A-Level Media Studies: WJEC (Eduqas)

AUDIENCE PROFILING TASK

YOU ARE REQUIRED TO COMPLETE A FICTITIOUS PROFILE OF YOUR IDEAL READER:(Present this work will visuals and annotations)

Every media industry product conducts market research in order to build a DEMOGRAPHIC PROFILE and a PSYCHOGRAPHIC PROFILE of their perfect audience member/customer/viewer/readers (social bands).

To sell advertising space, magazines inform advertisers about the types of people who read their magazines, in ‘Digital Media Packs’. Advertisers then know which magazines to advertise in order to reach their intended

target audience. The demographic data in Media Packs can help you plan your own media product.

You are required to create a fictional male and female profile of your perfect magazine reader. All work should be supported with images, gifs and videos.

SECTION EACH PROFILE:Paragraph 1: General info (Name, Age, Gender, Occupation etc.).

Paragraph 2: Hobbies & Interests.Paragraph 3: Clothing/Fashion.

Paragraph 4: Media Interests (music, film, television etc.).

OBJECTIVE

To demonstrate to the examiner that you are able to identify the key demographic/intended target audience that you will consider when constructing your final media product.

A-Level Media Studies: WJEC (Eduqas)

Below are links to online Media Packs from a range of magazines of different genres. Select one magazine of a similar genre to the one you wish to produce and find the relevant demographic information about their readers. As the magazine you have chosen is of the same genre as your own, you can assume that your own product will target the same audience.

NME (Rock/Indie): http://microsites.nme.com/php/mediapack/Rolling Stone (All Music Genres): http://www.srds.com/mediakits/rollingstone/index.htmlThe Source (Hip Hop): http://www.thesource.com/2009-source-media-kit2.pdf?thesource-prod=nlostjl1i8r0b33qu0l2c5eak1Kerrang (Rock/Metal/Punk): http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Global/mediapacks/Kerrang.pdfMixmag (Dance): http://www.mixmag.net/content/reader-profile

THE KERRANG! READER: Jim, 22, lives and breathes rock music: it informs his choice of friends, his hobbies, leisure time, attitudes, fashion sense and lifestyle. He engages with music 24/7, from the minute he wakes up ‘til the minute he falls asleep: when he is not listening to music or watching music TV, he is talking to his friends about music, attending gigs or playing instruments and dreaming about rock stardom. He is plugged in, sharp, has a strong moral code & rejoices in his individuality. He is a fashion trendsetter in his peer group but musical icons & scenes heavily influence him. Like the bands he supports he is extremely loyal to the brands he trusts. The way he looks & the clothes he wears are integral to communicating ‘his identity’ to the world.

The Q READER: Mark is 29 & a passionate music fan. As a lad he got into ‘proper music’ in the mid-’90s, inspired by the rock ‘n’ roll swagger of Liam and Noel, Blur and the Britpop scene. He’s in full-time employment but revelling in life without any dependents or family responsibilities. Mark has high disposable income to spend on himself alone, being a heavy consumer of music, buying up to 6 albums per month. He loves reading Q to discover new music, as well as filling in the gaps in his back catalogue. New music forms part of his social currency, so Mark is keen to know the new Mumford & Sons before they go mainstream and uses this knowledge as influence within his friendship circle. Mark is highly savvy to digital technology, a keen social networker and uses online services to enhance his social life. He’ll regularly welcome his mates round to his for some Spotify DJ-ing and a few beers as a warm-up for a big night out. An open-minded experience seeker, Mark loves the live music experience, opting to go for a mixture of gigs, & attends Leeds festival annually. Though a hugely passionate music fan, he is also interested in film, gaming, sport, & TV.