Minds On
Media forms made to suit the purpose and audience
Have you ever examined an advertisement for a product and thought that it was better presented in one advertising form compared to another? Perhaps you’ve read a book that was turned into a movie (or movie into a book) and preferred one over the other. Media text has an appropriate form (or in some cases, multiple forms) that suits a specific purpose and intended audience.
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
What are some of the media forms that exist?
Media comes in many different forms. On your own or with a partner, think of different media forms that you know.
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
There are many different media forms that exist: advertisements, magazines, pamphlets, brochures, news broadcasts, documentaries, television commercials, websites, twitter, and many more.
Examine the following items and guess their media forms. Then click to reveal each answer.
Access the video Bus Safety: Waiting For the Bus.
What media form do you think Waiting for the Bus might be?
Press the ‘Answer’ button to find out.
Waiting for the Bus is a video.
Access the video TVOK News: "Political Parties” to sample a few minutes.
What media form is TVOK News?
Press the ‘Answer’ button to find out.
TVOK News is a news broadcast.
What media form is Charlotte’s Web?
Press the ‘Answer’ button to find out.
Charlotte’s Web is a book.
What media form is Broken Bikes, Broken Times?
Press the ‘Answer’ button to find out.
Broken Bikes, Broken Times is a magazine article.
What media form is Fun Times Start Here?
Press the ‘Answer’ button to find out.
What media form is Fun Times Start Here is a pamplet?
What media form is Ontario Children’s Festival?
Press the ‘Answer’ button to find out.
Ontario Children’s Festival is a poster.
Student Success
Think-Pair-Share
Now that you have explored some media forms, on your own or with a partner, answer this question. Can you think of any other media forms not listed already?
Note to teachers: See your teacher guide for collaboration tools, ideas and suggestions.
Action
Why are some forms chosen over others?
Why would a company decide to advertise it's product using a television commercial instead of a radio advertisement? Why would a movie theatre choose to advertise it's upcoming blockbuster using a movie trailer instead of a billboard? Think of reasons why some forms of advertisement are chosen over others.
There are many reasons why certain forms are chosen to represent specific media text. If a company wants to advertise a cleaning product, it may decide to use a form such as a poster so that its audience can compare how clean an item is before and after the product is used. If the media text is meant to inform a neighbourhood about an upcoming maintenance repair on a street, it would make sense to create a flyer that could be distributed quickly and inexpensively to all the homes. Specific forms may be more effective for different purposes and audiences.
Complete the suitable form and benefits organizer
Examine the following list of media texts and decide which form you would choose for each one. What would be the benefits of choosing that particular form? Complete the Suitable Form and Benefits Organizer in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.
Possible forms to consider
Answers can include: flyer, brochure, poster, local radio interview, phone alert/broadcast, or national television.
| Media Text and Purpose | Suitable Form and Benefits |
|---|---|
| A dental office would like to advertise it's new location. | |
| A bakery would like to advertise the new items that it will be offering. It would like to ensure that people who are visually impaired can imagine the new products. | |
| The city is hosting a city-wide food drive. Donations will go to food banks across the city. | |
| There is an emergency severe weather storm warning that will impact all of the residents who live in a major area of the province. The city would like to ensure that people who are deaf or visually impaired will receive the bulletin. | |
| A family has lost their dog and wants to find it. | |
| The Prime Minister of Canada will be meeting with a journalist. The journalist would like the public to know what they talked about. |
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Suitable Form and Benefits Organizer.
Consolidation
Creating a perfect fit
Now that you have had a chance to practice matching an appropriate form to suit the intended audience and purpose, it is your turn to create the “perfect fit” for a media text. Choose one of the following activities to demonstrate your understanding.
Task 1
Imagine that a company or a group of people has approached you and asked you to find the “perfect fit” for what they need. Examine the following selection of scenarios. Choose one scenario, and create two media form mock-ups that you feel would work for the company/people. Consider how you can ensure your media forms are accessible for all.
- Scenario #1: A major juice company would like to advertise a contest for the public to come up with a new flavour.
- Scenario #2: A candy factory wants to sell its candy that explodes with flavours in your mouth and tickles your tongue.
- Scenario #3: A donut company needs a design to create the ultimate donut with a variety of favourite flavours.
- Scenario #4: A designer would like to share the construction of two new apartment buildings with potential residents.
- Scenario #5: Alternatively, you may choose anything of your choice.
Complete the Two Media Form Mock-Ups Organizer in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.
The scenario I have chosen is number (Blank).
| First Suggested Media Form | |
|---|---|
| How would this media form benefit the purpose? | |
| Who is the intended audience? | |
| Suggested mock-up (insert drawing, video, script, etc.) | |
| Second Suggested Media Form | |
|---|---|
| How would this media form benefit the purpose? | |
| Who is the intended audience? | |
| Suggested mock-up up (insert drawing, video, script, etc.) | |
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Two Media Form Mock-ups Organizer.
Task 2
Select an existing media text that is already published. Create the media text in a different form that you feel it would be better suited to. How can you ensure that your form is accessible to all?
Complete the Media Text in a Different Form Organizer in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.
| Original sample | What is the original form? |
| Why do I believe this form was chosen? | |
| My proposed form | What is the form that I have chosen? |
| Why do I believe my chosen form is better suited to this media text? |
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access the Media Text in a Different Form Organizer.
Interpreting media
Reflecting on our learning helps us to be more independent media interpreters and creators.
Reflect on your learning from this activity by answering the following question:
How do certain media forms support specific purposes and audiences? Provide an example.
Complete the Reflecting on Media Forms That Support Specific Purposes and Audiences in your notebook or using the following fillable and printable document.
Press the ‘Activity’ button to access Reflecting on Media Forms That Support Specific Purposes
and Audiences.
Activity
(Open PDF in a new window)
Reflection
How do you feel about what you have learned in this activity? Which of the next four sentences best matches how you are feeling about your learning? Press the button that is beside this sentence.
I feel...
Now, record your ideas about your feelings using a voice recorder, speech-to-text, or writing tool.