Evaluation Question 2

AS Media Studies | Emily Neal 1028

How does your media product represent particular social

groups?

Sam WestlakeSam Westlake is featured wearing school uniform and the article about him is titled “How I became a country star at 16!” Due to this, Sam is a relatable role model for younger readers.

Younger social groups would be inspired by this article and want to know how he is so successful at a similar age to them. They would also be able to relate to him as they would also be in school or college.

Sam also represents the readers who want to “escape” from their normal daily lives. He would be inspiring to them as he is still in school, yet a “country star” - which suggests a life of fame and glamour.

Two-Step Flow Theory

The two-step flow theory fits in with Sam Westlake as readers of a similar age to Sam and are at school / college would probably be inspired by his success and then tell their friends about him and the article.

Older readers may also pass on the information to others due to being impressed with his success at a young age and still at school.

Emma and CatherineEmma and Catherine are both casually dressed

and represented as normal people who love country music - just like the social groups that will be reading my magazine - they are relatable to all readers unlike Sam who is only relatable for younger readers and those in school / college.

Emma and Catherine are happy and clearly having a good time in the photos of them which inspires the reader and gives a positive impression of the musicians and consequently my magazine. It also shows my magazine’s brand identity.

They are also shown as best friends in my magazine which is inspirational to readers, particularly the younger social groups and could lead them to believe that with their best friend they could be as successful and happy.

Hypodermic Syringe TheoryMy magazine follows the Hypodermic Syringe Theory as it

“injects” the belief that someone young and at school can be a successful musician like Sam Westlake.

It also injects the belief that two best friends can work together and become very successful and happy like Emma and Catherine.

All of the musicians in my magazine are represented as being “normal people” like the social groups who would be reading my magazine - Emma, Catherine and Charlie are wearing casual clothes and Sam is wearing school uniform. This leads to the belief that anyone can be a famous country musician, including the reader.

Niche AudienceCountry music has a niche audience but it represents a large number of social groups including different ages, genders and “classes”.

There isn’t a particularly stereotypical social group that are fans of country music unlike other genres such as pop, whose audience is typically young girls.

Due to this, I had to make my magazine attract different social groups but I mainly focused on this group: