Audience vs Readership

[movie fan]

When a movie is made there is often a target "audience" in mind. This
is the demographic that is expected to enjoy the movie the most.

Is there a corresponding word for a document? What is the right word
for the group of people who would benefit (not so much enjoy!) most
from it ? Is it readership?
Do you think it sounds OK to say "The target readership for this
document is project managers" or "The intended readership for this
paper is end-users"

Thanks

[rewboss]

Post by movie fan
When a movie is made there is often a target "audience" in mind. This
is the demographic that is expected to enjoy the movie the most.
Is there a corresponding word for a document? What is the right word
for the group of people who would benefit (not so much enjoy!) most
from it ? Is it readership?
Do you think it sounds OK to say "The target readership for this
document is project managers" or "The intended readership for this
paper is end-users"

That depends. In linguistic circles, "audience" is the correct term. But if
your text is supposed to be read by non-linguists -- project managers or
end-users, for example -- "readership" might be the better alternative.

When I am writing to AUE, I might say that the intended audience for the
UK's The Sun newspaper would be (in agreement with the creators of Yes,
Minister) people who don't care who's in charge, as long as she's got big
tits. However, The Sun newspaper, when writing articles, will refer to its
readership, at least until they can think of a monosyllabic word that means
the same.

You can avoid the dilemma, by the way, by saying that "the document is
intended to be read by...".

[Arcadian Rises]

Post by movie fan
When a movie is made there is often a target "audience" in mind. This
is the demographic that is expected to enjoy the movie the most.
Is there a corresponding word for a document? What is the right word
for the group of people who would benefit (not so much enjoy!) most
from it ? Is it readership?

I believe "audience" is equally right (or wrong) for all consumers of movies,
lectures, sermons, books, newsgroups, art exhibits and such.

Strictly speaking "audience" are only the consumers of radio programs. You
don't go to a movie only to hear the movie. You don't go to opera only to hear
the opera. You go to a concert to hear the music, but also to 'feel' first hand
whatever prompted you to go to that concert instead of listening to a tape of
the same performance.

If "audience" is good enough for movies, why not books, or art exhibits?

[Mike Lyle]

Post by Arcadian Rises

Post by movie fan
When a movie is made there is often a target "audience" in mind. This
is the demographic that is expected to enjoy the movie the most.
Is there a corresponding word for a document? What is the right word
for the group of people who would benefit (not so much enjoy!) most
from it ? Is it readership?

I believe "audience" is equally right (or wrong) for all consumers of movies,
lectures, sermons, books, newsgroups, art exhibits and such.
Strictly speaking "audience" are only the consumers of radio programs. You
don't go to a movie only to hear the movie. You don't go to opera only to hear
the opera. You go to a concert to hear the music, but also to 'feel' first hand
whatever prompted you to go to that concert instead of listening to a tape of
the same performance.
If "audience" is good enough for movies, why not books, or art exhibits?

Because 'audience' is established English usage for theatres and radio
-- and, by extension, television -- not to mention Popes and Monarchs.
If you _hear_ a book you're reading or a painting you're looking at,
then you're suffering from that thing people like Jac and me have, and
should probably be (according to your particular theory of eugenics)
encouraged to/prevented from breeding. Too late, in both instances.

Mike.

[Arcadian Rises]

Post by Mike Lyle

Post by Arcadian Rises
If "audience" is good enough for movies, why not books, or art exhibits?

Because 'audience' is established English usage for theatres and radio
-- and, by extension, television -- not to mention Popes and Monarchs.

Well, stricto sensu, "audience" is wrong for at least two of the above.

The consumers of TV are also known by the collective name of "viewership",
which IMO is as proper, or improper, as "audience". "Watchership" would be
more appropriate.

As for the audience of Popes or Monarchs, some of the "audiators" maybe hard of
hearing, while many others don't actually hear what's being preached to them
because they are there only for the ceremony; I know, the latter is a different
issue, but they are still part of the audience.

