Portfolio TAS

Target Audience Statement for the Final Portfolio Project

The purpose of this website is three-fold. One, I enjoy academic pursuits, especially involving research of cultural phenomena. Two, that I am not the best at producing media; and three, that I write well and put those skills to use in researching a wide array of topics. I want my audience to be impressed at my writings and my incessant desire to learn and select me as a candidate for hire in my dream job.

To that end, I direct my message to a college environment. Since I am fairly certain that I want to be a professor, my audience shall be college professors in the field of media studies. Narrowing that down even further, I will target department chairs of media studies programs across the US- these are the people who have hiring power. They should, also, have a desire to learn, but a much more specified set of research interests so that I have the potential to offer new ideas to their curriculum.

This portfolio emphasizes my research and my ability to present it; this combination is critical to survive as a professor. It also points out weakness in media production, which makes my writing look even stronger and validates my claims that I am a researcher, not a producer. Together, these things market me as a viable candidate for a position as a professor in a media studies program.

IM2 TAS_Kizer

Sam Kizer

COM1111 04

TAS for IM2

            My intended message is quite simple but so often overlooked. The art of thanking people for things they have done for you seems to be falling by the wayside. When teenagers or young adults receive some form of gift from an older person (i.e. friend’s parents, etc.) it is crucial to thank them in a way that is meaningful to them, not for you. This how-to was meant to convey that fact and hopefully encourage young people to write thank you notes more often.

            The target audience for this message is young adults (18-22) who receive gifts, vacations, or other “love” from parents of friends. In that light, colleges with a wealthier demographic will be targeted- lots of expendable income is available. Although it is somewhat bad to say, these young adults are driven by money and desire to keep friends who provide tangible things (i.e. not necessarily true friendship).

            The how-to video shows how to write thank you notes, something that can be done quickly and on a cheap budget, leaving money for other recreational activities. Highlighting a formal note-writing style alludes to the fact that rich parents will be receiving the letter, reinforcing the audience’s desire for wealth. By making the parents smile, young adults will likely get more things in return.