RESEARCH INTO TARGET AUDIENCES - JACOB

For this type of documentary the target audience we would be looking at would be 16 - 24 year old individuals. A large majority of programming across Channel 4 particularly E4 is aimed that this age group. This group is also widely dominated by young people seeking further education meaning a large section of this age range are in fact students. Channel 4 is home to some of the most cutting edge and tongue in cheek documentaries available on terrestrial television in the UK.

http://http//www.channel4.com/programmes/the-worlds-and-me/video/series-3/episode-4

Documentaries such as The Worlds Strangest Plastic Surgery and me are common on Channel4 focusing on more light hearted subjects. On satellite television the biggest providers of such entertainment would be outlets such as MTV.

http://http//www.mtv.co.uk/artists/kerry-katona

Kerry Katona "Whats the problem?" is quite similar in terms of content to our project The Rise and Fall of Lola Rouge, ffollowing a fallen star through their day to day life. Despite the fact that the MTV show is in fact more of a reality show than documentary, but in terms of style and actual content reality shows such as this aiming at the same target audience as we are, do provide inspiration.

According to the Radio1 website:

• This age range is less than likely to read newspapers and they actually go on the internet for their news. The Sun is the most popular daily paper, meaning there is a greater interest in this age range for tabloid tales and celebrity culture than what could be seen as "hard hitting" issues.


• Drugs and sex have become more accepted today than ever before with over 40% of the young in the U.K having smoked cannabis and 86% support its legalisation. In the 16 - 24 age range, 20% of men and 15% of women have had more than 10 sexual partners.


• With a constant exposure to consumerism this age range today has become very demanding compared to previous generations in the media.

This age range focuses more on celebrity culture and reality television more than any other making it our perfect target audience for out project. Drinking, sex and general hedonistic behaviour is a common theme for such shows aimed at this age range whether it being a documentary or a drama such as Skins,

http://http//www.e4.com/skins/

Music obviously plays a large part in youth culture, yet again Channel 4 and 4Music are home to programming showcasing the latest music. And MTV is home to documentaries focusing on past or current music icons.

http://http//www.mtv.co.uk/shows/pete-doherty-in-24-hours

Our project seems to push all the correct buttons to appeal to this target audience, so that is why we chose the 16 - 24 category when creating our 5 minute extract. The Rise and Fall of Lola Rouge focuses on a fallen music and tabloid icon, and follows her through her day to day life through fly on the wall style filming. Celebrity culture is a theme which dominates the media in society - but it's principles whether it being Pete Doherty the rock star or Cheryl Cole the nations sweetheart are something which the younger generation look up to more than any of the other age groups.

Another helpful bonus with targeting this age group is for us as a group is the fact that we can use classmates and friends for research and audience feedback on our project, through social networking sites such as Facebook and eventually being able to post out film on YouTube to gain comments and feedback.

As well as the target age group a particular gender was kept in mind too for our work. Celebrity scandal is often an attraction for female, teenage audiences. But as with documentaries such as Pete Doherty in 24 hours the audience's gender may depend on the gender and occupation of the actual celebrity in question with Pete Doherty been more of a model and icon for younger males. However this would not eliminate fact that there still would be female viewers, just that the subject in question in documentaries aimed at 16 - 24 year old audience often dictates which gender it is more likely to attract.
http://http://www.itv.com/katieandpeter/

In conclusion the target audience is a huge factor when working with media or any other similar product. In our film we hope to appeal to a target audience of 16 -24 year olds. But attempting to appeal to both genders rather than just aiming for female gratification. The documentary sets out to be both entertaining and humorous focusing on Lola's now destructive yet amusing life.