Final front cover vs. Preliminary task

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

Evaluation

When looking back at my preliminary task and comparing it to my final product I feel like my work has improved and developed a lot. Since my preliminary task and during progressing to my final product I feel like I have learnt how to make my work look more professional and unlike my preliminary task, a product that could actually be used and advertised to be sold in shops to the public and be appealing to the audience. I have also learnt how to use different websites and programmes for examples, Pixlr, Blogger and Adobe Fireworks. Another thing I have learnt is how to design something that is appealing to an audience and how to give an audience what they want.

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

Evaluation

During the creation process of my music magazine I have learnt how to use different softwares and websites while also developing my previous skills and experience in programmes I had used before. One of the websites I used when creating my magazine was Pixlr, this is a website that allows you to edit photos and images in many different ways for free, similar to Photoshop. I didn’t know about Pixlr before and this was the first time I used it. However, I found it very easy and simple to use in comparison to other photo editing softwares such a Photoshop, nonetheless still achieving high quality, edited images with a professional finish.

To make my actual product and to piece it all together I used Adobe Fireworks on a Apple Mac, I hadn’t used Fireworks before so it was fun to learn how to use. For help on how to achieve and produce different effects and processes I watched various tutorials on the Internet. I found that Fireworks was probably the best software to use to create my product as it made my magazine look like a real, professional magazine that would attract my audience.

While I was taking the photos for my media product I knew that lighting was key to gaining high quality photos. However, as the location of my photo shoot was at a live gig in a club this was near enough impossible due to stage lighting and a dark atmosphere. Nevertheless I used my previous camera and photography knowledge to my best advantage and managed to finish with some great action shots etc. Using flash, different camera positions and editing skills I manipulated the photos to make them look exactly how I wanted them too.

 

How did I attract/address my audience?

Evaluation

The age range of my target audience is mostly people aged 16-30. Although this is a large age gap, my target audience are not hard to attract because they all have similar aspects in common, for example the fact that they all share a love for indie rock music. As the audience are indie rock music fans and my magazine is an indie rock music magazine it was easy to attract and address my audience by having articles in my magazine about the latest indie rock music and reviews on the latest indie rock albums. I also had interviews in my magazine with the top indie rock bands, which is a great way to attract my audience as they can find out exclusive information on their favourite bands and artists that they will find interesting and enjoyable.

By having pictures of top indie rock bands on the cover of my magazine, this helped me to attract my target audience as it means the magazine would be easy to spot by a member of my audience as they would recognise the bands or artists and therefore be intrigued to look at the product, hence making them want to read and buy the magazine. Another way I engaged my audience into wanting to buy and read my magazine is by putting enticing offers and competitions on the front cover, consequently encouraging them to want the magazine.

 

Who would be the audience for my media product?

Evaluation

The type of magazine I created is a music magazine. All magazines have a target audience whether it is a niche audience, small, or a mass audience, which is big. The genre of music that my magazine features and promotes is ‘indie rock’.As my magazine is focused on and all about indie rock music, this therefore makes the target audience for my magazine everyone who likes indie rock music. In my previous research before making and designing my magazine I found that the main and typical age range of this target audience are people aged 16-30. My target audience is also everyone who has a strong interest and like for this genre of music. I have decided that the target audience for my magazine is a niche audience as although the popularity of indie rock music has risen over the past few years it is still considered an alternative genre of music.
 

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

Evaluation

My media product is a niche magazine that could be distributed by Bauer because they are an institution that distribute a range of mainstream and niche magazines. My magazine will be sold in mainstream outlets such as supermarkets and newsagents because it is suitable to be sold in mainstream shops.

 

How does my media product represent particular social groups?

Evaluation

The intended audience for my magazine is young adults and people ages 16-30 who enjoy the indie rock genre of music. The NRS social grade of my audience is E to C2. Therefore my magazine is priced at £2 so my targetted social group can afford it as some of my target audience are not earning a wage and some will not be earning a very high wage. Referring back to the social identity theory my audience will aspire to be the people featured in the magazine.

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

Evaluation

I think that my magazine conforms the conventions of real, currently existing media products and follows the conventions of typical magazines. My media product does this because it follows the same looks, the same layout and the same style of a typical magazine. For example a main background image, the masthead at the top of the page and coverlines mostly down the left side of the page.