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

After comparing my preliminary task to my final product it is evident that i have progressed a large amount in skills and techniques used as my final product looks far more proffesional and tidy then my preliminary task. My preliminary task was to construct a school magzine, set out in order for us to practise our photoshop skills and get used to the mac computers. From doing this at the start of my coursework i have gained a large amount of knowledge concerning how to create a successful media product. When carrying out my preliminary task there was hardly any time space for a decent product to be produced, therefore i did not carry out any useful research such as constructing a target audience profile or questionnaire to understand the needs and wants of possible buyers. For the real product we had a much larger time scale in which to produce the magazine, therefore i was able to thoroughly anaylse my target audience and what essentials to be included on the product to attract these specific types of people. Further more due to the lack of time for the preliminary, i was unable to research any existing magazines which i have discovered seriously affects the quality of the overall product, as no conventions of typical music magazines are used such as a pug, or barcode to enable a professional and realistic look. Nearly everything on my final product was planned with initial ideas. I then gained feedback to receive an incite of other peoples opinions, then i finalised these ideas analysing good and bad points about them helping me to produce the best possible product i could. This differs a great deal to my preliminary task which i didn't plan at all. The pictures were rushed and took with a low pixel camera and consequently looked boring and dull. Unlike my final product which was planned with feedback from my target audience, the pictures were taken on a much higher quality camera, with a large amount of thought put in. This is evident as the images on my final product are captivating, bright and quirky yet the preliminary consists of boring pictures. To continue, it is clear that both my contents and front cover for the final product have a distinct layout, allowing the page to look more distinct and professional. Yet the preliminary has no order in particular the contents, which looks dull and plain connoting the wrong impression that the magazine has minimal content.
Overall it is clear that in order to create a successful media product, planning, development of ideas with feedback from a target audience and finalizing ideas is clearly an essential to create the best media product possible. It is also evident that time is very important, as creating a realistic front cover is extremely time consuming as a lot of thought and consideration has to be put in. Finally research is also needed of existing popular music magazines, so you can use inspirations and conventions of these magazines to interpret on your own product, giving it that professional look.

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

The process of constructing my three media products included learning new technologies such as working with a new more advanced camera, learning thoroughly how photoshop worked and learning how to use a new programme called blogspot in which my coursework was uploaded.

Getting used to the more advanced camera a Cannon EOS 450D took a lot of patience and time to get used too as i had only had previous experience with a hand held digital camera. As i was taking large amounts of photos outside the lighting was good from the sun on the models face and i was therefore achieving the look i was going for. However when taking photos of my model inside the lighting was not bright enough for how i wanted it, and i found it very difficult to put the flash on the camera as the setti

ngs were extremely different to my usual camera. Yet i overcome this by testing out several different settings which lead to me learning different wasy in which to enhance the camera photography.

As i was previously a media student for GCSE i had experience with the mac software and therefore didn't necessarily have a problem with this. However despite using adobe photoshop last year i felt like i was still new to the software when constructing my preliminary task as it had been a while since i had used it. This was essential practise though in order to create a successful final prodcut. When using photoshop i found using the magnetic lasso tool very difficult to use as it required a very steady hand and also a relatively block coloured background in order to cut smoothe edges so the image looks professional. Therefore i found myself repeating the process until i was satisfied with the cut out i got, this was particularly annoying on my actual media product construction when trying to overlap

the models head over the masthead and quote from Blink 182. To do so it meant having to cut around the model, copy the image and then match it up perfectly with the image below. Then after doing so it was essential that the edges were neatened with the eraser tool. This was relatively easy to use and i new about it from GCSE so that was quite straightforward. However i gained an insight to other tools i was unaware off which really helped to make my product look professional for example the dodge tool which allowed light to be added to specific places in which it was needed to give that airbrushed feel. I also became aware of the burning tool which added dark lighting to places in need of it, this again reinforced the professional feel to my product. I also frequently used the eye dropper tool which enabled me to pick a colour up from another place and use it on something to help me maintain the perfect colour scheme throughout my production. I also was able to duplicate layers which helped create a professional look to my double page spread as it ensured all text columns were the same size. A fault with photoshop included the fact that unfortunately on several occasions for myself if i was working from my memory stick the programme would crash causing me to loose my work. To overcome this problem i just dragged my work from my memory stick to the desktop in order for it to be saved properly.

