Science Illustrated magazine’s media kit explains that its demographic is “intellectually curious men and women with a passion for science and discovery.” As a magazine devoted to the world of science this magazine is effectively reaching this group of people with the nature of its articles, advertisements, and illustrations. There are articles that cover every aspect of science including medicine, space, nature, culture, and technology. Also, the magazine has a great deal of colorful and detailed photography that makes its readers feel that they are there with them exploring.
Small articles in Science Illustrated tend to focus on specialized discoveries and updated information on specialized topics concerning science. Some examples of smaller specialized articles were how the population of endangered rhinos is being controlled by shipping rhinos to different parts of South Africa, how the diving bell spider can live under water for 24 hours, and how towing icebergs to Africa could help give the people better drinking water. The Feature articles which can be seen on the front page of the magazine are about topics that are important to their demographic and are probably heavily researched and debated in the science community. The Feature articles found in the March/April issue included developments in Cancer research, an in-depth look on the evolvement of the cell phone, how the sun was formed, and a new development which could help plants grow in the dessert.
Advertisements in Science Illustrated include specials on lecture series on the topics of math and science and jewelry made of high quality minerals. Other advertisements were of telescope and microscope equipment, tools for the science lab, and social things like science camps and electronic wart removers. These advertisements would only be seen in a magazine of this nature because advertisers who are trying to reach this specific demographic know that they will reach the right people. Putting an advertisement for a popular telescope in People magazine or Cosmopolitan magazine may reach a group of people but those people may not be interested in it and most likely will not buy it.
Science Illustrated uses signaling in a very unique way to reach its intended demographic by including articles and advertisements that interest and intrigue people about the world of science.
Monday, February 27, 2012
Sunday, February 12, 2012
MWF 3pm-4:20pm Blog Post 2
When comparing CNN and Aljazeera it seemed that there were not many differences between their ways of covering the news. I watched a video on the death of singer Whitney Houston.
I watched the video on Aljazeera’s website first. It was on the front page of their website. The tone of newscaster was somber and played video clips of her in concert, some of her music videos, and clips of her on the red carpet and at other events. The newscaster talked about where she found dead and then talked about her achievements and how her fans are reacting to her death.
I watched the same story on the CNN website. It was also on the front page. The tone of the newscaster was sad. He sounded more appreciative. It showed similar clips of her in concert, her music videos, and clips of her at certain events. The video was informative like the Aljazeera report and explained where she was found and the mystery surrounding her death.
There were one main difference between the Aljazeera video and the CNN video and that had to do with the tone of each video. Both videos went into details about Whitney Houston's life and career. It highlighted all of her achievements including her many awards, her number one hits, and her film career. It also talked about her struggles with drug and alcohol abuse and how it affected her career during the years but the CNN video had more emotion. The Aljazeera video seemed to treat the story as just news with a very somber monotone voice.
I believe that since Whitney Houston was an American superstar it made sense that CNN would have a more emotional connection when talking about her death. Aljazeera was not bias or unfair but I believe it did have a discernible point of view. It gave the right information on her death to be informative to people who may want to know about her but some of the information shared on the CNN report was sensitive to Americans and the American culture. Mentioning her achievements at the American Music Awards or the Grammys is not necessary since these things don’t pertain to Aljazeera’s audience or their culture.
With Globalization difference audiences from different parts of the world can access information about all kinds of things just because it is provided for them. Aljazeera has a way of presenting the news so that people are informed but makes it clear in a subtle way that this isn't really a big deal for "us" (their intended audience.)
I watched the video on Aljazeera’s website first. It was on the front page of their website. The tone of newscaster was somber and played video clips of her in concert, some of her music videos, and clips of her on the red carpet and at other events. The newscaster talked about where she found dead and then talked about her achievements and how her fans are reacting to her death.
I watched the same story on the CNN website. It was also on the front page. The tone of the newscaster was sad. He sounded more appreciative. It showed similar clips of her in concert, her music videos, and clips of her at certain events. The video was informative like the Aljazeera report and explained where she was found and the mystery surrounding her death.
