Monday, 16 April 2012

DONE.

This is my completed coursework, including research and planning,application and evaluation, to create a music magazine.

Monday, 26 March 2012

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

Since the creation of my student magazine which was the preliminary task i have realised that all the little things are worth taking into account because they can determine whether your magazine is good or bad. I have learnt that attention to detail is very important. The little things make a difference. I have also learnt how to make my magazine look attractive and professional at the same time. I have also learnt that practice make perfect because I learnt so many things from the creation of the student magazine and I made mistakes and learnt from them, I learnt what works well and what doesn’t and I took everything I learnt into account and I think I have managed to create a really good final Music magazine and I am proud of what I have achieved. I have also learnt how to make my work appeal to my target audience. I have also learnt how to use many new applications since the development of my student magazine like slide share and survey monkey.

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

I have learnt how to use many different things in creating this Music magazine, but I have also helped improve my knowledge in a few different area’s. I furthered my skills with blogger, Photoshop and i became a more accluplished photographer. But the things i have used for a first time were in design and survey monkey. They both took a while for me to get to grips with but after a while of experimenting and getting used to it i was soon able to carry out the task of creating a music magazine quite easily.

Evaluation Question 5. how did you attract/address your audience?

During the creation of my magazine I made it really colourful so that it would attract the attention of the buyer in the shop, this is important as 70% of people who their magazines on the spur of the moment. I also created a very eye catching masthead and main image on my front cover for this reason. My masthead font was very different and it will attract people’s attention straight away. There are also puffs and pugs on my front cover and they will attract the readers attention right away as they are brightly coloured, the one says ‘Free posters inside’ this will also attract the buyer to buy the product as he will be sure that he is buying a poster as well as a magazine that I a bonus. The cover model was photographed with a smiling happy face to connote to the readers that they will be happy if they read this magazine, this will make the reader want to buy the magazine even more.

Evaluation Question 4 who would be the target audience for your media product?

My music magazine is aimed at people aging from 12-28, so there is a large age range but i think anyone in this age bracket will be able to appreciate the magazine. Both genders will be able to appreciate the magazine. The magazine will be relatively cheap so that youngsters will be able to afford it.

Evaluation Question 3. what type of institution might distribute your media product and why?

My magazine is ideal for any mass media institution to distribute. An example of a large institute is Bauer Media who currently publish Magazine like Kerrang! So they are obviously experience in this market and I think would be an ideal institution for my music magazine. They would gain a large amount of profit if they were to produce my magazine as it is very good. They would be able to expand there audience and improve the respect they get off many people globally.

Evaluation Question 2- how does your media product represent particular social groups?

In my music magazine I have represented teenagers and young adults. I think I have done this
really well by using a lot of colour and trying to make my magazine as happy as I can, by
using bright colours I have tried to show a teenagers happiness. I have also not made my
magazine overly complicated because I realized that some young people will be reading the
product and there is no bad language in it, because of the age range that is going to be
portrayed too. I think I made a good choice in using a young musician on my front cover
because this will make young people more likely to buy the product if they see a youngster on
the front cover, they will think of how this person has become so successful and they will
want to read on and find out for themselves. I have done so in a fairly stereotypical way,
maintaining a mass market appeal by keeping to the dominant ideologies. I have also made the Writing really chatty which appeal to a teenage audience.

