Introduction
On this page I will show my research and planning process. I will be analysing magazines in order to get an idea of what I must include and how to make my magazine look realistic and enticing to the audience. In my work I know that I will have a particular target audience that I will focus on try and attract them to buy and read my magazine.
On this page I will show my research and planning process. I will be analysing magazines in order to get an idea of what I must include and how to make my magazine look realistic and enticing to the audience. In my work I know that I will have a particular target audience that I will focus on try and attract them to buy and read my magazine.
Wednesday 25th November 2015
Audience Theory
In order to create a realistic media product I will need to research my target audience by understanding the two key media theories and applying this in my magazine.The two theories are Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Blumler & Katz's Uses and Gratifications.
Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs
In Maslow's theory he suggests that there are five main stages that people go through in life and he says that in each stage we have different motivations that drive us. If we applied these stages to media, we can be able to use them to understand the motivations behind the need to engage with certain media products. It is normally presented in a triangle, the needs that he thought were most important he placed at the base of the pyramid and the most complicated needs were at the top.
The five main stages are:
Physiological - This is the physical requirements for human survival such as breathing, food, water, sex, sleep homoeostasis and excretion. If each of these requirements are not met then the human body cannot be able to function correctly and could fail, each one must be carried out in order for humans to live.
Safety - This is the security of the body, employment, resources, morality, the family, health and property. This also comes with health and accidents. Safety is significant in the triangle because people may go through a post traumatic disorder if there was no physical safety.
Love/ Belongingness - This is to feel a sense of belongingness acceptance in their social groups whether it may be small or big. Also, this involves the involvement of friendship, family and sexual intimacy.If humans didn't feel this sense of love or belongingness they may feel lonely, isolated and can result to social anxiety.
Esteem - This the human need for status, recognition, fame, prestige & attention. Not to mention, confidence, respect by and of other people. People normally engage themselves in an activity or hobby in order to achieve recognition. This gives them a sense of accomplishment and importance from others and themselves
Self - Actualisation - This is the need to be the best as one can be. This imply's that one should try to achieve to their full potential in order to accomplish what they want. A quote that sums this up is "What a man can be, he must be", this is from Maslow himself, this indicates that we should try and be the best we can be and go beyond our limitations.
These five stages are all vital and significant in media because in order to apply these I will need to understand them so I can successfully engage the target audience for my media project. Each one has value in them and I will need to achieve all these stages in my project otherwise I will not attract my target audience.
Blumler & Katz's Uses and Gratifications Theory
The Blumler & Katz's uses and gratifications theory (1974), suggests that the media users play an active role in choosing and using the media.The theorists say that a media user seeks out a media source that best suits their needs. It also suggests that the people's needs affect what media they select, how they may use the media and what indulgence it gives them.
The theorists say that the user has 4 basic needs which are:
Diversion - This is to escape or be diverted from problems from everyday life. Humans tend to use the media to do this as an escapism in order to relax themselves and fill time. This can also be seen as a method of procrastination, they also tend to divert using media to let out any emotional release or as a source of entertainment for themselves.
Personal Identity - People usually turn to media to find reinforcement for personal values and to find models of behaviour, someone to look up to. Likewise, they turn to media in order to gain insight into ones self and this suggests that they may try to gain some esteem from the media in order to gain respect and admiration and carry this out to others, this is from the values and behaviour from the media.
Personal Relationships - People use the media to gain an insight into circumstances of others this can also be seen as social empathy; humans can then understand people by seeing others perspective or experience. This also helps them find a basis for conversation and social interaction and it enables one to connect with their family, friends and society to find common ground.
Surveillance - People normally use the media in order to gain information, to find out any relevant events in their present surroundings in society and the world. This aids them in seeking advice on any practical matters or opinions and decisions they may have to make in the future. This is so we can be able to learn about our society and self educate ourselves and have guidance from the media.
