Audiences - Mass and Niche

Niche media is known as narrowcasting and it is information aimed at a narrow audience such as a film addressed to a smaller group of people. An example of niche media would be How it's made, as it would only really attract people interested in the manufacturing of products.  

Mass media is information addressed to a large number of people. An example of mass media would be Coronation Street, as it attracts a wide range of audience.

Katz and Blumler Theory

Katz and Blumler discovered from researching into audiences that there were three main elements that provided audiences with the pleasure of watching films. These three elements where;

•  Information

Using sources such as newspapers to retrieve information about current events which satisfies curiosity gaining a sense of security through knowledge.

•  Personal Identity

Reinforcement for personal values, this is to find models of behaviour, insight into one's self. For example Twitter can reinforce your own values by only following that certain criteria in which you are relating to.

•  Integration and Social interaction

Insight into circumstances of others; social empathy, identifying with others and gaining a sense of belonging, interaction,  enabling one to connect with family, friends and society. For example someone may tune into a TV drama so that they can relate and reinforce into their own lifestyle.