Below is a small profile of three people that i have chosen to be in the focus group of my research into creating a school magazine. By conducting a focus group it will help me evaluate the composition and needs of my target audience, thereby enabling me to develop program objectives and a plan for there realization. I decided to ask all my participants in my focus group a question of which I felt was a key aspect in my questionnaire.
The first participant involved in my focus group is Olivia Gould. Olivia attends St. Thomas More Sixth form where she studies A Levels in French, Biology, Religious studies and physical education. Her main interests are in a variety of sports, shopping and socializing with her friends.
'What would appeal most to you when reading a Sixth form magazine?
School life/Social activities/Upcoming events'
" I feel that to create a successful school magazine which is going to involve the whole of a sixth form community it would be best to include social activities and upcoming events, as this is what people our age are interested in. I believe perhaps one page of the magazine could be left at the back dedicated to school life if any parents were interested in reading the magazine as well. As therefore it will cater for many different people. However I do feel the main focus should be on social activities and upcoming events as this will attract people to read the magazine, so that they don't feel they are missing out on any events etc. I look forward to seeing the outcome of the magazine."
The second participant involved in my focus group is Chloe Head. Chloe is currently at Southend East Essex College studying a beauty therapy course, which is what she plans to make a career out of. Chloe's main interests are horse-riding, going to the gym, shopping and traveling.
'What would appeal most to you when reading a college/sixth form magazine?
School life/Social activities/upcoming events'
"I feel that in a college magazine it would be most appealing to feature social activities, as as the college caters for such a wide range of courses/subjects and students it would be hard to generalize college life and also upcoming events, as Southend East Essex College is such a large building there would be too many events/notices to cater for in one magazine. I also feel that social activities would be most successful in the college as it is a very social place and the college are always looking for times to include everyone in social activities"
The next participant involved in my focus group is Alix Steggles. Alix is currently a Sixth Form student studying Chemistry, Maths, Psychology and Biology. Her main interests at the moment are learning to drive, shopping, running and attending her Sixth Form.
'What would appeal most to you when reading a Sixth form magazine?
School life/Social activities/upcoming events'
"In my opinion I would be more interested in reading a magazine combining social activities and upcoming events. My current school magazine is based on school life and that does not appeal to me at all, I don't even bother to read it anymore. I feel that by combining social activities and upcoming events it will attract more people as it is more useful for people to read, and a lot more enjoyable"
