Research: Kerrang!

Kerrang! is a UK based magazine published by Bauer Media Group. It was first published in 1981 originally as a one-off supplement focusing on the rise of rock music and the New Wave of British Heavy Metal.  After the success of the first issue, Kerrang! was then sold fortnightly until 1987 when it then became a weekly magazine. In the 2000's, Kerrang! became Britain's best-selling music magazine. Kerrang! is aimed at people who specifically listen to rock music. The regular price of Kerrang! is £2.20 in magazine form however Kerrang! also have a website. The average edition of Kerrang! would have around 70 pages although a special edition would contain more. Regular contents of Kerrang! magazine include: interviews with artists, reviews on concerts and CD's and information on tours and new artists.  

Evaluation Of Preliminary Task.

In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
The media product created for my preliminary task is a college magazine so I have not challenged any real media products. Although, I have followed the usual conventions of a magazine and full filled the brief that was set, which included using a DTP to edit my image and create the text. 


How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My media product represents a social group of students as that is who my magazine is aimed at.  The image used on my front cover is realistic and appealing to students as it is positive and gives a bright feeling towards student life. 


Who would be the audience for your media product?
I have created my media product for students at the Isle of Man College although I think that aspects of the magazine could also appeal to staff at the college. 


How did you attract/address your audience?
On the front cover of my magazine, I put an attractive and happy young student on the front as I think the smile of the student will appeal to any gender.  The front cover also has a bright colour scheme of blues and purples, which as I have mentioned earlier, contrast and go well together as well as appealing to both the male and female audience.  The masthead on the front cover is very bold and bright which is eyecatching and will attract the target audience.  As for the sub-headings on the front cover, I have chosen a verity of phrases which will each appeal to a different aspect of my student audience. 


What have you learnt about technologies form the process of constructing this product?
In creating this product I have learnt how to use Microsoft Publisher in multiple ways as I used it to not only piece together my magazine but also construct the different styles of text. In editing the image for the front cover I have learnt to use different editing software including the basic editing software on Microsoft.  When taking the images for my front cover, I learnt which angles, lighting and positioning was suitable for my model and the magazine I was aiming to create.   

Contents Page For Preliminary Task.

This is the contents page for my Preliminary Task.

Edited Front Cover

After finishing the front cover of my College magazine, I decided that I was not entirely happy with the end result that I produced. I thought that the front cover I had originally produced was slightly bare and did not have enough information on it. I then decided that the front cover needed  something more to make it a little more eye catching to the audience. 


I added the shape and entered the text 'Christmas Decorations Inside!!!' as this magazine is a November issue, Christmas is approaching and many people enjoy the festivities and creating things during the season. I used a bold blue colour to stand out more than the rest of the text placed on the fron cover. I also moved the 'Movember' and 'Everyone Is Getting Involved' down a little to the bottom of the page to allow space for the shape and text. 


I am pleased with the slight editing to the front cover of my magazine and I think that it is now even more suitable for my target audience of students at the Isle of Man College.