Media Evaluation

1. Conventions

I have used the number 297 in Guttenbergs primary optical area, meaning it will be the first point in the magazine looked at, I have also used a graphic feature behind to ensure it stands out fully from the rest of the magazine. The odd number, 297 looks more appealing than just 200, as it suggest there is far more content included.

The two buzz words, “free” and “exposed” will instantly draw in the readers attention. The word “exposed” implies no other magazine features this story, meaning my magazine will become more attractive to the audience.

A successful convention used in magazines is the principle of thirds. I have used this on my magazine. The left third is heavily arranged with the majority of the magazine content. This is done not only because it is where the eye is draw to most, but also due to how the magazine are stacked on shelves of the shops.

The masthead of my magazine it Melodie. I chose this to let the readers know what kind of magazine it is, a music magazine, I feel the word sounds feminine and girlie, like the audience. I have also used deviant spelling to give the title its own flare and personality that will appeal to readers,

I have used a simple mast head for my magazine, “More music, more fashion, more you” This lets the reader know what is in the magazine, however with the repetition of the word more, it implies that the magazine includes more, that other possible competitor magazines.

Situated in the terminal optical area, I have positioned a story on fashion. This is the last place where they will look,

The main image is of a girl who the readers will aspire to be like, with long glossy hair and stylish clothes. Her eyes have been positioned on the top third. She is looking straight into the camera. With her looking directly at the reader, it is almost as though she is willing them to read the magazine.

I have kept the colour scheme simple, using a pale purple and blue colour, with pink for some text. This is a typical colour scheme for my audience so will target them successfully.

Here I have used a graphic to present the letter from the editor. The reason I have included a letter is so the audience feel they have more of a relationship with the magazine, and as though it has been wrote especially for them. It also helps them get a feel for the magazine and a slight indication as to what is featured. I used a shadow effect, which makes the speech bubble appear to be coming off of the page.

I have kept a similar house style with the font, ensuring the magazine can flow more and looks more appealing.

The contents page is heavily arranged with a majority of images. This has been done in order to cater to my audience, they find images more engaging and interesting, with the page number so they can get to that particular story.

I have arranged the pages in a neat column along the side in three sections, music, style and celeb. All of these are areas my audience will want to read about. I have kept the contents neat and clear for the audience to read.

I have used a slightly different colour scheme to the front page, using a vibrant hot pink, cream and a lighter pink. From my research, I know that this is a popular colour scheme for my audience and will be attracted to the page.

Here I have used a small graphic feature, saying interview exclusive. This sensationalises the story, and will be visible when flicking through the magazine, similar to the pull quote so it will draw attention to that particular page.

Before I started the full article, I used a small introductory sentence to let the audience know what is talked about. The highlighted buzz word, exclusive also can attract the reader, suggesting no other magazine has this interview.

The text has been laid out on a slight angle, which I feel adds a friendly and fun effect to the over all look. The polaroid style images also add to this effect, making it look similar to a scrapbook, or a doodle on a notepad of paper.

I have used a pull quote to break up the big chunks of text. The small quote can be read when flicking through the magazine to draw in the reader to this article.

The main image on the double page spread looks sultry and more engaging, which has been edited using Photoshop, similar to the image on the front page. The shadow effect helps bring her forward against the page. She has been positioned along the end third, where the audience should look last. I used the secondary images to add to the fun of the article, where she looks happy. The images have been balanced to the other page, with all of the text to the other side, so that the spread is not over loaded with text.

Here I have used a small caption under the images , which is a small but effective feature. The audience enjoy reading small texts, such as the introductory sequence and the pull quote. All of these devises work in a similar way.

The big front used with the title dominates the page, I feel the size looks effective and can represent the big success of the artist the article is about.

2. Social groups

The target audience of my magazine is young girls. My media product represents them and the stars featured inside as clean cut and innocent. I feel this is done through the neat and organised layout of the magazine and the pages. I have kept a similar house style throughout the magazine.

3. Distribution

My magazine will be distributed by either IPC, the Uk’s leading consumer magazine distributors or Emap.

4. Audience

My magazine is targeted at a typical demographic of young girls, around 8-13, ho are interested in celebrities music and fashion. During my research process, I created a questionnaire for my target audience consisting of a number of questions from preferred colour schemes, to different music artists. I found in the research that my audience like a variety of article types, whether it and interview or a celebrity column. The audience are more interested in modern electric pop singers like Lady GaGa. The research helped a great deal towards the making of my magazine. It gave me information on the colour scheme and how to layout the page, with a enough images as well as text.

5. Address audience

To target my audience I ensured that they could identify with the magazine, through the language used and the general content. I feel the images are most powerful in conveying this, as the stars featured represent the ideology of the target audience. They want to look and dress like they do, some may feel they will achieve this through the magazine and the stories featured.

The type face and overall house style is kept similar and recognisable. The font seems fun and youthful. Because of this the magazine feels informal, and more friendly.

With the article, I was able to show the style of writing I will use throughout the magazine. I have used an informal, chatty tone, almost as though it is being spoke in a conversation. Slang words and other colloquialisms have been used throughout, gain adding to the notion of the text.

6. Technologies

From the process of constructing the product, I have learnt vast amount on digital photography. I have learnt that in order for my photograph to look professional, I must use the rule of thirds, keeping interesting parts such as eyes along the thirds. I have also come to understand that the way the person is presented on the photograph matters just as much as the positioning. The way the model is styled is an easy way to target the audience. In my case, I have curled her

hair and used make up and false eyelashes to help define her features. The stylish clothing will also be appealing for the audience. Through my previous research, I have also found that the camera angle is another aspect to take note of. If the model is leaning slightly forward, it can appear as though they are coming out of the page, which will also draw in the reader. With all of these aspects in mind, the publishing programme, Photoshop can help to enhance these. For example, I used a burn tool to darken around the eyes and eyebrows, adjusted the brightness and contrast and used a smudge tool to help the skin appeal more flawless.

Original photograph Photo shopped version

Dull eyes have been brightened.

The skin also brightened.

Blemishes have been removed through using the spot tool

Using the burn tool, I have darkened the skin under her cheeks, defining the cheekbones

Dark roots have been masked by again using the brightener tool.

Flawless skin is achieved by using the smudge tool.

To present my work, it has been published onto a bogging site, which is more appropriate for the media subject. I posted each aspect as a different post, allowing me to edit the where needs be.

Before starting the finished product, I attempted a practise run of a simple college magazine, with a front cover and mock up of a contents page. This allowed me to explore Photoshop for the first time and to put all of the media devises I have learnt into practise, such as the Gutenberg diagram.Ancillary Project

Final Outcome

Front CoverFor the font cover of my college magazine, I chose a simple layout, without much featuring on the cover, only three stories. The image has barely no image manipulation from Photoshop, and is quite a poor quality image, as it was cut out from the original. Although the face is directly align on the top third, which works well.

I also feel that effects used on the font works well, allowing it to stand out from the page, through using shadows and other effects.

From my ancillary project, I learnt the importance of image manipulation. The way the model on the front looks is key in attracting my audience, they will aspire to be like what they see on the front of the magazine, meaning they will buy it. I kept the layout similar, as I felt it worked well, catering to devises such as the Guttenberg diagram and the Rule of thirds.

Contents PageWith my first attempt of a contents page, I kept it simple with a block of text, with the page being dominated by images. I used the same colour scheme as the front cover.

My second contents is a lot more sophisticated. I have kept a roughly similar layout only looking more tidy. The text in the first looked messy and cluttered, so I decided to use a box for the text, keeping it neat. I felt the idea of more images on the contents would target my audience better, so kept that idea, but again organised it in a more interesting way.

For my contents, I decided to introduce the idea of an editors letter. This short piece of text is a useful tool to draw in the reader. It is short enough for them to be able to read in a shop, and can lure them into reading the rest of the magazine. The letter is wrote in a chatty tone, which can seem fun and welcoming for my audience.