2. In what ways does your product
use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real
media products?
3. The masthead is bold and I have used a puff on my front cover to encourage readers to
large in the top left third to purchase my magazine believing that they are getting more for their
gain reader interest. It is in money.
a similar font and style to I have used an acronym as my
the magazine NME. This magazine name similar to
bold font has a very 'NME' magazine. MMR
masculine connotation meaning 'Monthly Music
resulting in gaining further Review' is again similar to the
male interest. NME acronym, meaning 'New
Musical Express'. The acronym
I have included cover lines I have used tells the reader to
which feature the name of which genre my magazine is. I
bands in which my targeted have also ensured I have the
audience would know, to acronym meaning written on
gain interest. I have also the magazine for reference.
featured a cover line
reading the main story in a
larger font to gain reader The model is placed on a white
interest. This is also background in the right third
featured on plenty of other ensuring no attention is diverted
existing magazines from the model. The model is
dressed in casual indie fashioned
clothes to demonstrate what type
The three piece colour scheme containing black of music this magazine
and white with one contrasting colour is a represents.
convention often used with many magazines. The bar code is placed in the
Mine consisted of a burgundy red, black and bottom right third so it is more
white which give a masculine feel. discrete and not easily seen.
4. I have given my readers a Many magazines use the very stereotypical title of the contents as
'music index' so they can see 'contents', I however challenged this calling it 'MMR this week'
which pages their favourite
bands are featured on, I think I added a small story to
this gives an extra feature to give the contents page a
my contents as it allows the bit of flavour to what the
readers to scan through and rest of the magazine is
find their favourite bands going to be about and
quickly. encourage my audience
to read on.
Often on contents pages you find
many images, I however I have divided my
challenged this convention by just contents up into sections
placing one image on the to make it easier for my
contents page. The model is also reader to find what they
holding a guitar demonstrating are looking for. This is a
the genre of the magazine convention used by NME
through the props used in the magazine.
image. I have again proceeded to
use the three colour
Using the subscription scheme throughout my
information box on the magazine ensuring that it
contents helps encourage the looks consistent.
readers to subscribe to the
magazine. I made sure this I highlighted a feature of
box was in a larger font to gain I have used slight puns in my contents to 'No.1 Best Gig Guide'
readers attention. make the stories more interesting because I thought my
encouraging my audience to read them. readers would like this.
5. Usually I have used two different fonts on the You often find a puff on a double
magazines place title of my double page spread, I am page spread advertising other
more on the developing on the convention of interviews. However I decided not
image than just having just one font in the title. to do this as it gives more room for
the name of the the interview.
model, I have
used a full size I used more fonts on
image of my this page as I
model which is thought it would
taking up the make it more
whole page and interesting for the
only placing the reader. It also
models name on emphasises
it. Therefore I am elements of the
challenging this page that I want the
convention. reader to recognize.
My model is
pictured putting I have used a larger
his middle finger letter to symbolise the
up as the readers beginning of a
will be able to paragraph which is a
relate to this very conventional
emotion. It also
I ensured to use the page number and the 'MMR' symbol feature. I have added to
reflects the this by using a
at bottom right third of the second page, along with the
personality which alternative font and
date of the magazine to keep with the very widely used
is demonstrated in
convention. I did this as I believe it makes it easier for the colour than the body of
the interview. the text.
reader to know where the article is for future reference.
6. How does your media product
represent particular social
groups?
7. The model on the front cover would promote the interest
of white, middle class males which what my magazine is
aimed at. The social and fashion group my magazine is
aimed at is ‘Indies’ which is what I tried to demonstrate on
my front cover. My model is also holding a guitar which
will grab the attention of any music lover. My magazine
cover is very stereotypical and supports the dominant
ideas about my social group, but I feel this would work in
my benefit as the audience will know instantly that this
magazine is aimed at them. My model is wearing a
‘Ramones’ t-shirt which is the name of an old rock band
that my target audience would know and listen to. The t-
shirt is also from H&M which is where my targeted
audience shop again they would have either seen or have
the t-shirt. I have positioned my model with the guitar on
his leg and showing a relaxed and easy-going approach
which again represents my target audience. This
however, wouldn’t appeal to the majority of ethnic
minorities due to the relaxed approach and the type of
fashion which I have demonstrated. I have used a
burgundy red for my main colour scheme which is a more
masculine colour, it also isn't a stereotypical 'red' which
will inspire my audience as they believe in originality.
