The target audience for soap opera posters is typically a mass audience aged 13-60. Conventions of soap opera posters include a main image featuring characters, a tagline promoting the show, and the channel logo. Three soap opera posters were analyzed: 1) Neighbours - Features multiple characters appealing to a broad age range. Includes broadcast time/date. 2) EastEnders - Emphasizes a young character and uses social media hashtag to appeal to youth. 3) Coronation Street - Focuses on a narrative involving young characters but references a national audience. Lacks broadcast time. Key conventions were present across posters, though details like broadcast time were sometimes missing. Imagery and tag

1. Poster Genre Research

2. Target audience
The target audience is a mass audience consisting of people both male and female, aged 13-60. I know this because the image on the
poster has a gathering of characters of these gender and within this age bracket, allowing for the appeal to the mass audience.
The language used in the poster is limited to a street sign displaying the words ‘Same Ramsay Street, New Home’. This creates a sense of
belonging and community which is commonly shown in soap operas; connoting the idea of every character knowing and interacting with
each other. This text also enforces the fact that it is the same street being used in the programme, enforcing the idea of repetition and
difference. The ‘new home’ aspect of the text, suggests that new characters will be introduced or is an invitation for the audience to
invest in the show and belong to this community.
Content
The image fits with the purpose of
the text as the abundance of
characters from a range of age
groups are within the text look
happy and friendly. Their facial
expressions and body language
creates a sense of welcoming,
which encourages the target
audience to watch the show. The
characters are also very relevant to
the target audience as they appear
to be modern families, who happen
to be the target audience for
Neighbours.
Genre
The genre of the show being advertised in this poster is obvious as the poster follows the
conventions of that of a soap opera poster; the main anchorage, the channel indent, the name of
the soap opera and date/time of broadcast is shown on the poster. This therefore makes it clear
to the audience of the genre. The right-hand side text does not take up the entirety of the frame
ensuring that the characters within the main anchorage take priority. This does convey the
genre as the characters and narrative within a soap opera is the most appealing aspect of the
genre.

3. Target audience
The target audience is a mass audience consisting of people both male and female, aged 13-60 as I have discovered from my previous
research, although it appears from this poster that there is aim of the producer to appeal more to the young age bracket of the mass target
audience. I know this because of the text that has been used in the right-hand corner of the poster; ‘#EastEnders’ shows that the poster is
utilising and synergising with social media in order to garner a response on Twitter, which is mostly used by young people. The use of
the young character gives the audience the gratification of personal identity, because young females in particular can relate. Although,
the use of the social media hashtag does not take away from the potential older audience the poster can appeal as the increase of new
media allows older audiences to also use social media as a way of entertainment and discussion.
Content
The image fits with the purpose of
the text as the colour correction to
red connotes danger, implying that
something will happen in the
narrative that will inevitably bring
an issue upon this character. The
facial expression of the character
has her looking to the side as
though someone is present out of
frame and perhaps this is the cause
of the danger. The tagline ‘Walford
will change. Forever’ is in itself
dramatic and suggests there will be
disastrous consequences to the
actions and events that happen
during the course of the narrative,
which will both entertaining and
thrilling to the audience.
Genre
The genre of the show being advertised is not so obvious as the conventions of the genre have
not been followed to a great extent. The channel indent, name of the soap opera (in the form of
a hashtag), main anchorage and impactful tagline are present in the text, although the date and
time is not shown . The poster seems to prioritise the single narrative of the soap opera more
than the show itself as show by the size of the channel indent and the social media reference.

4. Target audience
The target audience is a mass audience consisting of people both male and female, aged 13-60. I know this because the three characters
appear to be young, but as this poster appears to be focusing on a single narrative (and from my previous research on Coronation Street),
I think that there is still an importance on the older audience members and a mass audience that is conveyed through this poster. I can see
this from the tagline ‘Corrie. The Nation’s Street’. The world ‘nation’ tells me that the audience is large, implying that it is not only the
young age bracket that is being targeted. Additionally, the mise en scene such as the body language of the characters is promoting a
single narrative of, presumably, an affair storyline which ties into the interest of drama and sex of the ‘mainstream’ youth.
Content
The image fits with the purpose of
the text as explained above, the
main anchorage and tagline
appeals to the target audience. The
other use of a tagline (‘You never
know what’s around the corner’)
connotes a sense of drama and
excitement that will encourage the
mass audience as these themes are
commonly the interest of an
audience who often watch soap
operas. The tagline implies an
unexpected twist in the narrative,
which persuades the audience to
watch the show as this will be
thrilling to watch, especially in an
adultery storyline some would
already deem dramatic.
Genre
The genre of the show being advertised in this poster is obvious, although some conventions
have not been followed. For example, although the channel indent, tagline and main anchorage
have been used conventionally, there is a lack of a date and time of broadcast. Therefore,
audience unbeknownst to Coronation Street, may mistake this poster for advertising another
genre of television show.
The target audience have
also been appealed to
through the use of a website
link beneath the tagline.
The increase in new media
technology ensures that a
mass audience can use the
internet; albeit the website
link is printed small,
perhaps making it difficult
to see the feature.

5. Conclusion
Within the genre, the general conventions are a main anchorage that has been created in a way that presents both
the narrative and the characters, a tagline which often promotes the soap opera using clever word-choice
(through either adding the name of the show or the setting in which it is set (such as Ramsey St. and Walford),
and the channel indent. These are the three conventions that were applied to all three examples that I analysed
and so I consider these features especially important to add to the poster that I produce. I think that the aspects
that have been included in the posters do encourage the audience to watch the soap operas, meeting the purpose
of the text; although I feel that the inclusion of the date and time of broadcast, as used in the poster for
Neighbours, does add to the purpose to persuade as it is giving relevant information to the audience.
I have discovered from the example posters for EastEnders and Coronation Street a young audience can be
appealed to with the use of new media, namely social media. As the target audience for my own production is
young, this is an efficient use of text to include in my poster. I have also acknowledged that the main anchorage
is the main point of interest in posters conventionally as they take up the majority of the frame. Therefore, I
think it’s important that I utilise mise en scene, particularly low key lighting, to emphasise the narratives within
my production, as the storylines themselves will be dramatic and this use of lighting will convey the themes of
the soap opera stronger. The channel indent for BBC Three will also be added as this is a general convention of
the soap opera genre and somewhat ‘leads’ the audience to the channel that the soap opera will be broadcasted
on. The tagline should also make reference to the soap opera and so the name ‘Parkfields’ will need to have
some placement within the poster, integrated with the tagline.