Friday, 30 March 2012

To the examiner

I've now completed the research, plannining, producing of the magazine and the final evaluation tasks.

FINAL PRODUCT.



Evaluation Question 5

5. How did you attract/address your audience?
The audience age range I have is between older teenagers and young adults, this is mainly more of the student age so I have produced my magazine in a way that will attract them to buy it. I wanted to attract mainly girls as I feel that there isn't a magazine out there for them where boys have 'NME'. I did this by featuring a girl of a similar age to my audience on the cover who would be considered as someone who would appeal to the female audience. This could be due the way she is positioned, the clothing that she is wearing and the hair style used. As for the colours I tried to stick to black, white and soft colours as this is quite feminine, I think they would be aesthetically pleasing to a female because they coordinate with the colours in the photo. The cover lines feature female artists than the average 'NME' magazine cover, which I did to appeal to a female audience. I have chosen British artists to feature on my cover. I did this so it would attract the audience as they could feel as if they have more of a chance to see them perform live since they are located in Britain. I think the banner featuring the free Lana Del Rey poster would address the audience as it targets a certain age group which is the young adults/teenagers and since it's a young audience possibly university students, which therefore this would appeal to them as it's free and are wanting anything free at their age. 

The contents are designed for my audience because they would follow the mainly formal language I have used throughout my pages. I feel that my pictures would be attractive to them as they are all of young and successful who they would aspire to be like as well as being able to relate to because of the age. The fact many of my features gives readers a better insight into bands is also a feature that I feel would attract my audience. For example, the interviews gives the audience the chance to feel closer to their favourite artists/bands. I think by giving the different pages subheadings such as the reviews section would appeal to the audience because it helps them go straight away to the parts of the magazine they are interested in. 

The language I have used in the interview would appeal because of the interview style; the voice of a young artist featured would effectively relate to my audience. I also think the photograph on the double page spread would appeal to my audience, the styling and pose of it I found to be very popular among my friends who would fit into my audience. The cover line that reads 'I'm back and don't give a f*ck what people think' would appeal to my audience as I feel they could relate to this as they might like to think that just as this artist has problems that any other young teenager/adult has strong opinions and problems in life, with which they have an invested interest. This would make the artist more appealing to the reader because they feel they have something in common. The interview represents the artist in a very positive manner and explaining her return in to the music industry. I think the fact that the interview focuses mainly on music as oppose to other features such as fashion would attract my audience as they would be more interested to know the story behind the artist’s music than what they are planning on wearing to a festival for example. 

On a whole, I think I've done quite a few things to attract my audience and address them in an appropriate and successful manner. I think I achieved this by focusing on my audience profile and the requirements of what my audience would want. The content is focused on what I know people who would buy the magazine like, as my friends and older siblings of this age group would be this audience.  

Evaluation Question 3

3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
A media institution is a non-profit organisation which regulates and distributes advertising, entertainment and information services. In the UK there are many institutions such as Future PLC, Bauer and IPC Media.  The publisher that i would use to publish my magazine would be IPC Media. This is because they are one of the leading media institutions in the UK, and also that ‘NME’ magazine uses them as their publisher which has a target audience that would also read mine. IPC Media is a well-known publisher and has approximately 26million young adults in the UK that read a magazine published by IPC Media therefore using them to publish my magazine I am confident that they will do a good job of it. As well as this since they are such a big institution there should be more advertisement options as it should be both easier and cheaper to advertise with help from such a big media institution. The distribution method that I’d want to be is firstly the most common way of putting in to popular stores such as WHSmith, newsagents, as most people still if they want a magazine go to the shops. Big chain supermarkets such as Sainsbury’s and Tesco are becoming the main sellers of magazines nowadays therefore I would make sure that I distributed some to the supermarkets to get most people able to see my magazine and buy it. Finally I would also distribute my magazine up online and use the internet as distribution this is because many other magazines nowadays are putting them up online so if I was to do this with mine I'd be keeping up in the competition. Also it'd attract younger teenagers are they are spending more time online than actually going into any shops and rather do online shopping.

