Target Audience

The original thoughts on my target audience are that it's going to be aimed at young people in the county of Cornwall as this is the main idea behind my magazine. I wanted to do this because I don't feel that there is a magazine out there that really shows what Cornwall has to offer for young people. Because of this idea of going out and doing things my target audience's personality is going to be quite adventurous, fun seeking and outgoing as my magazine is to show them things that they didn't know about. Although because of the element on Cornish fashion I think that it's going to sway more towards the feminine side although I do want to try and keep it quite gender neutral to appeal to a wider audience range. Also because of this element on fashion my target audience are going to be concerned with current trends and linked in with what is currently big in the fashion industry making this link in well with them. Another element of my magazine is the music scene that Cornwall has to offer but because of the type of music this is my target audience are going to be interested in new artists that are different from a lot of mainstream music as this is what Cornwall really thrives in. I feel that the content of my magazine is going to be aimed more at students due to the age range being between 16-25 as this is College and University ages but I feel that these are the age of people who are going to be wanting to do things other than the normal things that are obvious to do as they are at an age when they want to really explore things that they haven't known about before.

In terms of audience theory my target audience are likely to fit in the bracket of succeeders and reformers as these people are self confident and follow their own decision of what is good within a product rather than being brand conscious. Whereas if my audience members fell into the mainstream bracket it would mean they buy into the conformist idea of buying into safe brands, as of this the mainstream group is the biggest because a lot of people care more about brand rather than content. As my magazine is going to be new and aiming at a part of the market in Cornwall that hasn't been targeted before the mainstream audience members will not be interested as it's not going to established as of yet and I wouldn't describe the magazine i'm creating as being 'safe'.

Analysis of Billboard Advertisement

When I was trying to find magazine billboard advertising to analyze so that I can look at what I need to do for mine, I found that it was difficult to find advertising for the actual magazines so instead I have analyzed a variety of billboard advertisements for different things.

This billboard advertisement is for a new film coming out so therefore the aim of this billboard is to attract the target audience in so that they will go and watch the film. As this film is a sequel the target audience is going to be people that enjoyed the first one and also new people to the series. As of this the main image is introducing the new villain which therefore gets the audience excited to see what he will be like in the film. The main attraction behind this billboard advert is the drama within the photograph itself this is focused around the idea of the make-up used on the villain because it creates a mystery around him. Because the audience won’t have seen this character before this will intrigue them and they will want to know more about him. As well as this the subtle detail of the flames behind the date add connotations surrounding what will happen in the film, the fire connoting that they will be danger, anger and violence. 

The idea of violence is also reflected in the glare of the character and the dark tones that are used throughout the image. Although the way the tones of the light are created in the photo it shows the light in the distance and the dark coming in from the sides. This could show one of two things with the darkness coming it connoting that the darkness is coming in with this character that either it follows him or he brings it. While the light in the background could either connote that the lighter times are far away and are a distant memory. Or this could show the light at the end of the tunnel that the end of this film could bring some happiness. This billboard advertisement would also be effective because of the star vehicle surrounding the character as it is Heath Ledger his fans will be intrigued and might even watch the film simply because of him. Also in the case of this film it is based around the Batman comics so people that are a fan of this will want to watch it to see how the villain is going to come across in this film.

The key to billboard advertising is producing something that is going to have an effect on the audience and capture their attention. That is why this particular advert is so effective because it’s not got any writing to state what it’s advertising because it’s not needed, as the purpose is clear. By replicating the product in a larger form it is showing the audience exactly what they want them to buy into. The thing with this particular advert is because it’s chocolate it’s trying to capture people in through the idea of indulgence and guilty pleasure. It’s playing with these ideas because of the life size chocolate bar its going to make people want it and people are going to imagine how nice it would be to be eating one. The other thing here is that they have ensured that the chocolate bar looks like its been savagely ripped open so it’s actually revealing the contents so that people can see the temptation and want it more. 

