The document discusses several theories of audience and how the magazine addressed its target audience. It aimed to attract teenage girls by using an eye-catching masthead, pastel colors that contrast with models, and direct gaze of models to create a personal connection. The design aimed to make teenage girls feel the magazine was made for them through gender stereotypical color schemes and floral design elements. The ultimate goal was to appeal to and profit from the target audience. A focus group provided feedback that the masthead and colors represented the audience well but that more cover lines and interview questions were needed, and a dark pink color did not fit the pastel scheme.

1. HOW DID YOU ATTRACT/ADDRESS YOUR
AUDIENCE?

2. AUDIENCE THEORIES
 The Uses and Gratification theory by Blumler and Katz (1970s) states that the audience uses the media to
satisfy individual and group needs. This means that people actively seek out the products which best
fulfil their needs.
 This makes the Hypodermic Syringe model seem out of date and no longer relevant as consumers are
clearly not just passively taking in these products. They play and active role in selecting their media
products and have the right not to read or watch certain things, unlike this outdated model suggests.
However, it isn’t completely irrelevant as there is still an aspect of passive consuming when it comes to
audiences and their media products: people are still buying into stereotypical images which are
overexaggerated and often hurtful to those who are being stereotyped. For example, saying all
Americans eat 10 burgers a day is a stereotype because there is a percentage of Americans who are
overweight. We still buy into these images because they are universal and easily recognisable. We may
not be passively being injected with these ideas but we are still choosing to read and watch them.

3. HOW DID YOU GET PEOPLE TO LOOK AT THE MAGAZINE?
 To get people to look at the magazine I used an eye-catching, memorable masthead ‘REMiX’. This
automatically makes the reader think about music because music is edited and remixed all the time. I
made sure the masthead was at the top because when it is on a magazine stand in a shop, the
consumers will only be able to see the top part of the magazine so it is important it can be easily
recognised.
 I also used pastel colours which contrast against the models and their clothes and seem to ‘pop’ out of
the page at the audience.
 My models are using ‘direct gaze’ to stare straight at the audience which will make them feel personally
connected to the magazine, as if they are looking at them and waiting for them to buy the magazine.

4. THROUGH THE DESIGN OF THE PAGES, WHAT EFFECT WERE YOU
AIMING TO HAVE ON THE AUDIENCE?
 My target audience is teenage girls. This means that I want the magazine to connect with them and to
make them feel as if this magazine has been made personally just for them. Because people are clearly
still interested in buying into stereotypes, I decided that I would use a stereotypically girly colour scheme
to make it obvious who the intended target audience was. I wanted my audience to feel as if they have a
new amazing magazine which is exclusive to them because of gender stereotyping which means that a
boy would rather go for a product following the conventions of a ‘boys’ magazine.
 I also made sure that every small detail was geared towards my audience such as the folios on each page
being in the shape of flowers.
 I have attempted to use Stuart White’s Reception Theory as I have a clear way I wish for the audience to
decode this product and this makes it beneficial to the readers.

5.  As someone who has both made a magazine and consumes magazines, I am aware that the sole
purpose of a magazine is to make a profit. This means that the magazine should look as appealing as
possible to make as many people from the target audience buy it to increase profit for the company.
 Having to keep in mind the fact that this magazine has to make money AS WELL AS appeal to an
audience who will then buy this product has made me understand that the real reason it is important to
attract my audience isn’t to entertain them, but to make money for the business.

6. FOCUS GROUP
Positive
 Masthead worked well and was very eye-
catching
 Colours represented the target audience well
 Good value for money
 Layout works well
 The triangle shaped cover lines draw attention
to them
Negative
 Needs more cover lines
 Not enough interview questions
 Dark pink doesn’t fit with pastel colour scheme