Finally, i also learned how to use an online blogging website called www.blogspot.com. This enabled an easy way to post all my coursework on the blog and was very easy to learn

and adapt to how it works. It is a much easier way to show coursework as it saves a lot of time in trying to make a folder look nice. It also allows help to be provided by teachers easily as they can access this easily from there own computers. Likewise, i can add to my coursework anywhere where there is a computer with internet, saving the trouble of having to carry a folder everywhere. Further more, it also allowed me to create things such as a poll on my blog, which after also constructing a questionnaire made me realise it is a much efficient and easier way of receiving feedback from my target audience.

How did you attract/address your target audience?

When constructing my media product i wanted to ensure my magazine effectively attracted an indie/rock music fan audience of a age at around 20-25. To do this i ensured my model was picked carefully as i was doing a story of 'good girl gone bad' i needed the model to have an essence of innocence which i feel is portrayed through her long curly blonde hair. However i needed her to appear as if she has transformed into a rock singer and that would attract my target audience. Therefore

i used a 22 year old model so as the target audience age group understand the magazines is

directed at them and to portray the rock element within the model i used very dark eye

make up to add a essence of darkness and edginess. I also dressed the model in a

rock outfit through a leather studded mini skirt, chained heels and a feather cape allowing a rock audience to be attracted to the style of the model. Further more i photoshopped some tattoos onto the models arm a

nd ankle as i felt the model needed to look more like a bad girl for this image and story.

I ensured that my magazine consisted of typical rock colours so from a quick glance buyers could identify my product as the indie/rock music genre. The colours used were black, white, red and grey a nice mixture which presents darkness through the black, and exciting contrast with the white, passion and violence within the red and the grey tones everything down making my magazine appealing to a maturer audience as oppose to teenagers. I didn't use any colour too bright such as yellow as this may appear tacky to an audience of young adults and they would most probably like to see something more grown up, this is evident from results of my questionnaire whereby the two most popular colour schemes were black, white and red, and black, white and grey. The font i used was called canard and i felt it was very effective in again compelling my product to look like an indie/rock music genre magazine and therefore attracting the right audience. The chiseled affect creates a sense of rebellion and therefore is effective in attracting an indie/rock audience as they will relate to acting in a rebellious manner. I also ensured that there was not too much text as a typical rock/indie music fan would be bored with text and want to see more images and if there was text a small amount. I used everyday language so the text wasn't intimidating and very easy to read so it would be enjoyable. Through the use of exaggerated language such as 'number one selling music magazine' i would attract my target audience as they would assume this magazine is good as it is successful. ALso by using a heading for the word 'plus' so it stands out forces the reader to think that the magazine contains a lot as it seems like there is more and more things being advertised which is in it, this would attract them as the would think buying the magazine is worth their while. To continue i used a quote on the front page on the advertisement of Blink 182's comeback: Blink 182 'We're Back'. Consequently the fact that i have quoted what they have said in my magazine allows the reader to feel welcome and in touch with the magazine on a personal level as it would feel that they are being spoken to. Finally i ensured i positioned a pug on my page, this consisted of an advertisement about the countdown of top 100 rock anthems which would undoubtably attract my target audience as they would want to see what the top rock anthems are as some of them are most probably their favourite songs.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The audience i am targeting my media product at is indie/rock music followers who lie between the ages 20-25 so are slightly more mature in respect to an audience of teenagers yet still are youthful and interested in the latest music. An example of my target audience are in the pictures below yet a typical example is in a post earlier on my blog.

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

The group that may consider distrubuting my product may be Bauer Media Group. They already distribute Q and Kerrang both indie/rock genre music magazines and who both share audiences who are serious followers of the indie/rock genre music. Further more, they are a very successful media institution which operate in fifteen different countries. They would therefore want to distribute a guaranteed successful media product which i feel through the use of versatility of music choices by which i have mentioned not just rock artists such as Lady Gaga and also more mainstream rock bands such as Kings Of Leon who are liked by huge fans. That would in affect attract one off buyers and a larger audience compelling my magazine to be a guaranteed success. However my product shares several similarities with the Q magazine such as, a similar colour scheme, a more mature target audience and versatile within the music involved in the magazine. This in effect could make Bauer Media Group not want to distribute my product as it is too similar to an existing media product and could lead to rivalry between the two magazines. Bauer would obviously stay loyal to a long running successful magazine as oppose to taking a risk with a new one.

