Audience Research - Questionnaire Analysis & Graphs

From the information I have gathered, I can tell that the amount of females to males that read regional magazines is fairly even. This indicates to me that regional magazines include articles that are found appealing to both males and females and that I should follow the codes and conventions of a typical regional style magazine similar to what Surrey Life have done and this should result in my magazine being appealing to all.

Most people thought that it was quite a nice idea; to relate the magazine front cover picture to the season that the magazine issue is released in. So if I was to release a November issue it would be nice to get a winters scene of somewhere within Surrey. But I plan to only do this for one issue each season and choosing a famous land mark or scene would be a good idea for the other 2 issues each season; this is due to my regional magazine being released on a monthly basis.

Through my research that I carried out I have discovered that the majority of people who will read the monthly issues of regional magazines fall between the ages of 41-63 +. I believe the reasoning behind this is due to the fact that the people that fall into this age bracket, enjoy reading about what goes on in their country and can spend days out joining in; in activities in the local area. Also a large amount of the people may also be retired or only work part time therefore like to read up on what is available for them to do in their local surroundings.

When asking people how often they buy an issue of regional magazines that are sold in stores most people answered that they buy an issue once month; (occasionally) some people answered that they only by an issue once every few months. Nobody said that they would buy a regional magazine on a daily or weekly basis. So therefore I think it is a good idea to release a magazine on a monthly basis.

I asked people the question; ‘what masthead (title) would you like to be on the front of the magazine?’ The most popular answer was to call my magazine: Surrey Living. When asking people why they thought this was a good choice they said because you know exactly what you are going to be getting through only reading the title.

I also discovered from my market research that most people would be willing to pay between £2.00 - £3.50. As regional magazines are quite specific and specialized and therefore it is acceptable to charge a slightly higher price.

The majority of people who answered my questionnaire said that they like to know what is going on in a number of areas throughout Surrey including everything that was written on the options circle list:

·      Local Landmarks

·      Tour Dates

·      Exhibitions

·      Open Days

·      Festival Tickets

·      Recent Events

·      Out & About Activities

·      Food & Drink (Restaurant Reviews)

When your favorite magazine releases a new issue how do you normally hear about it? The majority of people who answered this question said that they about new issues from a range of sources. The most popular choice is through Television and Internet advertisement; there are also sometimes billboards and posters stuck up within town centers mainly that is also a good way of targeting people.

They told me that they like to see bright colours to catch their eye, but that aren’t to busy that they hurt your eyes. The audience filling out the questionnaire didn’t mind what font was on the front cover, but something that would be appealing and interesting.

People commented that they generally don’t take notice of the writing style that is on magazines; and the only way that they do normally take a notice is if it is in bold and stands out against the rest of the writing.

The double page spread design often relates to what is on the front cover; and the people who answered my questionnaire said that this would be a good idea for my regional magazine that I will be making.

Audience Research - Questionnaire

 I want to gain a better insight into what my target audience will find appealing and what would attract them into wanting to purchase and read my regional magazine. I feel that by doing this questionnaire I will b able to find out what my target audience is interested in.

After conducting these questionnaires I will follow my work up with quantitative and qualitative analysis which then will lead on to me being able to decide exactly what codes and conventions of my regional magazine.

I am hoping that my findings will allow me to decide what aspects to conform; develop or subvert.  

Gender: Male           Female

Age bracket:  Under 15     16-24       25-32      33-40    41-47      48-55         56-62         63+

Do you like the image of the front cover to relate to the current season?

Yes       No 

How often do you read regional magazines?

Everyday

Couple of times a week

Occasionally

Never

What masthead (title) would you like to be on the front of the magazine?

Surrey Living

Living in Surrey

Surrey

What prices range would you be willing to pay for my regional magazine?

50p-99p

£1.00 - £1.50

£1.51- £1.99

£2.00 - £2.49

£2.50 - £3.01

£3.02 - £3.50

£3.51 +

What do you enjoy reading about in regional magazine?

Local Landmarks

Tour Dates

Exhibitions

Open Days

Festival Tickets

Recent Events

Out & About Activities

Food & Drink (Restaurant Reviews)

Other

When your favorite magazine releases a new issue how do you normally hear about it?

Advertisement

Television

Internet

Word of mouth

Other

Which typography would you prefer on the front cover?

Normal

Italic

Underlined

Other

As the magazine editor will be designing a double page spread, would you like this to relate to the front cover?

Yes

No

What colours do you find eye catching and would want to see on/in the magazine?

Bright colours

Warm colours

Dark colours

Soft colours 

Pastel colours

Other 


Copy of the questionnaire that I handed out: 

Double Page Spread Analysis

Code and convention rules for a magazine double page spread include; the magazines are generally written in columns, this is normally done to break up the reading so that a reader is not just reading across a page but reading down in small blocks to create more of a variety compared to normal reading articles and books.

Most double page spread will be advertising something or someone. A double page spread will also normally include bright colours and catch pictures to attract the readers.

The conventions of a title are that it is normally big and bold, often located in the top left hand corner. The title is to let some know what something it is, sometimes giving them some sort of indication of what is going to be on the inside. The language used in magazines should be simple and easy too read.

Photos for double page spreads can be taken in a range of ways including:

·       Mid shot

·       Close up

·       Long shot

·       Point of view

·       Establishing shot

·       Extreme close up

I plan to take my photos in a range of different shot angles; I plan to do this to give me a variety to enable me to choose the most suitable pictures for my regional magazine.

