NEA Task 11: Research Textual Analysis of Film Stories Front Covers

 

NEA Task 10: Research Textual Analysis of Little White Lies Front Covers

 

NEA Task 9: Research Textual Analysis of Sight and Sound front covers

 

NEA Task 8: Research into existing Film Magazines for a Media Literate Audience

 

Sight and Sound-

Who publishes it?- British Film Institute since 1932

How often is it published?-monthly

How much does it cost?-  from £3 up to £6.50. An annual subscription costs £50.

What does a typical cover look like?- Masthead at the top in bold, sans-serif, individual in centre frame as the dominant image, headline under or surrounding the person, barcode on the side. The cover usually features people of importance in the film industry.

Does it have a website etc?- They don’t have their own website, but have a section on the British Film Institutes website which can be accessed through the “watch and discover hyperlink”. At the bottom of the front page there are large social media links which direct you to their Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.

This magazine focuses on the profession of the art and skill,  more behind the scenes than the celebrities as it shows directors on front covers usually.

Little White Lies-

Who published it?- The Church Of London

How often is it published?- bi-monthly, released on the 1st of every month.

How much does it cost?- £12, an annual subscription costs £38

What does a typical cover look like?- logo in a white circle at the top, above the main image.  An individual currently popular in the film industry with details like illustrations around the image.

Does it have a website etc?- it has a website which has social media links at the top to their twitter, YouTube, Instagram, Facebook and email.

Film Stories-

Who publishes it?- they publish themselves as they are independent 

How often is it published?- every month, Film Junior is published seasonally.

How much does it cost?- issues vary from £3.99 to £5.99 a piece, or a yearly subscription can be bought for £29.99.

What does a typical cover look like?- they often feature famous people within the cinema world like directors or even actors.

Does it have a website?-  They do have a website which audiences can subscribe to newsletters and engage with hyperlinks of podcasts, live events etc.

NEA Task 7: My Target Audience

Why is target audience important to Bauer?-

Bauer is a commercial driven organisation, so must ensure that their products appeal to their people. They state on their website 'We are guided by regular research and analysis of our markets and target groups, which allows us to understand our readers, users, listeners, and advertisers and know exactly how to engage, inform and entertain'. Therefore, they're important to Bauer as they help them create media which is enjoyable and best fit to their target audience, giving them the best experience possible. 

What is a Media Literate Audience?-

Media Literate individuals engage intelligently and think critically, responding to media texts in an active way by engaging and considering messages that are communicated, rather than just accepting them like most. They're prosumers with media and technology, therefore, produce and consume media with the ability to decode, evaluate, analyse, and produce both print and electronic media and media messages. Media Literate Audiences are smarter consumers of products and information as they recognize perspectives, identify the role media plays in our culture, and understand the intent of the content created by producers.

Target Audience Profile-

Sam may be in the Sixth Form studying A Levels and preparations for university. If Sam is already at university they are likely to be studying at a Russell Group university and following a course that is recognised as being traditionally academic. If Sam is employed they may be at the start of their career and, therefore, not at the height of their earning potential yet.

Sam’s family background will have added significant cultural capital to their experiences. Sam will have been brought up in a household where there has been a clear focus on the importance of education and the opportunities that this can bring. Sam will have experienced holidays both in this country and abroad and their knowledge of other cultures will have been enhanced by this.

Sam is knowledgeable about current affairs but doesn’t access news via traditional channels such as newspapers or television. Sam would not dream of reading the red top or middle-market tabloids. If Sam had to, they may flick through The Guardian or i. 

To keep updated on what is happening in the world Sam, like most others of their age, relies more heavily on their social media feeds. Social media is important to Sam but it doesn’t dominate their life. They are more likely to use Instagram and Tik Tok than Facebook and will be as interested in consuming as they are in producing content. Sam likes to be seen as slightly different to the average 16-25 year old and has an active interest in learning about the world around them. Sam is interested in reality television programmes such as Love Island but is likely to see it as escapist fun rather than a guide to how they should live their life.

Sam will make use of online sources such as Huffington Post, a site that features content from more than 100,000 bloggers (from politicians, students and celebrities to academics, parents and policy experts) who contribute in real-time on the subjects they are passionate about. 

Sam is interested in all aspects of culture. They are interested in reading and are likely to always have at least one book by their bedside. Sam is more likely to read fiction than non-fiction and is able to hold a conversation regarding what they like and dislike in a narrative. Sam will enjoy music but doesn’t follow the crowd. Sam is interested in new music and takes pleasure in listening to artists that their friends may not have heard of yet. Sam is likely to be interested in attending festivals alongside friends. 

