Power and attraction of images

The Power of Images and How

They Attract Audiences

Lesson Module 2

• Just like we learned in the previous exercise, images can speak volumes. They can also attract audiences. For example, at a grocery store, if a newspaper stand or magazine stand shows a compelling photo on the front page, people are more likely to pick it up and read it...maybe even buy it. The media uses this tactic to bring people in, increase viewers, and make money.

• “Given a choice between an article with photographs and one without, most editors will choose the one with photos. Good photographs often help sell an article that might otherwise be rejected.”-Christine Ridout

•Not everyone reads an entire newspaper, so when it gets delivered, to entice you to read an article, the pictures (along with headlines) grab your attention. There are also newspaper stands on the sidewalks, in coffee shops, in supermarkets, etc. This is when the pictures really count. If you’re passing buy and see a really moving photo, you will stop to look at it.

How Images Attract Audiences-

Newspapers

At a newspaper

stand, which front page would grab

your attention the most?

Front pages from

9/12/01

How Images Attract Audiences-

Online•Ever notice when you’re on the web how every image, especially when it’s moving, attracts your eye? Well media sources use that strategy. They want to make you look at the individual articles, and they use that by placing pictures next to the headlines of each of them. Using images also makes their page more attractive and will keep viewers on the page and coming back.

How Images Attract Audiences-

Online• When online, you have to be very careful. It is so easy to leave a webpage and be distracted by another one. The Washington Post keeps viewers on their website very well with their new formatting of “Today’s Paper.” In this, you view each page of the newspaper like you would see it in the stands, and when you click on an image or an article, it enlarges it like an advertisement pop up on the same page! www.washingtonpost.com/todays_paper

How Images Attract

Audiences-Magazines• Magazines of any

type, news, gossip, health, travel, etc., always use images, just as you learned previously about LIFE Magazine in Lesson Module 1.

New York Magazine barely has any words on

their cover, yet the image is so

intriguing that it makes you try and look what show is the best and who those people are.

The New Yorker is famous for its

magazine covers. They only use

drawings and have no words at all,

expect for the title of the magazine. It sells so well too,

from subscriptions and off the stands.

TIME Magazine is another one that uses images successfully to

attract customers. Using barely any words, the cover

makes the viewers interested in what

exactly it means. In turn, they will pick up

the magazine look more into it, leading to

them possibly purchasing it.

National Geographic is famous for its

photos. This cover is in a different

language and the image still intrigues you, and makes you want to know where that tiny island is!

“Tween” gossip magazines like Tiger Beat use

pictures of popular celebrities to attract kids to first look at

them and then their small captions

entice the kids to buy their product.

OK! is another magazine which

demonstrates this tactic. They have four blown up

images on their cover which attract the viewer to look at the magazine

passing by a news stand, or while on like at

a grocery store.

The Power of Images

As you have learned previously, images can be incredibly powerful. Some in good ways and some

even in bad ways. Sometimes images can have a negative impact and can really damage a

person’s self-esteem.

The Power of Images

“The current issue of People Magazine, features an article titled

"Searching for the Perfect Body". The article includes a poll of women,

asking how many are influenced by the unrealistically thin images of

Hollywood women today. Not surprisingly, 80% of those polled

admitted that the images of women on TV, in movies, and in magazines contribute to insecurities about their own body image. So insecure in fact,

that, according to the People poll, that 93% have tried to lose weight, 34%

have had or would consider cosmetic surgery, and 34% said they would be willing to try a diet even if it posed a slight health risk.”-Heather Mudgett

• The news media, specifically entertainment news media, tends to provoke body image issues because of their tendency to hide imperfections and promote sex appeal. Mercedes Mathis’ module on Body Image illustrates and teaches this very well. Below this slideshow there is a link that will lead you to her page.

• In her module she explains how making women look perfect and exploiting their bodies sells more products. It also causes eating disorders and promotes plastic surgery; changing your body in an unhealthy way.

• Imagine a world where beauty is a source of confidence, not anxiety. Dove® is committed to building positive self-esteem and inspiring all women and girls to reach their full potential–but we need your help. We're building a movement in which women everywhere have the tools to take action and inspire each other and the girls in their lives. It could be as simple as sending a

word of encouragement to a girl in your life or supporting self-esteem education in your town. From mentoring the next generation to celebrating real beauty in ourselves and others, we can open a world of possibilities for women and girls everywhere. Will you join us?

Thank You Dove!Below is Dove’s mission and message for self-esteem