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

During the construction of my magazine there has been a few problems accessing technology which has made it hard to produce work of a high standard in these challenging circumstances.  Spite these problems i have used laptops at school and my own computer to create my magazine. The majority of my work was done on my own computer. 

 I created my magazine using desktop publisher.

To transfer my work from one computer to another a used a memory stick as this was more efficient than emailing myself my work.

To take pictures for my magazine i used my own camera from home (samsung).  To edit my images i used a programme called Adobe Photo shop Elements 2.0

Below of some of the images that i edited

I created my fonts on dafont.com as this website contained the font that i wanted to use for my magazine which is found on the double page spread.

I then edited my font which i had found on dafont.com on fireworks.

In addition to this I created a blog account using “Blogger” to post all of my research and evaluation.

To transfer my magazine content on to my blog i print screened them from viewing them in print preview and then copied them onto paint before saving and uploading onto my blog.

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

Planning and preparation was really important so that i could understand the various forms and conventions of different fashion magazines.  During my preliminary task, i did not research enough and therefore wasn't full aware of the conventions and how my magazine should have been layed out.  Since creating my school magazine my knowledge of using Photo shop has increased considerably. For example I now know how to make elements of my magazine stand out more changing the saturation/contrast/brightness of my images. In addition to this, I learnt how to select parts of photos using the quick selection tool in order to cut things out. An example of this would removing the background from my images, which makes my magazine look more professional and effective. I've also learnt how to download newer more interesting fonts, increasing the visual appeal of my magazine. As well as this, the complexity of my page layout has increased as I've done more research.  For my school magazine i didn't do as much research, so therefore my magazine follows the conventions more.  On my school magazine the fonts i used for my cover lines don't look as effective and appropriate as my fashion magazine. I think this is because my knowledge on fonts as increased stupendously.

Overall my understanding of the software has improved greatly throughout this project because at the start I'd barely used Photo shop and now I have produced a professional looking magazine using it.  I also feel that during my 2nd project i came more aware of my target audience.

How did you attract/address your audience?

To attract my audience i used direct mode of address in most of my images.  This is because i wanted my magazine to be able to stimulate an interaction with every individual reader.  On my front cover there is a central image which follows the conventions of a music magazine.  It helps the magazine to look professional and effective as the cover lines are moulded around the sides.  This also makes it easier for my target audience to understand the content of the magazine as it is simply laided out however, a simple layout for my interview was used also again so it was easier for my target audience to understand and read.  From my research music magazines tend to have interviews about an idol following the conventions of a music magazine.  Not only is it doing this but it looks effective and attractive which encourages my audience to stop and read. On my contents page i used more than one image because i wanted my audience to see that my magazine contained content on more than one band.  This would help attract them because they will be in to lots of different music.  I used costumes in my magazine to interpret the genre of my magazine. My model wore clothes and jewellery that matched the house colours and genre of my magazine. Throughout my magazine i used the same colours.  This made it clear that my magazine was a music magazine which helped to attract my target audience.  Throughout my magazine i used superlatives such as 'free' and 'exclusive' to help attract my target audience and interest new fans.  These words make the audience think that they are getting something original and unique which encourages them to buy the magazine.  The register i used in my magazine was standard English as this was appropriate for my target audience.  This is because i expect my target audience to be educated.    Here is an example of a magazine i looked at for conventions. 

I think that the colours i used are very stereotypical for a music magazine as i found out from my research these were the most used colours and in my opinion the most effective.  I think that these colours help to attract my target audience as they are big,bold colours that stand out.  This is important as magazines are placed next to their competitors, so consumers will choose the magazine with the most attractive front cover.   The variety of size/colour/font of my coverlines helpes attract my audience as it creates excitement and enigma as to whats inside.  They make my audience want to buy the magazine and read more.   The price of my magazine is fairly reasonable and cheaper than the majority of music magazines.  From my research the majority of my audience said they would pay between £3 and £4.  So with my magazinebeing in competition with others and being priced at £3.40 and others being priced at about £4 and £5 my magazine is more likely to become more popular as it is a more affordable price. 

Who would be the audience for your media product?

When creating a media based magazine, a specific target audience has to be in place for it to be a success.

