Analyzing Audience Adaptation and Distribution
As you work on your own project where you are adapting and distributing information to
public audiences, the following activity serves as a means to look at current examples of
public audience-oriented materials to see how others have adapted and distributed
complex information. You will analyze five different types of materials and make
observations on 1). The audience it is targeted to and 2). At least two ways on how the
materials have been adapted for the audience (NOTE: You cannot use “simplified
language” or some variation of this for every example). Additionally, while two to three
examples are provided for each section, you only need to pick one.
This worksheet is worth 10 points, with 2 points awarded for each example and
furthermore 1 point for answering each question. If not finished in class, this assignment
is due Friday, December 2nd at 11:59 p.m.
Example #1: Posters
● Pregnancy and the Flu (Opens in New Tab)
● Secondhand Smoking (Opens in New Tab)
● Lead Poisoning and Your Children (Page 2) (Opens in New Tab)
Who is the Audience?
I chose the secondhand smoking poster. I think that this audience is most likely for
people that smoke who reside with or are constantly around non-smokers. This
audience might also interact with non-smokers who are immunocompromised. This
audience could also be smokers who are aware of their bad habit, but are confident that
they are only harming themselves by smoking.
How is the Material Adapted to the Audience?
I am enjoying the use of color in this material because the use of color signifies a sort of
“heat map” of toxicity to the intended audience. Color association can be really
powerful, even on a subconscious level. This is also arranged in a symmetrical way with
the main message in the center, drawing the eye inward and kind of associating trust
with the symmetry of the image. It also includes little factoids about each chemical to
drive home how powerful these chemicals can be and why ingesting them is harmful.
Example #2: Social Media Accounts
● The National Park Service on Instagram (Opens in New Tab)
● NASA on Twitter (Opens in New Tab)
● The National Institutes of Health on Facebook (Opens in New Tab)
Who is the Audience?
Typically I think that the audience for social media will be people who don’t necessarily
have a lot of expertise or background in different scientific fields. Not to say that people
with this expertise aren’t on social media, but a lot of the time social media accounts
belonging to accounts like these are generally for people who aren’t as familiar with
these scientific backgrounds.
How is the Material Adapted to the Audience?
Material is adapted to the audience sometimes through use of slang in posts- I’ve seen
this done several times through following different accounts like this. Sometimes these
accounts make use of slang or pop culture in order to identify a little more with the
audience and to establish rapport, showing them that this scientific knowledge isn’t
above them and that it can be accessible.
Example #3: Infographics
● Flu Infographics from the CDC (Opens in New Tab)
● The World’s Population at 8 Billion (Opens in New Tab)
Who is the Audience?
For this example, I looked at flu infographics. The audience for these infographics would
probably mostly include people suffering from flu-like symptoms, or people having
doubts about the benefits of the flu vaccine. It could also include people who
underestimate the severity of the flu and need education about that aspect of it.
How is the Material Adapted to the Audience?
The material is adapted to the audience through illustrations to go along with
instructions, as well as more information with these illustrations. Instructions are kept
clear and concise to keep readability simple and easy, especially for audiences who
might be under stress because of suffering through flu-like symptoms.
Example #4: Blog Posts
● The Secret Success of Slime
● Good (and Bad) Ways to Help a Dog Afraid of Fireworks
● Let's Explore Ilha da Queimada Grande, The Forbidden "Snake Island"
Who is the Audience?
The audience in this post are those who have dogs that are reactive to fireworks. This
audience may have heard conflicting information on the best way to soothe dogs who
are sensitive or reactive to fireworks. This audience may be looking for some clear-cut
information or advice to be able to better accommodate their dogs when fireworks are
being set off.
How is the Material Adapted to the Audience?
Material is adapted by first addressing advice given to the audience that may have
seemed good at first, but is actually faulty. The author then addresses the reasons why
this information is faulty, and then proceeds to give solutions and alternatives to this
advice that is feasible.
Example #5: Pamphlets
● Tuberculosis - Get the Facts (Opens in New Tab)
● Food Safety (Opens in New Tab)
● Lead Poisoning and Your Children (Page 1) (Opens in New Tab)
Who is the Audience?
The audience can consist of people who are experiencing symptoms consistent with
TB, those who want to learn more about TB, or those wanting to learn about the TB
vaccine. This might be most accessible to audiences who are in medical settings, such
as clinics.
How is the Material Adapted to the Audience?
The material is adapted to the audience by using short paragraphs and dividing the
information into small sections by topic so that the audience can “chunk” the information
and not be overwhelmed. “Chunking” the information helps the audience to process this
better and be more likely to remember things since it was presented in smaller contexts.