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

My final product represents indie rock fans which is portrayed through the typical rock colour scheme i used of black, red, white and grey. It is also portrayed though the masthead which looks as if it has been chiseled, this in affects creates a rebellious look to the masthead and is a representation of the stereo-typical behavior of an indie/rock music follower. Also i photoshopped two tattoos onto the model as i felt this would also portray edginess and rebellion again representing typical indie/rock fans. As my target audience is of an age from 20-25 i used a model who was a similar age of 22, this in effect allows the targeted age group to recognize that this magazine is something they will like. In the contents page i used pictures of live bands which effectively represents my target audience as the majority will relate to this image of a live band playing as they would have been at a gig like that, or even be in a band themselves. I am in no way biased or discriminative towards a persons race but I used all white models for my photography. This is due to the fact from my research i discovered white people are stereo typically associated with an indie/rock genre magazine where as a black person is conventional of an RNB music themed magazine. I ensured that images of both men and woman were used to present the fact the magazine is for a unisex audience.

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

Prior to the construction of my front cover, contents and double page spread it was essential to analyse popular existing music magazines in order to recognize typical conventions and use them ideas for my own magazine.In my front cover, contents and double page spread i have interpreted conventions of magazines from my research and used or added my own print on them.

Front Cover

The first obvious way in which my front cover follows typical conventions of existing

music magazines is the masthead position. Like several magazines such as Q and NME the masthead is situated in the top left hand corner in order for the masthead to appear pronounced and professional, it also makes it clearly visible so the buyer/reader can identify immediately with the magazine. I used a black, red, white, and grey colour scheme for my magazine not only because it

was the most popular voted colour scheme from my questionn

aire but also because it follows the convention of typical music magazines. For example Q use this colour scheme and it is effective

as typical rock colours are used and

therefore it was important to used it on my magazine to portray the rock element and also make it look more realistic. In addition to this also decided to use a pug on my front cover, this is a clear convention as it was used on

both Q magazine and NME magazine. Pugs are an effective selling point as they attract several buyers through the usual advertisement on them. In my pug i decided to advertise the countdown of top 100 rock anthems voted by the public,

this would appeal to an indie/rock audience as its about rock songs over time as well as the present day. I

chose to use a grey colour for my pug in order for it to stand out against

the other colours on the page yet also keeps in tune with the conventional

colour scheme. Fog on with conventional traits, i also positioned a strap line at the top of the page. This is a typical convention of a music magazine as nearly all of them consist of a strap-line at the top or bottom of the page, they also all advertise something about the magazine or in Q's case and what i decided to do was advertise the magazine but highlighting the successfulness of it. For example i chose to put 'The number one music magazine in the UK' this in effect highlights the success of the magazine, proving it must be good and therefore is conventional to most magazines. I followed this convention to give the impression that this is an established magazine and also to reinforce this professional look. It was essential in order for my magazine to have an reality to include the barcode, date and price on the front cover as every magazine has this on it. If i did not include this on my front cover the reality of the product would have been seriously affected.

Also i decided to follow another convention as used on NME's front cover of positioning the models name in the center of the page. This allows the importance of the model to be emphasised and when using my model i assumed Lola was a celebrity. Therefore her name printed large and in bold red writing would attract a large amount of buyers and fans.

The ways in which i challenged typical conventions of music magazines including using a long shot image of the model as the front cover image. Using a close up or medium shot of the model is conventional as eye contact is essential in attracting buyers and establishing a relationship between the readers and the model. However i used a long shot as i wanted to portray a sexy image from the model to attract a male audience so i chose to show off her elongated legs and also i wanted to clearly show her fashionable yet indie/rock style outfit in order for the model to act as a role model to women. However i feel that by the model having dark smokey eye make up allows her eyes to look captivating and powerful and therefore still getting the buyers eye contact. I also deliberately positioned text and boxes over some of her body but left her face and shoulder area clearly on show, this draws the readers attention to her face and therefore would capture the eye contact needed. Another way in which i challenged conventions on my front page is by using a very bold background. After analysing existing magazines it is clear to see that all backgrounds used are usually block colours to focus the readers attention onto the main model and text of the cover, however i felt by using a bold unique background would not only make my magazine stand out clearly if on a shelf but in unconventional and quirky and therefore reflects the stereo typical indie/rock style of being different.

