A Divided Nation: Media Representations of the North-South Divide in England

Abstract

The North-South divide in England has been a widely discussed topic: whereas policy makers have downplayed its existence, critics argue the divide finds a steady basis in reality. With help of framing and critical discourse analysis, this dissertation deals with news coverage of the divide in England and asks whether coverage follows the government line or highlights the gap in all its facets. It argues that local, northern newspapers Liverpool Echo and Manchester Evening News point out regional inequalities on economic, social and political level much more frequently, while national newspapers The Times and The Daily Telegraph ignore the existence of the North-South divide altogether.