Audience Profiling

Question 1

What is an audience profile?

Answer 1

• A detailed profile of the types of people who would be interested in a particular media product (e.g. what type of people are interested in soap operas) • An audience profile is usually measured using demographics (e.g. gender, age, occupation, education)

Question 2

Identify 4 audience demographic categories?

Answer 2

• Gender • Age • socio-economic background • race • occupation • income • education

Question 3

Give 3 reasons why a producer might use audience research when developing an idea?

Answer 3

1. To gauge how an audience will react to a particular scenario so they can use the information to refinements their media product
2. To demonstrate popularity and viability of ideas so that they can secure funding for further production
3. Audience research data can be presented in charts allowing it to be easily and quickly interpreted
4. To see how an audience reacts to a pilot product so they can see if making more is viable

Question 4

What patterns in a consumer’s behaviour might a producer use when developing an idea?

Answer 4

• genre choices • products consumed • impact of technology • purchase decisions • time consumers use media product

Question 5

What is the consumer of a GAME known as?

Answer 5

Gamer

Question 6

What is the consumer of a MOVING IMAGE PRODUCTION known as?

Answer 6

Viewer

Question 7

What is the consumer of an AUDIO production known as?

Answer 7

Listener

Question 8

What is the consumer of a WEBSITE known as?

Answer 8

Surfer / Visitor

Question 9

What is the consumer of the PUBLISHING industry known as?

Answer 9

Reader

Question 10

What AUDIENCE STATISTICS does the MOVING IMAGE sector use?

Answer 10

Box office

Question 11

What AUDIENCE STATISTICS does the TV sector use?

Answer 11

Number of viewers

Question 12

What AUDIENCE STATISTICS does the AUDIO sector use?

Answer 12

Number of listeners

Question 13

What AUDIENCE STATISTICS does the PUBLISHING sector use?

Answer 13

Circulation

Question 14

What AUDIENCE STATISTICS does the GAMES sector use?

Answer 14

Number of sales

Question 15

Why might a media producer use audience profiling when developing an idea?

Answer 15

1. To break down the audience into different sections and help identify different patterns and trends in media consumption
2. To make their show reflect the preferences of their audience
3. The producer can predict the income of the audience to attract advertisers and sponsors who want to reach this audience
4. To predict the audience demographic to attract contributors interested in reaching this audience
5. The producer can choose specific content that reflect the preferences of the audience
6. The producer can tailor the mode of address / language / style of the show to reflect the existing product preferences of the audience

Question 16

How are demographics used by media producers?

Answer 16

1. To categorise and break down their audience by age / gender / social class / occupation and thus target them more precisely with marketing / material / products that will appeal to them
2. To identify trend / patterns in consumer behaviour and thus target them more precisely with marketing / material / products that will appeal to them
3. To understand the current audience or typical consumer of a media product and thus target them more precisely with marketing / material / products that will appeal to them