A is for AUDIENCE

‘Greetings and Unsolicitations!’

Thanks for dropping in.

Have you ever been published in the press? No? Well neither have I. The aim of this blog is to change that and share my experiences along the way.

If you like, you can try it with me and tell me how you are getting on.

So, it’s publish or be damned on here. Step by step we will try our hardest, our damndest, to understand it all, learn it all and write ourselves into the papers.

So I’ll make a promise. If I come across something I don’t understand or I think needs some explanation, I’ll tell it all on here. You can watch my struggles and then try it for yourself.

And you’ll probably be better at it than me.

A is for Audiences

What They?

Audience is all about who receives, reads and watches stuff.

Example: Top Gear

So – someone watches ‘Top Gear’ let’s say. This makes them the audience of that show.

But there is a little more to it.

I cannot say why anyone would want to watch ‘Top Gear’.  This is because I think it is awful. Three aging blokes posturing and preening in front of an audience they call Petrol-Freaks or Dead-Heads or something. To me it is hot air and dead air.

But…that is because:

I am male, 52, hate F1 and watch tennis. This makes me not the target demographic of ‘Top Gear’. The programme makers do not construct it for me. Therefore, I hate it.

And they don’t give a thrupenny ha’penny fig roll that I hate it, you see? Because millions love it, it sells around the world and rakes in a fortune.

Well that was before Clarkson punched his producer in the eye because he couldn’t have a hot cup-o-soup.

Why is this Important?

Well, when writing, in my case for the local newspaper, we need to have an idea of who reads it so that our writing could appeal to that audience. And, of course, the editor – who knows already who they are that buys it and what they like.

Andy Maslen: ‘Write To Sell’ on getting to know your readers:

“You have to think your way into their head. And their heart. What drives them? What motivates them? What excites them? These are the things you have to know before you start writing.”

How Do You Find Out?

God knows. You could:

• Stand around in the newsagents for an hour watching who buys it
• Stand around in Sainsbury (other retailers are available)
• Look in overflowing recycling bags on a Thursday
• Ask the editor
• Go online and see if there is any data.

The last one doesn’t sound like it takes much effort. I’ll try that.

Google Search 1: ‘Who Reads the West Briton?’ 

Returned: A load of rubbish about fire engines, Camborne police and ‘low blow for blues’.

Google Search 2: ‘West Briton Readership’

Returned: More Like it! Turned up trumps! ‘Jic-In-A-Box: We Know Who Reads What.’ What you are looking for is the ‘JICREG Data’.

So I now know that roughly speaking I need to appeal to:

Adults; male and female equally; aged15 – 54; skewed towards social class professional and managerial. My writing needs to be pitched to appeal to those groups.

Does this help? Well, possibly. I think next time I'll just buy a copy to see just what issues are covered in the issues.

And you? Come back soon and do, please, share your experiences.

Wonderful Words!
Audience	Those who read or consume the product. They are broken down into social class. Gender and age is also important.
Demographic	This relates to the make up of a population. It is slang but you can say, ‘this appeals to a younger demographic’, for example.
Target Market	That which a publication tries to get to read / consume product

Harley's Letter Challenge

Another way of getting published in the press is, of course, to write to their letters page. Harley and I challenge you to write, once a week, to see how long it takes. Your letter must come in at 100 words. Please send successful letters to the Blog where I will publish the best ones.

For my part, I shall use suggestions from my two year old Grandson, Harley.

This Week: Thomas the Tank Engine.

Dear Editor,

While recently playing trains with my Grandson, he asked me when Thomas the Tank Engine might visit Cornwall.

I was surprised and saddened to learn that, to the best of my knowledge, no visit has been planned by the council or those in charge of tourism.

I found out that a Thomas Theme Park was up and running near Birmingham. Surely it might it be possible for interested parties to contact this attraction and arrange a visit? I’m sure that Thomas on the Piazza in Truro would be a wonderful draw, good for tourism and stimulate much interest in steam engines generally.

Full Steam Ahead for the Thomas Visit!

Yours sincerely,