Target audience

The media industry is highly competitive and all media texts are created with a target audience in mind.

If there isn’t an audience for a media text then it won’t be successful either in getting its message across or, if it is a commercial media text, making money for the producers.

Media producers use audience research and analysis to find out as much as possible about their target audience and use that research to ensure their production will appeal to them.

Demographics and psychometrics

Media producers define and categorise their audience through demographic profiles.

A demographic audience profile defines groups based on things like age, gender, income, education and occupation.

^{A demographic audience profile can be used to define a target audience}

Letter codes are often used to describe the groups:

Category A

Upper Middle Class

Category B

Middle Class

Category C1

Lower Middle Class

Category C2

Skilled Working Class

Category D

Working Class

Category E

Those at the lowest level of subsistence