Media evaluation.

1. Magazine Evaluation Rachael Wilmott

2. My Style Models: Cover Q magazine has simplistic and minimalist covers with a strong central image , other cover features are mainly text with very few image inserts. The Q is mostly the focus and often covers part of the central image. NME magazine has busier covers than Q. They tend to use image inserts on the cover rather than just text. The images also tend to cover the magazine name. They also use more graphics and design.

3. Codes and conventions on NME covers Clear colour scheme of red white and black. This is continued throughout. Bar code in bottom right corner. Doesn’t distract from the main image or text. Main band featured is largest text on cover. This makes it clear to the reader what the main feature will be. Text banner across top. It offers extra information without cluttering up the page. Magazine name shows clear house style. This offers continuity throughout the magazine. Appropriate band for magazine genre. Pose, mise en scene and clothes are all appropriate to the style. Text within graphics to stand out from the background.

4. Codes and conventions on Q covers Magazine name is a strong focal point. Strong central image. Less cluttered and more appealing. Controversial quote, typical of featured artist and grabs attention of target demographic. + looks professional and is a recurring feature on Q magazine covers. Model’s pose is confrontational and suits the magazine style. Hiding the eyes is unusual on a cover but is used to demonstrate the artist’s personality to great effect. Use of gold id unusual on magazine covers, this makes Q stand out on a shelf and look unique. The only text in white, this makes the main feature stand out from the rest of the page. This also helps make the huge controversial story stand out.

5. Codes and conventions on my cover Magazine name is a main focal point. Image of band cuts in front of magazine name, most important focal point on the page. The name of the main featured band is the largest text on the cover, except the title. Bar code in the bottom right corner so it doesn’t distract from the main image and text. The text banner at the top offers extra information and catches the eye without cluttering up the page. The date, issue and price are displayed under the title in a clear position for the reader. The grey boxes and red + make the text easier to read on top of the image and is similar to my style model, Q. The band are styled to look individual and niche. They are posed to look less intimidating than covers like Q but more ‘normal’ than some NME covers. The 3 boxed in sections help to make large amounts of text seem more organised and less cluttered.

8. Codes and conventions on NME contents Small amount of text, brief article summary. Large page header, at the top of the page, plain design. Clear large page numbers are easy for the reader to see. The issue date is clear for the reader, easy to find. Brief list of other articles, not very informative for the reader. Mix of font styles, they compliment each other and add variety to the page style. Very image based, every article has an image with it, this makes the oage look cluttered. Laid out in a grid style rather than a list style that is common on contents pages.

9. Codes and conventions on Q contents The images are all in one area, but clear numbering shows which article they belong to. The page looks less cluttered but still interesting. Constant presence of the Q logo, continuity and clear brand identity. Specific features are highlighted to the reader to draw attention to them. Page number, magazine name etc. continuity throughout. Smaller image of the cover/other Q covers, brand identity. List style contents, easier to read than NME’s grid style. Article name and a brief summary, informative for the reader. Lines divide and organise the page, it looks professional and easy to read.

10. Codes and conventions on my contents page. Large page header clearly at the top of the page. Page numbers and magazine name etc. Constant style throughout the magazine, brand identity. Images set out in a grid style, numbers and captions clearly show the article they relate to. The page looks interesting without being cluttered. Divided into sections, this makes it easier to find specific features. Lines and bars give the page order and stop it looking cluttered and confusing. Page numbers of articles are clearly visible, ensures the contents page does it’s job. Clear 3 colour scheme is already evident, continuity with the cover. The images used suit the tone of the magazine and their related articles. Note from the editor gives the magazine a friendly and open tone, welcoming for the reader.

11. “ The layout of the images is really professional looking and stops the page looking too cluttered.” “The note from the editor is a nice touch, it gives the magazine a friendly and open tone.” “The red and grey bars and boxes show good continuation and consistency in the style.” “I think the playlist at the bottom in very original, I've never seen it in a magazine before but I think it's a really great idea.” Feedback on my contents page

13. Codes and conventions in NME double page spreads Stuck on looking letters looks messy and edgy, like the tone of the article. The pose is confrontational, the sort of image expected of NME by their target demographic. Her outfit matches the colour scheme, connotations or red and black. Her overall style of heavy makeup etc. The article is 4 columns rather than the conventional 3, but 3 columns would have looks out of proportion in this case. Page number, magazine name all on the bottom, continuity and brand identity. Large first letter in article, same style as the title font. Key words are picked out with a colour present in the colour scheme of the article.

