Audiance Research

To find out what our target audience for a school magazine want for a successful magazine, I interviewed some people who had different opinions and views about there school magzine and what they want. The audience that I interviewed were, students from years 7 to 11, Serior leadership team, School staff, headteacher, community and various teaching staff. the information that I recieve will be very useful in creating my school magazine and hopefully will have a successful outcome for my audience to have an exciting read. 

Firstly I interviewed the serior leadership team, I asked them some questions relvent to the topic. They agreed that the school will benefit with a school magazine only with it being informal, brain active at the same time; And they feel that it will promote our school to have a good image. They said it should include success all the way through the magazine, upcoming events that are happening inside and outside school, puzzles, jokes, gossip, interviews with teachers and also news about the school and the schools and students success. I asked them how often they would like to revice a school magazine and they repiled that they would want it every term. They also said they would like to see a magazine that looks proffesional and that its something that students and others that are receiving it look forward into the getting every half term.

Secondly I moved on to interviewing the students, where I started with the year 7's. 80% of them  that I asked said that they would want a school magazine. They would want the magazine to be easily read and with more pictures than writing. They would like some news about the school but only things that they would be interested in but other than that they would want information about music and gossip and maybe even a free gift included. 

I then interviewed the year 8's about what they would want for a school magzine. they want a trustworthy magazine. they want a lot of photos and colours in it, for it to have puzzles and funny facts. Also all different competitions for students as well as teachers to compete and the prize to be good and something that is worth taking part for. 

The year 9's were next and the response I got back was very postive and helpful. They said that they would enjoy it if there was a page that had pictures of teachers outside of school having an average day, shopping for example, like what they do in real magazines take pictures of celebrities doing everyday tasks. They would perfer it if it was colourful throughout the magazine. They said they that would rather it be called a magazine not a newspaper and for it not to have many pictures. 

The year 10's would like a magazine that is funny, has comic strips, talks about sporting events and school trips that have happened and will happen and also they would prefer it if it was written by students. 

The year 11's when I interviewed them about creating a magazine for their school they thought it would be a good idea but it shouldnt be an excuse to have ago at pupils. They would like it if it was to have current issues that are happening to do with the school, puzzle games, digs at teachers and for it to be colourful and of course lots of gossip. 

Next I interviewed the Headteacher. I first questioned him about what he would like to see in a magazine and his reponse was that it has to have a catchy name, includes currents events in school, information about help groups, to be very informal and have two sections, fun and serious. I asked him why there hasnt be one in the past and he replied that there hasnt been one in the past because of time but would love to have one for the school for everyone inside and outside of school to read.

Next I interviewed the community such as parents, local shops and local residents. There views on the school having a school magazine was for it to have puzzels, games and horiscopes in there. Also current events, a problem page, competions and for it not to be too informal as it will not appeal to the target audience. 

Lastly I interviewed Ms Steward, and her reponse to having a school magazine was  should have interviews with different and interesting staff, for the magazine to be branded like professional mag's, for it be well written and for all ages to understand and lastly there to be a sport section in there.

Evaluation

Firstly I produced a school magazine as my preliminary task for A-level media studies. Then I researched other school magazines to examine the way in which they are presented, such as texts, layouts, language, pictures pages etc. in the magazine. This research helped me a great deal to produce and create my school magazine as I was able to get a many idea's in the way that a successful school magazine is developed and produced.  

The Conventions that I have observed in the terms of the design and the use of imagery is that every school magazine is designed and text language to the right target audience, which means that the font and the use of language are right for the target audience. The use of imagery that is mostly used in a school magazine is pictures of students, teachers, student’s school work and the school building itself. They have made it so the angle in the pictures is good so it makes the magazine look professional. 

I wanted to achieve all of this in my magazine, that’s why I set out to include all the research I did in my magazine to produce an outstanding piece of work to the best of my ability. My target audience for a school magazine are students and staff that attend or work at the school, parents of the students and the community of where the school is located such as local shops etc. Also the government of the borough and school will be interested as well. I have to remember who my target audience are so I put the right information in to attract them, I attracted my audience by including relevant and interesting things that will appeal to everyone;  so in the magazine there will be different parts which appeal to different types of target audience.

For example I have a page which is based on sport which will apply to most teenagers  which is most of the students,  I have also created an issue and information page which more intentionally staff and parents will be attracted to. I have also made sure that I haven’t made the layout and design of the magazine to formal and boring but yet haven’t made it too childish so everyone will be interested and be able to read it. While creating this media product, I have learnt how to use a different range of software’s to design and create my final piece. I have learnt to experiment with new tools on the computers software’s such as editing photo's, layouts and texts and adding effects aswell as pictures.

I have always been computer literal and very creative with my design work but I feel that experiencing different software’s has increased my level of knowledge about design work and technology you may use as I never used to be able to do any of this. Having created a school magazine for my preliminary task, I have learnt the basics and the knowledge of how to create a magazine using computer software, digital cameras and my own creative mind. I feel that I could manage the time and deadlines alot better in this task as I was a bit behide of some of the tasks that needed to be completed but with determination and effort I was able to complete the preliminary task and to the best of my ability