Wednesday, 5 September 2012

Initial Audience Feedback about Local Newspapers


Audience Research
Questionnaire:
  1.  Which local newspaper do you regularly buy?
  2. Why do you favour this particular newspaper?
  3. Are there any key features you think effectively attract you to buy this newspaper?
  4. What kinds of stories are you most likely to look for/read?
  5. How do you feel the layout/content of the cover could be improved on this newspaper?

I asked six people these five questions in order to compare and contrast what people look for in their newspapers, and what features would be effective to use in the publication I create myself. I was interested to find out what sorts of articles were of interest to different sorts of people. In order to be able to compare the actual people who took part in this effectively, I’ve included the age and genders of the people I asked. This way I could see if a pattern began to show relating the ages to the articles they found interesting. I also could then compare whether age affected what features they found effective on front pages of newspapers too.


Person 1 – Age: 74 Gender: Male
  1. Which local newspaper do you regularly buy?
Tends to buy the Daily Mail.

  1. Why do you favour this particular newspaper?
“The language used in the newspaper is easy to understand, and the layout allows for easy reading. There are many different stories and article topics which mean there’s a little something for everybody.”

  1. Are there any key features you think effectively attract you to buy this newspaper?
“The photographs are often eye catching and show exactly what you can expect from the stories.”

  1. What kinds of stories are you most likely to look for/read?
“I personally enjoy reading more local news, and stories about what normal people have been up to in their own communities.”

  1. How do you feel the layout/content of the cover could be improved on this newspaper?
“Maybe vary the style of font on the headlines? I don’t know though, because the font they already use allows the front page to be easily recognised.”

Person 2 – Age: 25 Gender: Female

  1. Which local newspaper do you regularly buy?
“Normally The Sun.”

  1. Why do you favour this particular newspaper?
“Because it’s got celebrity news in there too and all the showbiz sort of stuff… easy reading even though it’s still a newspaper.”

  1. Are there any key features you think effectively attract you to buy this newspaper?
“Lots of interesting photographs and bright fonts.”

  1. What kinds of stories are you most likely to look for/read?
“Anything celebrity based.”

  1. How do you feel the layout/content of the cover could be improved on this newspaper?
“Maybe could put some less gross pictures on the cover sometimes. Women would be less likely to want to buy a newspaper with a massive photo of a naked woman on the cover!”

Person 3 – Age: 61 Gender: Male

  1. Which local newspaper do you regularly buy?
The Evening Post.

  1. Why do you favour this particular newspaper?
Interesting stories.
  1. Are there any key features you think effectively attract you to buy this newspaper?
Good use of photographs on the cover, clear use of headlines telling you what will be inside.

  1. What kinds of stories are you most likely to look for/read?
Anything about politics.

  1. How do you feel the layout/content of the cover could be improved on this newspaper?
“I don’t know.”

Person 4 – Age: 17 Gender: Male

  1. Which local newspaper do you regularly buy?
“Don’t normally read newspapers, but if I do, I read The Mail on Sunday”

  1. Why do you favour this particular newspaper?
Easy to read. Good photographs. Good sport news.

  1. Are there any key features you think effectively attract you to buy this newspaper?
“Again, the photos maybe?”

  1. What kinds of stories are you most likely to look for/read?
Anything about sport.

  1. How do you feel the layout/content of the cover could be improved on this newspaper?
“Could have more text on the front page?”

Person 5 – Age: 30 Gender: Female

  1. Which local newspaper do you regularly buy?
The Daily Mail
  1. Why do you favour this particular newspaper?
“Has lots of various articles, with lots of various content!”
  1. Are there any key features you think effectively attract you to buy this newspaper?
“Bright photographs and clear headlines.”
  1. What kinds of stories are you most likely to look for/read?
“Articles about things that effect the whole country. Politics, and sometimes some celebrity news.”
  1. How do you feel the layout/content of the cover could be improved on this newspaper?
“Perhaps more introductions to the articles on the cover could be included.”

Person 6- Age: 44 Gender: Male
  1. Which local newspaper do you regularly buy?
The Guardian

  1. Why do you favour this particular newspaper?
Intelligent articles, often with political content. Information about campaigns.

  1. Are there any key features you think effectively attract you to buy this newspaper?
Recognisable masthead. Good high quality photographs.

  1. What kinds of stories are you most likely to look for/read?
Again, political pieces mainly.

  1. How do you feel the layout/content of the cover could be improved on this newspaper?
I think it is already that of a high standard, using the space effectively. 



Evaluation of my findings: 

From this initial audience research I have found that it is very important when creating a newspaper to make the information easy to read and understand, especially in the articles as this is one of the main reasons people purchase newspapers in the first place. If the articles are difficult to interpret, then people won't bother reading on to find out more and thus readership figures will decrease. I also found out from this particular questionnaire in my research that people like newspapers to use the space effectively. By positioning my text boxes and images in an effective way, I can make my pages appear attractive and allow the space to include as much information for my audience as possible, encouraging them to purchase my publication. A few people also mentioned that use of bright, colour photographs was likely to attract them to buying a newspaper so I must remember to include colour photography instead of black and white. Overall this audience feedback has been very helpful, and I will bear these ideas in mind when drafting up the layout and content of my own newspaper pages. 

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