Audience vs Readership

Question

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

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"movie fan" (Email Removed) schrieb im Newsbeitrag
[nq:1]When a movie is made there is often a target "audience" in mind. This is the demographic that is expected ... to say "The target readership for this document is project managers" or "The intended readership for this paper is end-users"[/nq]
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 ***. 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...".

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[nq:1]When a movie is made there is often a target "audience" in mind. This is the demographic that is expected ... word for the group of people who would benefit (not so much enjoy!) most from it ? Is it readership?[/nq]
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?

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[nq:1]When a movie is made there is often a target "audience" in mind. This is the demographic that is expected ... to say "The target readership for this document is project managers" or "The intended readership for this paper is end-users"[/nq]
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.

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[nq:2]When a movie is made there is often a target ... so much enjoy!) most from it ? Is it readership?[/nq]
[nq:1]I believe "audience" is equally right (or wrong) for all consumers of movies, lectures, sermons, books, newsgroups, art exhibits and ... to a tape of the same performance. If "audience" is good enough for movies, why not books, or art exhibits?[/nq]
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.

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[nq:2]If "audience" is good enough for movies, why not books, or art exhibits?[/nq]
[nq:1]Because 'audience' is established English usage for theatres and radio and, by extension, television not to mention Popes and Monarchs.[/nq]
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"?

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[nq:2]When a movie is made there is often a target ... so much enjoy!) most from it ? Is it readership?[/nq]
[nq:1]I believe "audience" is equally right (or wrong) for all consumers of movies, lectures, sermons, books, newsgroups, art exhibits and ... to a tape of the same performance. If "audience" is good enough for movies, why not books, or art exhibits?[/nq]
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.

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[nq:1]But somehow, the 'audience for a basketball game' sounds odd, no?[/nq]
Not half as odd as the 'readership for a basketball game'!

Redwine
Hamburg

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[nq:2]If "audience" is good enough for movies, why not books, or art exhibits?[/nq]
[nq:1]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!)[/nq]
"Watchership is the word

[nq:1]I like the idea of "intended to be read by", thanks for that tip.[/nq]
You're welcome, but that's Martin Ambuhl's tip.

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Arcadian Rises filted:
[nq:1]"Watchership is the word

[/nq]
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

Audience vs Readership

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