Question 7: Looking back at the preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to a full product.

 

 

Doing my preliminary task helped me and provided me with a rough idea of how I was going to conduct my main task which was the music magazine, it also enhanced me with better skills to go on to my main task.  Learning the conventions and improving on them has helped me improve my own magazine and understand the different types of conventions consisted in a regular music magazine. Going back to my preliminary task I did poorly on following and improving on magazine conventions and this may be due to the fact I didn’t understand what a convention was.

When constructing my preliminary task I also used Photoshop, when at the time I didn’t have the skills to make a quality magazine. However not being good at Photoshop conducting my preliminary task has allowed me to be better skilled at using it presently, which had an impact on my music magazine because I now know how to use much more features on Photoshop, that I didn’t know how to use in the past or however new existed. For an example I gained the skills to edit my images using Photoshop on my main task, unlike on my preliminary task.

Additionally on my main task I was able to create a contents page and a double page spread rather than just a front cover, which I did for my preliminary task. This also enhanced me to work on a different size paper which i did learn to adapt to work on, using the space accordingly. This was however A3 paper.

I learnt how to focus and create a magazine to fulfil people’s needs from a set target audience. Although in my preliminary task I didn’t have a target audience I progressed in this for main task as I planned who my audience was going to be and how my music magazine was going to fit these criteria. One of the examples I did this through was my audience research. This allowed me to add the right features to my magazine so it could be suitable for my target audience and also communicate and relate to them in every way possible. This made my main product a success as it has made it more presentable and organised, unlike my college magazine.

 Doing my Preliminary task I also learnt how to use the Canon E05 400D camera. And I gained limited skills in using this camera. However the outcome of the pictures was very good quality which I did benefit from. 

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

 

When making my product there are many ways technology has helped me to construct my magazine. The camera I learnt how to use, to take all my images was an AGFA photo Selecta 14. I used this camera to capture my images for my main task which was the music magazine. While I used a Canon E0S 400D for my preliminary task. The location of all my images was in a house, where the lighting was very bright. This conducted my magazine to look professional, with good quality pictures. For the success of these photos I had to consider how bright the lighting was going to be and how much time I was going to use to shoot these photos. Using the AGFA Photo camera made taking quality pictures much more easier, with its special features that consisted of 15x optical zoom, 2.7”LCD, 27mm wide angle, OIS stabiliser and 14.1 Mega Pixel and also flash.  All of these factors contribute to the excellent quality of the photos this camera produces, which means that the pictures don’t need much editing once the photo is captured. The main problem I had with the AGFA Photo Is that once I decided not to use flash the auto focus was not there so the pictures came of blurry most of the time, so using the flash was compulsory to get the best quality photos, using this camera.

Other than the cameras, another form of technology I used to construct my magazine was Photoshop, with this application I have built my skills on working on my magazine. However before working on Photoshop my skills to do anything was very rigid and limited. But using Photoshop regularly has made me gain more skills and understanding on ways to work on this application. I used Photoshop CS3, in this I changed up the image contrast and the brightness to make the front cover look more dramatic and professional I also did this for the images on my content page and also double page spread. With Photoshop I also edited my fonts, which I created an outer glow and a backdrop shadow. All of this has made an impact on my successful outcome on my music magazine.

I also used the grid layout for my double page spread which helped me find it easier to divide my page into two, so I could place my image on one side and my text on the other. Another useful point about Photoshop is that it allows files to be saved a JPEG which is very useful to me as this was the only way I could send my pictures into blogger.

Another thing I learnt is you could download free fonts from Dafonts.com straight on to Photoshop, which I had no idea of this before enhancing my skills using Photoshop. This gave a huge impact to the way my magazine came out, especially the front cover and the double page spread.

Question 5: How did you attract/address your audience?

Based on the feedback i got from my audience research most of the people i interveiwed enjoyed Hip hop and R&B music and reading music magazine that are based on that ype of genre of music. They also enjoyed reading about the famous hip hop and R&B artists such as Drake, Jcole, Nicki minaj and Rihanna. This feedback made an impact in the way i chose to design and feature my music magzine to suit there interestest. I did this by including articles on popular R&B artists and picking the right model to promote the right hip hop and R&B image to my target audience.

One of the ways I have succeeded in attracting my target is my magazine front cover, which is the first thing that will appeal to my  target audience, which makes it important because this front cover determines whether my audience will pick up the magazine from the stores shelf and actually buy it. A way that I felt that iv attracted my audience is buy the type of model I chose, which I know is around the same age range of my target audience. This is good because then my audience can relate to her. And because my model is eye catching and attractive especially from the angle and the way she’s posed this will also catch the reader’s attention. The clothes the model is wearing is very Hip hop particularly the hat she wears which is of a brand called ‘OBEY’. This fashion, teen brand is associated in America and is hard to find in London. This relates to my audience profile where I said my target audience is very interested in fashion.  This is another way in which my front cover can draw the audience’s attention.

