The document outlines a student's media coursework project to create a local newspaper. It discusses conducting research through a questionnaire of 20 individuals to understand what local consumers want from a new newspaper. Key findings indicated a preference for free newspapers around 20p in price, color printing, and distribution at train stations. Using these findings, the student proposes the name "La Dolce Vita" for a free, informal local newspaper in West Essex focusing on good news, people, and events to make readers feel positively about the local area.
2. BRIEF The first two pages of a new local newspaper, together with the following: A poster for the newspaper A radio advertisement for the newspaper The reason I chose to follow this brief is because it is predominately print. In my AS coursework I chose to create a new music magazine and I learnt lots of new skills along the way leading to a grade I was very happy with and I would like to transfer these skills to this brief and build upon them to create an even better product. I became more confident using Adobe fireworks and Microsoft Publisher in my last project and I am looking forward to using them again along with starting to use new software such as Adobe Photoshop. Before creating my product I shall again carry out research into newspapers, and their adverts. Finally I shall create an evaluation.
3. The vision “To create a professional local newspaper that meets the needs and wants of local consumers with the brand becoming a local household name. And promote the new product by airing a radio advert along with an engage able poster.”
4. QUESTIONAIRE FINDINGS Before conducting textual analysis on other similar products. I decided to ask 20 individuals a number of questions to find out what local consumers wanted from a new newspaper. So I knew what to look out for and take into account when starting to produce my product. Here are my findings:
5. QUESTIONAIRE FINDINGS & CONCLUSION After analysing my findings I now have a brief idea about the likes and dislikes of local consumers. The age range of my sample was predominantly late teen and middle age. After asking them to choose from a number of possible names for the newspaper, the two that come out on Top were ‘La Dolce Vita’ and ‘The Paper’. La Dolce Vita is an Italian phrase meaning ‘The Good Life’ which gives the paper a more luxurious and glamorous feel, which is good for the brand. The meaning of the word can be exploited during the promotion process. The next favourite name was ‘The Paper’, this name is modern, contemporary and above all simple. It is easy for the reader to understand and remember, although the fact that it is too simple could mean it is just as easy to forget. A similar problem exists with ‘La Dolce Vita’ as its interesting nature could attract attention resulting in them wanting to find out more about the newspaper. Although on the other hand, it could put off potential readers as some could find it confusing and hard to pronounce. My next question to them was ‘What newspaper do you read most?’, the most popular reply was ‘The Sun’ followed by ‘The Metro’. This indicates that my sample like the content, informality and layout of these two. So I shall look at one of these newspapers when doing my textual analysis. I then asked them if a newspaper in colour was a big thing to them, or if they didn’t mind one in all black and white, to which all 20 replied Yes, they would only like a newspaper with colour. To find a suitable price which people were willing to pay, I asked my sample which price they prefer to pay for a newspaper. Half my sample said that they liked free newspapers because they are easy to find and pick up. The next most popular price was 20p, with comments about too much advertising in the free newspapers and not enough content. After finding out the popularity of free newspapers, I then added in an extra question about where they would be most likely to pick up a free newspaper/magazine and the favourite was ‘At a train station’ with reasons such as they like having something to read when on the train. The second favourite was ‘Down a high road’, although people did not like the idea of lots of people giving the paper out down one road, and said one person would be enough for each high road. For example the free London papers that are forced upon you as you walk down Oxford Street in London.
6. The idea La Dolce Vita A local FREE newspaper based in West Essex An informal, chic and more exclusive take on the usual more formal and conformant local newspaper. A newspaper that will put a smile on the readers face and make them feel good about the area they are living in. Local GOOD NEWS, Local PEOPLE, Local EVENTS