Evaluation.

Whenever any piece of work is completed you have to evaluate it thoroughly, that's what I'm going to do in regards to my Music Magazine.

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

When producing my music magazine, I had to take into account the development and challenging process, keeping this in mind my music magazine both used, developed and challenged the normal conventions and codes of stereotypical and existing music magazines.
 

How my music magazine used them;
When deciding upon the logo for my music magazine, I previously looked at other magazines and analysed them. When designing my logo I wanted to make sure that it conformed to the expected normal codes and conventions. Well known music magazines don’t always have to go for the conventional BIG, BOLD header as they are already easily recognised – be that by the position in which the logo is placed, or the colours used.

As you can see from the image above, I decided to use a photograph for my front cover which is also is quite mainstream and conventional of any other.

My front cover contains an image that ‘lures’ the reader and catches their attention, after they have spotted the image their eyes can then divulge in the rest of the cover and the captions and headings around the page.

When producing my double page spread I took out a lot of research on other music magazines and their article pages.

On my double page spread I used colour, captions and images to lure my reader into the page and to catch their eye. In addition to this one double page spread I analysed, other examples of this also used the same technique to entice the reader.  

I set the text on my double page spread in columns to keep with the conventions of other music magazines.

 On my contents page, I analysed previous ones to try and get an idea of the sophistication and the layout of how I wanted mine to turn out and look. I featured to images and kept the conventions of any other music contents page.

How I developed them;

On the music magazines I have previously researched, I began to notice that most magazines only keep their brand identity and colours on the front colour, because my challenge was to develop my own music magazine, I felt that it was key to keep to this concept. I did however; make sure the Masthead was used on every article and the colour schemes of the contents page and double page spread were kept sophisticated and similar. I used black, white and red a lot on these two pages to keep a running connection, when it came to the front cover I used similar colours but also experimented and used others to stand out.

How it challenged them;

For the image I’ve chosen for my front cover, I decided to take a different approach to camera angles and vantage points. I wanted the reader and target audience to gain a sense of realism that they could relate to and not the stereotypical studio based photography.

Neither of the models (band members) are making eye contact in this scene, one person is looking far into the distance, which could symbolise him looking into his future, and the other artist is looking down, as if he’s thinking – but still keeping an ‘Indie’ vibe to the whole cover.

I’ve decided to challenge the whole stereotype of mise en scene and music front covers. I’ve taken the chosen artist out of a broad media environment and put them in the position of where their target audience may be viewing/reading/listening to them, to gain a sense of realism. They haven’t been photographed with artificial lighting, a make-up and hair team, but just as they are, so audiences can relate to them.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My Music magazine that I produced identifies and represents different social groups in a number of ways. When I first got my brief on this specific piece of coursework, I immediately thought of what type of audience I wanted to appeal to. From that I made a rough spider-diagram of how and who my magazine was going to appeal to.

As well as doing this I produced questionnaires and handed them out to the general public, then collected them back in and produced the results.

From the results I got back, I was then able to carry on with the development and design process of my magazine. My magazine is completely representative of a specific teenage “stereotype” of the ‘Indie’ genre.  The name of the magazine ‘NOISE’ came from the positive feedback and input from the public. The connotations of the Masthead ‘NOISE’ are representative of teenagers, as other generations class them as being noisy, disruptive and annoying. I feel that this was the right name for the magazine, as it can target a whole target of people and large scale social groups.

The magazine it’s targeted at people between the ages of 16-21, therefore I then had to come up with a representative and reasonable price to benefit everyone. The first issue price was at a discounted 99p but from then on, it would be £2 which seems quite an adequate price – the public agreed. The target audience for this magazine are not only interested in bands, but also in festival news and lines up, tours and gigs and band news. I thought that it was necessary was to ask these questions and gain results. – These pages could then be used on the contents page.

I felt that from the feedback, most of the readers would have been mainly male; they wanted to know about the festivals, whilst the females wanted specific interviews and gossip.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

The media institutions that might distribute my magazines range from one to many.

First of all the magazine would have been sent to a publishing house who would then have an array of contacts ranging from high street shops to the music industry. A publisher has a multi-faceted company, allowing it to promote products to more than one retailer.

Having magazines distributed via high streets would be the most common, easiest, cheapest and fastest way of doing so. Millions of people every day by magazines from shops and newsstands. As well as this approach the publisher can send copies to music industry clients, having them promoted and displayed in their offices and boardrooms. Having magazines on high-mail order via the internet, allowing people who don’t always have the time to go out and purchase the magazine, they are available to order or download a copy online. This then benefits the reader as it can work around their life, they feel this is a plus and keep coming back to use this service.  

Who would be the audience for your media product?

As previously stated I undertook a lot of previous research into gaining the exact and right information that would help along the development of my music magazine. From the results, the target audience for my magazine were students from the age range of 16-21, of both genders – with a lead in males. I kept the colour schemes sophisticated and equal so one gender didn’t feel embarrassed or ashamed to purchase the magazine.

