Audiences

An audience is a group of people who view any form of media text. All professional pieces of text are created with audience in mind otherwise known as a 'target audience'. Audience is a key concept to producers when creating any form of media text as not only does it provide the core to the piece of media text but will ensure its success should the piece be targeted and appeal correctly to the audience.

Without an audience there would be no purpose behind any media text as the soul purpose of media text is for the viewer/audience to 'consume' in whatever form it may be and for whatever purpose, whether it be entertainment, educational or for other purposes. Without an audience not only would the media texts been of no means for purpose but would also result in no profit to the producers of the media text.

 

Uses And Gratifications -

Media theorist Katz and Blumler proposed a theory from in depth research that audiences watch forms of media text for a variety of key reasons.

1.) To inform themselves of current events, historical, political and social events and so forth in which builds self confidence in knowledge and information of current and previous affairs in the world building a sense of 'security' to the audience.

2.) Another for that of 'personal identity' to support and reinforce personal values of each individual of the audience a key modern example comes in the media form of 'social networking' a good example 'Twitter' in which the individual can be selective about those who they chose to 'follow' and hear of there personal beliefs in which may support there own personal views and therefore gives a reinforcement of personal identity.

3.) A final key point Katz and Blumler suggest is that audiences consume media texts for 'integration and social interaction' giving an insight of social and cultural events across the world as an 'insight' and therefore providing a sense of belonging through interaction such examples comes from that of documentaries. Further on this can also involve being able to interact with social events through live feeds and updates of those the audience know and therefore creating a sense of involvement and 'being in the  know'.

The Impact Of Technology Development On Audience -

Through the years the way in which media texts have been able to communicate toward the audience have dramatically developed. originally audiences would have consumed media text through the use of TV, radio and print. Now however whilst these forms of communication still exist further technology advances such as the creation of 'Smart Phones' and 'iPads/Tablets' and not forgetting  internet behind all new 'digital technology' now all contribute to forms in which the audience can consume media text.

However with digital technology advances comes with an increase in uncertainty as to how an audience can be defined. Whilst overall it can be agreed that a large group of people consuming a media text at the same time are the audience. At the same time these audiences are outdated and audiences have now become 'fragmented' due to technological advances and how the audience consume media texts through larger developments of convenience and capability for more to consume media texts.