Newspapers
Appearance: Similar to Muggle newspapers, with black
print on thin paper, but figures in Wizard news photographs move. The most
prominent paper, of course (and possibly the only one), is the Daily Prophet,
which also has Evening Prophet and Sunday Prophet editions. Like Muggle papers,
the Prophet features a crossword and even prize giveaways, in addition to
news articles.
Function: The Daily Prophet keeps witches and wizards
informed-well, supposedly-and entertained.
How to Use: One can subscribe by post, as Hermione took out a subscription in the midst of her fourth year exams. Subscriptions generally aren't prepaid; Harry kept paying the owl that brought his Prophet during the summer after his fourth year. Perhaps there's a discount, though, because Hermione's paper only costs a Knut coming each day, and Hagrid had Harry pay the owl in the Hut-on-the-Rock five Knuts [PS/SS5]. At any rate, the paper is delivered, neatly rolled up, in the beak of an owl. The owl has a leather pouch tied around its leg, for carrying the Knuts. Daily Prophet delivery varies from 5:00 to 8:00 in the morning.
Notes: The Prophet has a wide circulation. Many Ministry witches and wizards were reading the paper on their way in when Harry was at the Ministry of Magic for his hearing. Other students at Hogwarts must get the paper, since word spreads quickly about events such as the great escape of Death Eaters in Harry's fifth year [OOTP25]. Even Professor Snape brandishes an Evening Prophet in Chamber of Secrets. It's a very popular paper in Hogsmeade as well.
Like any newspaper, however, the Prophet gains its readers at
a cost-it loses the right to report the whole truth and nothing but the truth.
Like Muggles, witches and wizards like to hear the dirt on celebrities and
powerful figures, so the Daily Prophet star reporters use the sensationalist
Quick-Quotes Quills to embellish stories and interviews. The paper's portrayals
of Harry and the Ministry change drastically with public opinion on Voldemort's
return. It also refers to the interview bought from The Quibbler as 'exclusive'
to catch readers' interest, and hosts an annual Grand Prize Galleon Draw to
reward its patrons who so faithfully accept and influence all that's fit to
print.
On at least two occasions it is painfully obvious that The Daily Prophet is heavily influenced by the Ministry. The first occurs during the summer after The Triwizard Tournament when the paper tries to spin Cedric Diggory's death as a tragic accident rather than admit that Lord Voldemort had returned. In addition to this, the Prophet printed stories questioning the sanity of both Harry and Dumbledore to discredit their claims about Voldemort [OOTP11]. The paper only relents when Fudge does, printing stories about Harry's bravery in advocating the truth when no one believed him, conveniently forgetting that they, in fact, were the ones who didn't believe him [OOTP38].
The paper again falls under Ministry control as Voldemort steadily gains power after Dumbledore's death. The Prophet begins printing pure propaganda after Scrimgeour's death, citing a study from the Department of Mysteries that magic is hereditary and "asking" all Mudbloods to register at the Ministry and submit a family history. It also changed its opinion on Harry once again, noting that he's wanted for questioning regarding Dumbledore's death [DH11].
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