Newspaper Advert Analysis

Newspaper adverts are an effective way of promoting products, but for TV, this medium can be challenging to get right. With TV so reliant on sound and motion, newspapers would seem like a poor medium to properly convey what television is all about.

The first advert is a Channel 4 advert for “Race & Intelligence: Science’s Last Taboo”. The first aspect of the advert that draws the audience in is the large striking image. Seeing as TV is primarily image based, it makes sense for the bulk of the advertisement to be taken up by the image. In this case, the picture depicts an altered image of what at first glance looks like an unknown speaker, but after a longer look, is revealed to be Barack Obama. This is a particularly effective advert due to the fact that the image changes as the audience watch it, much like TV itself. Channel 4 has almost made the still image become animated. Not only does this pique the interest of the audience but poses questions, like why the image is manipulated in this way. 

The second convention of the advert is the Channel 4 logo. Situated clear so the audience can see it, it informs them of simply where the show is available to watch. Without this clear indication, the audience is left stranded without knowledge of where the show can be watched. The easily recognised Channel 4 logo is enough for the audience to understand where they can watch the programme.

The final aspect is the title of the show and when it is. Two very important pieces of information that is essential for the audience in order to be able to view the actual show. The text is contrasted on the block white background to ensure that the text is visible. Otherwise, the colour of the text could be hard to read on the multi-coloured image as seen below.

Rollover The Image to Compare

The second advert is for Sky News, advertising the Leader's Debate. Again, the same three conventions are utilised to advertise the programme.

The first thing the audience sees is a large image of Gordon Brown's eyes. In fact, the eyes are the only part of the face you can see in the advert. This plays well into the line "Nothing Gets You Closer". A curious audience will be interested in finding out why only his eyes are shown rather than a full face, much like the Channel 4 advert. This simple choice already draws in the audience despite no text or audio cue. 

The Sky and Sky News logo again is displayed clearly so the audience is aware of where the programme can be watched. 

The programme being advertised in this case is the Leader's Debate. Like the Channel 4 advertisement and most print adverts the text has a block colour background in order to clarify the text.