Another way I attracted my audience is the way I focused on the genre of my music magazine which is hip hop and R&B, which I did express partially by the style of the cover lines and issues discussed thought the magazine. Furthermore I used well known hip hop and R&B artists that my audience would engaged with and also issues that I thought would interest rather than bore my target my audience.

 The types of fonts I used through my magazine is suitable for the genre of my magazine and the type of audience it is made to attract. The fonts I used are all sans serif fonts, which give my magazine a more sophisticated and acquainted. In particular for my masthead I downloaded the sans serif font from dafonts.com, which was bold and gave a recognisable look for the name of my magazine, I made sure of this because again for my audience’s attention and so they became familiar with my magazines uniqueness which is the title of my magazine. And as my magazine is called ‘unique’ my magazine tries to enhance this uniqueness to the audience which reads and engages to the features of my music magazine.

Additionally the masthead as the main feature on the front cover, I have used a loud and unusual font. This attracts my target audience and it also suits the age range of my audience very much as it will catch their eye and draw them to read more of my magazine. The font used in the masthead is also unique to the rest of the other fonts used which goes back to the message I’m trying to pursue in this magazine which is uniqueness, which will have an impact on the audience.

The colour scheme of my magazine also determines how I’ve attracted my audience. The colour of my colour scheme of my magazine was mainly pink a faint turquoise, as these colours where associated with the R&B theme, which will help to target my audience. And although I used pink for the masthead I added another colour which was less feminine. This helped attract both genders. These colours are also striking which grabs people’s attention quickly. The type of language I used addresses my audience; this type of language was Standard English, which could be understood by teenagers and also young adults. I also chose this language as anyone else beyond my target audience will understand it and relate to it. One of my articles is about a biography which Standard English is a good way to write it in. This gives a sense of formality to my music magazine this helps my magazine be more professional and regular. I am also targeting an educated audience, which suites the type of language I am using.

My content page also attracts my target audience because of the fact that I kept it simple and neat. I used a two simple colours and I placed the all the features of the magazine on one side. This helps my audience locate what pages they would like to read easier.  I also used a different font for the main article of my magazine I did this to make my audience aware.

Question 4: Who would be the audience for your media product?

Unique is targeting a wide range of people, from young adults to teenagers from the age of 16 to 20. The reason for this is because Hip hop and R&B attracts a wide age range especially in Britain and British artists and groups are influenced and encouraged hugely by this genre. This could be because this type of music can be made worldwide and also understood by many different countries and languages.

 The reason why I have chosen this type of audience is because the artists pictured on the front cover and the content page of my magazine attracts more of a younger audience. One of the reasons for this is because my music magazine is more informal than formal. However the issue in this magazine appeals to younger adults, as they would be interested in reading a famous R&B artists biography and another reason young adults will be attracted to my magazine is by the other different features entitled in this magazine like popular R&B artists like Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, who appeal to a wide range audience.

 Looking at ethnicity, even doe hip and R&B is originated from black people; Boutique targets all races and tries to appeal to both genders on most issues of this magazine. This makes my magazine more suitable and accessible to its buyers. Because my music magazine focuses on the basis of R&B, my audience are expected to have a passion for this kind of genre.

Question 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Relating back to my publishing house case study, which was the stage I planned and researched for my music magazine. I think Conde Nast digital will be a good in distributing and publishing my music magazine. Firstly because this distributor doesn’t distribute hip and R&B music magazines, so it’s something new and unique to Conde Nast digital. This will give my music magazine a good start to the sales and it will increase my audience and the magazine’s popularity. As my magazine will also be new to the market as well. Conde Nast also distribute magazines such as allure and team vogue, these both relate to my magazine because both magazines are based on fashion and telling stories. My magazine has a focus on teen American fashion which is pursued through the model on the front cover. ‘Teen vogue’ is a good magazine to relate my own magazine with because it targets a teen audience which matches my target audience. Also on the front cover of this Allure magazine is one the biggest names of R&B music, ‘Nicki Minaj’ this is similar to my magazine because it’s based on R&B.

Secondly, there will be no competition in the company as ‘UNIQUE’ will be the first and the only music magazine in the market. This creates an advantage for the sales, which means there will be a big financial benefit for Conde Nast digital therefore will have benefit on the popularity of Conde Nast and will increase the amount of people viewing this distribution. It will also be an advantage to my magazine as the target audience will increase. This could be due to more advertisements and sponsors; this will build a contrast between my magazine and the other magazines being published through Conde Nast.

I will distribute my magazine is big stores such as WHSmith, and in Big name supermarkets such as Tesco and Sainsbury’s. My magazine will also be found in local off license shops. Selling it in these well-known shops will make my magazine more accessible to my target audience. And it will also be easier to get hold of. These shops are also where different kind of magazine’s are sold at so it will be more sensible to distribute my magazine at theses following shops. And also Conde Nast distributes in basic media outlets so it’s more suitable to present my magazine in these basic stores that has access to media items.