There were one main difference between the Aljazeera video and the CNN video and that had to do with the tone of each video. Both videos went into details about Whitney Houston's life and career. It highlighted all of her achievements including her many awards, her number one hits, and her film career. It also talked about her struggles with drug and alcohol abuse and how it affected her career during the years but the CNN video had more emotion. The Aljazeera video seemed to treat the story as just news with a very somber monotone voice.
I believe that since Whitney Houston was an American superstar it made sense that CNN would have a more emotional connection when talking about her death. Aljazeera was not bias or unfair but I believe it did have a discernible point of view. It gave the right information on her death to be informative to people who may want to know about her but some of the information shared on the CNN report was sensitive to Americans and the American culture. Mentioning her achievements at the American Music Awards or the Grammys is not necessary since these things don’t pertain to Aljazeera’s audience or their culture.
With Globalization difference audiences from different parts of the world can access information about all kinds of things just because it is provided for them. Aljazeera has a way of presenting the news so that people are informed but makes it clear in a subtle way that this isn't really a big deal for "us" (their intended audience.)
Sunday, February 5, 2012
MWF 3-4:20pm Blog Post 1
Since I was 14 years old I have watched the teen drama One Tree Hill on the CW television channel. It is based on half-brothers Lucas and Nathan Scott who are 9 months apart, in high school, and living in the fictional town of Tree Hill, North Carolina. Their father Dan Scott went away to college leaving his high school sweetheart alone and pregnant while he went on to fulfill his dream of becoming a NBA Basketball star. During his freshman year of college he gets another woman pregnant and then returns to Tree Hill married to her. When the show starts, Dan has not been a part of Lucas' life or acknowledged him as his son and the two boys have grown up hating each other, resenting one another for the lives they could have had if the other did not exist.
Watching this show as a teenager there were many things that were real to me. First the plot of the television show seemed extremely plausible. In my personal experiences things like that happened all the time including in my own family. Since I had a half sibling I could relate to it. Second the high school the main characters attended was very much like my own. So every week I would tune into the show and see what I felt could very much be my life in some respects.
In January, One Tree Hill started its 9th and final season. I have most of the seasons on DVD and now that I am a lot older I have noticed things that are not as real as I once thought. First off every person on the show is extremely good looking, fashionable, and had parents who conveniently let them be on their own doing whatever they please with little to no consequences. Having a more experienced mind I realized that this was not realistic at all. Another thing I noticed was that no one seemed to ever have to go to the bathroom or take a shower or do their hair or makeup.
And finally in its fifth season the show was fast forwarded four years into the future and picked up the lives of the main characters after college and in their adult lives. Careers included a successful published writer, a multimillion dollar fashion designer, a passionate high school English teacher, a NBA star, and a music executive who opens its own record label in the town of Tree Hill. How likely would it be to have friends who are all extremely successful in once in a lifetime careers? Not likely at all. But in the world of television people can do anything and be anything and we as the audience buy into it because the lure of seeing such things pan out in front of our eyes will always be appealing.
Watching this show as a teenager there were many things that were real to me. First the plot of the television show seemed extremely plausible. In my personal experiences things like that happened all the time including in my own family. Since I had a half sibling I could relate to it. Second the high school the main characters attended was very much like my own. So every week I would tune into the show and see what I felt could very much be my life in some respects.
In January, One Tree Hill started its 9th and final season. I have most of the seasons on DVD and now that I am a lot older I have noticed things that are not as real as I once thought. First off every person on the show is extremely good looking, fashionable, and had parents who conveniently let them be on their own doing whatever they please with little to no consequences. Having a more experienced mind I realized that this was not realistic at all. Another thing I noticed was that no one seemed to ever have to go to the bathroom or take a shower or do their hair or makeup.
And finally in its fifth season the show was fast forwarded four years into the future and picked up the lives of the main characters after college and in their adult lives. Careers included a successful published writer, a multimillion dollar fashion designer, a passionate high school English teacher, a NBA star, and a music executive who opens its own record label in the town of Tree Hill. How likely would it be to have friends who are all extremely successful in once in a lifetime careers? Not likely at all. But in the world of television people can do anything and be anything and we as the audience buy into it because the lure of seeing such things pan out in front of our eyes will always be appealing.
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