Evaluation Question 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Looking back on my preliminary task and comparing it to the finished product of my music magazine, I feel that I have improved on almost every aspect of creating a magazine. I have developed my skills for the software used throughout both of the tasks.


My preliminary task is quite basic and the text is not very well positioned. This is something that I ensured was changed when it came to my final task. My preliminary image was not very well thought out and I had no real focus of what I was aiming to achieve in comparison to my final task in which I knew exactly what I wanted. My skills as far as taking the images is concerned, I feel that I have also developed. 


My preliminary task did not show many different types of images and this was something I wanted to encapsulate in my final piece through images for the front cover, contents page and double page spread as I was able to use a different style of image for each of these. I am pleased with my progression in taking, editing and selecting images.


I have also learnt how to successfully create a contents page that follows the codes and conventions of a real media product as for my preliminary task, I only created a mock-up of the page I wanted. I believe that my contents page is quite well made and I am pleased with the positioning of each piece of text and image. 

Evaluation Question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

I used a range of different programs to create my product. I used Microsoft Publisher. I had used this previously to create my preliminary task. As I used it for my music magazine, my skills developed. I also used software called Photofiltre which is a program that is downloadable, it enables you to edit images and add text and shapes etc. I used Photofiltre to create my front cover, editing the image and adding the text and appropriate shapes. However, after creating my front cover on this program, I decided that Microsoft Publisher was more suitable and was easier to edit the text on. 


The images I used for my music magazine were all taken on my Olympus SP-810UZ. I used different techniques on my camera to create the image I wanted. These techniques included 'Minature' and 'Soft Focus' I also used the camera on auto and allowed to lighting in the room to compliment the flash of my camera. I edited the images on Photofiltre, although I only changed the brightness and contrast. 

Evaluation Question 5: How did you attract/address your target audience?

I have attracted my audience in many different ways by creating my magazine. To ensure I knew what my audience would be interested in, I conducted a questionnaire (posted earlier) which helped me plan out the specific aspects of my front cover, contents page and double page spread. I also ensured that my magazine would appeal to my mixed gender target audience of 16-25.

The image I used on my front cover was chosen specifically as the model is attractive and was making eye contact which appeal directly to the specific reader of the magazine. This causes an interaction with my audience as it will catch their eye. Even though the model I used is male, I believe the image/model will still appeal to both men and women as the pose relates to both men and women, as men would aspire to be like the model I have used. 


I used the same colour scheme throughout my magazine as I thought this was best for the style and design/layout of my magazine. I thought that a colour scheme throughout would appeal to an audience as it show consistency through the front cover, contents page and double page spread. I also used simple simple styles of font throughout my magazine to ensure that the text was bold and easy to read for each of my target audience which may see my magazine on the shelf of a shop etc.


I chose coverlines that would appeal to my target audience as they are the main aim for my magazine. I chose to relate them to artists of my specific genre and events that also involved the Indie genre of music throughout this summer.

Evaluation Question 4: Who would be the audience for your media product?

The audience for 'ICM' is teenagers and young adults, this can range from around 16 to 25. My magazine is also aimed at both men and women with an interest in the 'Indie' genre.

I chose such a wide age range as I thought even someone at the age of 25 would enjoy at least one aspect of my magazine, perhaps an interview or a set of images or a review of a gig they've attended.

There is not one particular social group that I aimed 'ICM' at as most people tend to enjoy various genres of music. I used ever aspect of my magazine to appeal to my wide audience.

Here is an example of my target audience:

Name: Charlotte Stewart
Age: 17
Favourite genre of music: Indie
Favourite artists: All Time Low and The Maine
Hobbies/interets: Listening to music and reading books.

