Audience Research - Theory

Individuals actively consume and use the media to meet certain needs, this iswhat was indentified by the theorisists Blumler and Katz. In this theory we see that there are four basic audience needs:

• Diversion where the audience use the media for escapism or emotional release from everyday pressure.

• Personal Relationships the idea that the audience needs companionship with 'known' TV programmes characters as well as the interaction with other people who an discuss the TV programmes.

• Personal Identity the ability to compare ones own life with characters' lives and situations, thereby gaining a perspective on one's own life.

• Surveillance being given the opportunity to see what else is going on in the world.

I hope that my newspaper will act as an escapism for those  teengers that may be seeking something to take their minds off any personal problems that they maybe facing in their lives. I also hope that it will be entertaininng for them too.   

Audience Research

Social Class of Blackheath

Blackheath is a village which caters to the middle classs. With so many independent and 'high -end' shops being located there, for instance Raffles, Fiorelli and Bullfrogs, this suggests that those living there can afford to shop in these shops and can also relate to the income and occupation of those living there. Income and occupation also helps to determine a person's social status whereby, the more someone earns the higher their social status is in society. Another factor which helped determine the social class of those living in Blackheath is education. The people of Blackheath are seen to be highly educated and with several private schools located there, this also helps to determine the social class.

Demographics

Blackheath is a suburb of London, located in the Lewisham Borough. Its name derives from the large open public grassland, which separates it from Greenwich to the north and Lewisham to the west. The centre of Blackheath, 'the village', is located to the south side of the heath, near Blackheath Railway station. This is also where a lot of the shops, restraurants and pubs are located. There is also the 'All Saints Parish Church' which is also located on the heath itself. One mile to the north-east, Blackheath Standard is another shopping area.

Lifestyle

The lifestyle of those who live in Blackheath is reflective of their social status whereby the people of Blackheath are seen to be of the the middle class. This implies that because their of the middle class, their income is higher than those of the working class, so therefore they can afford to maintain a slightly wealthy lifestyle. The hobbies of those living in Blackheath include activities such as kite flying, croquet and yoga.

Ethnicity

People that live in Blackheath are majority white. Despite this, Blackheath does have diverse ethnic groups.