Media AudiencesMedia audiences is the most important factor in the media. Without the audience the media would have no moral and wouldn’t be as productive and attractive. Audiences are often divided into categories based on social, lifestyle, business etc. this is where the advertisements separate their target audience into specific areas. Advertisements in media can be broachers, broadcasted, filmed/performed etc. Advertising costs a lot of money, up to millions. Advertisements are divided into target audiences by separating age, gender, lifestyle, sexuality, postcodes (geo demographics) and locations.

Age In advertising, age is a modal target that is controlled when publishing. It

ranges from ‘U’ = suitable for everyone to ‘18’ = only above this adult age. There are 6 main codes for age restrictions on movies, games, adverts, and other public promotion products. These are the following;

U = suitable for All PG = Parental guidance 12 = 12 years + 12A = 12 adult 15 = 15 years + 18 = 18+ (adult)

The cinema industry categorizes audiences in many different ways but often relies on an age-related scheme which closely follows the film certification categories (U, PG,12, 15, 18):

•Children (5-11 years old)•Family groups•Teenagers / young couples / students•Adults

Gender Gender is another modal target audience that is controlled when

publishing and advertising. Different products vary for different genders. For example ‘Rimmel London’ is a woman eyeliner product which is clearly and purposefully aimed at females. Where as an example of a men's advert would be ‘Calvin Klein’ boxers. This is how advertising markets separate the gender equality when advertising. This process is segmented the same way in films. Covers will have specific colours, characters, text which would attract the precise audience target group.

Locations Locations are a key source to advertisements and publishing. When

adverts go out on the streets to be put up and published, they take in some data first, finding out which is the best area to promote and publish their product. Most companies/producers tend to have the common technique to put out their adverts on main/ high roads. This is clearly useful knowing it’s where customers and audiences spend their time, whether its just for lunch, or for working or living locations. For example setting up a poster of new ‘Nike running trainers’ in oxford street would be an immediate attraction as thousands of people occupy the location each day.

Lifestyle Adverts that are deliberately produced just for lifestyle are regularly done

at specific hours of the day. This is a technique advertisers use to make sure they are able to attract the correct audience at the correct time of the day. For example advertising a ‘Hugo Boss’ watch at 9am wouldn’t be a wise and persuasive decisions. Reason being for this is that just knowing that it’s a luxury/expensive products it automatically sections what target audience the advertisers are trying to get at, and in this case it would be professional working people (preferably men) that could afford this product. Therefore they would show the advert at a later time, possibly during the evening.

This would be done for any other type of lifestyle related products such as sport products, food, business, technology etc.

Target Audience (Female) When producers are targeting the female target group, they usually emphasis

on the colours used; font colour, background colour, costume, clothing colour etc.

The colours that are most likely to be demonstrated are pink, purple, red or a pale sort of colour.

These colours are associated with femininity. Also including a rom com is an attractive theme for female audiences. This is

because it’s a typical interest for woman to discuss or ‘gossip’ about relationships, close friendships etc. so having a rom com gives the symbolic narrative that it’s based on relationships.

Producers show this by having a pair or couple in the front cover, doing some sort of posture or gesture

In addition to this a story cannon could be used to automatically grab the attention of the target audience, so they know what to expect before hand

Target Audience – Young children In a young kids movie/advert you expect to see bright

colours, stylish text/font fairy tale type backgrounds etc. Disney films is the most common attraction for young kids

movies. The producers make the covers look as fun and exciting as

possible, adding happy characters, exaggerated facial expressions, some even use comedy animals to balance out the nature of the film.

Target Audience – (Males) Action films is a genre that most commonly attracts male

audiences. Covers consist of dark colours, black, grey A lot of the covers will have fire In the background or around the

text. Having fire or some sort of explosion signifies that some sot of action is going to occur, or some sort of climax is bound to reach a dangerous/violence peak.

War films; this genre targets adult males. Most covers will display group of men representing a squad/team of soldiers in action.

The foreground of film covers will usually have tall, black or white men. This is usually the protagonist. This is purposefully done to attract the audiences attention.

Test screening, film screening, screener Test screening – this is a preview screening of a movie or television

show before its a general release in order to gauge audience reaction (Wikipedia). Preview audiences are selected from a sample of the population, and are usually asked to complete a questionnaire or provide feedback in some type.

Film screening – this is the displaying of a motion picture or film, generally referring to a special showing as part of a film’s production and release cycle. To show the film to best advantage, special screenings may take place in plush, low seat-count theatres with very high quality

Focus group screening are formal test screenings of a film with very detailed documentation of audience responses. Target audience members answer survey questionnaires and are usually interviewed, sometimes on video (Wikipedia)