8. Who would be the audience for
your media product?
9. Consumer Profile:
Age: 16-25
Sex: Male
Class: Working - Middle class
Working Status:: Student
Hobbies: Socialising with friends, going on
internet, playing music, playing in a band, going
to parties, smoking.
Musical Interests: Indie, 60's and 80's bands
and music, Acoustic Alternative, Rock, Unsigned
bands.
Likes: Vintage, being unique, retro, photography,
art, music, culture, tattoos, ear stretchers.
Media Consumer: TV, films, magazines,
independent films, social networking sites,
photography, posters.
Ambitions: Don't really know what they want to
do, living for the here and now, maybe become a
musician.
10. MMR is targeting males from 16 to around 25 year old, whom are
most likely to be students. I have kept an ideal character profile
as I made the features of my magazine. Keeping my target
audience in mind, I chose to use a sand serif, large and bold fonts
throughout my front cover, contents page and double page
spread. These, I found, attracted my male audience as the
lettering looks wide and masculine compared to scripted or serif
fonts. Although I used various fonts within my different pages, all
the text on both the contents and font cover are in capital letters,
giving a feeling of urgency and excitement making my magazine
more eye-catching, whilst attracting my targeted audience. The
burgundy red colour scheme is a similar one used in both NME
and Q, which are very successful music magazines. Unlike these
same genre existing magazines, I tried to make my magazine
appeal to the younger audiences as well. NME appeals to a
slightly older generation of men with a musical interest of both
rock and indie music. The cover lines and bands within this
magazine both indicate an indie rock genre.
12. My magazine attracts the MMR uses the model on the cover to sell the product
younger generation of indie through the style of clothing and the prop of the
music lovers as it uses the prop guitar used. These both represent the indie style to
of the guitar and the indie the audience demonstrating
looking model to relate to them. that there is an indie genre.
From the indie style presented
on the front cover model you
can make the necessary By using quirky cover lines
connotations towards the indie such as 'no more silence' and
genre. This is similar to NME as 'no more roads' make the
it presents an indie styled
audience want to purchase
model on the cover along with
minimal cover lines about
the magazine because these
bands within that genre of are both subject in which my
music. They have the title in the audience would know about
same place which is eye- and would be able to make
catching and the cover lines are reference to. This also give
seen in a similar font. They also the readers an indication to
use a similar colour scheme of what the magazine includes, I
balck, white and red. feel this would be a good
selling point as it attracts the
audience via their interest in
the subject, suggesting that
this magazine will be of
The white background makes the magazine interest to them.
features stand out and gives a good contrast
between the colours shown on the magazine.
13. The contents page holds a The different features of
'music index' which will the magazine are
attract my audience as it partitioned separately to
makes it easier for them to provide an easy and direct
find and read up on their way for the audience to
particularity favourite bands. find what they are looking
This is a very useful and for. This would attract the
handy convention for this audience as it is easier to
reason, and it also shows find their specific wants
the variety of bands the than to have to flick
issue beholds. through the whole
magazine to find them. It
The minor story in the also highlights the main
middle of the page gives the page that the magazine
audience a taster of what feels would be the best
the magazine is going to be page for the reader to
like. This would also view at the bottom of the
encourage the audience to page. This makes the
read on and find out more reader believe this
information, providing a very magazine is for them.
useful and informative
convention.
The option to subscribe to the magazine is written in white in contrast against a burgundy
background, not only making the writing stand out, but indicating to the audience that this
particular offer is good, attracting the audience to the magazine as they believe it is good value for
money.
14. The image I have The second type of handwriting font used on this I have used a pull
used for my double page again reflect the non seriousness of the quote to sum up the
page spread is one interview, it dilates the lack of urgency reflected in interview in a
of the model putting the bold capitals and makes it more fun and easy sentence grabbing
up his middle finger. going. the readers eye and
This gesture reflects urging them to read
the tone of the on. For this I used
interview, suggesting the quote 'I'll do my
it is relaxed, however best in 2012 but no
it also demonstrates matter what, I will
that the audience will somehow fuck it up'.
be able to relate to This quote shows to
this interview urging my audience that the
them to read on. interview is relaxed
and easy going with
The use of the the use of taboo
capital letter at the language, this
start of each attracts the audience
paragraph not only as they can relate to
links the font used in this.
the title of the page
into the body of the I have used the models name in a white bold
text, it also connotes font, but also written in capitals letting the
a fun and quirky readers know who the interview is abut
feel, attracting the instantly, attracting my audience to read the
reader to the page. interview as they are familiar with the person it
is about;.
15. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2I3gSeo1u_w
I asked 2 boys and 2 girls of my targeted audience whether
the front cover of my magazine attracted them. I found that
both the boys were attracted to my magazine through the
musical element, one of the girls was attracted to the front
cover by the attractiveness of the model, and the last girl
wasn't attracted to the cover at all because it wasn't the music
genre she liked. All in all I found that my magazine attracted
the right audience of a male student, for the reasons I
expected.
16. What kind of media institution
might distribute your media
product and why?
17. IPC media was created in 1968, by merging the
UK's three leading magazine publishers –
George Newnes, Odhams Press and Fleetway
Publications. It has created over 90 magazines
and they have good experience with publishing
magazines. They also publish the music
magazine NME which is of similar genre to my
own.
Bauer have been around for over 100 years and
has magazines circling around the world. It owns
over 80 influential media brands which include
Kerrang and Q magazine, two very successful
music magazines. Although these magazines are
of a different genre than the one I have created,
Kerrang is made for the Rock genre and Q is for a
wide audience of new music, which unlike my own
magazine, leaves them open for many different
genres of music.
18. From this light research I have come to the conclusion that IPC
would be a good publishing company for my magazine because
of it's experience with the similar magazine NME in which they
have been publishing for many years. However, the magazine
NME is very similar to my own which could be conflicting.
Although IPC has lots of experience with publishing many
different genres of magazines, they only have one existing music
magazine demonstrating a lack of knowledge in this genre.
Bauer, on the other hand, have years experience of publishing
multiple successful music magazines such as Q and Kerrang.
For this reason I would choose Bauer magazine to publish my
magazine as they have more experience with a variety of music
genres, however they don't appear to have a indie magazine
which shows there is a gap in their publications for my magazine.
They also have a very good reputation with music magazines
which will give my magazine a good reputation before it is even
published. Therefore Bauer would be the most appropriate
publication company for my product.
19. What have you learnt about
technologies from the process
of constructing this product?
20. I used a variety of software's to complete the making of my magazine cover, contents and
double page spread. These include: Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign. By this experience
I extended my knowledge in InDesign, and learnt how to use iMovie for the first time. I
produced my final outcomes in InDesign, however I found this software hard to use and
understand, resulting in my final outcomes not being the higher quality that I wanted them to
be. However, this software did have helpful tools which I used to produce my final outcomes.
For example the boxes which are seen around the features on the magazines enabled me to
ensure that the texts and images where in-line on the front cover and contents, making them
look a higher standard. I used colour selection, coloured boxes, multiple fonts and sizes to give
my outcomes and more professional look and feel. I used a drop shadow on the title of my
magazine to add empathises to it, along with a outer glow around the title of the magazine on
the contents page. I used Adobe Photoshop to edit, and cut out my images seen on my front
cover and double page spread. To do this I used a variety of the pen and magic wand tool,
which provided me with a clean and professional finish to my images. After cutting out my
image used on the double page spread, I placed a slight grey gradient in the background to
give texture to the image. I found these software's very useful when producing my final
outcomes even if I struggled slightly with the InDesign software.
21. Looking back at your
preliminary task, what do you
feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to full
product?
22. Looking back at my preliminary task I have discovered that I have
gained the ability to make a successful magazine cover. Through
progression and practice with Photoshop and InDesign I have been
able to successfully cut out figures, with out looking amateur, and
produce effective backgrounds, Another weakness I had with doing
the preliminary task was the unrealistic appearance of the
magazine cover, I have learnt that by looking at other exciting
magazines you can ensure that your own looks professional. With
my preliminary task I also seemed to use the use of bocks for my
text to be in, looking back I find that this looks very unprofessional
and unrealistic. It doesn't flow nicely and looks very amateur. I also
used the same font style the whole way through which I have later
found to be very boring. Through my prliminary task I have learnt a
lot about what looks professional and what doesn't. However if I
didn't do this task at first I don't believe my music magazine would
look as professional and realistic as I believe it does now.
