaper, and new media—Guardian Abroad website, and guardian.co.uk. All the aforementioned are owned by The Scott Trust, a charitable foundation which aims to ensure the paper's editorial independence in perpetuity, maintaining its financial health to ensure it does not become vulnerable to take over by for-profit media groups, and the serious compromise of editorial independence that this often brings. The Guardian has been consistently loss-making. The National Newspaper division of GMG, which also includes The Observer, reported operating losses of £49.9m in 2006, up from £18.6m in 2005. The paper is therefore heavily dependent on cross-subsidisation from profitable companies within the group, including Auto Trader and the Manchester Evening News.” (Wikipdia: The Guardian, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Guardian#Stance_and_editorial_opinion, accessed on 1 October 2008)
Scope of reporting:
Geographic focus: Worldwide.
Thematic focus: International news coverage.
Reporting methodology:
Publication cycle:
News articles are published on a daily basis.
Language:
English.
Navigation of website:
Most recent and breaking news in top section of the World News site; other news in bottom section (More world news) below Multimedia; list of all news of the day can be obtained through the link All today’s world stories at the bottom right side of the page.
Regional and topical compilations and news index may be accessed through the top menu; a full text search per section can be found in the top right corner.
A World News Guide, a country-by-country directory of news and government websites, can be obtained via the respective link in the In this section menu on the right-hand side.
Additional references:
