Research

During my half term, I was thinking of what to include in my music magazine. While paging through various magazines, i noticed that horoscopes were quite popular. I suddenly wondered if my music magazine should include horoscopes? I looked in a few music magazines and noticed there were no horoscopes, however there were crossword puzzles. I then decided i should get feedback from someone, as i do not know an awful lot about music magazines, yet! I randomly picked a few girls aged between 16 and 17 (as i am thinking this may be the target audience of my magazine) that were in the same school as me. I asked them “ Hey can i ask you a quick question for my media work, would you expect to find a horoscope or cross word puzzle in a music magazine, that is targeted at young females?”

I got the following replies:
▪ “horoscopes, then maybe puzzles in the middle or at the back of a mag”

▪ “ puzzles but i don’t think horoscopes ”
▪ “I would say not in a music magazine, unless the horoscope is always linked to music (you can get seperate horoscopes for love, money etc) although have not heard of music horoscope) hoped I helped  ”
▪ “horoscopes possibly, word puzzles no.”
▪“probably horoscopes”

This tiny bit of research has shown that i need to definitely do more research! I looked in the ‘NME’ magazine and could not locate any horoscope section so i was thinking against including horoscopes, but the small bit of research that i did shows that more than half the people questioned would expect to find a horoscope. The results were a bit inconclusive, so I will probably buy some more music magazines and do more research using the internet and more questionnaires.

Magazine front cover

My hand drawn mock up contents page

My hand drawn mock up front cover

Mission Statement

Douay Matters is the latest and greatest magazine- created at school, by students, for students- and is going to be published very soon! It is aimed at a male and female audience, aged between sixteen and nineteen, students that are in full time education. The magazine is new and contains the latest trends, ideas and news. Douay Matters is a fun yet sophisticated and intellectual magazine that will provide everything that the target audience needs and wants to know. The magazine aims to educate and entertain the students.

Douay Matters will be distributed at the end of every term, guaranteeing that we will have all the news that the audience needs to know, and tips that students can use when they come back in the new term. It will be distributed in the common room in a stand similar to a newspaper stand outside train stations. This gives the magazine a professional look and makes it easy to find and get to.

Douay Matters promises to entertain and educate the target audience, and not just meet their expectations of the magazine but exceed them. We will provide information on anything the audience wants to know and what we think is appropriate for their needs, as well as school news! Any important national and international news will be included in the magazine as well as the lighter topics such as sports and fashion, as well as tips on everything! The magazine will have an 'agony aunt' to provide guidance to students who email or write for advice; we will ensure that it will remain anonymous. The type of articles will be educational but also entertaining. There will be articles on music, films as well as information on universities and learning to drive. There will be interviews with members of staff and students giving the audience inside information. Book and theatre reviews will also be included in the magazine. We will give advice on studying, school life, friendships, relationships and social life outside of school.

Douay Matters will have a dedicated page that will have a different news genre every time its published, allowing the target audience to learn new things and keep readers hooked, and wondering what will be on that page the next time it is published. The magazine will have a random facts section that educates as well as entertains. Any school trips will also be shared in the magazine with a few photographs showing where the students went and what they did. A sports section about the school teams will also be included to inform the students of how well their team has performed.

Douay Matters will be the ideal magazine for six form students as all their needs will be fulfilled, educational and entertainment. The target audience will love Douay Matters as it is up and coming, the magazine to be reading! The target audience do not have a lot of time to spare, so we aim to give them a page of the hottest news that they can read in sixty seconds. When a member of the target audience has a free lesson and needs a break from their hard work, they will turn to Douay Matters and all their needs will be fulfilled, as they receive the information and guidance they require. And as a bonus Douay Matters is free!

Target Audience Profile

The audience targeted by Douay Matters is both male and female. They are aged between sixteen and nineteen and are in full time education. Some have or are thinking about getting a part time job; if they are employed they are not earning a lot- just enough to give them some more independence. They have a variety of hobbies and interests the main ones are sports: which include football, rugby, cricket, netball etc. and a lot of students are thinking about their future, learning to drive- and about cars- and going to university. Other students may have hobbies such as dancing, animals, reading, creative writing, chess, cooking, baking and playing musical instruments. Others are interested in music, films, performing art, as well as socialising, night life and relationships. A lot of people are interested in how they can better themselves, by appearance and in attitude.

The target audience is sociable, friendly and outgoing, they have a good sense of humour, and always enjoy laughing. They are caring, kind and polite. All are hard working and willing to help anyone in need. They are educated well and are eager to learn new things. The students are intelligent as they are in six form and have chosen to be in six form therefore they are responsible, trustworthy and value learning more. Their attitude towards education revolves around the idea that if you are educated you will succeed in life. They all have principles and standards, some have different cultures but would like to share their experiences with others, and they like to learn about other cultures and beliefs.

The target audience needs guidance and advice about six form, how to cope with homework and exams- how to balance social and school life. They also need to be entertained from time to time, the like receiving tips about almost anything- certainly fashion, cars and studies. Some enjoy reading horoscopes and fiction stories, while others need to be informed about things that are happening around the world and also in school. As for the Year Thirteen’s they are thinking about their next step to take whether it's going to university or getting a full time job.

If they are unemployed they may possibly want to find a job and find out what to do next. Some want to find out how they can achieve and do well in the future- some will need help with this, as job seeking will be new to them.

The target audience use the internet for social networking and to fulfil their music needs as well as gaining information. However when the target audience buy a magazine they are treating it like a friend, something that will give them advice and support them. They put their faith into one or two magazines and trust that the magazine will provide everything they need to know. Douay Matters will be a magazine that the students can turn to for anything, and it is free, guaranteeing that there will always be an audience.

This magazine will provide for all their needs! We will provide information and guidance to help the Year Twelve's settle in or find out the next step they are going to take. We will supply them with advice regarding school work and social life. The target audience want to focus on their studies but also need time for some entertainment or time to relax and have a break from all their hard work; Douay Matters is the perfect magazine for them! Also we will provide a range of tips catering to individual needs, tips on fashion, sports and studies- as well as healthy living; the target audience want to know how they can be healthy either through food or sports.