Generic Research- Audience Research

 

Target Audience: "A primarily 16-25 year-old middle and upmarket media literate audience"

What do I expect them to engage in (pop culture)?

I expect this audience to be very present on social media and for this to have a big influence on things they do. I assume this audience to have many gadgets and enjoy video games as well as enjoy listening to music: I generically expect this audience to have a massive presence online and to have very high amount on time spent on technology. 

I expect most of this audience to be very culturally aware of celebrities, for instance latest movies, award nominations,  red-carpet looks. For the other part of this target audience, who aren't as aware, are instead to be easily influenced by the people who are. 

What do I expect them to interact with within a Film Magazine?

I believe this audience would interact mostly with action movies like Marvel and D.C which have big celebrities in as well as horror movies which are always popular with younger audiences. Additionally, I think movies with big names in will be popular, although I do believe alternate movies that are far from the status-quo would engage a younger audience.

Overall I believe a younger audience will be interested in any movie, I believe movies are chosen because of good reviews- this could be through edits on social media, many award nominations, or just word of mouth. Consequently a multi-platform offering would be beneficial at suiting this audience.

Although I do believe streaming services has had a domino affect onto what film magazine portray in their editions. The film industry has somewhat changed with smaller production films finding it harder to find their audience especially without being on streaming services, this is also why we see a rise in anthologies with the same big names dominating the major characters. They become easily are wanted by streaming services and are well advertised as they are a 'safer' option. Consequently, whilst I believe it would be safe to feature large blockbuster action movies, I also believe having individuality and portraying smaller films would still be of interest.

Empire Film Magazine Audience

THE EMPIRE READERSHIP is three-quarters male and aged 18-40, employed, in a relationship (although not necessarily married), university educated and time-poor. Empire’s audience is passionate about film — they use cinema as escapism or insight into other worlds. They are also key influencers in their group of friends and within their family — no-one would dream of seeing a film without their recommendation. From the multiplex to indie cinemas to home cinema and streaming on their laptop or phone, they now have access to cinematic content 24/7. In an increasingly noisy world, with a wealth of information available, Empire’s job has never been more important. We curate, we inform and we entertain, whenever and wherever our audience is. 

Beneficial links to a 'film magazine'

This screenshot from Sight And Sound website (a company which promotes music and film) of whom has a younger age demographic: I believe this would be beneficial link to have at targeting the younger audiences, since readers of this and my own magazine are film enthusiasts and adore something good to watch, old vintage films which they might not have considered or even heard of, and have already been approved would be a good alternative when struggling at choosing something to watch and therefore would encourage them to click the 'read more' link or read that article in the magazine. Consequently having this link within a magazine or to an attached website would be great at targeting the younger '16-25' age generation.   

This is a screenshot from the Film Magazine website which focusses on reviews but also has a range of other articles such as the one above. Whilst initially it was difficult how to depict what would attract a 'middle and upmarket media literate audience', although I believe on having a large focus on more of the production of film (directors, writers ect) and the history of film it would attract and appeal to this part of the demographic just like what I believe that Film Magazine have done with this article. It takes more of an academic approach to film rather than entertainment factor (but still important to include). 

Generic Research- Initial Research and Why I Am Interested In Particular NEA

 Brief 3: Why am I interested?

Brief 3 I find particular interesting because of the diverse range of themes and direction I can go in. A new film magazine means I can chose any theme of film to represent which means the front cover can be very unique and different and allows me to chose what I want to do. Therefore it interests me.

In addition to this it means I can represent unrepresented minority groups which I am passionate for. 

Also, I am more drawn to this brief because I have had more experience in using photoshop to create posters/front covers therefore I believe I am more suited to this rather than a music video or an ongoing-scene. 

Brief 3 Initial Research:  

Bauer is one of the world’s largest privately owned media groups which means I can have my own agency to represent whoever and promote whatever international film movie production whilst still being conscious of appealing to a primarily 16-25 year old middle and upmarket media literate audience. 

“We use audience insight to get a deep understanding of our audiences – knowing that it is no longer enough to understand what consumers are doing right now but it’s crucial to understand where behaviours, values and attitudes are changing.”- This is what I will definitely have to be conscious of as I need to reflect the companies ideologies and attitudes.

News Simulation

 

News Simulation

I had the role of sports editor within this process. As a team we managed to produce this front cover which we believe to reflect The Guardians new values and ideologies. My article:

Inclusive Rugby Team Challenge Rugby’s Tradition of Toxic Masculinity  

 

Traditionally rugby has been viewed by some as elitist whilst players are stereotyped as ‘blokes’ acting brash and bigoted, all in the name of ‘banter’. 

Harsh, heavy-handed sports have been a long-lasting fuel of the current toxicity which lies within men- young and old- in contemporary society. Suicide rates within young men have skyrocketed, within the last decade and the hand of the toxicity must be of blame: A forty percent higher rate within homosexual and LGBTQ+ men epitomise how men that do not fit within the rough rugby stereotype have found themselves to be unworthy. 

However, change is on the horizon: a new ‘snowflake’ generation has subverted the norms in the name of inclusivity. The London Stags RFC are South-London's biggest LGBTQ+ rugby club which pride themselves, who say they “don’t align themselves with rugby’s toxic masculinity. We do a quite a few bravado things but it’s not at the expense of others and not prejudice towards sexuality.". The captain, Leo Brookes carries on to say “More often than not our members have initially avoided playing rugby because it is a bit macho and can be intimidating, and it is not a sport that allows people to develop their sexuality through their youth.”. 

The London Stag’s RFC are adjoined to a wider community of an all-encompassing, rugby loving circle of the International Gay Rugby (IGR), which is all established in promoting inclusion and respect- something that has been deprived on the pitch as well as in the vast body of rugby. It includes over thirty-thousand members worldwide and holds over sixty tournaments internationally.  

Many traditional rugby families have criticised this “pathetic act” believing it to be against what rugby stands for at its core. Christopher Biggins head of Norwich RFC preaches how “these organisations have single-handedly gone against what rugby stands for. Rugby is an all-accepting sport, happy to welcome anyone.”. The head of IGR believes whilst this may seem true replies in fury on twitter how “men from across the globe have consistently been discriminated against and made to feel unworthy of co-existing in an ‘all-loving’ rugby community.”.