Each of these 4 basic needs needed for the user is crucial as this also links with Moslow's Hierarchy of Needs.For instance, Personal Identity links in with one of Maslow's stages 'Esteem' as they both have a judgement of their selves in order to learn who they truly are. Personal relationships and love & belongingness are linked as both gain an attachment or bond with their family,friends and social group. Lastly, surveillance and self-actualisation are related as they both try to be the best person you can be, with surveillance this is through seeking advice,help or information and for self-actualisation is through being the best you can be by achieving certain goals you want in life.
By understanding the audience theory I can be apply it to my magazine because my magazine will have to focus on a certain target audiences and this would most likely by students in the school as they would want to be updated about upcoming events, trips and additional information about the school and it will also apply to the teachers as they can update themselves on anything they may be unaware of. Parents are another target audience since their child may go to the school and they may want to know what's going on within Archbishop Ilsley and how the magazine could also help their child in keeping updated on anything they're unsure of. This is a key reason on why understanding the audience theory is important because it allows me to connect with my target audience, though there may be more than one this means that more people will be willing to buy my magazine and read therefore this will make my product appealing and appropriate for the target audience to purchase.
These five stages are all vital and significant in media because in order to apply these I will need to understand them so I can successfully engage the target audience for my media project. Each one has value in them and I will need to achieve all these stages in my project otherwise I will not attract my target audience.
Blumler & Katz's Uses and Gratifications Theory
The Blumler & Katz's uses and gratifications theory (1974), suggests that the media users play an active role in choosing and using the media.The theorists say that a media user seeks out a media source that best suits their needs. It also suggests that the people's needs affect what media they select, how they may use the media and what indulgence it gives them.
The theorists say that the user has 4 basic needs which are:
Diversion - This is to escape or be diverted from problems from everyday life. Humans tend to use the media to do this as an escapism in order to relax themselves and fill time. This can also be seen as a method of procrastination, they also tend to divert using media to let out any emotional release or as a source of entertainment for themselves.
Personal Identity - People usually turn to media to find reinforcement for personal values and to find models of behaviour, someone to look up to. Likewise, they turn to media in order to gain insight into ones self and this suggests that they may try to gain some esteem from the media in order to gain respect and admiration and carry this out to others, this is from the values and behaviour from the media.
Personal Relationships - People use the media to gain an insight into circumstances of others this can also be seen as social empathy; humans can then understand people by seeing others perspective or experience. This also helps them find a basis for conversation and social interaction and it enables one to connect with their family, friends and society to find common ground.
Surveillance - People normally use the media in order to gain information, to find out any relevant events in their present surroundings in society and the world. This aids them in seeking advice on any practical matters or opinions and decisions they may have to make in the future. This is so we can be able to learn about our society and self educate ourselves and have guidance from the media.
Each of these 4 basic needs needed for the user is crucial as this also links with Moslow's Hierarchy of Needs.For instance, Personal Identity links in with one of Maslow's stages 'Esteem' as they both have a judgement of their selves in order to learn who they truly are. Personal relationships and love & belongingness are linked as both gain an attachment or bond with their family,friends and social group. Lastly, surveillance and self-actualisation are related as they both try to be the best person you can be, with surveillance this is through seeking advice,help or information and for self-actualisation is through being the best you can be by achieving certain goals you want in life.
By understanding the audience theory I can be apply it to my magazine because my magazine will have to focus on a certain target audiences and this would most likely by students in the school as they would want to be updated about upcoming events, trips and additional information about the school and it will also apply to the teachers as they can update themselves on anything they may be unaware of. Parents are another target audience since their child may go to the school and they may want to know what's going on within Archbishop Ilsley and how the magazine could also help their child in keeping updated on anything they're unsure of. This is a key reason on why understanding the audience theory is important because it allows me to connect with my target audience, though there may be more than one this means that more people will be willing to buy my magazine and read therefore this will make my product appealing and appropriate for the target audience to purchase.
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