Pearson Edexcel · A-Level · History
Course version: 9HI0 · Version from Sept 2015
Mass media and social change in Britain, 1882–2004 - 4 The Thatcher…
Full specification wording
Paper 3, Option 39.2: Mass media and social change in Britain, 1882–2004 - 4 The Thatcher governments and the media, 1979–90: Control and compliance: attempts to control reportage on issues of national security; the role of Bernard Ingham; the reportage of the Falklands conflict and the miners’ strike.
This topic examines how Thatcher governments sought to manage news on national security, the influence of Bernard Ingham as press secretary, and media coverage of the Falklands conflict and…
Checked against the Pearson Edexcel 9HI0 specification (opens in a new tab) on .
- Point 3 of 3
- 4 key terms
Study notes
From the checked teaching notes for this specification point.
The idea
This topic examines how Thatcher governments sought to manage news on national security, the influence of Bernard Ingham as press secretary, and media coverage of the Falklands conflict and miners’ strike. Control operated through D‑notices, the Official Secrets Act, and briefings; compliance was encouraged by selective access and pressure. Ingham shaped the agenda by briefing lobby journalists and attacking critical reporting. During the Falklands, reporters were kept away from the task force until later, and coverage was constrained by military secrecy and government guidance. During the miners’ strike, the NUM and government both tried to control the narrative; the media often framed picket‑line violence as a public‑order issue.
What earns the marks
- Explains the mechanisms of control: D‑notices, Official Secrets Act, lobby briefings, and restrictions on access to the Falklands task force.
- Analyses Bernard Ingham’s role: daily briefings, rebuttals, and his influence on the framing of stories about the miners’ strike and national security.
- Evaluates the reportage of the Falklands conflict: initial exclusion of journalists, the Belgrano controversy, and later embedded reporting.
- Assesses the reportage of the miners’ strike: coverage of picket‑line violence, the ‘enemy within’ narrative, and the NUM’s own media strategy.
- Judges the extent of control and compliance, considering media independence and public scepticism.
Common mistakes and how to put them right
Treating D‑notices as legally binding.
Put it right: D‑notices were advisory requests to editors, not statute law.
Claiming Ingham had direct editorial control over newspapers.
Put it right: He influenced through briefings and pressure, but editors retained formal independence.
Assuming Falklands reporting was entirely censored.
Put it right: Some journalists reached the task force and filed reports, though under restrictions.
Exam tips
- Use specific examples, such as the Belgrano sinking or the Battle of Orgreave, to illustrate control and compliance.
- Compare the Falklands and miners’ strike to show change and continuity in government media management.
- Link Ingham’s methods to broader debates about the lobby system and political spin.
Try the lesson
The start of the Paper 3, Option 39.2: Mass media and social change in Britain, 1882–2004 - 4 The Thatcher governments and the media, 1979–90: Control and compliance: attempts to control reportage on issues of national security; the role of Bernard Ingham; the reportage of the Falklands conflict and the miners’ strike. lesson, made from checked teaching notes for this specification point.
Have a go first
Which post did Bernard Ingham hold during Margaret Thatcher's premiership?
Listen
This topic examines how Thatcher governments sought to manage news on national security, the influence of Bernard Ingham as press secretary, and media coverage of the Falklands conflict and miners’ strike. Control operated through D‑notices, the Official Secrets Act, and briefings; compliance was encouraged by selective access and pressure. Ingham shaped the agenda by briefing lobby journalists and attacking critical reporting. During the Falklands, reporters were kept away from the task force until later, and coverage was constrained by military secrecy and government guidance. During the miners’ strike, the NUM and government both tried to control the narrative; the media often framed picket‑line violence as a public‑order issue. A strong answer earns marks for these points. Explains the mechanisms of control: D‑notices, Official Secrets Act, lobby briefings, and restrictions on access to the Falklands task force. Analyses Bernard Ingham’s role: daily briefings, rebuttals, and his influence on the framing of stories about the miners’ strike and national security. Evaluates the reportage of the Falklands conflict: initial exclusion of journalists, the Belgrano controversy, and later embedded reporting. Assesses the reportage of the miners’ strike: coverage of picket‑line violence, the ‘enemy within’ narrative, and the NUM’s own media strategy. A common slip: treating D‑notices as legally binding. Instead, D‑notices were advisory requests to editors, not statute law. Exam tip: Use specific examples, such as the Belgrano sinking or the Battle of Orgreave, to illustrate control and compliance.
Key words
Say what each word means before you turn the card.
Government control of information
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Media compliance and resistance
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National security and secrecy
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The role of the press secretary
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See every definition
- Government control of information
- Attempts to control reportage on issues of national security, operating through D-notices, the Official Secrets Act, and briefings.
- Media compliance and resistance
- Compliance was encouraged by selective access and pressure, while the NUM and government both tried to control the narrative during the miners' strike.
- National security and secrecy
- Reportage on issues of national security was subject to attempts at control, with D-notices being advisory requests to editors rather than statute law.
- The role of the press secretary
- Bernard Ingham shaped the agenda by briefing lobby journalists and attacking critical reporting, influencing through briefings and pressure rather than direct editorial control.
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