Preliminary TaskResearch/Analysis

In my premlimary research, I will establish a target audience through research methods such as analysis of magazines and questionnaires with appropriate result data to give me a clear comprehension of the needs of the target audience.

The target audience for my college magazine is 16-18 year olds as this is the typical ages for youths to attend 6th forms and colleges.

The questionnaire I will provide to give me an overall perspective of what 16-18 year olds would like to see in a 6th form/college magazine.

Establishment of the Target Audience

The target audience for my college magazine will be people in the last year of secondary school and entrance into further education.

I asked the views of some pupils at my secondary school Archbishop Ilsley

‘ I feel a 6th form magazine would be very useful as it would keep me informed with events that are happening in school ensuring I always have something to do in school and outside school hours.’ Caitlin Doherty

‘My college accommodates for my needs, however a college magazine would help with my organisation reminding me of important events also providing me with extra things I can get involved in.

Copy of Questionnaire Questionnaire What is your gender? Male Female Are you still in secondary school?Yes No If, yes are thinking about further education?Yes No If No please specify why and what else you are considering. If further education would a school magazine interest you?Yes No If so, what sort of content would like the magazine to contain? Regular updates on school events Updates of when exams take place Celebrity Gossip Others (please specify)

How regularly do you buy magazines? Once a week Once a month How much on average would spend on a magazine?£1-2 £2.50-3.50 £5.00 What is your preference in terms of magazine genre? Music Entertainment Other If there was a college magazine would it be of benefit to you?

Yes No

Which name for a college magazine mostly appeals to you?

The Ilsley Way Young Ones The only way is up

Should the 6th f form magazine use the colour scheme of the school ?Yes No

If you would please leave your address.

Graph results

Male

Female

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

Series1

Q1 What is your gender?Q2

Yes No

012345678

Series1

YesNo

Q3

Q4

YesNo

Q5 If so, what sort of content would like the magazine to contain?

123

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Series2Series1

Are you still in secondary school?

If yes, are you thinking about further education?

If further education would a school magazine interest you?

Graph results continued

Q6

Weekly

Monthy

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Series1

Q7

1 2 301234567

Series1Series2

MusicEntertaiment Other

Q9 If there was a college magazine would it be of benefit to you?

Yes No

Weekly

Monthy

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

Series1

 How regularly do you buy magazines?

How much on average would spend on a magazine?

Q8 What is your preference in terms of magazine genre?

Questionnaire Graph results analysis

After looking over my graph results I can gain an understanding of the target audience for my audience and the sort of content to match the needs which are to be established. The majority of people in the survey seem to be male, and the majority seem to either in secondary school or thinking of further education. This is suggesting that the target audience will be 16-18 year olds as further education entails college or a 6th form centre, therefore giving me an idea of the sort of content to putting in the magazine as the stereotypical student would want to be informed of college events to be involved in a important dates like examinations and coursework deadlines.

Based on the questionnaire results the most popular content updates on school events, this is gives me an idea on the content that would be tailored for the needs of the target audience. This can linked to the need of affiliation the audience has a need to be informed , therefore from the data I can tailor the content of the magazine to keep the audience informed of the appropriate content which matches the needs of the audience.

The average price which people seemed to opt for was the £1-2 price range and the once a month option, this gives an indication of the demographics of the area of which I carried out the survey, suggesting that the target audience are in fact students and the perception is that they are all different they come from different financial status , however that college mentally so they are all fundamentally in the same place as they are all studying for something , therefore the content can tailored to meet the needs of the target audience.

The use of the question getting the address of the person as gives an indication of the financial status of the person this data acorn be compared to the acorn classification and appropriately establish the target audience for the magazine and gain an idea on specific needs of the audience.

The title of the magazine reads left to right in accordance with how people read the magazine. This is connoting the national identity of the college informing the audience.

There is emphasis on the fact it is a student magazine, suggesting the need of affiliation making the audience feel part of something .

The language used is informative ‘we grill the student governors’ it is almost in touch with the student persona. Giving the audience a sense of social acceptance like they belong to something.

The dominant image of the sports person gives the audience an idea of the content within the magazine a sports article; tailoring the content for the target audience. Creating a sense of self actualization giving the audience someone to look up to , to envious and wanting to look and be like the person portrayed in the image.

Student made magazine

From first perceptions we can clearly see the house style of the magazine; it gives the magazine and the college a brand indent which can be recognised by the audience

The cardboard cut out image of a girl and boy standing next to each other; this is suggesting that since there is no specific person this magazine is intended for, more so everyone young person who attends the college

The magazine itself looks stylish and intended for young people, thus meeting the needs for the audience.

The use of a rhetorical question ‘need of sexual advice for sexual health’ the key point advice here is getting the audience involved by focusing on issues which are directly linked with young people. This is suggesting the need of affiliation an social acceptance the audience feels the need to be part of something

The use of leaflet style presentation, is a very informal means of communication appealing to the target audience. This makes the magazine cover stand out in terms of style as it does meet the perceptions of what the audience would expect from a magazine

The house style of the magazine is clearly recognisable as being black yellow and white; this is suggesting the brand indent of the college to inform the audience on how they can recognise the college as an academic establishment .

The college magazine reads from left to right, this is the common way in which we read magazines ; in this case giving the impression that the audience will need to be organised as the magazine presentation seems to be tidy and well structured maybe like how a students lifestyle should be.

Articles which appeal to young people and are appropriate to young people . For example ‘why we love black berry’ this directly links to young people as the vast majority of young people in the digital era have an android, mostly blackberry. Thus showing the research into the target audience which took place.

The use of informative language appeals to the target audience the use of ‘Thank God its Friday’ focuses the ways in which young people speak and the perception that your typical student goes on Friday night.