1. AS Media Evaluation

2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? My magazine contains forms and conventions of real media products, such as a left third and a centre image. I got my idea of using a slogan from magazine like Kerrang. It has a top and strip in the same way that Kerrang does and an engaging left third. I’ve used text for effect and a central main image. I’ve developed the conventions of a magazine by adding a bottom strip to make the magazine appear balanaced. Also, I used a consistent house style that fitted in with the rock genre. Left Third I used a logo because when I researched magazines, I noticed that most magazine have a logo, or something which you can instantly relate to their magazine. i used a barcode as they are always on a magazine.

3. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing your magazine? I have learnt how to use Photoshop because before the preliminary task I had never used it before. I also learnt how to use InDesign to create effects on images and on the writing, such as drop and inner shadow. I have also learnt that when you are using technology, there are various things that can set you back. For example, when I was trying to place a SlideShare video onto blogger, it wouldn’t allow me to. This held me up a bit but once I figured out what to do, it was ok. Also, when it came to editing, I learnt that if you use certain techniques on the writing and images, you can make them more appealing to your target audience and make them stand out. An example of this, is where I have used the drop or inner shadow on a piece of text to make it stand out and look as professional as it can.

4. What kind of media institution might distribute your magazine and why? The institution that would distribute my magazine is Bauer Media group. Bauer Media connects and engages 19 million consumers every week with the most influential brands in the UK such as ‘KERRANG’ and ‘Q’, therefore, it would give my magazine worldwide coverage. http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/Insight/ this is the sight that I got the information from for Bauer Media Group. Also, my magazine has a similar look to KERRANG therefore, Bauer would be a good way to distribute my magazine. Newsagents and stores like WHSmith would be a good place for my magazines to be sold as many people pass through them daily, which would give my magazine recognition. When researching, I found out that Newsagents only tend to sell magazines that are popular and have a high demand.

5. How did you address/ attract your audience? I attracted my audience by using images that were fun and that stood out. I used three colours (red, black and white) which would attract the type of people I would want it to attract like rockers. I kept a house theme throughout the magazine so that it would all look like it belonged to the same issue. I made my front cover image of a young person so that it would attract people within the age range of 15 to 19. The clothes that she’s wearing on the front cover are very casual which gives the audience the impression that the magazine would also be very laid back and casual.

6. I also attract an audience by having featuring articles that are based on rock music, for example, ‘The Blackout’ are a famous rock band and would attract the rock crowd. Also, in the masthead I have put white lines through it to make it seem edgier. I got the idea from KERRANG magazine as I thought it suited the theme of a rock magazine. The skull logo at the top, is a symbol that is often related to rockers, therefore, I thought it would be a good way to attract my audience. The price is cheap and affordable for teenagers.

7. ‘ Win the chance to get V.I.P tickets ’ attracts the audience and encourages them to get involved. If they buy the magazine, there’s a chance that they can see ‘ The Reckless’ live. With the use of the word ‘your,’ I manage to address the audience personally making them feel connected to the magazine. I made the masthead large and bold, so it would stand out and make the magazine more eye catching. The text isn’t too formal, so would address the age range that I would hope it would. The interview is fun and with talk of the supernatural, people who are into that stuff would also find the article interesting.

8. I attracted an audience by having a Rock singer, ‘Natalie Collins’ in my main article. Also, by emulating actual rock magazines such as Kerrang and NME, I managed to have a layout that would attract an audience.

9. Who would be the audience for your media product? The target audience for my magazine are young people from the age 15 to 19. I think that it targets mainly girls, as all of the pictures are of girls. The articles would attract girls as they are articles about mainly girl bands and girl solo artists and the competition is to meet a girl band. The social group which I chose to be my target audience was rocker. I think I've managed to do this by the use of my colours and the articles, as they are all to do with rock things. For example here, it says' Top 20 rock downloads of the week', which automatically suggests that the magazine is targeting rockers.

10. I had to make the clothes the models wore fit in with the genre I picked for my magazine. All of the articles are based on music which would help me attract my audience for my magazine.

11. How does your media product represent certain social groups? I manage to represent rockers and teenager through the use of my images. They are all of young people and roughly the same age as the audience I hope to attract. The social tribe that I represented was the rock tribe. When it came to my research, I realise that a lot of rock magazines like Kerrang, had bold writing and a house theme I also represent them through the use of the clothes that the models wear. I tried to emulate the fashion that is associated with the rock community, such as skinny black jeans and red clothing. My logo for my magazine is a skull. Skulls are often associated with rockers, therefore, I decided to represent that with the image.

12. The social tribe that I represented was the rock tribe. When it came to my research, I realise that a lot of rock magazines like Kerrang, had bold writing and a house theme.

13. Looking back at the preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full power production. Since the preliminary task, I have learnt to organise myself a lot better. When I began my preliminary task, I didn’t manage my time very well so had to do everything at the last minute. This time however, I managed to organise everything I had to do beforehand. I have also go much better at the technical sides of things, like being able to use Photoshop because before the preliminary task, i had never used Photoshop before. Also, I’ve learnt that when it comes to the first plan of your magazine, it isn’t generally how your magazine will turn out because you haven’t thought your ideas through properly and what might work on paper won’t necessarily work when you come to make the product. I have learnt that when you are making the magazine, you need to keep looking back at actual magazines to make sure your magazine looks professional. Also, when you are going through the codes and conventions of a magazine, it is good to use magazines to back up what you are saying and explain how they are used. I can now look at a magazine and analyse it a lot better than I originally could when I started the preliminary task. I can look at a magazine and see errors that have been made and how the editor has used certain techniques to attract a certain audience.