NEA Audience research

 Audience research

Target demographic;

• According to the brief it needs to be "primarily a 16-25 year old middle and up market who like to be engaged"
• My main target audience will be females ages 16-25
• ABC1 demographic profile
• Students, sixth formers, uni students, early-career young adults
• Those interested in the reading of mental health, self-image, beauty standards and wellbeing
• Social-media active (instagram, TikTok, pinterest)
• Regular consumers of health and lifestyle magazine content
• Tech savvy 
• A lot of teenagers are often engaged in the spotlight of skincare shown by influencers - they often compare themselves to these people - a magazine to prevent negative self-image and promote body positivity - focusing on mental health

Audience needs;

 - My magazine should aim to reassure the audience about body image pressures 

 - Honest conversations about cosmetic enhancement - due to my demographics ages being so easily manipulated by social media about aesthetic surgeries

 - Representation of different life stages of womanhood - peoples experiences as they have grown up - peoples personal self-love - elder models talking about their past regrets and their beneficial actions in the past that affects them today - practical well-being advice alongside visual storytelling

What my demographic engages with in popular culture in;

SOCIAL MEDIA

• Instagram - body positivity influencers, wellness creators, expensive skin care routines
• TikTok - mental health awareness, 'real vs filtered' identity content, cosmetic transparency trends
• YouTube - fitness journeys, self-confidence advice, lifestyle vloggers
• Pinterest - self-care aesthetics, motivational imagery, fitness inspiration

CURRENT SOCIAL THEMES

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NEA initial ideas

 Media Coursework ideas;

Health Magazine - 

• Mental health; behind the scenes of someones life - people covering up their feelings (incorporate that into the front cover image)
• Mental health (focusing more on appearance) - the overuse of plastic in faces and how its unhealthy in the long term
• Women's health - use different social groups (possibly use different ages - elder model about the health they focused on in their past life and how its affected them today) 
• Women's health - skincare, body care, daily self-care and advice to those around them
• Mens mental health - how its avoided and they are seen as vulnerable when their own mental health is mentioned
• Health in exercise - women's sport and how it positively affects lives and health as you grow older

Images Inspo;

- Self care, self positivity - body dysmorphia - mental HEALTH

Music video summary

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuwfgXD8qV8&list=RDuuwfgXD8qV8&start_radio=1

Richard Dyers Star theory

Katy Perry’s “Part of Me” music video strongly reflects Richard Dyer’s Star Theory by constructing Perry as a carefully manufactured star image that audiences can both admire and relate to. The narrative shows Perry transforming from an emotionally vulnerable woman after a breakup into a strong, disciplined Marine, reinforcing Dyer’s idea that stars are built on contradictions—in this case, vulnerability versus strength. While Perry is already a highly glamorous pop star, the video presents her in minimal makeup, military uniform, and physically demanding training scenarios, making her appear more “real” and hardworking. This relatability helps maintain audience loyalty, as fans feel she represents resilience and empowerment rather than unattainable perfection. The video also reinforces her established brand as an independent, confident woman, showing how star images are constructed across media texts to promote both authenticity and ideology.

The “Part of Me” music video closely follows Andrew Goodwin’s theory, particularly the idea that there is a strong relationship between lyrics and visuals. The lyrics about independence, self-worth, and emotional strength are directly illustrated through the narrative of Perry leaving a toxic relationship and joining the Marines, visually representing the line “This is the part of me that you’re never gonna ever take away from me.” The video also demonstrates Goodwin’s concept of music videos promoting the artist’s star image, as Perry is central to the narrative and remains the clear focus throughout. Additionally, while there is limited sexualisation compared to other pop videos, Perry’s presence still aligns with Goodwin’s idea of looking, as the camera often frames her as a powerful and inspirational figure. Overall, the video uses a clear narrative structure to reinforce the song’s meaning and strengthen Perry’s brand identity.