On the contents page, there was a list of articles that would have been included in the magazine, these featured Interviews – with the band members featured on the front page, Festival News, Gigs and “new artist” reviews, tour dates and locations and fashion trends. – All of these subjects had been suggested in the questionnaires previously asked.

Among these teenagers, their interests would have been similar, so it would be ‘easy’ to try and relate to everyone, by including a variety of subjects and different bands most people associated with this particular genre of music would be interested in knowing about.

At the age of the teenagers that the magazine is aimed at, most of them have jobs so are earning a bit of extra cash and are able to support themselves financially whilst possibly still living at home, so they have a bit more of a disposable income per month than others, so they are able to spend it on materialistic items such as magazines, gig tickets, merchandise etc.

How did you attract/address your audience? How did audience feedback help you to make important decisions?

In order to attract my target audience I thought it was important to have a good and bold front cover to catch their eye. To do this, I used a large, bold and interesting image on the front cover, that’d stop and make people look in greater detail. I think the fact that I kept the fonts and lures simple helped attract my audience. Having a bold, white Masthead which “jumps” out of the image is a key component in attracting audiences. I think the overall layout and colour scheme gives a sophisticated, cool and up-to-date atmosphere. With the use of a smaller image on the front, I think benefited the overall appearance as it gives the reader an insight as to what’s included in the magazine, and the genre of it. Even though there is text present on the page, there isn’t so much that it spoils and takes the background image away from focus.

I tried to continue with this concept throughout the project. With my double page spreads, I tried to keep the colour schemes and layout simple and not to over complicate things for the reader. I did use different colours within the interview and for quotes to make it clear as to who was who and to bring a bit of colour to the page but still keep within the conventional boundaries.
For the Contents page, I kept the layout simple again and used the same colour scheme of black, white and red to keep a running connection going. This also keeps it equal between the genders if the colours are neutral.

 The audience’s feedback via the questionnaires helped greatly as I was able to take their comments and put them towards producing and editing my magazine so it could be the best and could relate exactly to what the reader and target audience wanted.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

From constructing this product I felt that I have learnt a lot as well as expanding on my previous knowledge. As well as being a Media student, I am also a Photography student, so I have a pretty good idea on all the different things Photoshop enables you to do and what you can create from it. I dint want to be seen and “too keen” whilst using it, and overcomplicate the image so I stuck to the basics which I still felt was enough.

With the use of Photoshop I was able to manipulate images even if it was by using simple techniques such as the burn and dodge tool, which allow you to darken and lighten certain parts of an image.   

 

As you can see from the bottom image, I manipulated it for it fit in with the theme of the magazine, and to give an indie vibe to the overall piece. I now feel as if I've widened my knowledge on photoshop even more, and this can then benefit all my other aspects of work.

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

Overall, going back to the beginning of my blog and looking over my pre-lim task and my final product, I feel more comfortable with the language used and the programmes. Even though I had a pretty good knowledge of Photoshop, I think I’ve extended that even more now, even on the simplest of forms.  Most importantly, I think I’ve extended my use of terminology and noticing the codes and conventions of music magazines already available out there on the market. I feel by every analysis I done, helped progress a little bit more and gain more of knowledge on the music industry. With all photographs taken, I am impressed with the end product, but if I had to reproduce this front cover, I’d probably change the way it was photographed and the area. I think the fact that you are around people in your class who are doing the same work as you, and are including in the actual production of your work, be it via imaging for the front cover, interviewing or questionnaires benefits you and helps to motivate you to get everything completed on time. All in all I feel that I have learnt a lot in this process, mainly on my language and terminology front, but massively benefited from the Photoshop work too.

Evaluation

Like at the end of anything you have to have an evaluation or conclusion, so  now I'm going to evaluate my whole media portfolio by answering the following questions.

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Double Page Spread.

For our double page spread, I produced an interview article that would have been carried out between the band members and the interviewee. Questions within the interview referred to the future of the muscians, a record signing and how the got discovered, all in readable and unstandable language.

Double page spread for magazine front cover.

After analysing previous double page spreads, I created my own layout for my double page, I have wrote about how I want the people to be standing and how to pose.

I have provisionally wrote the headline too.

Analysis of double page spread.

In order to produce a thorough music magazine, the three main things needed to be considered are the front cover, contents page and a double page spread.
Here I have analyised a double page spread from a current music magazine so I can have a clear idea of what i want to include in my own magazine.

What type of image I should include, how the person should be posed, what they should be wearing and how the whole layout of the page is going to be.

Own Contents page for magazine.

By following my original contents page layout plan, and by analysing previous content pages I was able to produce my own contents page for the magazine.

Contents layout.

Analysis of contents page.

In order to re-create my own contents page for the magazine, I had to analyse contents pages from other music magazines to gain an idea of what to include in my own  contents pages.



