EXAM QUESTIONS

How can magazines be aimed at a range of audiences? (For example, MOJO is aimed at a range of audience e.g a more niche, older, predominantly male audience with an average age of 41) (5 marks)

Magazines can be aimed at a range of audiences by the language, format and information included.

For example, WE<3POP uses informal language, such as ‘OMG’ while their colour scheme is very bright to attract their younger target audience as well as the information inside being all about gossip and the latest trends thus appealing to a much younger, typically female, audience.

Furthermore, social media can be used to entice a wider range of audiences as WE<3POP have numerous account on different social networks such as twitter which allows a wider range of audiences to connect with without having a hard copy.

State one audience category that is more likely to read MOJO (go into detail about demographic & NRS) (5 marks)

MOJO is more likely to be read by middle class male. This is because it only comes out once a month thus the price being higher than a lot of others so middle class men would be the ones to buy it and read it and also the genre of rock is dominated by men as it connotes violence and danger which is not stereotypically enjoyed by females. For example, on most of MOJO’s front covers the main image is normally of men thus highlighting how its dominated by men so the readership would most likely be males.

The NRS grade for MOJO tends to be ABC1 which further conveys the point of middle class while the quality is high however can target C2DE as well. 

Explain how readers may get pleasure from reading Magazines. You may wish to refer to the Uses & Gratifications theory (10 marks)

Readers may get pleasure by reading magazines because it gives a sense of belonging and escapism from the outside world of which they may be struggling with.

For example, MOJO gives rock loves a sense of escapism into the rock life by all the interviews and photos available inside the magazine as well as the MOJO website where competitions and more interaction are given thus highlighting their sense of belonging into the rock community while helping them build up a community where conversations about rock can be held.

The Uses and Gratifications theory, by Blumber and Katz, is used to portray the pleasure received by the audience.

Another way readers can get pleasure from reading magazines is by nostalgia.

For example, on the MOJO July 2018 addition of Pink Floyd pours the sense of  nostalgia by the rainbow colours used which refers back to LSD and the past drug culture the reader may of experienced of heard of before.

By supplying the nostalgia to the reader is allows them to connect more with the magazine thus giving them pleasure.

Analyse the representation of musicians, from any MOJO Magazine front cover you have studied. (10 marks)

The representation of musicians from the MOJO September 2017 addition of The Sex Pistoles is that the main image is of Lydon ,who is the lead singer of the band, making direct eye contact with the reader and his head being over the MOJO sign which both infers his dominance thus leading the readers believe how significant The Sex Pistols are.

Another way the musician has been represented is by the language used and clothes worn. The informal language used conveys to the reader how crazy and rebellious they are for example the word “bollocks” was put in bold under the artist once again reiterating how rebellious they were. As well as the clothes the musician is wearing such as a white suit which contrasts his red hair which portrays to the reader how in control he is so linking back to the male dominated target audience.

The representation of musicians from the MOJO July 2018 addition of Pink Floyd is that the main image is of the band with only their heads being shown which shows how significant they are even without showing the rest of their body. Meanwhile, the colours used of the rainbow infers the drug culture thus conveying Pink Floyd to be involved with it as well as showing them as being rebellious. The main images similar to Queens Bohemian Rhapsody famous image so the intersexuality used allows the reader to feel a sense of power as Queen was a major band in the past so links them together revealing their dominance.

Identify the regulator for Magazines in the UK (1 mark)

The magazine regulator in the UK is IPSO.

State two ways that a print magazine can gain revenue (2 marks)

The printed magazines gain revenue by product placement. For example, in MOJO July 2018 addition the first page is an advertisement for HMV which HMV have paid Bauer Media to include.

Another way is on a website people can subscribe, buy merchandise, enter competitions and way more. For example, MOJO does all those above thus getting revenue by their readers.