Creating a field site for astrology as a media niche could go on forever. The mind map below are all my thoughts splat out on the piece of paper.
There are so many ways to expose astrology out in the media world. it’s not like it’s not already vastly popular in the media world, but there are still ways to make this media niche expand even more.
Astrology is active across many platforms which is why my mind map is full of complex potential ideas and perceptions. My mind map features branches that lead to the main sub heading which includes other media platforms astrology is displayed on. The little notes surrounding the subheadings are my ideas and thoughts that come with that particular media platform and how I think they interact differently to each other (what might one platform have that the other doesn’t).
The main branches of my mind map included:
- Music
- Tik Tok
- Podcasts
- Apps
It is important that my research includes when, where and how I engage people who love the media niche, astrology. Ethnographic research are known to, “observe and/or interact with a study’s participants in their real-life environment” (Spotless, n.d). Ultimately, I have been observing and interacting with this study as I am a part of this media niche myself. From there, I can determine new ways to interact with people in this niche.
After drawing out my mind map, I found I am personally most interested in utilising the following media platforms for my media niche:
- Twitter
- This would allow me to get creative by making memes about astrology that people can interact with, such as like, comment and share.
- Podcasts
- I researched some astrology podcasts that already existed and listened to some. I found them very interesting to listen to and could see myself doing something similar. https://theastrologypodcast.com/
- Instagram
- Because I am so familiar with this media platform. I can see myself making an astrology Instagram account.
- Tik Tok
- This platform is extremely popular nowadays. I think it is also fun to make videos, so can see myself having fun mixing Tik Tok and astrology.
- App
- I personally look at an app called ‘Astrology’ every day that tell me my sign’s mood for the day and many other factors about my sign. I would be interested in creating a new version of this.
Some questions I have to help me with problematising my media niche include:
- How would an audience used to view things visually to change to listening to a podcast? (If I were to choose that as my platform).
- Would people rather watch videos with text on them like Tik Tok, or have a still photo with an in depth caption like Instagram?
- TikTok brings more a fun side, whilst Instagram can be deeper and more meaningful
As a student majoring in Marketing, my media niche connects to my future career through understanding how to capture and gage an audience’s attention in the most effectively, which is ultimately the route of Marketing.
ORIGINAL AUDIO:
REFERENCES:
REFERENCES:
Amy Schroeder, 2022, ‘What are the best quality, most accurate astrology sites and horoscopes?’ Jumble and flow, viewed 9th August 2022, https://jumbleandflow.com/2020/05/14/best-quality-astrology-horoscopes/
Ben Logan, 2022, ‘When and how to use ethnographic research’, Spotless, viewed 9th August 2022, https://www.spotless.co.uk/insights/ethnography-when-and-how/
Chris Brennan, 2022, ‘The Astrology Podcast,’ The Astrology Podcast, viewed 9th August 2022, https://theastrologypodcast.com/
allegraslovitt.com 