1. Media AS Corsework By Alex Reid

2. In what ways does your media product challenge, use, develop forms and conventions of a real media product?

3. Genre: My magazine is mainly of a grunge and punk genre but it is also a hybrid of many more, as discovered in the “user feedback”. My audience feed back shows the genres of exactly what I intended, I discovered that my magazine also follows the following genres (as planed): Metal Rock Alternative Skate Rock Skate punk etc. Conventions? : I have used several conventions like using direct and non direct address in images, I used a layout similar to that of “kerrang” magazine. I also used conventions like a very in-formal style of journalism, which is typical for my genre, for example when I have put: “they invite the entire audience to “get smashed””.

4. Why is it important to use typical elements?: It is important to use typical elements so that the reader/consumer doesn’t feel alienated. For example if the reader picks up a magazine and there is no direct address (a typical element) or no mention of what’s inside (another typical element), the chances are: they wont buy it. However if there is a magazine that follows all the right rules whilst still being different, I.e. using typical elements, then the chances are it will sell.

5. Differences?: As well as using typical conventions, it is also vital to use differences to make it unique, so people want to buy it. My main difference was my USP (unique point), that there is nothing out there quite like it, no magazine involves the same genre and themes as mine. There are no other magazines that incorporate music AND skate boarding this is a good combination, in my opinion, as it appeal to two large audiences: skaters and grunge lovers. There are many skate magazines and a few grungy magazines but non that incorporates both which makes my Magazine unique. My product would be successful as I think its unique nature and appeal.

6. Genre play: it is almost compulsory to play with genre, otherwise every magazine would be exactly the same, and no one would buy them. If we play with genre we can create some interesting hybrids and make unique-itys that aren’t imitated anywhere else.

7. Innovations: On top of genre play I have also added several things that are probably risky in the case of selling. For example in my main picture I did not use direct address, however, I also made sure I stuck to typical elements by using a picture of near equal size WITH direct address. Another example is my colour scheme, it clashed allot in colour, but it was supposed to for the style.

8. Comparison (Cover):

9. Comparison (Content):

10. Comparison (D.P. Spread):

11. To Conclude: The evidence of my audience feedback suggests that everything I attempted to do went according to plan. The audience feedback is exactly as I expected and even more, as the audience were pulling out genres that I had not even noticed, yet they still workedwell.

12. In what ways does your magazine represent social groups?

13. In what ways does your magazine represent social groups? One of my magazines USP’s (unique selling points) is that it does not represent a single genre, it represents a community of genres. However I have had a main focus of up and coming bands, teenagers and those within the rock community circle. I have represented these group’s in multiple ways. Mainly through use of: Meis En Scene Activity Cinematography Editing

14. In what ways does your magazine represent social groups? For role models I have used the cast and crew of the TV series “Viva La Bam” as they are similar to that of my target audience. They are skaters and music similar to that in my magazine, is often featured in the show. I have achieved this by using by having a representation of the target audience on the cover. I have chosen him because he has very plain facial expression, with street fashion. Street fashion is one of most important factors. I felt that it was important to have a very close representation of the target audience so that the target audience can relate to it, this helps the reader to feel comfortable and more likely to buy it. The way that front page model is presented in appearance as the type of person that I am aiming my magazine at. My main feature dresses in clothes like that of the target audience, nothing that an audience member could themselves own. This allows the audience to relate to my model making them more likely to buy it.

15. In what ways does your magazine represent social groups? On my cover I have a guitarist, with guitar and amp. This is a hobby among my target audience: My target audience is often the type to play guitar as it is very popular. Also there is a skate board involved. Skateboarders are my target audience, thus, this activity, is a large attraction and representation of my target. To represent teenagers I have shown a teenager on the front twice. The first is aimed at the majority and main target audience, he is a teenager himself, in not to extravagant clothing, with a guitar and an amp. This is very simple, like my teenage target audience. This is because teenagers wont have jobs, yet have disposable income. The disposable income is portrayed through the fancy guitar and large amp. Yet the lack of jobs is shown through the clothing and unkempt hair.

16. In what ways does your magazine represent social groups? For my secondary picture I used that of a skater. This is portrayed obviously through the use of a skateboard. She is also wearing lose clothes: a classical trait of a skater. And has long hair, this is classical weather it is a boy or a girl. Also the framing use of a Polaroid picture is used to look retro, a recurrent theme through the history of skating. I have also represented the skater group in the way my article is written. My journalistic style is very much like that of a skater. Quotes such as “I’m an alcoholic” would not be found in magazines about “CRUFTS”, proving that mine is a grungy magazine.

17. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product?

18. The Institution: The institution that I would have to get to publish my magazine would be “The Bauer Media Group” A.K.A “Bauer Verlagsgruppe”. A German production company, based in Hamburg, which operates in 15 countries worldwide. (http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/) It produces and distributes many popular magazines and has stakes in television and radio, recently completing the purchase of a consumer magazine division and radio station division of the British company, EMAP. Worldwide circulation of Bauer Media Group's magazine titles amount to 38 million magazines a week. And an annual turnover of (e)1.79 billion .

19. The main reason I would chose this company is because they have done a similar magazine: “kerrang” magazine, which is aimed at a similar, but not the same audience as mine. They have also done the famous magazine “Q”. I feel that this company have a soft spot for music magazines like mine as they specialize in publishing music magazines. My magazine is a new prospect and untouched. That means alot of profit. Also a lack of anything of my genre, that is why they would publish mine. They may also think that they would make a profit because there is nothing quite like it, as it is unique

20. Who would be the target audience for your media product?

21. Audience Fact file: Gender: I aim my magazine at both a male audience and a female audience, this gives a wide appeal Ethnicity: Ethnicity can be anything, it shouldn’t affect my audience Age: this can be any age between the teenage years, mainly 14 - 18 Nationality: Again, nationality can be anything and shouldn’t effect it, but I would have to say British more than any other, as it is a local magazine S.E.S: The main group is “socio-economic status” would have to be C1/C2, I chose this because I don’t think it is too demanding but I also think that it isn’t aimed too low. I think the majority of my target audience fit the “C1/C2” class. Special interests: SKATING AND MUSIC! These are the two direct hobbies that my magazine aims at, but almost any urban sport would work: parkour, BMXing, Roller skating etc.

22. About them: Is this a good target audience?: I think this is a good target audience as it is specific, yet wide. It is also very popular. I believe that my audience would afford my magazine, this is because they obviously have the money, especially when skateboards cost at least £40 a time Large and loyal?: I believe this target audience it Larger than it would appear to be to the average civilian. And I also think they would be loyal as there are updates every time for new places to practice there sport Why are they right for me?: I think they are right for me because they are an audience I can relate to. By doing this I think that I could fulfill there desires for what they would want in a magazine.

23. Typical Reader: Long hair Baggy clothes Hand gestures Tee-shirt about skating Watch Location: looks like a skate park

24. How did I attract and address my audience?

25. How did I attract and address my audience? The title “The Full Grind” implies exactly what I want it to: It has reference to skating (as ‘grinding’ is a skate trick). My audience would be able to pick up on this reference. As evidence of this my audience feedback says: “the title sounds rebellious” and “it sounds like metal or punk music. Which is exactly what I aimed for. The title also uses multiple fonts, not only to grab attention but also create a “mix ‘n’ match” feel to it, which also very much represents skating. This enables the reader to relate to it. The title is also catchy as it makes reference but also because it is simple and easy to remember. It can also be shorted to “TFG mag” which sounds very professional like: “NME” or “Q!” which also only have a couple of letters to their name. “TFG mag” is also easier to put on small advertising spaces and sounds even more “skater-ish” The font for the title matches the genre and even what the title is saying. It is often thought, in fiction, that if ‘one’ grinds using the trucks of a skateboard ( or even more so, in fiction, a metal alternative to a skateboard, e.g. “sonic the hedgehog”) that sparks would b produced, and for the word “Grind” in the title, it appears that there is electricity coming off of it.

26. How did I attract and address my audience?(Cover) On my cover I have a picture of the guitarist in the main article (or “Sam”). he is the main target of my magazine, I chose to use direct address to entice the audience. His pose is very formal and he is leaning over his guitar, this shows that he is very laid back and also has great interaction with what he does (his music). This attracts the audience not only because of hi m, but also his guitar. That guitar is a Gibson SG and is worth £3,500 his amp is also worth a lot, so the audience think “hmm, if I buy this magazine, then I might be like that and have all that stuff”. On my cover I have used many captions and fonts to grab attention, my fonts are mainly of a grungy style, this would attract the attention of my target audience because it is something that they can relate to. All of the fonts that I use either relate to punk or grunge. The story lines I use also work to capture my target audience as they create enigmas to snare the audience. Like “A chance to meet the greats” it doesn’t say who or when.

27. The editors letter on the contents page was also used to grab attention because it is very informal and slang, this gives the audience a taster of what is in the magazine and build an appreciation for the type of language used in the magazine. Language such as: “sk8 spots” How did I attract and address my audience? (Content)

28. How did I attract and address my audience?(D.P spread) The choice of articles featured on my front page are my main ones and most exciting ones, I chose these ones because I felt that they would attract my audience not only because they could relate to it but also because it is exciting. This is because it would never be the same twice, seen as it is up and coming artists. Like the main article; the band “FiFty Two”. For my double page spread I chose to address my audience in a very informal way as it uses slang. This is also attractive to my target audience because it is something that they can relate, almost like second nature, to. This is because my target audience speak slang on a regular basis. For my image I chose a very bold and eye catching picture for attractiveness. But it is also interesting as it is lots of the same person in the same place. This makes the reader wonder what it is about, causing them to read on.

30. What have you learned about technology from constructing your product?

31. Technology I have learned about new websites such as blogger. And I have learned how to use “slide share” but other than that I haven’t learned anything new, in the way of technology. I have, however, exercised and improved my use of technologies such as ‘Adobe Photoshop’ and ‘Adobe Indesign’ where I have had chance to improve upon my computing skills. I used cropping and line tools in Photoshop and place it all together in indesign. Had I not used these programs already as a hobby, at home, then I would have learnt the basics from scratch and had chance to improve on them. I have learned one or two new skills in some programs, like using paths in Photoshop and using blogger ‘properly’. This is done in a side toolbar in Photoshop. I used this technique in cropping my photos. I have found, however, that on my home computer, blogger has a tendency not to work. I would say this is one of its limitations as it prevents me from posting from home, hence hindering my ambitions. I have used a printer to help get my target audience feedback.  . this technology allows me to take my finished product around to my audience and get there feedback, as apposed to them coming to me.

32. What did I learn from my pre-lim task?

33. Pre-Lim I have learnt that I need to manage my time more wisely, as with my prelim task I only just finished in time, so I tried to give my self more time to do the final task. My final product benefits from this because it is of a much higher quality compared with my first one. I have also learned from my first attempt, which colours work together the best, as with my first version: the colours clashed allot, and not in a good way. Learning from my mistakes, in my second version, I purposely added clashing colours, but only colours that worked well together. My audience feedback also said that the way that I use more fonts (several as opposed to the one font I used in my prelim) was allot better for attractiveness and made it look more grungy and interesting. They also said that using several fonts looks more professional, especially as the new fonts are easier to read, yet still uphold the grungy effect They also said the layout was a lot better, “simpler and easier to follow, but still looks very punk-rock” which was exactly what I was aiming for by learning from the mistakes of my first one, were the layout was described as “a bit hard to follow”, on multiple occasion.

34. Conclusion

35. ConClusion My product has been, over all, a large success. My product has succeeded in the way that it is both eye catching AND attractive. It is appealing to my target audience (as in it is “cool”) and it is also a wide target audience, meaning many sales. The USP (unique selling point) is strictly unique because there is nothing else like it, yet it is a guaranteed as it is such a large, yet specific, unattended audience, with cash to spare.

36. Conclusion Other strengths include: Its clashing yet appealing colour scheme Its unique use of slang, even in the contents page Its direct address on the cover Its appeal to the music audience AND the skater audience Its attractive and easy to follow layout Its unique name and look The way that the title represents the contents The fact that the main article is featured on the cover The way it advertises competitions The attention grabbing captions The way even the barcode includes unique font

37. conclusion If I had to say there was ANY downfalls, I would say it was the way I arranged my time and the lack of spelling and grammar. Also the way that I could not get onto blogger from collage or from home. There were also a few problems with the photos, the first time I took them we didn't have that right cable to put them onto the computer. The lack of internet was also a problem. As I couldn't use blogger in lesson. Another problem was that i had to have my computer reformatted near the hand in date and was close to missing the deadline

38. Conclusion Over all I see the finished product as a success and would be happy to do it again. It was both fun and productive as well as team building and exciting.