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

The first thing that I did before I started creating my magazine was too analyse professional magazine like Kerrang! And many others. This then gave me an idea of the form and conventions that I needed to include in my own Music magazine. There are many conventions that customers look at when glancing at a magazine that will make them more likely to buy the product, like the Masthead for example. If the masthead is all bland and in a small font the buying is a lot less likely to buy the product than if the masthead is Large, bright and in a nice font, so this is one of the conventions that I have looked at in detail. I think that Many people tend to look and read about music online a lot more these days so for a new music magazine to really be a success they need to take into account everything and produce a astonishing magazine that will catch the ye of passers by, and this is what I have tried to create, A magazine that a costumer will glance at, and it will grab there attention straight away and they wont be able to resist the temptation of picking it up and flicking through it, which will hopefully result in them buying the product. I made sure that I chose an irregular font and made it very big just so it stands out to potential customers. I tried very hard to make things stand out on my magazine whether it be the masthead, cover lines, puffs or pugs I have made them extra bold, because I want people to notice my magazine when it’s on the shelf. Throughout my magazine I have tried to keep the layout of it very simple so that people don’t find it confusing and so they find it easy to read. A few magazines have given me inspiration in my creation of a music magazine; one magazine that has been overly helpful was Kerrang! Magazine. I have read this magazine and have noticed that it is very formal and is a very good read. I also know that Kerrang! Magazine is well respected amounts readers of music magazines, so I thought that there is no better magazine to take inspiration from. My magazine even helps advertise for certain brands, for example on the front cover Ray ban sun glasses are being advertised as Chaz Jones is wearing them this will know make people want to buy the product.

Wednesday, 22 February 2012

questionnaire Questions....

http://www.surveymonkey.com/MySurvey_EditorFull.aspx?sm=q9KTCs0jmXjBYnZlnLUNJChE6oeynWc%2fPDJCDIhE6ws%3d

Saturday, 18 February 2012

Research into Music Magazine Double Page Spread X2

Media Studies
Music Magazine Double page spread analysis

1.

I really like this double page spread. Its made up of two pages, one page consists of a large picture and a little bit of text and then the second page is just filled up with information and lots of text. The large image on the left is there to attract the reader into reading the text on the right, So the reader will notice the photograph and want to read on. I think that the colour scheme on this double page spread is really good because it highlights all the important bits in blue, so the reader will skip to the blue bits first to find out if there is any interesting contents and hopefully read on. The main text is a black font on a white back ground, this is really good as it makes it really easy to read, and also they have chosen a sensible font which is also really easy to read. On the far right hand side there is a information column, its in a darker colour than the rest of the double page spread and this really draws attention to it and make the reader get drawn into it. There is a red lure at the bottom of the second page, and the fact that its in red really draws attention to it as well. There is a very clear Masthead across both pages, I think this is really good as it gives the double page spead its focus and tells all the readers what the double page spread is going to be on about, Its very bold and highlighted in blue and in a very large font this helps make it the first thing that the readers will look at when they turn onto this page.


2.
This Double page spread has three colours in it which are Red, black and white. This puts a theme on the double page spread already, it shows its a heavy metal band and slightly Emo by the fact of the red colour. This double page spread also has a very clear Masthead, it has much bigger font size than the rest of the double page spread which makes it stand out, its also across the two pages which is good because your see it early as you turn onto the page. There are a few lures on this double page spread that bring people in and make them want to read the rest of the write up. On the right hand side page, there is a lot of text in two columns I like this format, the text has a white font and is on a black background, this makes it really easy to read. There is a range of good pictures on this double page spread, they are of very high quality and all feature band members, Fans of th bands may really like this because they like looking at picture so this might be a big attraction to reading on in the article and also it might make them buy the product in the first place. On the far right hand side there is a column that is in a different colour to the rest of the double page spread, its a white column with black text, this draws attention straight away because its a different colour, but it also states that there is some important information in it. Its tittle is also in red which reinforces its importance. 

Friday, 17 February 2012

Research into Music Magazine Contents pages x2

As Media Studies
Contact page Analysis

1.
This contents page is from a magazine called BANG! I think the creater of this contents page has used colour very well to emphasise the important bits, and to also give the magazine a feel. I think that the colour gives the magazine a Rock feel as the Colours are mostly dark, with a few bright colours also. The bright colours tend to be the important things such as the masthead and the titles. The creater has chosen a good text in my opinion as it can be easily read and understood. They have have also used a light font colour on a dark background this makes it really easy to read. The Bold Font and Red Font on the edition make it really stand out. There is also a Star which adds a little something to the contents page and attracts the readers attention. The information on this contents page is really good I think as it gives you some important info such as New, Features, Live reviews and upcoming Gigs, all the different things are page numbered really well and clearly which I think is mightily important. There is a good Picture in the bottom right hand corner of the contents page, I think it is important to have a picture on the contents page as it make the page look more attractive and less boring. There is also a page number next to the picture which takes you straight to the write up and I also think its important to have all the different things page numbered so people know where to find them straight away. There is also a Puff in Red and bold on the right hand side which is good because it may make the buyer want to buy the product even more. Its also got some good lures like the album reviews for example.