Question 2: How does you media product represent particular social groups?

My music magazine is aimed to target a wide age range from youths to young adults and also both genders, however the music magazine that I made had a more feminine feel to it by the bright pink mast head and main cover line. This will amount to more female viewers and buyers than males. My magazine is also meant to attract Hip hop and R & B listeners. The way I represented this social group is shown by the pictures I have taken and included in my music magazine, especially the model I used for my front cover. She represents the social group that I’m attracting.

Firstly we know this by the way shoes dressed, she has a ‘Obey’ snap back hat which is very urban, it also gives a hint of very Urban American youth fashion, which they call ‘swag’. She’s also wearing a black, full neck top. Both of these items of clothing are the opposite of femininity, so she looks more masculine and dominant. I slightly got this idea from the R&B artist Ciara from one of her tracks ‘like a boy’. The style of clothes the model is wearing is however simple and non-stylish than an R&B artist is meant to dress but it still on the other hand suitable to the type of genre my music magazine is based on. And with this kind of symbolical dressing on the front page of the magazine it will be easier to grab the audience’s attention that I’m targeting. The model is also wearing long, false eyelashes which bring out more femininity from the model which suits the theme of the front cover, and this will draw more female buyers.

The way the models posed portrays a very dominant character, with her hands up on the wall and her face leaning forward. This could be seen as an intimidating posture, this may be because her smile isn’t really welcoming, however it’s moreover a smirk, also her eyes are looking directly at the viewer, very boldly. It’s a medium close up which is a convention in a big range of music magazines. I have developed this convention in a way to suit my target audience which I think I have done successfully. Going back to models eyes, they are making eye contact with the audience this creates a relationship between the model and the audience, this could also be known as a communication. The way the model is posed in a vicious way, however very cheeky can relate to the way teenagers who are influenced by hip hop and R&B music and entertainment are influenced.

Question 1: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

The first stage of this project I observed and analysed my chosen magazine that I would use to enhance me in making my own music magazine look realistic. In this project I have used conventions, developed conventions and I have also challenged a convention to attract my target audience. I moreover followed typical conventions more in my magazine so that my magazine could look more professional and expensive rather that cheap. One of the conventions I started of portraying was the Masthead, which I made bold and big, with a sans serif font at the top of the page. And I also got it from a site called dafonts.com rather than using a usual font from Photoshop. This keeps the cover page looking like a classic music magazine cover, like the Vibe magazine Masthead. Copying this convention would consolidate the type of audience am targeting and will portray the magazine as more efficient.

The stamp used at the top right of the page underneath the masthead is also a convention used in my music magazine. This is used to promote briefly what my magazine has on offer to my target audience. This can also be chosen as a way to communicate with the audience.

To follow the conventions of a magazine I also included a dateline and a barcode, I challenged both of these conventions. The barcode is usually on the bottom right or left of a page so I followed this norm so that my magazine could look classic and professional.

I also used cover lines which is another basic convention to use in a music magazine. I challenged this convention, with the same colour and the same fonts persisting to make my cover look more organised, however I the lay out of my cover lines is moved to the left in one column. However for the main cover line is a developed convention, I used a wider and bold font which I made stand out to my chosen audience and so that they knew what the main article of the current issue of my music magazine was going to be about and this is important because the main cover line is the selling point of the magazine. I changed the format of the fonts, keeping it suitable for my target audience. The main cover line is also placed at the bottom of the page but fills the whole width of the page. This particular layout was suggested so that the main image was still the focus of the cover of the magazine and also to prevent the page from being too busy.

A popular convention of a music magazine is to use a medium close up as the dominant image, which I have also used in my own magazine. It made my magazine cover look intense. It also creates a relationship with the audience because the ladies eye contact in the image is focused straight at the lenses of the camera which was used to capture the shot. This can also be another advantage to the sales of the magazine because the target audience is communicating with the dominant image. The way the lady is posing helps to enhance the type of music genre my music magazine is based on.

In my contents page I have also developed and followed the conventions used in vibe music magazine. I used one bold picture as it’s used as a main contents convention in real music magazines. This picture is used to 

interest the reader to read on and so that attracts my target audience.

I also included a category of what the magazine features, which is another convention used in music magazines. I challenged this convention and laid it to the right side of the page. This made my contents page look more neat and professional.

Additionally my double page spread follows conventions. I used a black and white colour scheme with a hint of turquoise so I challenged my convention. This created an unusual and unique look to my magazine. I organised my article by putting the main heading in a sans serif font downloaded by dafonts.com. And underneath this is where I placed the headline and two columns. I followed this convention as it is used in a wide range of music magazines and also to make my magazine look real.