1. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?
The combination of the Ancillary texts (Webpage and Billboard), are used to supplement the main
product (Newspaper) in a similar role to webpages and billboards used by real local newspapers. The
billboard has been made using a simplistic style, showing the different media types that the main
product is available on, and is also used on the webpage and main product, as well as a separate item. I
feel that this works effectively, showing existing users the different medias that the product is available
on, as well as potential new viewers seeing the billboard advert as a billboard. The website has also
been created in order to compliment the main product, allowing readers to obtain articles in the local
newspaper online, which makes the product easier to obtain. The website also allows more up to date
news to be posted, rather than readers waiting for a weekly edition of a local newspaper.
I feel that the website works alongside the main product well, with most local newspapers following
other media publication types, such as magazines and national newspapers, which have also used
websites alongside there print products as the media industry is one in transition. The billboard advert
has also been created in a style in where it works as affectively on the newspaper and website, as well
as a separate advert as a billboard. The billboard has also been created using a simple layout, an image
of an iPad, an image of a PC and an image of a newspaper, showing the different formats that the final
piece would be available on. The only text on the product is the newspaper title, and its slogan “because
local news matters” and the formats that the product is available on. This is because I feel that a
billboard or advert which is extremely text heavy would not have been as effective when advertising a
product, but would be a technique to advertise a service.
The Website acts as an extension to the Newspaper, rather than a different product, enabling the user
to find up to date articles of news about there local area. I feel that the Three Products work well
together, making a realistic media portfolio.