Evaluation Question 6

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




Sunday, 25 March 2012

Evaluation Question 7

7. Looking back at your preliminary task (the continuity editing task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?
Having made my school magazine edit first I feel that I have developed my skills both in photoshop and getting/developing ideas and have shown improvements. When I first started my school magazine I wasnt very skilled at using photoshop an example of this would be that I had no idea how to make layers and cut out images. I decided on my preliminary to use very simple and basic layouts and techniques. I also didnt plan it accurately and feel that I didnt push my technical abilities to the extent that now I realise I can do. 
 When doing the school magazine we didn't have the oppurtunity to research and plan which therefore I have now learnt that from my music magazine that research and planning is benefitial to the outcome and helps to develop and challenge different ideas. From the analysis of other magazine covers that I have done has taught me how magazines are designed to attract and please their target audience. Creating my music magazine allowed me to apply the knowledge I was learning in an effective way, when comparing my school magazine to my music magazazine I think it represents how I have learnt different aspects that are included in magazines. An example of this would be on the cover of my school magazine the barcode would have needed to be smaller, this issue number and date smaller. Another example of what I have learnt and improved on is the contents I have included more detail this time, more variation and a less confusing layout. Also my photographs throughout are edited to compliment the magazine and not over edited so it looks over the top and to 'done up'.


Evaluation Question 1

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media produ...

Tuesday, 13 March 2012

Evaluation Question 4

4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
I think that my audience would mainly be students aged 15 - 25 and the majority gender of being females, I chose this audience as I believe that there is a gap in the market for this. 'NME' has mainly male readership and I took this information and thought to design more of a girls type instead to create something new for girls the same age group as boys reading NME.The personality I'd assume my audience to have is, relaxed, carefree and independent.  Since my magazine content is basically the same as NME the sort of taste that my audience would have when shopping is Zara, Urban Outfitters, little vintage stores and even charity shops where little quirky fashionable clothing can be found. My audience would listen to indie rock and indie alternative music meaning artists such as Lana Del Rey, Eliza Doolittle, Crystal castles, the vaccines and many more all that feature within my magazine.   Favourite TV programs that the audience I think would watch is a variety such as Friends, The mighty boosh, NME music channel, BRIT awards, The Grammys, Noel Fielding’s luxury comedy, skins, family guy, The inbetweeners and more. My audience would have a chilled back lifestyle and would enjoy hobbies such as photography, art, music festivals/gigs, member of a band, collecting vintage items and social networking. 

Monday, 12 March 2012

Evauation Question 2

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My magazine represents social groups such as teenagers and running into early 20's that are into music which is slightly different from typical chart hit music. The social group I would put my magazine forth for would be indie scensters. The magazine is to raise awareness of the more unknown bands that are coming out, my magazine will always be revealing new artists that have more of a ‘quirky’ and individual feel with their music. I think a main part of the magazine that represents this social group is my model on my front cover and double page spread; she represents this social group well as she herself is my 19 year old sister so her age is right in the middle of my age choice. What she is wearing is a very retro looking top that has a navy blue with white polka dots 'peter pan' styled collar. The black jacket over the top was to make it just look like more of a casual capturing shot, I used this outfit to stand out a 'quirky' fashion reflecting what type of magazine it was. I also used 4 dried up pink roses in her hair when taking my final photos' as this was in fashion summer 2011 particularly at music festivals a lot of teenage girls wore these around the festival campus'. Therefore I thought this would be a good opportunity to add in a little bit of girliness rather than her hair just in a plain bun with nothing standing out. As for the double page spread I had my model dress in a plain dark grey jumper, plum red trousers and little winter ankle boots with a single feather necklace falling around her neck. The clothing I tried to keep very basic however I thought that the necklace added to her style of being quirky which relates back to my social group of teenagers. The wallpaper behind her is in a derelict house that is currently being done up, I thought that this background was very good as it shoes an old fashioned worn look that is very dainty and got a quirky twist to it representing her age group and what they are like. This image of Florence I like to think is similar to mine, the similarities that I thought they both had was that they are both look around the same age and pulling the same face. I used this facial expression as I think it may grab peoples' attention to think what is wrong with her and pick up the magazine to read into why she might possibly be looking like that.  My representation is a positive one and could be aspirational for the audience as Abby LeMay is pretty, well dressed and friendly. As this is positive it leads to it being aspirational and people wanting to be more like Abby as she has these qualities. The images below show a similar artist to what mine is like as they both product the same type of music and have the same quirky style.