Audience Theory

Passive audience = The audience takes in information from the media; it has the same effect on everyone.

Active audience = A modern idea that audiences interact with the media and it has different effects based on individuals.

Hypodermic Needle Theory:
All audiences are passive and the media can "inject" information into the viewers (brainwash them). This theory suggests the media is extremely powerful and has the ability to change someone's thought.

Blumler & Katz:
Information/Surveillance: Watching something to learn new information
Example: News-We are able to learn about things that are going on in the world, educate ourselves on current events.

Identity: Being able to relate to something
Example: Horrid Henry-If a naughty child is constantly getting in trouble and does not like school, they can relate to Henry and his view on the world.

Diversion/Entertainment: Watching something to "escape" from everyday life.
Example: Keeping Up With The Kardashians- The Kardashians lead very extravagant lives that most viewers won't be able to relate to so it can be interesting to see how they live and it can be a form of escapism for some viewers when they want a break from their tedious lifestyles.

Relationships: Forming relationships with characters; watching something because you care about what happens to the characters.
Examples: Game of Thrones- The show has been running for 7 seasons(roughly 6 years) and the audience has been given time to create bonds with the characters and many people watch it to check how their favourite characters lives are going-especially because GoT is a show with many deaths.

The blue planet clip offers the reader 'Information/Surveillance' pleasure. It allows  the audience to witness sea creatures in their natural habitat and observe their behaviour. It also informs the audience about these animals and their habits (e.g. prey/predator at 1:52).

Audience Profile

October assessment learner response

Marks:21
Grade:6+/7-
WWW: An excellent answer with good use of media terminology for qu 8 and 9
EBI: Develop qu9 by separating into 3x PEE paragraphs.

Q1)0/1---Didn't read the question properly.
Q2)1/1
Q3)2/2
Q4)2/2
Q5)2/2
Q6)2/3---Be more consistent with terminology and references
Q7)2/2
Q8)4/4
Q9)6/8---Use PEE paragraphs//Refer back to the advert more often(specifics)

One of my stronger questions was question 8. I did better on this question because my answers gave full details and I explained it in length.

One of my weaker questions was question 9. This is because I did not structure my questions correctly and I could have added in extra information.

Redraft Question 9:
Charities use images of children as children are more likely to provoke reactions than adults. The producer is aware that children get more sympathy and therefore there will be more of a reaction from consumers(donations.)
The target audience of this poster is adults, preferably those with regular incomes. These people tend to be part of stable families and the producer uses a child in the hopes that the audience will want to help out the child and they will form emotional attachments, leading to regular donations.
The connotations of a young child is happy, lively and playful. In contrast, this child juxtaposes that and he looks miserable and tired. The producer has strategically done this to show that not all children lead happy lives and it makes the consumer more aware of the help that they need to provide.