Demographic

I expect my target audience to be between the ages 18-26 year olds and any gender of any ethnicity. It is aimed at people born in the 21^st century so that they will understand the content more.  I expect my audience to be of middle income because i think that the pricing of my magazine (£3.40) is average priced.  It’s not cheap and not expensive.  I expect my audience to be at a GCSE level to understand the content and language of my articles.  I don’t expect my audience to be married people but i expect couples or single people that are students or who have recently come out of education.  I expect them to be and extrovert person that is bubbly and confident.   They will listen to indie/rock music such as classic rock and stuff out today.  They will enjoy education and will be an average student.  Not extremely clever but not stupid.  As a career they may want to be in a band or work within the music industry. 

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

When making your music magazine or any magazine, distribution is a big factor which needs to be taken into consideration.  Finding a distributor who will advertise and sell your magazine is a key component to your magazine being successful. When choosing a distributor you need to take into consideration competition as they will be other magazines similar to yours and whether you will make a profit.   Examples of distributors included;- IPC
- National Magazines
-Dennis publishing
-Conde Nast

Out of these 4, I had to look into each and see whether or not 'UNPLUGGED' would fit into the distributor portfolio. I took into account other music magazines within these distributors, to see if there was a gap for my magazine to be distributed.

 

I decided to choose IPC media to publish my magazine because they publish other magazines of the same type and genre as mine such as NME. Also, it is aimed at the same age and social group as my magazine. There are other medias that can be linked to IPC media with magazines such as the internet as NME have they’re own website where you can buy or subscribe for the magazine and find previous editions and other information. Magazines can be advertised on TV as a way of promoting the magazine and increasing the magazines popularity.  IPC media distribute their products to the audiences, by selling them in shops such as newsagents, superstores, music stores such as HMV. Also you can purchase music magazines on line on places such as amazon. 

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Before creating my magazine i did alot of research on 'real' music magazines so that i could recognise the codes and conventions, which would help me when creating my own. Below are a few magazines i researched.  My magazine follows the conventions of these magazines.  I have an image that is central and dominant.  The model on my magazine is making eye contact with the reader allowing the magazine to connect with the reader more personally.   My images also have good connotations as i used models that were similar ages to my target audience so my social groups are able to look at these images and relate them to their selves and also famous idols who they may look up to and aspire to be like.  My magazine similarly has cover lines which are located around the central image and a masthead that it is at the top of the page.  Both following the conventions.  I think that the social groups represented on my front cover range of social groups, because my magazine has an average age range from around 18-26, there are social groups such as college students, younger workers, university students and middle class people. 

Demographic

I expect my target audience to be between the ages 18-26 year olds of any gender and any ethnicity. It is aimed at people born in the 21^st century so that they will understand the content.  I expect my audience to be of middle income because i think that the pricing of my magazine (£3.40) is average priced.  It’s not cheap and not expensive.  I expect my audience to be at a GCSE level to understand the content and language of my articles.  I don’t expect my audience to be married people but i expect couples or single people that are students or who have recently come out of education.

Psychographic

I expect my audience to have Bubbly personality who generally enjoys life.  They typically need to be an extrovert person with lots of confidence.  They should lead a healthy life with perhaps a job and in a good state of physical, mental and social well-being.   I expect them to be a person that is interested in rock music, going out and drinking to be able to relate to the content of my magazine. 

Occupation A-E

My magazine is mainly aimed at group B because my magazine advertises music of all prices.  It contains a lot of classic music from the 80's which are cheaper now than they used to be.  I think that my magazine could also be aimed at students in group E because a lot of students have a big interest in music.  However they are helped out with the prices by having student discount. 

Geographic

My magazine will change according to the different seasons for example the colour of the masthead may change to blue or black in winter to connote to the audience that there has been a change.  The magazine will have bands that are big in that season and past bands that have been successful throughout that season. My magazine is a UK magazine ad so will be for people living here.  The size of the area doesn’t really matter.  People from anywhere in the UK can buy and relate to my magazine.