2.
This is a music magazine called Riot. This has a very different feel to it to the contents page above. It has a slightly messy feel to it. Its colour scheme is very multi coloured, there’s no real trend in colour. There is a Masthead at the top which is very bold and that stands out very well. There is 3 pictures on this contact page, I think they attract the attention of the reader and they may make him/her want to buy the product. The pictures show band members, this will also make readers want to buy the product more as the band member are there Idols. I don’t think the chosen Font on this Contents page is very good because its hard to read, it looks appealing but its difficult to read. The contents page highlights what’s inside the magazine which is a good point and its really simple, there are page number written which makes it easy to find each article.

Research into Music Magazine Front covers. X 3

Media Studies
Front cover Analysis

  1. Kerrang!

The First Magazine front cover I have chosen to look at is a Magazine called Kerrang!. This front cover has a very Bold masthead reading; Kerrang! Its written in a very large front to grab the readers attention early. There is Another piece of Type that stands out a lot, and that is a Slanted type going from left to right across the centre of the front cover, it reads; LOSTPROPHETS. I think its slanted to connote the fact that the magazine is different and slightly Naughty. This is a sub heading of the magazine, so its telling us also what is going to be coming up inside the magazine, this will also intise readers to buy the product. There is also I picture of the band on the cover, this is another technique used by Kerrang! To get people looking at the magazine and wanting to buy it because there Idols appear on the front cover so they automatically think its going to be a good magazine. This magazine has a good colour scheme in my opinion because it has bright colours to highlight important bits, and then the rest is easily read and not too boring. There are many lure's on this front cover that make us as the readers want to find out what’s inside the magazine, For example there is a lure saying Blink 182, this will make people want to read on so that they can see what blink 182 have been up too. On the front cover there Is also a few Pugs, they help attract the readers into the magazine because they think the have a chance at winning something. The magazine also has a few Puffs on the front cover, they also make the readers want to try and find out more, so they are really affective. An example of a Puff is ' The Welsh Stars Battle To Save There Futures' this makes the reader think why are there futures in doubt in the first place and then they will read on to find out for them selves. I also think the layout of this front cover is very good as its not too busy and everything has been placed in good positions, and its all easy to read.











2. VIBE
This is a Front cover of Vibe Magazine. There is a Large Close up image on the front cover that shows Kanye West, for some girls this will be a turn on and make them want to read on and find out why he is on the front cover. I think this Front cover has a really good colour scheme as its Not just created for one gender, with the Pink and the blue it targets both genders. I also think the colours compliment each other really well. There Masthead is Written across the top of the page, but I don’t think it is very good as the image is covering the word slightly and if you were new to the magazine you wouldn’t no what it was called. But other than that I think the layout of the front cover is really good. This front cover is really simple and not overcrowed but I think it works really well because it has all the important detail on it, but not enough to bore you. There are a few good Puffs on this front cover, for example Its Says 50 greatest songs, on the left hand side, this will make readers buy the magazine so that they can find out what the 50 greatest songs are. There is lots of quality Lure's as well that will shows things that will be included in the magazine and this will make the readers buy the magazine and read on.



















3.Spin
This Magazine is called Spin, this is one of there front covers. The Masthead of this front cover is highlighted in Red which draws attention to it which is good. The is a large Central image on this front cover which is of the singer Duffy, this will make people want to buy the product a lot more as Duffy is a worldwide superstar and many people's idol. So people will read the magazine just to find out more about Duffy. There is Lots of Lure's on this front cover mainly down the left hand side, they will make people read on in the magazine and they will attract people to find out more. For example one lure is Where it says; D'angelo What the hell happened. This will make people read on so they can get the full story which is further inside the magazine. I think the layout of this magazine front cover is really good also as its nice and simple and can be easily read, Plus the important bits are in blue which makes them stand out from the rest of the writing. Its simple but affective.  