Analysis of 24/7 Magazine

 

24/7 is a regional magazine that is aiming at a younger audience from all different areas of the UK through fashion, music, films and even places to eat. I think from the original look of this front cover you can see clearly that it is aimed at young people. The main image that is used has the main effect because it’s a popular band on the front cover so that will attract the audience into the magazine. The actual image of the band is effective because it shows almost the characters of the band through the facial expressions that they are making. This idea breaks the mould of general studio shoots of artists because this is showing them in a way that is personal rather than the usual posed image that doesn’t give the audience any insight into the actual characters. Another aspect to the image that is good is the colour appeal with the flags around the neck this takes away from the image being too dull and makes the colour subtle. As well this can also make the masthead more interesting by taking this focus to place it intertwined in the masthead to add a flow to the magazine and create a colour scheme linked in the image. This means that the rest of the colour scheme can be neutral colours to ensure that the front cover doesn’t look over the top or garish. From the content of the typography we can also see that there is a main focus of music in this issue but what’s interesting from the typography is that the focus is on where the artists are from and where they are playing. This shows us that the sale of the magazine is based around whether the audience member can associate with where the artist is from or where they are playing. This shows us that the focus of this magazine is still very much on the idea that it’s regional and is showing people what is going on in their local area. 

The contents page of 24/7 magazine has an abnormal structure in the way that the image takes up most of the two pages while the writing is only small to the side. I think that main image on this page isn’t very effective because although the quality of the image is good it doesn’t actually make it clear to the reader which feature this links into because there is no bold title. I also think that the idea that the magazine hasn’t stuck to conventions because rather than having a variety of image to give the audience member an idea of what’s to come they have just made the focus on one. I think this doesn’t really attract an audience member to want to read any further because there isn’t an image for them to be attracted into reading that specific feature. I also think that because the typography to the side is so small it doesn’t stand out to the reader and it doesn’t give any detail as to the content of the pages it simply just states the pages of a couple features and the regulars. Overall I think this contents page has a very cheap look and seems as though no time or thought was put into producing a good outcome. In order to attract in the target audience of a younger age group they needed something to stand out and more images in order to see fully what is in this magazine but without this it just looks dull and badly put together. 

One thing that is prominent within each issue of 24/7 is that they have a few pages on the news from the past month this is as well as the contents page. This is a clear detailed overview of the best things the reader should have seen or should go and see in their local area. I think this section is good because it has something for everyone on it and really gives you the feel of what this magazine is about and leads to what else may be within it. I think the layout of these pages is effective because it ensures that each section has a clear divide as well as making it all link together well in the latest news. The layout also ensure that you can fit as much information and images on the two pages so that the reader can gather as much information possible. I think the way the photographs are placed works well as it breaks up the text to make sure that the reader isn't put off by this and ensures that the images will catch the readers attention to draw them in. The slight uses of colour on these pages is also effective as it doesn't make it look garish yet it still makes the titles of each article clear to introduce you to them and to make it not boring like it would be if it was all white. As well as the actual articles it has a section to the left that is made completely clear that it's separate and this involves information about the production, advertising etc. of the magazine to ensure that this is in here somewhere. 

Both of these features are also very effective as the imagery covers the whole background and the writing is on top, this makes the two pages flow together and makes it interesting for the reader because its full of colour. The one to the right is also effective due to the amount of images that are layered on top of each other to add lots of areas of interest which is needed as it's a fashion feature so needs to show the variety of the trends, this is something I need to be clear of for my fashion features. While the music feature to the left shows the band in aninteresting location to appeal to fans. As of this full background the typography on top needs to still be able to be seen without taking other, this is done well on both of these as the typography is done in neutral colours to ensure it sticks to both of these things. One thing that follows on each feature I have looked at from this magazine is that they all have a 24/7 section at the top for example the fashion article has 'retail24/7' at the top which clearly sections each part of the magazine off to make it clear to the reader. This is something that I may incorporate into mine as it really creates an identity and structure to the magazine.

I think the layout of this magazine is suitable to the young target audience as it is interesting yet not over the top. I think the strict layout with the adverts on either side and the main information in the middle then with the website link sections on the top makes it simple yet easy for the reader to use. This is the type of layout I would like for my magazine as it would appeal to my target audience well and be in keeping with the theme by being able to add a variety of content. An interesting feature of this website is that it has an online version of the magazine making it accessible to everyone and showing that it's moving with the digital changes that the magazine industry is facing. 

