Thanks to “Access Learning” magazine, (June 2004) for recommending this activity.
Every media message is designed specifically to appeal to a “target audience.” Posted below are several advertisements taken from newspapers and magazines.
For each ad, students could ask:
- who produced the ad?
- who is the ad targeted to? (male vs. female; young vs. old; rich vs, poor; white vs. minority; urban vs. rural)
- what are the clues in each ad that reveal who the ad is trying to reach?
- what section of the newspaper (or magazine) might you find this ad? (news; business; feature, sports, travel, other ); why?
- what techniques are used to attract attention? (bold fonts; testimonials; statistics, etc.)
- how is photography used? is it effective?
Click on an ad, which will open a separate window, which can be printed.
| CNN Ad, from American Demographics magazine CNN Ad, from NY Times (5/9/05) |
E! (from Television Week,4/05) |
| Magazines, from Oprah (Feb 2009) Magazines (NY Times) |
Nick At Nite (from Adage website) |
| Sands Resorts, The State | Mentor, Ad Council |
| Lake Murray Magazine, The State | Alcohol Ads |
| Timberlake Golf Club, The State | Food Ads |
| Oakleaf Village, The State | Celebrity Ads |
| Freedom, magazine ad from The Ad Council | Diet Ads (weight loss) |
| Get Caught Reading, ad from People Magazine | Tobacco Ads |
| Life Cereal, from TV Guide magazine | Nick At Nite Ad, from NY Times |
| Newspapers In Education, The State newspaper, Columbia SC |
 Image from website: American Advertising Federation |
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Images from website: American Advertising Federation
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