If the viewers of a silent movie are called an audience, why not call the
readers of a certain book "author's audience"?

Post by Mike Lyle
If you _hear_ a book you're reading or a painting you're looking at,
then you're suffering from that thing people like Jac and me have, and
should probably be (according to your particular theory of eugenics)
encouraged to/prevented from breeding. Too late, in both instances.
Mike.

[movie fan]

Post by Arcadian Rises

Post by movie fan
When a movie is made there is often a target "audience" in mind. This
is the demographic that is expected to enjoy the movie the most.
Is there a corresponding word for a document? What is the right word
for the group of people who would benefit (not so much enjoy!) most
from it ? Is it readership?

I believe "audience" is equally right (or wrong) for all consumers of movies,
lectures, sermons, books, newsgroups, art exhibits and such.
Strictly speaking "audience" are only the consumers of radio programs. You
don't go to a movie only to hear the movie. You don't go to opera only to hear
the opera. You go to a concert to hear the music, but also to 'feel' first hand
whatever prompted you to go to that concert instead of listening to a tape of
the same performance.
If "audience" is good enough for movies, why not books, or art exhibits?

But somehow, the 'audience for a basketball game' sounds odd, no? The
NBA commentators tend to use that when referring to the folks watching
on TV (of course, NBA commentators are hardly a bastion for correct
English, anyway!)

I like the idea of "intended to be read by", thanks for that tip.

[Professor Redwine]

Post by movie fan

Post by Arcadian Rises

Post by movie fan
When a movie is made there is often a target "audience" in mind. This
is the demographic that is expected to enjoy the movie the most.
Is there a corresponding word for a document? What is the right word
for the group of people who would benefit (not so much enjoy!) most
from it ? Is it readership?

I believe "audience" is equally right (or wrong) for all consumers of movies,
lectures, sermons, books, newsgroups, art exhibits and such.
Strictly speaking "audience" are only the consumers of radio programs. You
don't go to a movie only to hear the movie. You don't go to opera only to hear
the opera. You go to a concert to hear the music, but also to 'feel' first hand
whatever prompted you to go to that concert instead of listening to a tape of
the same performance.
If "audience" is good enough for movies, why not books, or art exhibits?

But somehow, the 'audience for a basketball game' sounds odd, no?

Not half as odd as the 'readership for a basketball game'!

[Arcadian Rises]

Post by movie fan

Post by Arcadian Rises
If "audience" is good enough for movies, why not books, or art exhibits?

But somehow, the 'audience for a basketball game' sounds odd, no? The
NBA commentators tend to use that when referring to the folks watching
on TV (of course, NBA commentators are hardly a bastion for correct
English, anyway!)

"Watchership is the word :)

Post by movie fan
I like the idea of "intended to be read by", thanks for that tip.

You're welcome, but that's Martin Ambuhl's tip.

[R H Draney]

Post by Arcadian Rises

Post by movie fan

Post by Arcadian Rises
If "audience" is good enough for movies, why not books, or art exhibits?

But somehow, the 'audience for a basketball game' sounds odd, no? The
NBA commentators tend to use that when referring to the folks watching
on TV (of course, NBA commentators are hardly a bastion for correct
English, anyway!)

"Watchership is the word :)

The watchword, in fact....

In the court of law, as at the court of basketball, those attending to observe
are usually called "spectators"...this makes sense in basketball but less in
jurisprudence, where the most important part of the content of what is observed
is not visual....r

[Martin Ambuhl]

Post by movie fan
When a movie is made there is often a target "audience" in mind. This
is the demographic that is expected to enjoy the movie the most.
Is there a corresponding word for a document? What is the right word
for the group of people who would benefit (not so much enjoy!) most
from it ? Is it readership?
Do you think it sounds OK to say "The target readership for this
document is project managers" or "The intended readership for this
paper is end-users"

I tend to just use "intended audience." I know that may seem strange
with no one to hear, but it is the normal term in academic discourse.