Media AS Magazine Production

Task EvaluationAlex Bright

Evaluative Question: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

I have incorporated many codes and conventions of a typical music magazine, that targets the audience of which I have also targeted, into the construction of my magazine.

This is an actual music magazine that I will use to demonstrate the typical codes and conventions that I have included.

I have also created my own logo to help establish An identity for my magazine.

This is the logo that I have created. However I believe that I challenge some music magazine concepts as many magazines use full text, rather than a logo, in order to convey their products name.

A typical convention is to include the whole band on theFront cover of the magazine, I have also used this formWithin my magazine.

Many magazines include a large amount of text andAnimation along with sub stories that are also insideThe magazine. To some extent I have also done this, Although I have taken a more simplistic approach and Decided not to introduce too many extra detail.

My Music Magazine Front Cover

I have challenged a usual convention in that mostMusic magazines incorporate a large amountOf vivid colour. But in contrast I have decided toManipulate the colour theme and ratio of my Photograph that I have used on my front cover in Order to give a black and white effect with a hintOf colour. I thought that this concept was unusual And unique and also helps to add a sense of Drama and effect to the image.

An important feature and code of a magazineIs the rule of not placing any text or images overThe faces of the subjects within the photograph. This allows the audience to make eye contact andTherefore gives an impression of making the pieceMore personal to them. I have also decided to Use this very important concept that is used Throughout most music magazines, if not, all.

Double Page Spread

Another typical convention that I have also used is to structure a large majority of my text into columns for my double page spread. This gives the impression that the text is an article and gives detail.

An interesting decision that I have made, is to spread a single image across the double page, which is demonstrated at the top of my magazine. This allows the image to be much larger than usual and creates an interesting feature to the two pages for the audience to view. I believe that this

Challenges normal codes and conventionsOf a double page spread, however I have Seen this technique used several times.

To give an exciting image to the double page. I have decided to include images that do notIncorporate their background. I have placed These amongst the text which then allows the Text to flow around the images to also createAn attractiveness to the page. This challengesA magazine that I have previously analysedWithin my work and research.

Evaluative Question:How does your media product represent particular social groups?

I believe that my music magazine represents a particular social group that I have decidedTo specifically target, (my target audience) by a number of ways. For example:

• I have decided to target a teenage audience of ages between 16-25, that would be interested in an alternative rock/ pop music culture and the sub culture. I have done this and represented that particular social group through the age of the band (The Revolutions) that is represented throughout the magazine. They would appeal to the target audience and the

Audience would be able to relate to them.•The style of clothing and fashion that I have chosen for my band wouldAlso appeal to the social group I have targeted, as this style of fashionConnotes casual and a ‘laid-back’ lifestyle which would most likelyApply to this particular social group.• I have also included already established bands and their stories that Are associated with this particular social group and that would appealTo the taste of many of the targeted audience. For example, ‘Cold Play’.

• On the front cover and contents page, I have created stories and competitions which are also associated with this particular social group such as, ‘Next year’s reading ticket competition’.

Evaluative Question: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

I believe that my music magazine has the potential to be created and distributed and would Therefore need to be distributed by a large media publishing institution. Examples of media publishing institutions that would do this include;• EMAP – which is a multiplatform publishing group.• IPC Media

IPC Media is one of the largest publishing companies in the UK which produces over 85 iconicMedia brands which reaches over two thirds of UK women and 44% of UK men which totals to Almost 27 million people.

IPC publish the popular music magazine NME and therefore have great experience in then Market that my music magazine would appeal to.

I would suggest that my product would be published with IPC media. Most magazines that have achieved high popularity have been published and produced by IPC.

In order to fund the magazine so that it could be published, the product would need to include Various advertisements throughout the magazine. This is the key source of finance for most magazines.

Evaluative Question:Who would be the audience for your media product?

As I have briefly mentioned the audience that my magazine would appeal to would be those who are interested in and enjoy the music genre that I have decided to focus on. This music genre is alternative rock/ pop and is greatly popular.

This music genre has distinctive youth subcultures which means that the music genre followsDistinctive styles included within behavior, fashion, interests and conventions. I have identified A number of these that apply to the music genre and have incorporated them within the Identity and style of my magazine.

I have targeted an audience within this youth subculture of the ages between 16- 25 years Old.The gender that my magazine would appeal to, I believe would be generally males. This is because the music genre that I have chosen appears to be increasingly popular with that gender. The main band that I have featured are also all male and therefore would most likely become an icon for other males. However a small percentage of females may also purchase the magazine and may have strong feelings for the members in the band and are therefore attracted to buying the magazine. They may also enjoy that music genre.

Evaluative Question:How did you attract/ address your audience?

I attracted and addressed my target audience through using a number of methods. For example;

• When creating my double page spread, I focused on the language and terminology. I first analysed an authentic music magazine and highlighted the key terms that were used the most. I then incorporated this vocabulary that is mostly, field specific, and integrated it within my article. This style of language would appeal to this particular audience and youth sub culture and therefore the product is successful in addressing them. • I have also included quotes from the band to attract the audience and to allow them to gather an understanding of life as a band. The audience are always interested in stories such as these and are therefore attracted.

• Within my Front Page, Contents page and double page spread, I have used a large amount of images, photographs and graphics to make the products appear much more visually interesting. This combines with the idea of the various colour schemes that I have integrated as they are all exciting and eye catching. I have used a large amount of the colour red as I know that this colour is the first to catch the readers eye. Here are a sample of techniques that I have used to attract and address my target audience. I also used statements to make the text much more appealing and they also have a sense of addressing the audience.

Evaluative Question:What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I have learnt a large amount through the journey of creating my magazine. The new skills and knowledge that I have acquired include;

How to use the type of software needed

in order to manipulate images

and create a magazine.

The creative features and ideas that have been used in other magazines using

technology.I have developed my skills in

capturing quality photographs and

the creative thought behind

them.

I have learnt how to successfully Manipulate photographs

To achieve the Creative designs that I

Wanted.

Evaluative Question:Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Preliminary Task

PracticalProduction

Task

From looking back at the preliminary task I believe that my work and skills has constantly Progressed. For example;

It is clear that I have learnt many Key principles, codes and

Conventions that help to make aMagazine appear professional During the process of making

Both magazines, more so beforeConstructing the music magazine.

I have also learnt, how to Capture much better

Qualitative photographsThis is evident through

Comparing images takenFor both magazines.

I have learnt that planningAnd preparation is requiredAnd delivers great results.

I have learnt that professional magazine producers and

publishers would be made up of a team of experts who are each assigned to a particular job within the constructing of the magazine. Through this I have understood the skills

and job of each of the roles.Through the process

of creating the magazines, I have

learnt how the use of vocabulary can manipulate and

address the audience that you are targeting.

Conclusion

I have thoroughly enjoyed the tasks that I have been given. I feel that I have learnt a large amount about magazines and how they are constructed throughout this process. I have also enjoyed learning how to use Photoshop to help me in manipulating photographs and constructing the magazine.I am very pleased with the overall result of my products,

although I have discovered many points that I would have perhaps have done differently now that I look back. If I had to have create another magazine I would consider these points. To be able to see the end product completed, it gives me great satisfaction.

Media AS Magazine

Production Task Evaluation

By Alex Bright