Evaluation Question 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

A media institution such as Bauer Media may distribute my magazine throughout the UK. Bauer Media is a divison of Bauer Media Group, which are an extremely successful publishing company worldwide. They distribute over 300 magazines worldwide as well as radio and TV. All of the magazines published by Bauer Media in the UK (music and some not) are extremely sucessful and popular magazines. In the UK they publish music magazines such as Kerrang! and Q which are in some aspects of the Indie genre. Due to this, I think there is a place in the market for ICM to be published by Bauer Media as my magazine is for both men and women and appeals to both audiences. My magazine is also aimed at perhaps a slightly younger audience than both Kerrang! and Q magazine. As Kerrang! and Q are of similar genres, I think this would enhance competition for sales which would be a positive thing for the music magazine market.

Evaluation Question 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

When creating my media product, I ensured that I had conducted enough research into the Indie cutlure and styleof magazine (including layout, images, etc) to understand what the audience of the Indie social group wanted from a magazine. In my research, I found that there were various styles of magazines that had an Indie style, all of these magazines however were aimed at teenagers - young adults and as I am in this social group and also take interest in Indie music, I had a basic idea initially of what would appeal to me.

With every aspect of my magazine, I aimed it at the Indie style. The model of my magazine in particular was a huge part of my magazine having the Indie image, I chose the model specifically because of his style of dress. I knew that it would be more impactful if my model was naturally indie, rather than forcing him to wear clothes he may not necesserily be comfortable in. The model was also attractive which although it is not a necessity, it helps catch the eye of my audience. As my model is in the age range for my magazine, he will also appeal to other teenagers and young adults that are interested in Indie music.

As my aim was to attract both males and females and I used a male model (mainly attracting a female audience) I decided, also due to my questionnaire results, that blue was an appropriate colour to use as the lighter tones of blue would appeal to both genders. The coverlines that I have used are realated either my magazine specifically or on a wider scale, they are related to Indie music, by using 'All Time Low' on the front cover, this will attract the Indie social group as they are a band in that genre.

Evaluation Question 1: In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My media product follows various real media conventions. This is due to my research of music magazines and how I constructed each individual part of my product. 

FRONT COVER: Each specific part of my front cover was created to follow the codes and conventions of other 'Indie' magazines that are currently on the market such as NME. The presentation of my front cover shows that I have followed these codes and conventions of published magazines. I used publishing conventions such as the bar code, date and issue number.  I chose to use a male model as the Indie style seems to be more appropriate for a male, this would also attract a larger female audience. The results of my questionnaire also influenced the gender of my model. By using an attractive male of the front of my magazine, it would attract the female audience as someone they like the look of and for the male audience, it would be someone they aspire to be like. The outfit of my model is appropriate for the genre of my magazine as is the pose of my model, which is typical of the Indie style. I chose to have the model looking directly at the camera to capture the attention of my target audience. My image follows the conventions of a real media product due to all of these things. The text of my front cover could perhaps challenge the codes and conventions of other magazines on the market as the text I have used is fairly plain in comparison. Although I believe that it does not stray too far from the codes and conventions used in real media products as the texts on some front covers are also simple and plain. The title of my music magazine can be related to magazines such as NME. I chose 'ICM' Indie Culture Music because as I researched into the Independent culture, I discovered that music is a specific aspect of that. The colour scheme I used was due to the results of my questionnaire, I also decided before conducting my questionnaire that due to my research, these colours were particularly popular with the Indie style. The colours that I have used also appeal to both audiences. 

CONTENTS PAGE: The contents page I have created follows codes and conventions in multiple ways. The use of 'Contents' as a heading is a regular feature on most of the music magazines on the market. My use of columns is also used some, although not all, of the media products published. I decided to use them as I think they keep the page in order. Another way in which I followed the codes and conventions of real media products on my contents page is through my use of images, I chose to use the images in a column and number them as I thought it was simple and easy to understand, I also liked this feature when I did my research into music magazines. One feature I did not include in my contents page that I fount in multiple magazines when conducting my was the editorial letter, this is something I thought that would not suit my magazine. The text of my contents page, I would consider to be of average size. I ensured that the coverline or story text was the smallest on the page. 

