Evaluation

In what ways does your Media product use,develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Throughout the production of my Music Magazine I researched many real magazines such as NME, Rolling Stone, and Rock Sound. I followed several conventions of these magazines to help me get a professional look to my magazine. The conventions I have used such as the mastheads, photos, sub-headlines, barcode, price and date issue have helped me to make my magazine as realistic as possible. I decided to follow some conventions from several music magazines however, I have put my own twist onto it making it looks unusual and unique as I believe it makes it more attractive and avoids it being boring. For my front cover I followed a convention from Rock Sound magazine by writing some singers names down the left hand side I decided to do this because it fills up space and looks effective. I used an unusual font to write the singers names out like Rock Sound has because it's unique. I also wrote the sub-headline above the singers names in yellow like the Rock Sound magazine because it's very colourful and eye catching. The photo I used on the front cover is of one female who is representing a singer, this is seen very often in real music magazines. Also when I have been researching magazines I have found out that a lot of them makes the main photo overlap the title so I decided to do the same making it looks realistic and effective. My double page spread is very basic and follows nearly all the conventions of real magazines as it contains a large photo which stretches over a full page and then onto the next and I have then wrote a story about the photo which most magazines do. For my contents page I decided to follow the conventions of Rolling Stones contents page as I think it looks well set out and effective. I have only put a few pages on the contents page which are the main features and then I have divided them from one another with a red line which is also used on the Rolling Stone contents page, I believe this creates a huge impact and makes it look realist.


How does your Media product represent particular social groups?
The social group I aimed to represent was young males and females who are interested in the musical industry and also those who have a musical talent and are searching for fame and stardom. I have represented the social groups through the photos for example using photos of a young audience which the readers can relate to and also using an acoustic guitar showing the musical genre of the magazine. The models I have used for my photos are dressed casual as I believe this represents the idea I am trying to create in my magazine that all 'normal' people can taste fame.

What kind of Media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I believe IPC might distribute my magazine as they distribute NME and my magazine is slightly the same as NME because the genre of music is the same. Also the age range of NME's audience is the same as my magazine so it will have a big impact for the audience like NME does.

Who would be the audience for your Media product?
The audience for my magazine is young males and females who have a born interest in the music industry. The main audience I wanted to attract was normal males and female artists who're searching for fame. The artist who have a natural talent for music and need to be recognised by record labels.

How did you attract/address your audience?
I attracted and addressed my audience by the use of unusual and unique fonts as it creates a modern effect on the magazine with the audience being able to relate to modern day media. I also attracted them through my photos as I have used normal teenage models which the audience can relate to because they're just like themselves. I used models who're of the same age group as my audience so that they can relate to them and it makes the magazine more believable to them. I also used an acoustic guitar and this shows the musical genre of the magazines to the audience and shows that anyone can pick up a guitar and with dedicated practice can achieve success.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
In the process of constructing my magazine I have learnt a lot of techniques on how to make my magazine looks more professional and realistic. For example I have learnt how to edit photos so i can put them onto an effective background which gives impact for the audience. I have also learnt how to construct a double page spread and make it look like real music magazines like NME. I have learnt how to use Photoshop to make my photos look more professional and advanced from just an original photo.

Looking back at the preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
My progression from my preliminary task has advanced a lot. I believe I can now produce a magazine with the conventions of a real music magazine. I can also now edit photos to make them look professional using Photoshop which I couldn't do before. By researching magazines I have learnt where to place parts such as the masthead, barcode and sub-headlines and with this technique I can now produce a professional layout which follows the full conventions of a real music magazine. So now I am advanced with use Photoshop and Microsoft Publisher I can now create a magazine easily whereas when I was doing my Preliminary task I couldn't. With all this I have learnt I can now produce a well presented magazine.