Below is an anaylsis of both 'Word' and 'NME' comparing the differences in their reader profiles:

NME and Word Reader Profiles

There are a lot of differences between to two reader profiles of NME and Word Magazine.

To start with, the ways the two magazines have been written are very different. Word Magazine has been written as if it is a story and NME has been written up in bullet points. Word may have written their reader profile just as a story so that maybe they hope that the reader will be able to relate to the story and the sort of lifestyle that had been described. And maybe because of the unusual way of how it has been written may come across as impressive to the reader, giving the impression that Word magazine is impressive. NME has written up their reader profile in bullet points. They may have done this so that they are getting straight to the point of what sort of person would read NME and also to show that this magazine doesn’t mess anything around and only gives the right information needed.

NME has not written their reader profile as a story. This could be because of how they have made their profile. NME has included images within their reader profile and if they were going to make their reader profile as a story, it would be too much text and no room for their images.

Because NME has written their text in bullet points, added detail has been taken away. Unlike Word Magazine, NME comes across as a common entertainment magazine but because Word Magazine has written their reader profile as a story, this has given them the opportunity to make their text as descriptive as possible. Because it has been written in such great detail it makes Word magazine come across as quite an intellectual magazine which most likely include interest about political and cultural stuff and most likely the newest technology.

Also because Word magazine has not included any images, just text, this can also give us the impression that Word is more political and cultural than entertainment. NME has included images on their reader profile. This defiantly looks more appealing to read and the images that have been included are all things that are associated with what is likely to be the interests of the reader who would read NME. If you like any of the images seen, you’re most likely to read the bullet point text but if you look at Word magazine. There’s nothing there to make you want to read the profile. It would have to be out of wanting to read, to make you read the profile. The images used in the NME reader profile are a persuasive way to make you read the text under the images.

Word Magazine has just used text for their reader profile. NME on the other hand has used images and also have used the use of colour. This makes the reader profile look quite professional and also makes it look more official. Because Word Magazine has just used text, it makes it look quite boring also there’s nothing there (colour scheme or logo) to prove that, that piece of writing has come from Word Magazine.

Also from the layout of NME’s profile lets us know it is from NME and that a lot of research and care has gone in to making this profile look appealing and gives out the right message. Word Magazine has none of this and this could be bringing down the expectations of their magazine.

NME has actually included their logo title which adds to making us know for certain that it is official and nicer to look at. Word magazine has just got their text and nothing else. This could make the reader question whether this is the real reader profile for Word Magazine and it once again brings down the expectations of the magazine.

The two different profiles lets us know what sort of target audience they are both aiming their magazines at.

Word magazine had included who they aim their magazine at in their story. Males aged between 30 and 55. Also the way the profile has been made can indicate this such as just having text, written as a story and has just been kept plain and simple. This is probably the most appealing sort of text for the target audience.

NME’s target audience is for younger to older men. We know this from the images used and the facts and statistics stated under the images. Also because of the use of colours and images, this is defiantly more appealing for a younger audience.