Analysis of Cornwall Today

The idea behind the magazine Cornwall Today is to appeal to a wide audience and to show them the diversity that Cornwall has to offer. This therefore means that they want to feature anything and everything within this magazine. The overall look of this cover is appealing as the photography used is bright and vibrant while also being of a high quality. This is effective because it captures the flower in a pure form and shows full detail into it which will make the audience member interested in the magazine because the image has fully caught there attention. I also think that the high level of photography and editing skills on this image is effective because it shows that a deal of care has been taken into consideration when making this cover. This also links in with the fact that the magazine is trying to appeal to all types of people while the photo almost adds a high standard and sophisticated effect which the majority of people will want to buy into. This is a good thing to be portrayed as this can create an escapist aspect for a wide audience.

The image also links in with the typography stating that the story is about the places where you can see bluebells which adds to the image of beauty that this photo portrays because now the audience member is attracted to the image and will want to buy the magazine so that they can see this for themselves. The content of the rest of the typography reflects the idea of a versatile county as it’s all stating about a slightly different story which means that it can appeal to a mass of different personalities. Also the good thing about the content of these stories is that they all show a form of going out and doing something which show that the county of Cornwall is alive and is very much disputing the idea that there isn’t anything to do in Cornwall.

I think that the colour scheme of this front cover also buys into the idea of looking sophisticated and more subtle because the colours suit in well with the main image which keeps this as the main focus. Although the use of subtle writing works well at not being overpowering it does also have a slight boring aspect as it all looks the same and isn’t very eye-catching. This can also be said for the masthead as it is a standard font and in the colour white which wouldn’t make an audience member want to buy as quickly as they can. I think these aspects of the magazine as well as the content of the typography show that the magazine doesn’t meet the idea of being suitable for all types of people as this wouldn’t appeal to young people. All of these things add up to a much older audience with maybe people of an age where they aren’t working much and need things to do in their spare time. From looking at this Cornish Magazine and the fact that it states it’s the best selling magazine for Cornwall it shows me again that there is a need for a magazine that shows young people what they can do.

Above is a screenshot from the 'Cornwall Today' website of which I can look at how it reflects the ideals it is meant to portray. The main focus is on the photographs as they give off the sophisticated vibe that links to the older target audience. This is done through the fact that these photos are of a high standard and quality showing clearly the features behind them. This takes away from the garish appeal that would have been more for a younger audience. As well as the photographs the colour scheme also assists this sophisticated look by being subtle. This is done through the use of simple colours such as the white and blue as the main colours linking in nicely with the greens displayed in the photographs. This makes it look more appealing in a way that's modern and almost higher class rather than 'in your face'. The links on the website are also well fitting to the target audience as they are easy to access with the bar at the top of the screen linking to certain sections, as well as by clicking on the pictures which leads to what the stories are behind them.

Initial thought on Genre/Style

From looking into different regional magazines around the area of Cornwall I have found that none of them are aimed at the younger age group but rather tourists and older people. I think aiming at the younger generation within Cornwall is a very marketable area as it’s a unique avenue that hasn’t been aimed at yet. There is a need for a magazine to really show young people the amount of things that they have in their county because a lot of them do not realise what’s around. Within this I want there to be a big focus on the fashion element of the magazine as Cornwall isn’t really a place none for style yet I think there is a lot around and want to highlight this. As well as this there will be a focus on music, food, art and shows as these are all things that can show young people everything that they can do for fun and show them how easily accessible it really is. 

Impacts of Technology

Legal Restraints

When publishing a magazine there are many things you have to be careful with when it comes to the content and because of this magazines have two regulatory bodies that monitor what is said in the magazine. These two bodies are the PCC and the ASA, they both have different jobs of what they must regulate. The PCC monitor what the magazine publishes and whether the content is suitable for the audience that it is targeting. As well as this they have set up certain codes and regulations that the publishers and editors must follow. This includes 'accuracy' this is to ensure that the content is as true as possible as to not supply false information, this is also the same for images. Another is 'opputinity to reply' which means that the content must cover both sides of the story so as not to enforce a certain side on the reader, as well as this they must be open to add reply's if any of the information is inaccurate. The last rule is 'privacy' meaning that what they publish they need to have the permission of the person's involved and to ensure that it doesn't go against certain things that the person has asked not to be printed. The ASA controls the adverts that are put in magazines to ensure they are fit for purpose and the target audience.