Sam will take an active interest in film and is just as likely to stream content as visit the cinema. Sam enjoys watching Hollywood blockbusters but is just as likely to seek out the latest independent film. Sam is interested in all aspects of film-making and not just the end product and, because of this, is more likely to read film magazines such as Sight and Sound, Little White Lies and Film Stories than more mainstream magazines such as Empire and Total Film.

Sam has some disposable income but is still conscious of the need to save. Fashion is important but  they are not a sheep who follows the same trends as everyone else. Sam will be seen by their friends as a trend setter and not a follower of fashion.

Sam is interested in issues that affect young people of the same age. These would include climate concerns and the impact of human beings on the environment.

NEA Task 6: Understanding Audience (Mass Market)

 

NEA Task 5: How does Empire appeal to its Target Audience?

NEA Task 4: Research into an existing Bauer Film Magazine (Empire)

 What the magazine says about itself-

Describes itself as 'the worlds most influential film and entertainment brand'. They collaborate with the biggest film studios, distributors, world-class filmmakers and actors to create content that 'no other brand could pull off''.

What it says about its readership (audience)

Every piece of Empire content is considered premium, polished and connects with the audience, who, they say, trusts them implicitly and come back to Empire every day, every week and every month.

how the magazine can be accessed by this readership

Can be accessed through print magazine, podcast, website, digital editions and live events strands. Empires award-winning digital edition level up print versions, as they consist of exclusive video content enhanced by pages that come to life with bespoke animations. The podcast, with an average of 51,000 downloads a week and Top 5 hit in the iTunes chart, features news, reviews, the team answering their reader questions and weekly guests. Throughout the year Empire hosts live events, such as the Empire Awards 2018's star-studded ceremony, which made front-page news with the 'one and only' Steven Spielberg. The website regularly runs world-exclusive pictures, video and interviews. It is said to be the place you must look at the second a big film review drops, a huge casting decision is revealed or a new trailer breaks.

Set Brief Target audience- 16-25 year old middle and upmarket media literate audience. Is Empire readership the same to set brief.

Empire Target audience- three-quarters male aged 18-49, employed, in a relationship (although not necessarily married) and time-poor. Empires audience is passionate about film, using the cinema as escapism or insight into other worlds. They are also seen as key influencers in their group, they recommend their friends films.

https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/media-packs/empire/

NEA Task 3: Research into the UK Magazine Industry

 

The magazine industry has been upended in recent years by many factors, such as the movement to online. Online media now takes a large role in the distribution of information in society, resulting in the movement of magazines to newer online media sources which happen to be easier, while other institutions already moved onto the online scene altogether. Smartphones and tablet devices are examples contributing to the continued popularity of magazines. With greater availability of high-speed broadband, streaming and downloading online content has become even more popular. Publishers are creating content in digital formats for mobile users to improve customer engagement and reach a wider audience.

The Covid-19 pandemic had an enormous impact on the industry as it caused news agents, newsstands and free titles not being able to distribute their products. The pandemic sharply accelerated the fall in print advertising revenue, which fell by 33% from 2019 to 2020 and has yet to recover. Despite this, print is still a significant method for many but has been in long-term decline, with digital editions and subscriptions for the most part not making up for this drop in sales. Like all publishing sectors, magazines have been hit by sharp falls in print advertising revenue, while digital advertising spend has been monopolised by tech platforms such as Google and Facebook. Roger Lynch, chief executive of the 113-year-old Conde Nast,  stated that the business was “no longer a magazine company” as its audiences now predominantly interact with its brands through its websites and social media rather than its magazines. Douglas McCabe, chief executive of Enders Analysis, told Press Gazette: “It’s an industry that during (the past ten to 15 years) has literally changed its definition.

In 2000, 1.6 billion magazines were circulated in the UK. Unfortunately, last year, that number was down to 565 million. Consumer expenditure has also shrunk, as UK consumers spent £669m on magazines in 2020, and according to Enders estimates, that’s less than half the £1.4bn spent in 2000. In the past five years, men’s magazines and music magazines have been among the most impacted. The total circulation of men’s magazines reporting to ABC fell by 89% from 32.3 million to 3.6 million between 2017 and 2021, while music magazines fell by 90% to 1.8 million. According to McCabe, verticals where consumers can easily substitute the content once found in a magazine with a newer online source are the hardest hit. Social media platform, Instagram, has been a big factor as to why the men’s category completely collapsed, as the app satisfies audiences level of interest.

Despite this, Magazines are projected to have accounted for almost £560.4 million of ad spend in 2022, with top magazine advertisers including Apple, VictoriaPlum, Johnson & Johnson, Chanel and Sainsbury’s. Magazine media reaches 76% of adults in the UK each month and almost two thirds of UK adults (63%) read magazines through a digital medium each month and this is growing steadily. According to PAMCo data 72% of readers think that reading magazines is time well spent and 91% trust what they read. Around the world magazine publishing is expected to continue growing by between 1% and 0.5% per year to 2026. Printed magazines are expected to have a significant share of the predicted growth as people still prefer to read printed magazines and trust the content they find there.

