Newspaper Advert Analysis: Mockumentary

1. Newspaper Advert
Analysis: Mockumentary
MOLLY SIMMONS

2. E4 have used a typical newspaper
advertisement by having their logo
on the newspaper add. From the
colour and shape, the audience will
know where they can view the
programme.
Using the most obvious convention, the
newspaper ad has displayed the title at the
bottom of the poster. Its obvious due to the
purple colouring. Although, if it wasn’t for the
block colouring it wouldn’t be as noticeable
to the audience. Looking at this ad, it has
made me think to where I will place the title
on my own newspaper add.
The most obvious convention on the ad is
the main image. In this image there is a boy
jumping in front of a house that is on fire.
This will attract the audience as they will be
intrigued in to what is going to happen in the
programme.
On this newspaper ad, the programme
have added that they are together with
the O2 Academy. This isn’t commonly
used on newspaper ads and therefore,
is just an added convention.
Skins

3. The first thing that the audience
realise is the image in the middle of
the page. Front the image, the
audience will begin to think that is
looks like a typical band photo.
The title for ‘This Is Spinal Tap’ has been made to
look like a metal band font. Connoting to the
audience that the mockumentary is about a metal
band.
At the top of the page there are
reviews on the film. By reading this, it
will make the audience want to see the
film themselves due to the positive
reviews.
At the bottom of the page are the
names of people who have been
involved in the production. Along with
this, the age rating has been added so
that the audience are able to quickly
find out the age rate.
The colouring on the poster/advertisement has
stuck to 4 basic colours. Red, dark blue, light blue
and yellow. Certain parts have been made brighter
than the other so that it appeals and stands out to
the audience.
This Is Spinal Tap

4. For this one, I chose to look at a
documentary and see what
conventions that have used for their
advertisement.
The main image stands out the
audience very well. Being as there is a
boy sinking into the ground, the
audience and going to want to watch
the programme and see what it is
about.
The documentary have placed their title in
the bottom corner of the ad. Although the
title is small, the white box background
makes it standout.
The programme logo has also
been added on the
advertisement. This is so that
the audience know what channel
the documentary is going to be
viewed on.
Unlike most advertisements, this
one has included the website so
that the audience can visit it to
get more details. This includes
information, times and possible
viewings.
Britain's Forgotten Children

5. This advertisement of ‘Come Fly With Me’
has displayed their title in a suitable place.
Being as it is seen straight away and is easy
readable, the audience are able to see what
the advertisement is about straight away.
Like the previous advertisements I have wrote
about, this one also has also used the channel
logo that it is viewed on. As the purple stands
out against the light blue background, the
audience will realise it.
The main image is showing most of the
characters that are in the programme.
This gives the audience a realisation of
who acting in the programme.
At the top of the page is says that the comedy
is from the creators of ‘Little Britain’. Fans of
the programme and actors will want to see
the this mockumentary as it is from the
creators of the similar programme.
Unlike all of the advertisements I have
looked at, this one says that it is from season
one. This is so that the audience know what
one it is.
The light colouring on the advertisement makes
the actors and writing standout to the audience.
Come Fly With Me

6. The dull colouring on the background making the
writing standout to the audience. Meaning that
they are able to read is easily. The dull colouring
also connotes that the documentary is masculine
and better suited for the male audience.
At the top of the poster are awards that the
documentary have won. As well as this, a small
description has been included to explain what
they were for.
The title is easily readable to the
audience due to the black, thick font.
In the middle of the documentary
poster are reviews from famous
reviewers such as ‘The New York
Times’ ‘Los Angeles Times’ etc.
Like other documentary adverts, this one
includes who produced it and who was involved.
Some audience members will find it interest to
know who produced the film and may make
them want to watch it more.
Like the ‘Britain's Forgotten Children’ documentary
poster, this one has a clear website at the bottom so
that audience members can find out more
information about it.
Darwin

7. Conclusion
Most of the advertisements that I have looked at include majority of the same conventions.
such as having the main image in the middle of the advertisement or in the middle of the
page. By having it in the middle, it is the first thing that the audience will see and will either
be an interest for them or not. As well as this is the title. Most of the advertisements had
easy visible title that stood out, whether it was a thick black title in the middle of the page or
a small title with a block colour behind it in the corner.
When I come around to designing my own advertisement, I will make sure to ass the
common conventions, making sure that they appeal to my groups chosen audience. I will
also add other conventions that some advertisements use such as who produced the film
and who is involved.