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 used, the information included.

For example, Billboard magazine is aimed at teens from the age of 16, to young adults, at the age from 27. this is because the magazine provides its readers with the latest updates from the music charts, but of different various types of genres. Overall it is aimed towards both genders males and females depending on the cover star and the age range of the target audience. The layout of the magazine is not overcrowded which makes it very mature for the teens to read.  

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 resulting in 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. For example, on most of MOJO’s front covers the main image is normally of men, 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 can get pleasure from reading magazines which creates nostalgia. For example, on the MOJO Pink Floyd edition - MOJO 296 - July 2018: Pink Floyd 50 creates the sense of nostalgia by the rainbow colours used which refers back to LSD and the past drug culture the reader may of experienced and the way the bands image can remind the readers of the hippie culture during the 1760's. By giving this sense of nostalgia to the reader it allows them to connect more with the magazine and gives them pleasure.

Another way readers may get pleasure by reading magazines because it can offer an escape into a utopian world of stars and be a distraction to which they may be struggling with in real life. For example, MOJO gives rock lovers a sense of escapism into the rock life by all the articles, insights into the artists lifes and all the photos available as well as the MOJO website where you can win tickets, competitions and purchase items from their store. The Uses and Gratifications theory is used to portray the pleasure received by the audience.

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

The representation of musicians from the Pink Floyd edition - MOJO 296 - July 2018: Pink Floyd 50 is that the main image is of the band with only their heads being shown which majorly highlights their significance and emphasis their importance to their fans. Additionally the colours used of the rainbow infers the drug culture which conveys Pink Floyd to be involved with it, showing them to be rebellious. 

The representation of musicians from the Sex Pistols edition - MOJO 286/ September 2017 is that the main image of the lead singer of the band is making direct eye contact with the reader and his head being over the MOJO sign which infers his dominance, leading the readers to believe how important The Sex Pistols are.

Another way the musician has been represented is by the language used. The informal language used for example the word "bollocks" conveys to the reader how rebellious they are. 

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 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 which gains them revenue from their readers.