Big Issue front cover

 

Super curricular - analysis of Shelter advert film

 

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/video/lifestyle/video-3543303/Video-Shelters-emotional-Christmas-ad-highlights-housing-crisis.html

Commentary on the Advert & Its Narrative

Narrative Structure & Emotional Contrast

• The advert (“Earworm”) opens with a schoolboy joyfully singing Total Eclipse of the Heart as acapella — no backing track, just his voice.  At first, it feels playful and innocent — a child simply humming a tune he likes, reinforcing childhood purity and wonder.
• Revelation & Metaphor
  As the story unfolds, we learn that his mother is on the phone trying to get through to a housing or accommodation service — and the same song is playing on a loop as hold music.  The earworm (a song stuck in your head) becomes a powerful metaphor: what’s in his head is exactly what she’s enduring in real life — waiting, hoping, being stuck.  
• Creative Choices
  
• A cappella singing: They deliberately chose for the boy’s voice to be unaccompanied to feel raw and real.  
• Involvement of lived experience: Shelter and the agency worked with families who have lived in temporary accommodation to shape the portrayal authentically.  
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• Emotional Payoff
  The use of the twist that the song he’s been joyfully singing is actually the looped hold tone his mother is stuck on portrays heartbreak. It drives home how deep and personal the struggle of being homeless or in insecure accommodation really is.  It’s not a “look how sad” ad, instead it’s subtle and deeply empathetic.

How It Reflects Altruism & Prosocial Behaviour

1. Empathy Building; By showing the child’s innocent joy and then revealing the emotional burden behind it, the ad makes viewers feel the worry, frustration, and helplessness. That empathy can motivate people to help.
2. Raising Awareness; The ad illuminates a less-visible crisis: families in temporary accommodation. Many people may not realise that hold music on the phone is something that some parents literally live with while trying to secure stable housing. 
3.  Call to Action
• Shelter’s campaign isn’t just about sharing a story — it encourages donations, support, and a sense that we (society) must act.  When viewers connect emotionally, they’re more likely to contribute or get involved.
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5. Solidarity & Shared Responsibility
   
• The advert suggests that no family should be left on hold — literally or metaphorically. It frames homelessness not just as an individual misfortune, but a systemic issue where society must step in.
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7. Altruistic Behavior Encouraged
   
• For many viewers, reacting to this campaign (by donating or advocating) is an altruistic act: helping families they will likely never meet, for a cause that is deeply meaningful but not always visible.
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Media Magazine article summary

 

This article explores how the media has represented teenagers from the 1950s to he present and how tech has changed their relationship. It suggests that teens have often been shown negatively - linked with deviance and rebellion. However, modern platforms like YouTube and other social media have given young people more control over how they present themselves. The article also notices teens as a profitable audience, changing an advertising around them. It talks about how digital technologies threaten traditional media businesses because the teenage audiences relate and share their own content about it. 

What I learnt: Teens have been represented through stereotypes, they can also now create their own identities online, youth audiences are always valuable to advertisers, representation continually evolves.

Relating to my studies: 

Advertisers often rely on stereotypes about teens being rebellious, fashionable and tech-savvy. Links to brand identity and lifestyle advertising - how media companies see the youth as a profitable demographic, how technology influences consumer behaviour (teenagers are often more naive) and why people tailor campaigns to youth culture. Finally, how media media constructs identity especially within teens and how they present themselves online rather than relying solely on traditional media.

School advert - practical work

 

Here I have produced a print advert for Southend High School for Girls. I used the repeated motivational phrases "Achieve more, Learn more, Be more" to create a strong message that appeals directly to students and parents, positioning the school as ambitious. I ensured the text was in bold and majorly stood out from the rest of the advert to emphasise the schools high-achieving acts, making sure the audience see that straight away. I included the image i took of two pupils in uniform to build trust and reliability, showing real pupils who show real success. The schools social media tag was added to encourage digital engagement, reflecting modern marketing