 

The leading companies in consumer magazines, Bauer Media, Immediate Media Company and Future Plc, controlled an estimated 37% of circulation in 2020. This is based on an analysis of the total annual number of magazine copies circulated by each publisher, according to data reported to the Audit Bureau of Circulations (ABC). 

The top publishers are responsible for a number of household names.

·       Bauer’s biggest titles in 2020 for example included TV Choice (average monthly circulation of 1.04 million), Take a Break (380,000) and Yours (180,000).

·       Future’s biggest sellers in the consumer market include What's on TV (690,000), Woman & Home (250,000) and Woman's Weekly (210,000).

·       Hearst's most popular household names include ASDA Magazine (1.83 million), Good Housekeeping (420,000) and Prima (210,000).

·       Immediate’s leading titles include Radio Times (480,000, English Heritage Members Magazine (450,000) and BBC Gardeners' World (220,000).

 

Information referenced from the following sources:

https://www.pulsemagazine.co.uk/blogs-articles/the-outlook-for-magazines-in-2023/

https://pressgazette.co.uk/news/biggest-magazine-publishers-uk-2021/

https://pressgazette.co.uk/publishers/magazines/uk-consumer-magazine-industry-charts/

https://magnetic.media/research/market-overview/market-overview-insight

NEA Task 2: Research into Bauer

 

The following information is sourced from Bauer Medias official website on publishing: https://www.bauermedia.com/businesses/publishing

Bauer, being one of the most successful publishing houses in the world, are currently the largest magazine publisher in Europe. With over 140 years of publishing experience, they are Market-leading positions across Europe with 400+ magazines and 100+ digital products. Their magazines are made for almost every interest, from celebrities to TV guides to special interest titles. Bauer strive to make Bauer Media an exciting place to work, where everybody can bring their passion and creativity to their work every day.

The following information is sourced from official Bauer Medias Wikipedia page: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bauer_Media_Group

Heinrich Bauer Publishing, trading as Bauer Media Group, is a German multimedia conglomerate headquartered in Hamburg. It operates worldwide and owns more than 600 magazines, over 400 digital products and 50 radio and TV stations, as well as print shops, postal, distribution and marketing services. Bauer has a workforce of approximately 11,000 in 17 countries. In November 2010, Heinz Heinrich’s daughter, named Yvonne Bauer, became CEO and owns 85% of the Bauer Media Group after joining the family business in 2005.

The following information is sourced from Bauer Media Groups official UK website- https://www.bauermedia.co.uk/%20:

Bauer Media Group is one of the world’s largest privately-owned media businesses with media assets all over the globe. Founded in Hamburg in 1875 and now in its 5th generation of family ownership, the Bauer Media Group reaches 200 million consumers worldwide and operates in 14 countries including the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Israel, Norway, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden, UK, Ireland and the USA and has 15,000 employees. Bauer’s magazine heritage stretches back to 1953 with the launch of Angling Times and the acquisition in 1956 of Motor Cycle News. More recently, Closer was launched in 2002 and Britain’s first weekly glossy, Grazia, was launched in 2005. Bauer Media Women’s Weekly magazines include Take A Break, which has long been the UK’s best-selling women’s weekly title, and TV Choice, the UK’s biggest selling magazine.  In 2015, they created a new niche within the growing gardening market, with the launch of Modern Gardens.

NEA Task 1: Introduction To Set Brief

 Requirements of the brief

You work for an independent media production company. 

You have been given the task of producing the front cover and contents page(s) of the first two editions of a new film magazine that is being launched by Bauer and two pages for the working website for the magazine.

Contents pages can be either single or double page spread.

The web pages must promote the new magazine to its target audience and enable fans to interact with the content.

Summary of brief requirements:

• Statement of Intent (approx. 500 words) : to be completed after research phase of NEA.

• Magazine covers and contents pages: Two or three pages for each of the first two editions (based on choice of single or double page spread).

• Magazine distribution method: Content must be suitable for retail distribution.

• Number of web pages: One homepage and one linked page.

• Cross media production target audience: A primarily 16–25-year-old middle and upmarket media literate audience.

There must be a clear sense of branding across the two elements of the cross-media production.

NEA Rules

The following rules MUST be adhered to:

• Do not reproduce an existing media product. 
• Group productions are not allowed. Others may act in or appear in the production and/or may operate lighting, sound, recording or other equipment under your direction.
• You MUST only use original footage, images and/or text within your production. 
• You MUST NOT use any found images.