Audience of Independent Lens
Both Curtis and Horton and Lynch give advice about relating to an online audience. Horton and Lynch direct web designers to, “Identify the potential audience for your web site so that you can structure the site design to meet their needs and expectations” (Planning). Curtis puts it simply: “Before anything else, we have to know who our audience is and what they want” (76). Much like PBS (Public Broadcasting Systems) caters to the educational needs of the public, Independent Lens’ website is designed for informing its audience. The links at the top of the page filter the content to target specific users.
The “Program Guide” link takes users to a page that provides program airings and information based on the user’s location. Users can find information created for or filtered for educating children and young adults by clicking the “Classroom” tab. The “Community Cinema” tab informs the users about monthly screenings that are available in select cities nationwide.
Independent Lens makes it easy for its audience to find the content that most users look for from a television program: videos. By clicking the “Video” link at the top (or bottom) of the screen, the user is taken to a page that presents lists of videos with a still image, short description, and a link to the video’s website. Users can sort videos based on the most popular, newest, or by topic. A “Tell a Friend” option appears next to the video when you click on the video’s title, making it easy for users to send videos to their friends, and at the same time promoting the website and the show. The websites for each video give the date of the video’s premiere and allow the user to check local listings to see when it will be broadcast. All of the options and features of Independent Lens make it easy for users of any age to effectively navigate and learn from the site’s content.
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Jennifer Sawyer
Clayton State University
Updated: 13 April 2009