A2 Media Audience

Introduction The term audience refers to the people who consume media products and for whom mass media products are constructed. .

AS Media Audience
Introduction

The audience also refers to the people who give meaning to the media text that they receive. They attach their interpretation to the text.

AS Media Audience
Introduction

The term mass audience refers to the large group of the population who consume one media product.

AS Media Audience
Introduction

There are different types of audience.

Mass audiences consume mainstream media, such as soaps, sit-coms or reality TV shows. These are large in number.

AS Media Audience
Introduction There are different types of audience. Niche audiences are smaller in number and are more specialist in their interests. These niche audiences tend to be very loyal, since their interest in topics, such as farming or gardening, can be life-long interests.
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AS Media Audience
Introduction

One of the reasons that the audience needs to be identified is that the media language and representation that is used for each type of audience is different.

AS Media Audience
Introduction The following are just some of the considerations that need to be taken into account when mediating about whom the audience will be:

The age of the audience

AS Media Audience
Introduction

The following are just some of the considerations that need to be taken into account when mediating about whom the audience will be:
The gender of the audience male or female
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AS Media Audience
Introduction The following are just some of the considerations that need to be taken into account when mediating about whom the audience will be:

The demographic profile of the audience and the geographical area of the audience
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AS Media Audience
Introduction The following are just some of the considerations that need to be taken into account when mediating about whom the audience will be:

The socio-economic group that is being targeted

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AS Media Audience
Introduction The following are just some of the considerations that need to be taken into account when mediating about whom the audience will be:

Is this media text for an existing audience or is the industry trying to create a new audience?
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AS Media Audience
Introduction The following are just some of the considerations that need to be taken into account when mediating about whom the audience will be:

Is this media text for a particular group of the population e.g. gardeners, DIY enthusiasts?
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AS Media Audience
Introduction

The following are just some of the considerations that need to be taken into account when mediating about whom the audience will be:

The special interests of the audience, their life style, values and attitudes

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AS Media Audience
Introduction

So, by segmenting the target audience, the form and content of the media text can be shaped to attract that audience.

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AS Media Audience
How does the media know its audience?

We have previously mentioned that the media industry places target audiences into segments and profiles them. The media has relied in the past on placing people in social categories which can predict behaviour to a large degree. So, what are these categories? Lets take a look.
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AS Media Audience
How does the media know its audience? The media industry researches the occupation of the head of the household and on the basis of this, places the family into a category of person. This category will, to a certain degree, predict spending habits, lifestyle habits and interests.

Lets look at these categories individually:

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AS Media Audience
How does the media know its audience?

Professional, higher managerial people

Judge, Surgeon, M.P.

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AS Media Audience
How does the media know its audience?

Middle management and administrative people

Bank manager, ranked officers in the armed forces

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AS Media Audience
How does the media know its audience?

Junior management, supervisory people

Shop manager, personal assistant

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AS Media Audience
How does the media know its audience?

Skilled manual people

Carpenter, plumber, skilled machine operator

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AS Media Audience
How does the media know its audience?

Semi- skilled or unskilled manual people Cleaner, building labourer

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AS Media Audience
How does the media know its audience?

Casual workers, pensioners, unemployed Seasonal workers

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