Final answer:
Identifying the intended target audience is a key media literacy tool and is crucial for crafting effective messages in media. It involves understanding the cultural and historical context of the audience, and using appropriate media and techniques for communication. Message targeting is also a strategy used to match the message to the audience through accessible forms.
Step-by-step explanation:
Asking oneself, "Who are the intended targets of these media?" refers to the media literacy tool of Recognizing Audience. When analyzing media, it's crucial to identify the target audience as this informs how the message is crafted, including the chosen vocabulary, cultural references, and the level of detail that is appropriate to make the intended impact. This applies not only to text but to other forms of media, such as visual images, that support the writing and can shape the audience's perception in both positive and negative ways.
Understanding the intended audience helps creators to convey their message effectively through appropriate media and techniques, which may differ based on the cultural and historical context of that audience. It's a fundamental skill in media literacy to match the message with the right media to ensure clarity and effectiveness. Furthermore, creators often utilize message targeting techniques such as using polls or focus groups to grasp the issues important to potential audiences and distil complex messages into simpler, accessible forms like "sound bites" that the media can easily disseminate.