Action Plan- Music magazine As Media Studies


Action Plan

16th January
·     Compare magazines and research the magazine market place.
·     Research similar products: 3x front covers, 2x contents pages, 2x double page spread
24th January
·     Initial ideas
·     Audience research
·     Writing a treatment plan

6—27 February
·     Drafting of pages
·     Audience feedback
·     Layout/ masthead ideas
·     Plan photo shoot and take photos
·     Drafting of pages
Audience feedback
5th March
·     Evaluation
9th March
·     Final deadline

Monday, 6 February 2012

Introduction to the main task


Introduction to main task

During this section of my As media work I have been asked to create a Music magazine. I have to produce a front cover, contents page and a double page spread. I will be documented all of my work onto Blogger.  I will analyze other magazine so that I can produce the best possible magazine I can.  

Student magazine Evaluation


Media Studies Student magazine Evaluation


1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
As we were introduced to this first preliminary task, I studied a range of other student magazine's and looked at what worked well and not so well, I looked at what the magazine should include. I realized that there are certain things that student magazines need to be able to draw in the reader. The sort of information that I have including in my magazine will appeal to the student age group, some of the information I have included is Sporting based or musical and also other things like College gossip, this way I’m more likely to make an impression on students as they will be interested in the contents of the magazine. I realized that the magazine shouldn’t be too serious, as it would bore the reader, so I tried to include some more fun and exciting contents. My Magazine is like many other media products because it try’s to attract the attention of buyers in many different ways.

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
 I have created this magazine in order for it to attract youngsters and students, and as I am a student at the moment I created the magazine in the way that if I was a buyer I would like it to be. So I used Photographs that are exciting and tell a story and show what college life is really like. In my front cover I have chosen a picture of a....................I think this gives my magazine really.........look. I also think this worked well because the front cover isn’t too busy and the text can be easily read. I edited the images a little on my contents page to make them look more jolly, then this way I’m hoping that people reading the magazine will see that college is a really fun place to be. The text I used on both my front cover and my contents page I think worked really well as its simple but can but easily read as well which is ideal for this. Certain bits of text are bolder than others though, this is because they are the important bits, So I wanted to emphasize the importance of them and hopefully attract the readers eye to the important bits.

3.What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Just before I created my own student magazine we studied a range of other magazines that people had produced, Some where professional and some where from past students at college, So I had a large range of magazine's to gather ideas and inspiration from. There were a few magazines that inspired me, but in particular a magazine that’s on my blogger called Student Surprise, I liked this magazine because it was evenly spread out and has a good picture on it and the writing is easily read and it has some good information on it, so overall it is really simple and effective, which is what I wanted mine to be like. I think I would sell my product at college because it includes many things that would be interesting for a college student to read.

4.Who would be the audience of your media product?
The audience of my Student magazine would be people from the ages of (16-18) college people. I think this is the only age of people who would be interested as my magazine involves information relating to the college age group.

5.how did you attract/address your audience?
I think that I have attracted people to buy my product by producing a product with a lot of colour on it, the use of quality images and a good layout. Not forgetting the good information inside as well. I think my colour scheme worked well because it makes the magazine look goo quality. I also Was clever when writing my text, I used a light text on a dark background therefore the text stands out and is on of the first things that the buyer looks at. I was careful not to use tacky colours as the magazine would have looked cheap.

6.what have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt a lot in this preliminary task, which will help me a lot in my major As media project. I used a range of different programs and I have learnt how to use them fluently so Whilst moving on to do trickier things il be a lot more prepared to complete another magazine to a much higher standard. I have learnt how to use In design to a very high standard and I am pleased with my progress. I have also learnt a lot about photography and how to take a interesting photograph that shows happiness within the image. I have also used word document to forecast and write up what I have been doing. I have used Adobe Photo shop to edit some of my photographs, this was hard software to grasp but I think I have progressed well and can do a good job on it now.