Evaluation Question 2

 How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

The ancillary texts I constructed promote and compliment the main product. The masthead of the newspaper is promoted further on the poster to emphasise the title “Willesden Gazette”. This combination is important so that the audience familiarise themselves with the new newspaper. The fact that the headline “life for murder” on the newspaper is occupied on the poster indicates how important consuming the newspaper is – that even the headline is as important as the new newspaper launch itself. It also provides a very snappy and yet engaging teaser by having the main headline as the audience would want to read on. Also, the newspaper informal slogan, “Gazette-it off” reinforces the idea that the poster compliments the local newspaper.

Furthermore, Uncle Sam’s “Your country needs you” was changed in a way that it would suit knife crime. This pun of words would leave the audience bewildered but amused, as a poster is meant to play with emotions very suddenly. Uncle Sam’s poster was created in time of need and desperation. In the same way, the relationship of knife crime and the urge of tackling it. And of course the construction of images especially on the front covers of the newspaper and the poster. The three convicts and the police officer have deliberately been created in a very glamorous but serious way - a sign to its newspaper’s strong and political news. So, in this sense a scruffy police officer pointing at you would be effective in complimenting the stance and police-pro ideologies of the local newspaper.

The ancillary text (the radio ad) was also effective in the combination to the newspaper. The title “Willesden Gazette” was the first two words that the viewer would hear. Towards the end of the radio ad, the title was repeated; again this repetition promotes the newspaper’s name. Although, the ad was very simple, the formality and serious tone of the ad reflects its formal and serious news. Whereas a radio or television ad for The Sun newspaper is a “joke” along with soft stories like which celeb got kissed. Also, the informal slogan of “Gazette-it off reinforced the newspaper’s name. The 20p price tag is again reinforced in the radio ad as people would not pay a lot especially for a local newspaper. A local newspaper’s whole vibe is to present local issues and stories. Again this is promoted as the radio ad covers “wide issues ranging from violent crimes to community regeneration programmes and much more”. The radio ad acts like a direct conversation between the speaker and the listener such as being “connected”. In other words not being connected to Willesden Gazette news is a downfall. Finally, I have deliberately constructed Willesden Gazette platforms in a formal but amusing way. For example, the pun of words with “Gazette it off” at the end of the radio ad. This is also typical in the found in the newspaper. Even the soft background music portrays the fact that the newspaper is very simple in its design and news and effective at the same time, just like the music.

Furthermore, the ancillary texts are not only effective in complimenting the newspaper, but work to complement each other. The poster and radio ad both emphasise on the title “Willesden Gazette”, the brand new launch date/day and the unlimited supply of news, issues and information. Both work well in terms of advertising the main product.

Please note there is an audio presentation of evaluation question 2 on the CD