Research

Researching and analysing audio production:

When researching, the first thing we did was analyse audio production. We listened to just the audio on videos to see the effect they had on the viewer. We analysed tone, language used and who was actually speaking. 

These were the questions we had to answer:

• What is the sound clip you are listening to?
• Are there different people speaking?
• What exactly are they talking about?
• Who is talking, what is their tone of voice and what do they add to the information given?
• What different types of audio clips (Sound effects, music etc)  have been used and how do you think they were obtained?
• In which different locations and situations were the clips recorded?
• What do these different sounds add to the effect of the audio?
• Who do you think is the target audience?
• What do you think the audience may have learned from this?
• Do you think this will appeal to the target audience and why?

This is my analysis of the audio clips:

Ad Council:

In the first advert, the advertiser has used a child’s voice and the innocence in their voice to create a sense of empathy. They have also used a celebrity endorsement by featuring Scarlett Johansson. This is really clever as people are more likely to donate when someone look up to is telling them to. The song that is being sung sounds like a nursey rhyme and the lyrics say ‘I need to eat… why can’t I eat´ which again pulls on the heart strings of the consumer and subconsciously makes them want to donate.

Food Bank 15 Second Ad:

In the second advert, they have used the festive season to promote how vital food bank donations are. Personally, I don’t think the music in the background is as effective as another soundtrack could be. They could have chosen a more emotive song to allow the consumer to empathise with the situation that is being presented to them.

Manchester Evening News:

https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/hits-radio-summer-foodbank-appeal-14933493

In this advert, there have taken a slightly different approach. It is more like an interview. The man that carries the interview seems to have some sort of authority so what he says will carry further. They have also filmed it in a foodbank to emphasise the importance of the donations that they are trying to receive.

Westminster Chapel Food Bank:

https://www.westminsterchapel.org.uk/ministries/foodbank/

This advert is really effective. It essentially uses an anecdote at the start to highlight the importance of the donations that they need. They mention how people wanted to commit suicide from the lack of food and the embarrassment of being in the situation they were in. The tone of voice is a very calm yet authoritative voice which is what is needed to get donations.

Luton Food Bank:

http://lutonfoodbank.org.uk/about-us/

This advert uses music in a really effective way. When the person is explaining their life before the food bank the music is quite emotive. However, as soon the foodbank is mentioned, the music stops for a millisecond and then changes to a more upbeat track. This is effective as it subliminally emphasises the importance of the foodbanks to the consumer. This advert is also really good as it is based on one person’s story (an anecdote) which makes people more likely to donate as they can see the physical results of their donations, rather than a make believe situation which their money or food donations may never actually be used for.

Dens Dacorum Food Bank:

This advert is very informative. There is a very authoritative and formal voice over. This is effective as the viewer is more likely to take it seriously as they know that this is a desperate and urgent situation that needs to be assessed.

Norwood and Brixton Food Bank:

https://norwoodbrixton.foodbank.org.uk/about/about-our-foodbank/

This advert is uses the sense of community to help the viewer empathise with the situation. It also emphasises how not just anyone can access this foodbank. You need to have an authorised voucher in order to receive from the foodbank. This is good as the highlight the system that the foodbank uses and how their efficiency gets better results, therefore making the viewer want donate to this worthy cause.

BBC Food Bank Britain:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/b042lp94

‘1 million brits relying on foodbanks’. This is one of the first lines of the audio clip. This highlights the strain on foodbanks currently and how they are in desperate need for more donations and help in foodbanks. However, the figures are sourced from The Trussell Trust organisation which is not a very reliable source. The tone throughout the clip is very apprehensive and uncertain on what it is saying. I think this clip is the least effective. The debate is weak and lacks strong evidence to back each side up and it doesn’t make people want to donate or help out.

Researching about food banks:

I researched about the different views of food banks. Obviously positive ones are more helpful to create a food bank,  however, some people do have negative views on food banks and it was useful to take those views into consideration so I could avoid included anything that people didn't like to see in a food bank. This was the main article that I read. 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/apr/24/food-banks-new-normal-benefit-cuts-thousands-hungry

Sound and it's uses:

We analysed sounds and its uses. We learnt the meaning of words such as diegetic, non-diegetic, synchronous and asynchronous. We also learnt the different types of sounds and analysed an ad together to know how to correctly analyse the sound in our own research. 

Target Audience:

I am aiming my food bank at working class adults. Stereo typically, single parents or young parents who are struggling. However, after researching food banks, I have realised that anyone can find themselves having to rely on food banks at any time. 

Bearing this in mind, I don't want to target my food bank to one specific group of people. I want everyone to be welcomed in. Anyone who needs it can use it. 

Researching the effectiveness of using social media:

When researching, I realised that the most effective way of raising awareness for a cause or to get information across to people in via social media. So making a website and app is nowadays the best way to get your information across to other people.

Researching apps:

I researched three different food bank apps. They were Stratford Foodbank, Stowmarket Foodbank and Olio. 

Stratford Foodbank:

Stratford is a branch off of The Trussell Trust food banks so there style was something I was familiar with. This was very simple and didn't have much to it. The burger menu consisted three things, "How it works", "Get involved" and "Shopping list". This is most probably exactly what my app will consist of, so when I am producing my app, I think I will refer back to the app quite a lot. 

Stowmarket Foodbank:

Stowmarket was again very stripped back and simplistic. It stated all the facts about the food bank. It was very informative and factual and didn't have many gimmicks. This was probably one of the more useful ones as I wanted my app to be very sensitive and factual, to get the point across and so that people take it seriously. 

Olio:

When researching Olio, I realised that is less of a foodbank and more like a social network. People can put up food that the no longer want or have too much of and if you are local to them, you can message them and pick up the food for free. Some restaurants and small establishments also take part. It's a good way to eliminate waste and help someone in need. Olio was helpful to see how the app was set up and how the messaging system worked, nut wasn't too much help as it wasn't really a foodbank.