14. Codes and conventions in Q double page spreads Quotes picked out in a bright colour to stand out from the black and white image. Two columns of text rather than the usual 3, but laid out in columns. Text background is the background from the image, continuity between pages. Question and answer format, but questions and answers and hard to tell apart. Mood of the image is careless and almost bored, suits the magazine style overall. No article name, just the name of the artist. Easy to see who’s being interviewed. The large main image is on the left page, several smaller images in the corner offer different moods.

15. Codes and conventions in my DPS The mood of the image suits the tone of the article. Page number and magazine name, continuity and brand identity. Using a quote as the article title immediately interests the reader, offers immediate insight into the artist. Large first letter of the article, same font as the band name is in. Question and answer format, questions and answers can clearly be identified. Quotes are a different colour to stand out from the article, the colour was sampled from the shirt to fit the colour scheme of the page. Red band across the bottom, continuity with contents page and looks organised and neat.

16. Feedback on my DPS “ The image is well taken and the poses suit the tone of the article.” “ I like the use of the quote as the title of the article, it grabs the attention of the reader.” “ I like that the colour of the quotes stands out from the article, and the colour matching a shirt in the image helps tie it in.” “ I like that the red bar helps keep a consistent style throughout the magazine.”

17. Development

19. Where and how would I market my product? Where? I would distribute my magazine nationally. I have decided this because my product would often feature small, relatively new British bands that would often be too unknown to appeal to an international market. However, my focus on more famous artists alongside smaller bands my magazine would possibly have a European market, but the acts wouldn't be well known enough for an American mass market. How? I would advertise my product on appropriate music channels and radio stations. I researched these options and found that appropriate radio stations would include radio one and absolute radio, both stations focus often on new music and Absolute Radio is known for favouring music from past decades, as my magazine does, so I feel it would appeal to their audience. I could also advertise on the internet, social network sights, youtube and other appropriate websites.

20. My target audience Male or female, my magazine features a variety of bands and features so overall it's largely gender neutral in content and style. Older teens to young adult, my product focuses on new bands which are often about this age and so would create music to appeal to this age group, it also used informal language and slang in features to appeal to this market. Interests- As well as being interested in new music and artists my target demographic would also be likely to be interested in things like live music, the process of creation and production and the personal views of the artist. They are likely to have a good idea of current events and causes and appreciate features on music in that context.

21. My target audience: Profile Name- Chloe Age- 17 Gender- Female Interests- Live music, film, New bands and artists. Dislikes- Ignorance, mainstream pop, judgemental people. Favourite style of music- I like bands like all time low, and a fair bit of rock. Describe yourself- “I love music, especially live gigs and I love to find new artists, I like more eclectic music than just mainstream pop and I love hearing their opinions, not just their music. I think I have a fairly distinctive style and I'm confident in myself, I'm happy to be unique and not uncomfortable about having a different opinion.

22. What my survey said “ I like if it looks well-made and thoughtfully designed with a good colour scheme, nothing too chaotic or confusing.” I made sure my magazine had a clear colour scheme straight from the cover, and that the colour scheme continued throughout. I made my contents page largely text based, as this is what the majority of my target demographic said they preferred. This showed my that my demographic liked rock and alternative, so I featured an appropriate band. “ On a contents page I like organised text with well laid out images.” This comment came up several times so I designed my contents page to be organised like Q, rather than an NME style grid. My demographic wanted an article set out in columns, so I used a standard 3 column design on my Dps. “ I like red and white with black text, it’s clear and easy to read.” It’s important that my magazine is easy to read so I went with a colour scheme that would allow the text to stand out and the design to be relatively simple.

23. How my magazine incorporates some of these factors My rough cut of my DPS had a fluent, written article as my target market said they would prefer this. However, a lot of my rough cut feedback said that it looked like too much text and they would prefer a question and answer format so I changed it. After this change my target audience said it looked more engaging and aesthetically pleasing. A large majority of my target demographic said they listened to mainly rock and alternative music. Because of this I decided I would feature an alternative band on my cover and have features on rock artists and bands, often from previous decades. I featured these alongside my new band on the cover to appeal to as large a demographic as possible.

26. What I’ve learned Photoshop Using the magnetic lasso to cut images out more accurately. Linking layers in order to move and size them as one. Simplifying text layers to edit them as an image (adding an outline) Using the blemish remover tool to even skin tone and remove marks.

27. What I’ve learned Blogging Blogging my research and project development has been an effective way of time management tracking my progress. Uploading images to my blog has allowed me to see the progressing on my product's style in accordance with my audience feedback. In order to see the development I needed to complete work on time and upload it in order, this helped me with effective time management.

28. What I’ve learned Powerpoint Evaluation It's important to be clear and concise in wording. The aesthetics of the slide are important, busy backgrounds can't make text hard to read. Images are good for clarifying points but they shouldn't dominate the slides. There should be consistency in slide layout or a reccurring theme in slides.