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

1 – The Title of the Magazine

For the masthead of my magazine i used 'Cooper Black' as my font for the 'UNPLUGGED' part, as i thought that this went well with the conventions of music magazine as it big and bold.   It is written in a fairly simple font because not only did i think it looked best like this but the majority of music magazine that i have researched and looked at also used simple fonts which looked effective.  I created my masthead in desktop publisher using a text box.  I did this because, the font that i wanted to use was there so i didn't need to look anywhere else.  I was influenced to call my magazine 'UNPLUGGED' because, i think that straight away it tells you what the magazine is about. It's like an amp having the plug pulled out so that not only you hear the music but the world hears it. I think that this connotes to my audience that this is a music magazine.  My masthead was written in the colours black and red because not only does it follow the conventions of a music magazine but it also looks really effective and stands out as the colours are big and bold. The colours black and red connote perhaps dark music .

4- Costumes and Props

The costumes i used throughout my magazine followed the codes and conventions of a music magazine

2-Genre And How Your Magazine Suggest It

The genre of my magazine is music.  This is quite clear throughout my magazine because of the pictures on display for example on the contents page there are too males playing the guitar which connotes to the audience that the magazine is music focused.   In addition to this, the cover lines on the front cover and in the contents page all have an involvement in music.   

3- Images

I included original photography of a young female which helps to target the intended age group.  On the front cover the way that she is positioned show connotes to the audience that she is 'rocking out'.  She is looking directly at the camera to allow the magazine to connect with the target audience.  A variety of images have been used.  The images used on the contents page which are of Slash and Justin Hawkins are also original photography taken at different gigs that i have attended.  Below i have taken photos of  the tickets used to attend these events to prove that they are original photography and not taken off the Internet. 

<---Slash | Justin Hawkins  --- >

4- Costumes and Props

The costumes i used throughout my magazine followed the codes and conventions of a music magazine. They all show conventions of rock and on the front cover the clothes my picture is wearing match the colours of the title etc. My model is wearing heavy make up which stereotypically women in the rock music industry tend to.   I used eye shadows that matched the house colours of the magazine.  For my magazine i didn't use any props because, for my magazine they weren't needed and from my research other magazines didn't really use any props so my magazine follows the conventions of a music magazine. 

The model used in my magazine is conventional to my magazine.  The female i used on the cover was a friend.  I chose her because, i think that she looks the part and is photogenic and follows the conventions.  I chose to use a young model because, my target audience is fairly young and so they will be able to relate with my magazine more than if i used an older model.  On my front cover and double page spread i used different images of the same model. On the contents page i used two pictures of people from different bands to show that my magazine covers different bands and doesn't concentrate on just one.    On the Front cover i positioned my model in the centre because, from my research the model is conventionally positioned centrally which i think work's well.  This is pretty much the same for my contents page and double page spread.  I did this because it looks effective and follows the codes and conventions.

5- Models
The model used in my magazine is conventional to my magazine.  The female i used on the cover was a friend.  I chose her because, i think that she looks the part and is photogenic and follows the conventions.  I chose to use a young model because, my target audience is fairly young and so they will be able to relate with my magazine more than if i had used a older model.  On my front cover and double page spread i used different images of the same model and used different shots of her for example on the front cover i have used a mid-shot of her and on the double page spread i have used a close up.  On the Front cover i positioned my model in the centre because, from my research the model is conventionally positioned centrally which i think work's well.  She is also making eye contact which allows the magazine to connect with the target audience more.  This is the same for my double page spread.  I did this because it looks effective and follows the codes and conventions However, the images on my contents page show both of my images looking contently at their guitar which connotes again that the magazine is music focused. 

6- Typography

The typography throughout my magazine is very similar if not the same.  For my Cover lines on the front page i used the fonts 'Castellar' and 'Times New Roman' and for the contents page and interview on the double page spread i used 'Bookman Old Style'  I used these font because i think that they are simple but effective which goes well with the layout of my magazine and follows the conventions.  The colour of the typography throughout my magazine is pretty much the same.  It follows the same colours throughout.  It is either black, red or white.

7- Layout
I have used simple layout that follows the conventions of a music magazine. I think this is clear on my front cover, contents and double page spread.  From the research i have found that and interview on the double page spread is quite common and therefore my magazine follows the conventions of a music magazine.   All my photos have been cropped and edited so that they look more effective and more natural on my magazine.  My front cover follows the layout conventions as the masthead is positioned at the top of the page with the cover lines around my central image.  My bar code is positioned at the right side of my magazine which from my research this follows the conventions.