Codes and conventions that are included in a magazine are created to insure that there is a formality between issues; I will use codes and conventions so that my regional magazine and a real style regional magazine will have similar features. If I were not to use a formality then readers wouldn’t be able to identify my style of magazine. 

This magazine double page spread follows the code and convention rules; this magazine has been written in a column format. The editor has done this to break up the reading so that the consumers are not just reading across the page but instead are reading down in small blocks, which has created a variety of reading.

This double page spread has a brightly coloured and catch picture, which has been done to attract the readers to the article.

The title and sub title is big and bold, and like a typical title this one is located in the top left hand corner. The title is in place to let some know what something it is, and also gives some indication of what is going to be on the inside. The language used in this magazine is simple and easy too read. The photo on this double page spreads has been taken from a middle shot; this allows the reader to see the surroundings in the photo as well. 

As I am unable to find any more magazines that are regional magazines the following are 4 are ones that I have found on the Internet that follow similar codes and conventions. 

This double page spread has used a colour scheme of black, red and white. The black background allows the red and white writing to stand out well. The title has been positioned through the crease of the page. A large image has been used on the left-hand page with images running along the bottom that have been positioned in framed boxes. The pictures have all been edited into black and white photos to fit in with the colour scheme.

On the right page the writing has been written in columns, there are 2 columns, this has followed the codes and conventions as most double page spreads have 2 or 3 columns.

There is also a block box column where a separate piece of writing has been put in. Splitting writing up into columns and separate boxes makes it easier to read and more interesting to potential readers.

Here is anther double page spread from a lifestyle magazine. It features one main model that covers the whole of the left page. He is leaning against a white background, which has made it easy to add writing over the top. The model is side on, looking away from the camera with a smile on his face that makes the audience feel happy whilst reading.

On the right hand page they have used a white background again making is easy to add writing over the top. A range of font styles and sizes has been used to break the page up and a range of photos has also been added. By breaking the page makes it easier and more interesting for the viewers to read. 

I really like the way that this double page spread has been created using a white background and a range of colourful photos to make the page attractive to a viewer. The pictures have all been positioned in boxed frame, at an adjusted angle with a drop shadow. One both pages the writing has been split into 2 columns.

Contents Page Analysis

In all magazines there is a similarity between the front cover, contents page and the feature pages, this is to stick to a theme. When a magazine producer sticks to a theme people can see something and are quickly able to relate it to that particular magazine.

Codes & Conventions of a contents page:

·      Arranged in columns – 2/3

·      Will have a page number sometimes with a picture beside it, which anchors them to the written contents

·      The magazine name will feature t the top of the page

·      Normally have a simple colour scheme

·      A main picture relating to a cover article

·      Normally only covers 1-2 pages

·      Information about subscription to the magazine

·      Sub - lines 

This contents page follows the typical codes and conventions of what a contents page should include and look like. We first of all are able to notice that the contents page has been split into 3 columns. Unlike most contents pages this one doesn’t feature any pictures or illustrations.

The columns have also been split up into sections; Country Life, Features, Style, Food & Drink, Win. This has been done to allow people to easily identify a section that they may want to look at and quickly flick to it. Different shapes have been used around writing to highlight sections, which the editor wants to draw the reader’s attention too. One section of writing that they have placed in a big blue bubble is about the subscription to the magazine; a way of guaranteeing customers on a regular basis. 

I am unable to find anymore copies regional magazine contents pages and to buy any from shops is costly and I am therefore unable to; however all magazine contents pages are similar and follow the same codes and conventions. 

As I was unable to find any more copies of regional magazines I have found other copies of magazines that follow along the lines of the same codes and conventions. Here is a copy of ‘Marie Claire’ that is a women’s lifestyle magazine.

This magazine features one big main image down the right hand side of the page. On the left hand side of the magazine the writing has been split into 2 columns. These columns have then been split up into sections of different areas within the magazine.

Like most magazines this one has followed the code and convention of having the magazine title at the top of the page. They’ve also followed another code and convention, which is again including the issue number, a website address, the volume and month the magazine has been published.  Also this magazine has clearly stated at the top that it is a contents page by having the word ‘contents’ written in big letters at the top. 

This is a country life magazine that is similar to my regional magazine and the kind of features that I will include in my magazine.  

There are a number of images spread out over the page, one of a man called Phil who features in the running TV series of Escape to the Country. On this contents page I covered mainly by photos and has the page numbers and writing wrapped around this.

However; even though this is a real and published magazine; this contents page has only loosely followed the codes and conventions of the contents page.  There isn’t an issue number, month or date of the magazine, nor a title which are the most common features to include. 

This is a very simple layout for a contents page by this lifestyle magazine. The same as the previous contents page this one hasn’t included, a month or issue number. It has however included the title in block capitals at the top of the page.

The page numbers and the cover story titles are clearly laid out central down the middle of the page. There are no photographs on this page only small images that has been designed. This page has also broken the codes and convention rules by not using a consistent font throughout the page but, I think this works really well and the layout has been very carefully thought about and planned. 

This is an old school music magazine, which has been targeted at an older generation. The layout also screams at the audience that it is targeted at an older generation.

In the top left hand corner there is the title of the magazine that is clear, easy to read and simple for someone to identify. On the right hand top corner we can clearly see the title that it is a contents page. This magazine has closely followed the typical codes and conventions; it has the page numbers and the clear outline of what will be featured on that page.

Unusually this magazine has put the month issue date at the bottom of the page, which is a breaking of the typical codes and conventions.