Front Cover.

This is my final front cover, I tried to stick as much to my plan as possible, I included the coverlines I intially wanted to use. I used my favourite and most relevant image. Some people may believe that this image isnt 100% suitable for a "stereotypical music magazine", but from my plans and ideas this is exactly what I had in mind, I feel that the image conveys the "indie" lifestyle and music scene, it's quite relaxing, and it makes you wonder/give you an insight into their music or lifestyle.





Photoshoot Ideas.

In order to take the right image for my front cover, I had to have an idea of what sort of look to go for, how I wanted the people to stand/pose, and with what extras in the shot.

I wanted to get an acoustic/"indie" setting, so I wanted to photograph the guys outside in a mellow and chilled out environment. I wanted images of them messing around and not being as serious but still have some form of indie/rock'n'roll lifestyle about them, so they could be included on the article page and the contents page.

I wanted to try and photograph them individually aswell so the audience/reader could get a sense of them as a person. The two people I used have their own unique indie image anyway so I asked them to pose as they felt comfortable, but yet directing them in certain ways, in positions to look and stand.

Possible images for my magazine.

When deciding on the final images I wanted to choose for my cover I took a while choosing the right one which fitted in with the image I wanted to achieve, so here are a few of them I whittled them down to.



I decided to choose these four images as my finals to use on my magazine as they matched up to my specification and my idea of what I specifically wanted to achieve.

The images being serious and "model" like, but running with a "cheeky" indie theme.

Layout of front cover.

Before I could finally produce my front cover. I had to run/produce a plan of what I wanted it to look like. On my front cover plan, I decided on exactly what I wanted the models to look like and stand.

Magazine Name and Font.

When designing my magazine front cover, I needed an idea of what to call it, from my research, I'd already established that it was going to be an "Indie/Alternative rock" magazine. So yet I took out another form of questionnaire to see what the public wanted.

After taking out another questionanire the results came back that 'Noise' was the favourite font .

An analysis of an existing magazine cover.

In being able to produce my own magazine front cover, it seemed useful to analyse previous available front covers, looking at the structure, layout, branding, langauge features etc.

Questionnaire and results.

To find out exactly what type of magazine I should produce, I undertook a questionnaire and handed it out to 20 people, then recorded my findings/results in tables and graphs. To show exactly what needed to be done.

Front cover to music magazine.

For this assignment we had to find a front cover of a music magazine and "copy"/ produce our own version to show how we can use different techniques and our ability to do so.

To be able to create this image, I had to expand on my photoshop techniques and experiment with how to create the same details, add the same text, experiment with different fonts, and overlaying images on top of each other, to place the image on top of the text, exactly like the original front cover.

Target Audience of magazine front covers.

For this task we looked at two different magazine front covers, highlighted and picked out the devices and conventions use to entice the target audience, and who the magazine was trying to aim for.

Representational devices of magazines.

Amongst these six magazine front covers, 5 of which are from different organisations, I looked and analysed the different ways in which each artist/band has been presented. By the use of Mise en Scene - props, hair and make-up, costumes, and the way the photograph and artist has been positioned within the page.

Reprentation of artists.

With this piece of work we looked and analysed 6 different magazine covers, souly on how the artist/band has been represented, due to costume,facial expressions, pose, hair and make-up, framing and props.

Contents,Layout,Presentational Devices and Language of a magazine front cover.

To widen our knowledge and understand the different elements and techniques used on magazine covers to entice the target audience into buying the product.

Here I have labelled and analysed all of the different contents on the page, such as the plug, coverlines and the recognisable master head.

Here I have labelled all the features of the layout on the front cover and have highlights the left-side third feature and explained the purpose of it.

Here I have highlighted all of the presentational devices, such as the use of font to stand out and appeal to the specific target audience as well as the use of Mise en Scene.

Magazine Front Covers.

As part of our Pre-Lim task for our previous coursework, we had to produce 3 magazine front covers.
Our front covers had to be appropriate for  school/college students, therefore it made sense to include information about exams, parties, how to revise and how to reduce stress.

This was my first front cover, I decided to include a picture of someone working, with coverlines to do with making UCAS, making choices about gap years etc.

Yet again on this magazine front cover, I showed a student working, but I also managed to link the two photos on the front cover, with a coverline, and information on "How to..."

I also included  the price, a barcode and the issue number of the magazine.

I also changed the colour of the masterhead, just to show the difference/edit choices.

 Finally, on this front cover, I have included a student working on a computer also I have included an image I’ve previously used, but it was appropriate. I have included a subheading, and coverlines on revision and on an Exam Countdown.  However, I also realised it was important to make it look professional and include a barcode, date and issue number.

All of my front covers have included images and colours presented in dfiferent places and in different sizes.

Identifying different music genres.

For this task, we had to analyse various magazine front covers to identify how different media elements can determine someones perception and idea of genres.