Researching target audience

Above, I have researched the audience profile for Lancashire Life magazine.

It is clear that Lancashire life readers are conservative and wealthy; the magazine is aimed at 45-60 year olds. I think I would make my magazine suitable for a slightly younger audience, such as 25-45 year olds.

After research I have found out that there is a gap in the market for a magazine aimed at young married couples or middle-aged people who perhaps aren't as wealthy as buyers of Lancashire Life. This is why if I created a magazine which focused on the fact that it is perfectly possible to maintain a "proper" standard of living, despite perhaps being on a budget (as a younger audience would be).

By reading about the style of Lancashire Life (to the left), I have decided that I really like the idea that the magazine brings together "everything you love about your county".

There is a definitely a strong focus on the British, kitsch trend with things such as The Great British Bake off being very popular and so by creating a magazine focusing on villages of the north-west, and adapting my photos and articles to have a British-theme this would fit the popular interest in all things kitsch.

The magazine is aimed at an older audience; I would like to aim my magazine at the slightly younger audience of 25-45 year olds. I will however, still abide by the conventions of this regional magazine, focusing my inside stories particularly on property, food and drink and health and beauty.

To the left, are the statistics of the type of people that read "Now Then" magazine. The magazine is aimed at a younger audience and I plan to aim my magazine at a younger audience than that of Lancashire Life; so, by basing some of my contents around the contents of Now Then would help attarct the demographic I'm aiming to have.

Now then can be found in local retailers, bars, restaurants, doctors, dentists, hairdressers, libraries, tourist information centres, hotels, cinemas, cafes, takeaways, museums, theatres, universities, and online.

Knowing this information, allows me to understand what sort of articles and features I should include in my magazine as it is likely that my magazine would be sold in similar local places!

Researching Existing Magazines

This front cover sticks to the colour rule of three: Blue, White and Pink. Blue and white are very neutral colours which connote calmness, however the pink stands out against the neutral colours which prove to be a contrast and thus implies the that the contents of the magazine contains different information; fundamentally attracting a larger audience.

 

This particular issue of Lancashire Life focuses on the Lake District and so the front cover image anchors this as a photograph of the Lakes' landscape is used. This would automatically attract a reader as they may recognise the place. However, the magazines cover image is attractive and eye-catching, the scenic image would attract readers out of curiosity.

 

I will definitely consider using a recognisable and attractive landscape image for the front cover of my magazine as it would attract the demographic of locals as well as people who are interested in discovering more about the image on the front.

 

The graphology of the magazine is simple, the writing is plain and easy to read which implies that the magazine is 'to the point'. The use of alliteration "wild and wonderful" and "cult collies" effectively draws attention to the cover stories.

 

"Exposed" is a magazine sold only in Sheffield and South Yorkshire.

The magazine targets a range of demographics, each issue containing specialised features which attract a large audience.

 

The cover of this issue of "Exposed" is striking. The bright colour scheme of yellow, red and white has connotations of fire and heat, which highlights the fact that the magazine is "hot" or up-to-date.

 

The main cover story is large and eye-catching. The rhyme used "Ram, Bam, Thank You Man" is simple but effective and also suggests a lack of seriousness and a laid-back attitude which reflects the content of the magazine.

 

The cover image is a medium close up of a person with an indirect gaze, this suggests a sense of mischief, often associated with a younger audience (the image anchors the main cover story).

The cover story focuses on Chris Ramsey, a comedian from the North East of England, not many would know this other than local people, this is a common feature of a regional magazine as Chris would be recognisable to locals but perhaps not people from different regions.

 

This particular issue of "Exposed" appears to be targeted towards a younger audience due to the youthful comedian being a main feature; the bright colours used also suggest that the magazine is
targeted at a younger demographic

 

Another regional magazine that I have found is "Now Then". This magazine is slightly different as it is free, however it still abides by the usual conventions of a regional magazine.

Now Then is a free magazine distributed all over Sheffield and the Peak District.

The magazine is  produced by Opus Independents, a not-for-profit social enterprise which has been operating in this, our fair city for over five years. Now Then is a full colour,

content led magazine, featuring articles and interviews on local & national politics, trade,

visual arts, music, poetry and satire. Now Then is read by 30,000-40,000 people each month.

About Me / Brief

About me:

 

My name is Kate Naylor, I am an A2 Media Studies student and Winstanley College and it's safe to say that I love all things quaint. My fondness for attractively unusual and old-fashioned things can be applied to pretty much anything and so this is why I have chosen the brief I have chosen (see brief).
 

I think that it's important to create something that is personal to you, this way, the final product will inevitably have had a lot of thought put into it and that will show. I am excited to create a regional magazine for the area which I live (West Lancashire) as I am proud of the quaint villages that will be so wonderful to research and write about.

 

I have a passion for reading and writing; love to sit down with a book and a cup of tea and I really want to apply this  to my coursework. Due to my passion for books, I plan to investigate the history of these quaint villages through reading and researching (and of course a little feature on the afternoon tea I so love to have, would not go amiss)!

 

 

Brief:

 

"The first four pages from an original regional magazine together with two of the following three options:

- a radio advertisement for the magazine

-two hyperlinked pages from the magazine's website

-a billboard advertisement for the magazine