Exam questions

1. 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)

Most magazines use colour identity to attract their primary target audience. For example, MOJO uses a bright, 'trippy' effect which engages an older audience because it portrays the use of drugs in the 1960s and the effect it had. Furthermore, other magazines use different celebrities to attract different audiences. This could be from pop artists to rock artists.  Pop artists would attract a younger audience whilst the rock artists would attract an older target audience. This show how magazines can be aimed at a range of audiences.

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

White British males are more likely to read MOJO magazines because most of the artists are white males on the front of the magazines. Furthermore, they would attract an older audience (41 years old) because most of the rock artists MOJO use are more recognisable to the older generations.  

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

Readers will get a sense of pleasure from reading magazines because they can use them to entertain themselves. This can be done to escape from their daily struggles or to calm them down. Magazines such as MOJO give rock fans an escapism from the real world into the life of rock stars. This is done through the various interviews throughout the whole of the magazine. Additionally, the merchandise sold in the magazine can give readers the chance to relate to the artists by wearing the same type of clothes as them.

Readers can also get a sense of pleasure because the magazines can be the talking point of many conversations and gets people to build personal relationships with each other. For example, people who read MOJO magazine can talk about the latest release and find common interests.

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

The representation of the artist on the 'sex pistols' magazine is of the lead singer of the band. He is portrayed as a typical rock artist as they tend to have colourful hair and have a distinctive look compared to other artists. Furthermore, the serious face he has shows how rock artists are not usually portrayed as happy in the media.

The representation of the artists on the 'Pink Floyd' magazine are very stereotypical to the drug culture they were very famous in. The use of the bright, multicoloured colour scheme shows that they are still known well for that era and the audience recognises it as a positive thing. Furthermore, they are also portrayed as different to other bands represented by MOJO because the colour scheme is not like the other magazines. This shows that not all rock artists are the same

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

IPSO

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

One way is by selling merchandise which is advertised at the back of the magazine. Another way is through product placement.