 

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD: The double page spread I have created follows most of the codes and conventions of a double page spread in a real media product. I decided to have one of my pages an image as the audience are able to use this as a poster if they wish. I also thought that it gave the spread some structure. I stuck with the use of columns as I did in the contents page, in my research I found that columned interviews are extremely popular. I have challenged the codes and conventions in that some magazines use quotes in a larger text around the interview to give the audience a basic idea of the content of the interview. I felt that it was not needed with the image on the right hand page, I felt that the interview with the heading of the artists name and subheading describing the interview was enough to captivate the audience. I chose the particular image for my double page spread as I thought that it was an appropriate image for the genre of music I am trying to represent through my magazine. I wanted the model to have some confidence as the interview was about 'making it' in the music industry. I continued the same colour scheme throughout the front cover, contents page and double page spread as I thought that it was necessary to keep a theme of colours the same in a magazine, I found this was also the case in my research. 

Production of Double Page Spread.

Here is the print screens of the production of my Double Page Spread:

I first added the image that I had selected for my double page spread.

I added the heading of the artists name to the left hand page, I kept the right hand page with the image on clear as the reader/audience could remove the image and use it as a poster. I then added some questions in a column on the left hand page.

I finally added the rest of my questions in another column on the right hand page. I think these questions are well written and appropriate for my magazine. I made the text of the heading smaller as I decided to place the sub-heading on a slant, I think that this gave the page some style.

This is my finished Double Page Spread:

As I was about to print my double page spread, I realized that the writing of the interview was too largy for a magazine. I have edited the interview, making the writing smaller and adding some more questions.

This is my edite Double Page Spread:

Production Of Contents Page

Here are print screens of the production of my contents page:

To create my contents page I decided to use Microsoft Publisher at it was easier for editing than Photofiltire. I placed 'CONTENTS' as the largest font on the page in the top left hand corner as I thought it looked best here. I then placed the 'ON THE COVER' text with a blue box for a background as I thought it gave the sub-headings some style. I then added an image of Zack Merrick from All Time Low which I took at a concert in January 2012.

I then began to add the stories from the front cover with their page numbers. Some of them are double page spreads and others are single page features.

After adding the next sub-heading and the stories to acompany it, I added a picture of my model. I chose this image as I think it will appeal to the audience of my magazine as the style of it fits in the the stereotypical 'Indie' image.

I continued to construct the text side of my contents page, I listed the things that are featured regularly. I then added small images that I got from Google of album covers of The Maine, Mayday Parade and All Time Low as I mentioned these three bands in my contents page text.

I decided to add more text to the 'IN THIS ISSUE' section of my contents page as I needed to fill the space and I thought it would look best with the left had side without images.

This is my contents page completed.

Production of Front Cover

Here are print screens of my production of my front cover:

Here are the first steps I took in creating my front cover. I used a program called Photofiltre to create my front cover. I used the edited image and began placing the text appropriately. I placed my masthead 'ICM' in the top left corner and ensured that it was the largest text on page. I then added 'NOAH SCOTT' the the bottom left hand corner to fit around the model in my image. I then added 'OUTSTANDING DEBUT ALBUM' above the name.

I then added one of the cover stories 'ALL TIME LOW UK TOUR 2012' and placed it in the top right hand corner as I felt that it fit well in that position. I decided to do the text for this cover story in different colours as I thought it would stand out.

(The 'OUTSTANDING' text is not in this print screen as I had to resize it.)

This is a print screen of the finishing stages of my front cover. After adding my first cover story, I added the 'IMAGES OF THE MONTH' text and also used different colours for this. I stuck with the colour of blue as this was popular on my questionnaire and I felt it would appeal to both genders of my audience. I then decided to add the advertisement of a 'FREE FESTIVAL GUIDE' which I thought would attract the audience. I positioned it in the centre of left side as it covered too much of my model when it was positioned at the bottom right hand side.

I finally added my barcode, date and issue number as they are neccessary for a magazine. I am pleased with my front cover. I think that the text positioning and sizes go well together.