Contents

The ways in which i followed conventional traits in my contents include printing the mastheadsmaller and at the top of the page again lik

e in the contents of Q and NME. This emphasised continuity within the contents. I also used the same colour scheme in the contents as i did on the front page, this is a very typical convention which was used on all of the magazines i analysed and agai

n provides continuity. Continuity within a magazine is essential as it holds the magazine together discretely so it is not notic

eable. Further more from my reasearch i discovered that Kerrang! used a

good selling technique in creating an editors

column, which is commonly used in magazines. I there

fore decided

to interpret this into my own version in my contents allowing the reader to feel more welcomed to the magazine as they peo

ple behind it are also talking and establishing a

relationship with the reader. I also ensured that i took and used secondary images on my contents page as i felt this was important to follow this convention in order for the magazine to look realistic. This also makes the page look more interesting and helps to maintain the readers interest within the magazine as oppose to a page full of writing which would bore my

target audience of 20-25 year olds. I used a plain white background so the page was not too hectic and the text remained readabl

e, this was a clear convention as all the contents pages i analyzed consisted of white background. Further more i separated the text into sections and for each story gave a bolder heading for the actually story and then a small amount of

writing to give the reader an insight about it, i also followed the convention of using number pictures so the reader can easily navigate there way

through the magazine. Finally i made the largest picture on the page consits of the model on the frotn cover, a clear convention shown from my analysis and also adding an advertisement for subscribing to order magazines weekly in order to save money. This is a good idea for my magazine as it would be quite expensive to pay £3.20 a week.

For my contents i did not challenge a lot of conventions i mostly followed the conventions recognised in my analysis, however i did make my contents page with a very neat layou

t which is slightly unconventional as the indie/rock music magazines i analysed such as NME and KERRANG! were hectic and chaotic so there young target audiences would be attracted. However i felt i should make the contents page neat as i am targeting a more maturer audience as oppose to teenagers and also i felt it allowed readers to easily see where they could find something in the magazine. I also developed a convention of NME magazine in which they used arrows to show stories that were mentioned on the cover in the contents page, i used this idea and decided to do a 'on the cover' bit in my contents which by using red stars i could show which storied were on the cover if a reader just wanted to read one of them stories.

Double Page Spread

My double page spread follows the conventions of

a music magazine through several different ways. Firstly i positioned the text into equal columns which is undoubtably always used on a double page spread interview, this forces the text to look neat and in affect more appealing to read as oppose to a big chunk of text. I also constructed an introduction to the interview which is also used in mostly every interview in magazines and this helps the reader to follow the text while provide a summation to

what the main concept of the interview is about. Further more, i used pull quotes from the text which breaks up the large amounts of text in double page spread and is used in the Q , NME, and Kerrang! double page spread , compelling me to follow this convention for my double page spread. The pull quote gives a flavour about what the interview is about from a quick glance and also entices the reader to read further for example my pull quote is 'this is not the new me this is the real me' adding an element of confusion to the page as the readers are thinking that she is a 'good girl gone bad' yet she is saying that is the real her. When constructing my magazine i used a center line to ensure no text went over this line as writing wouldn't be possible to read, this is also visible in all the magazines i analysed as you can visualise where the crease in the page would be. Again i ensured that i followed the convention of continuity within the colour scheme to portray a professional look to my double page spread. The background used was of a white colouring so the text is clear to read another convention of a double page spread and i also put the page numbers in the bottom corners of the page to again reinforce this professional realistic look. I followed the convention of having the text on an opposing side to the main images on the page which allows the page to look neat and tidy and slightly sophisticated which is what i wanted for my target audience. I took inspiration from the NME double page spread which had the text and images opposing horizontal unconventional of typical double page spread layouts.

However as i used several images on my page, i challenged the conventional style of a double page spread as they tend to just have one or two large images filling the majority of the page. I also made a slight collage of the photos and positioned a red colour over time which is very unconventional. Yet i wanted to portray a unique and arty look to the page in order to captivate the rock fans as they would stereotypically like something out of the ordinary.