Emily Neal AS Media Studies Evaluation Question 2

1. Evaluation Question 2
How does your media product
represent particular social groups?
AS Media Studies | Emily Neal 1028

2. Sam Westlake
Sam Westlake is featured wearing school uniform and the
article about him is titled “How I became a country star at
16!” Due to this, Sam is a relatable role model for younger
readers.
Younger social groups would be inspired by this article and
want to know how he is so successful at a similar age to
them. They would also be able to relate to him as they
would also be in school or college.
Sam also represents the readers who want to “escape”
from their normal daily lives. He would be inspiring to them
as he is still in school, yet a “country star” - which suggests
a life of fame and glamour.

3. Two-Step Flow
Theory
The two-step flow theory fits in with Sam Westlake as
readers of a similar age to Sam and are at school / college
would probably be inspired by his success and then tell
their friends about him and the article.
Older readers may also pass on the information to others
due to being impressed with his success at a young age
and still at school.

4. Emma and
Catherine
Emma and Catherine are both casually dressed
and represented as normal people who love
country music - just like the social groups that will
be reading my magazine - they are relatable to all
readers unlike Sam who is only relatable for
younger readers and those in school / college.
Emma and Catherine are happy and clearly
having a good time in the photos of them which
inspires the reader and gives a positive
impression of the musicians and consequently my
magazine. It also shows my magazine’s brand
identity.
They are also shown as best friends in my
magazine which is inspirational to readers,
particularly the younger social groups and could
lead them to believe that with their best friend they

5. Hypodermic Syringe
Theory
My magazine follows the Hypodermic Syringe Theory as it “injects”
the belief that someone young and at school can be a successful
musician like Sam Westlake.
It also injects the belief that two best friends can work together and
become very successful and happy like Emma and Catherine.
All of the musicians in my magazine are represented as being
“normal people” like the social groups who would be reading my
magazine - Emma, Catherine and Charlie are wearing casual
clothes and Sam is wearing school uniform. This leads to the belief
that anyone can be a famous country musician, including the
reader.

6. Niche Audience
Country music has a niche audience but it represents a
large number of social groups including different ages,
genders and “classes”.
There isn’t a particularly stereotypical social group that
are fans of country music unlike other genres such as
pop, whose audience is typically young girls.
Due to this, I had to make my magazine attract different
social groups but I mainly focused on this group:

7. Niche Audience
Country music has a niche audience but it represents a
large number of social groups including different ages,
genders and “classes”.
There isn’t a particularly stereotypical social group that
are fans of country music unlike other genres such as
pop, whose audience is typically young girls.
Due to this, I had to make my magazine attract different
social groups but I mainly focused on this group: