Media evaluation by Blue Parker

1. Media Evaluation
Blue Parker

2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
• On my front cover I have used similar conventions to other magazines within the genre of dubstep,
for example I have used bright dashing colours which are stereotypical to this kind of music.
• I also have a large title at the top of the page which is bold and eye catching which is something
that features in all music magazines. I also have a large central image which is common in music
magazines with the artists on the page having a large feature within the magazine. My image is also
a mid-shot photograph which conforms with the general norms of a music magazine image .
• I have used a cover line which reads: “The UK’s loudest dubstep magazine” the uses conventions of
other music magazines as almost every music magazine has one, however it is not largely featured
in dubstep magazines so it can be argued that it is challenging the conventions of its genre.
• Also I have a section on the front cover that shows who will be featuring in my magazine which
many magazines do, this is done so that just by looking at the cover the audience can know what is
going to be in it and whether or they want to buy it.
• I kept to a certain colour scheme like other magazines do, my colours were pink, green and white
on a black background, I did this to simulate being at a nightclub or rave which is generally where
dubstep would be heard. Also unlike most other types of music magazines my front cover does not
feature a background image which is like other dubstep magazines.
• These are both dubstep magazines with no images in the background whereas most music
magazines have more layers behind the main image.

3. Examples of magazine covers (dubstep)
The conventions that I have challenged are through the use of colour,
although they are stereotypical to the genre of dubstep many magazines
would not dare to be so “in your face” bright therefore not many magazines
use such bright colours, however I am hoping that by doing this my magazine
will stand out from any other magazines and be noticed for being different
and exclusive.

4. Contents page
• On my contents page and double page spread I have kept to the general
conventions by using a large central image on by double page spread which is
done in many music magazines as it identifies that they have something to do
with the article. Also I have a large title at the top so that it is eye catching and
to make sure that the audience can easily find the main article in the
magazine. Also it is laid out into neat columns so that it is easy to read.
Examples of contents pages.

5. Contents page continued
• Although I have a large image it is different to most as my image forces the text around it which is
different to most as they usually have 1 page for a picture and 1 page for text mine is different
because the text covers the whole 2 pages with a large picture in the middle.
• My double page spread breaks the conventions of music magazines in and out of its genres as it
does not have any background behind the text it is just blackness which is good in terms of it fitting
norms of dubstep as a genre as, again, it almost recreates the atmosphere of being in a nightclub or
rave.
My contents page conforms with general conventions as it has a feature image which will inevitably be
something to do with the main article of the magazine. Also it sticks to the house colours, it does
however, use more colours than is usually deemed “average” but this is so that it fits the mood of
the genre and of the magazine. I have also used large numbers and slightly smaller text which is
done in many magazines so that the audience can easily know where each item in the magazine will
be.
• Although I have featured an editorial I have no left a name which I am hoping fans will find it easier
to relate to as a faceless icon which is like many DJ’s within the dubstep world.
• Also my contents page has the main names and featured in a different colour so that the audience
find it convenient to navigate through.
• My image is slightly smaller than on most magazines but this forces it to be different and it fits the
bland colour scheme and black background which is why I decided to have a smaller image.

6. My Cover
Masthead in the centre I have also included a
of the page, large and tag line which says: The
eye catching. I used the UK’s loudest dubstep
specific colours to make and drum & bass
it stand out and also to magazine, I have done
fit the genre of the this so that it will cry
magazine. out to the audience
and influence their
decision to buy the
I put an issue 1 text at magazine.
the top just to raise
awareness that it is a My main image is a
new exciting mid-shot which
magazine. conforms with the
general norms of a
I put main features on
magazine.
the front to make it look
realistic and professional My ‘Featuring’ section
sticking to the same has lots of big names in
bright colours. dubstep on it which will
entice readers into
purchasing the
magazine.
I have also included a
free music download I have also included a
with every issue, I did second slogan which
this to give the magazine reads: Play it Loud.
a unique selling point. Which will hopefully
relate to dubstep fans
as they will agree that
it is the best way to
listen to music…LOUD

7. My Contents Page
I have included a large title at I have used fonts that
the top so that it is easily are easily relatable to
identifiable and it is in the this type of music, this
same style as the other font is called high
pieces of text throughout the volume and was
dubstep magazine. downloaded from
www.dafont.com .
I used this font as It fits
the genre as a whole,
also it adds to the
slogan “Play it Loud” on
my front cover
I have clear text which tell
the reader what will be
featuring in my magazine, My main image is quite small and
again sticking to the house off centre which is different to
style. most magazines as they have a
large image in the centre taking
up most of the page but I wanted
to keep the look dark so I just
used a smaller image which in my
opinion captures the darkness
better.

8. My Double Page Spread
I have used a
large title again The way my text and picture are
in the same laid out is different to most
style and font to double page articles as my
keep to the style picture cuts right through the
of the magazine. text where as most have a large
I stuck to
image on one side and a full page
the black
of text on the other. I did this to
background
make my magazine different.
to keep it
bland and
basic, also
to make it
seem like
the night
club colours
The image I used was edited in
this way to look psychedelic and The type of language I have used is quite
to fit the whole look of the informal but not so much that it feels like
magazine. Also by using this the audience is reading a child’s magazine,
editing technique it doesn’t I have used this particular language
show the faces clearly which is because my target audience is between
also like being at a club. the ages of 16 and 25 which are all part of
the digital age.

9. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
• My magazine represents males between the age of 16 and 25 which is
majority of the dubstep audience, I have gone for a more informal attitude
to most magazines as dubstep fans a more ‘street’ and hip. My front cover
features 2 young males that are an imaginary dubstep duo they are both
wearing modern clothing which fit my audience perfectly. Also the way
they are dressed says a lot about the genre of dubstep, each artist has
their own style, the 2 on my cover look more indy than most but this is ok
because all dubstep artist look different. The 2 men in my image represent
young people today as their clothing and general look is common in
teenagers and young adults in todays society. The way they look suggests
that they care about their look and hygiene which is a new way to look at
males as apposed to being scruffy, smelly and unshaven. I really believe
that my 2 characters are a good representation of my target audience as
dubstep is a growing genre with an ever growing fan base from all
different kinds of social group which is good for everyone as it gives
people who wouldn’t usually speak something in common.

10. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and
why?
• When researching media institutions I found that there are
not many dubstep magazines out there so I believe that a
company such as IPC media would benefit from stocking my
magazine as it will broaden their horizons and also benefit the
magazine workers by making it possible to print. This could be
said about any magazine distributor as hopefully the dubstep
fan base will get more popular and therefore the magazine
sales will boost, I believe that it would be a good investment
for any media institution because dubstep will continue to
grow and by publishing a magazine about dubstep will make it
possible to advertise other magazines within mine.

11. Who would be the audience for your media product?
• The audience for my magazine will be males between the ages of
16 and 25 however I am not excluding female fans, I hope that in
future issues of my magazine I will be able to appeal to a wider
range of people. However most dubstep fans are male, although my
cover features 2 white men I believe that it will still appeal to
different races as there are many black artists in the dubstep
community whereas I don’t know many black people and certainly
not enough to ask them to be a part of my magazine. By using 2
males that fit my average age group I believe that dubstep fans will
immediately identify with these two and will want to buy it as they
will share interests and obviously music taste. By using a mixture of
bland and bright colours I think that people will see that it looks like
more of a night life/ club scene magazine, which could entice new
readers and possibly make it an easy magazine to pick up and buy.

12. How did I attract my audience?
• My magazine attracts readers through the use of bright colours which are
associated with the rave scene. Also I have kept a professional style which
will help the audience to feel like they are reading an adult magazine.
• I started off at pricing my magazine at £4.20 which I thought was a fair
price for giving away a free song with the magazine but I decided to lower
the price to compete with other music magazines, the price is now £3.50
• I have included an editorial where I can address my readers personally and
hopefully readers will read this and feel like a part of the community.
• The fonts and textures that I have used throughout my product are
relevant to my magazine and audience as they are bright and look like
neon lights which Is a connotation of a nightclub.
• My average audience age Is 16-25 which is why I have used 2 young men
between these ages so that people of the same age will identify with them
and buy the magazine.

13. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
• I have learnt many things using many different tools to complete my media product. First of
all I used the internet as a research tool which I have done before but not to the extent that I
did for my product where I researches all kinds of things from magazine publishers and
distributors,. I also created a blog which I had never done before, I learnt that it is a
convenient way to store and share data, also it is easy to update and browse to find specific
pieces of work. Blogging was a good place to put work as it is easy to view and is accessible to
anyone, also there is a comments section in which other bloggers can leave comments and
constructive criticism. We also used digital cameras which are easy to use and put anywhere
through the use of a computer, the file size is quite small so it is quick to upload to a website.
Also using digital cameras made it possible to use any real background without photo
manipulation as apposed to a large camera on a tripod. I also used photoshop to manipulate
my images which I struggled with at first but soon picked it up and progressed my skills. It is a
great program with many tools and features which is perfect for my use as my image will look
original and not manipulated in the same way as everyone else’s. We also used photoshop to
create our cover page which was much easier than using paint or another basic program
without as many features which would make it harder to keep my images original. Finally I
used quark to write my article, I did find it difficult to use with many unnecessary features
for my purpose, however when it came down to adding my images it became clear that quark
was the right program to use as it is possible to put the text around an image therefore using
quark was better than using a program like word or notepad as it is much more professional.

14. Looking back at your preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in
the progression from it to the full product?
• Since my preliminary task I have got much better at using photo shop as when I
created my first magazine cover it looked very basic and the image was not
properly edited, it looked very un professional compared to my media magazine.
Also by doing this I have a better grasp of what a real magazine should look like.
• I have also become much more capable when using programs like quark, I found it
hard at first to grasp but as I got used to it I improved. Also my general article
writing has got much better, at first I was unsure how to lay it out and how to
address the audience but as I persevered I became much better and able to
comply with the general norms of article writing.