Textual Analysis and News Values: Whitney story is on the masthead, in full colour, alongside a sports-related story (the

e Suarez race row) and a Twitter/BBC story. The main story, indicated by the largest typeface, is political, and the largest image goes to Meryl Streep at the Oscars. Both of these stories have relevance to the target audience indicated by their British links. A follow up piece is alongside, referring to the ongoing narrative re: Rupert Murdoch. This news agenda is dominated by the power elite: Rupert Murdoch, the BBC, the Oscars and politicians worldwide. Whitney is part of this, occupying the role of celebrity alongside the high-brow Oscars, which gain more page space. Entertainment is not as important for the target audience of the Independent as it is for the target audience of The Mirror.

Representations: The wording of the Whitney story avoids sensationalism: she is referred to by her full name Whitney Houston but referring to her as the ultimate pop diva puts her firmly in the role of celebrity. Life and death promises an insight into the constructed narrative of Whitney Houstons story. It balances the importance of her life alongside the event of her death, suggesting they are equal and avoiding a sordid interest in the details of her death (whilst still suggesting they will be dealt with). Bad news is present but in a less sensational way. The audience is positioned to admire Whitney: the image of her is shot from a lowangle, suggesting power and dominance, and she is pictured mid-performance, reminding us of her star power. The ultimate pop diva anchors the image in positive terms, although diva does have more negative connotations of demands/irrationality and links the audience to Whitneys history of substance abuse.

Uses and Gratifications: Entertainment: the narrative of Whitney is connoted as complete and the newspaper offers an insight into it from start to finish. She is not here represented as the self-destructive star but diva does make some link to this. Personal identity: This works in the same way as the Mirror article, in a less sensational fashion.

How has this representation been selected, constructed and anchored? Why has it been created in this way/how is it being used? Is this a typical representation in this context? What issues and debates surround this representation?