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Media Evaluatio

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

My magazine ‘Mainstream’ follows the typical conventions of an Indie genre magazine. It includes various reviews on recent performances, exclusive interviews with new ‘up and coming’ stars and has a view free posters included.

It contains a range of rather dark colours which are complimented well with the brighter more vibrant yellow and purple that I use to add some contrast. The font styles I used to support this colour scheme were stereotypically ‘retro’ and original. They stood out well however they were easy to read and entertaining to look at.

The composition of my images also help to add to the indie genre, as they’re dressed in smart but casual shirts and polo’s which make them look carefree, also the various poses help to bring across the indie feel. For example the picture in the top right has the image of the artist striking a pose and dressed in a bright blue polo, which adds to the Indie genre of the ‘Mainstream’ magazine.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Its centered around the Indie genre however it also has some typical rock aspects to the magazine. So the magazine is aimed at any social group really.

However the images have been staged to depict the featured artists as casually dressed in checkered shirts and polo’s. This make them easier to relate to, as you’re able to replicate their outfits.

The font used was more of a retro younger style to try and appeal to a young audience, but not to alienate any social groups.

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

After looking into various magazines and who produce them, and comparing them with my magazine. I’d think either the Bauer Media Group or Time Inc. as they already distribute very successful music magazines of Indie genre, NME (Time Inc.) and Q Magazine (Bauer)

I think it would be well suited to one of these institutions, because I feel that I’ve managed to incorporate some of the features from Q and NME into my magazine, as I used both of these magazines for my research so they have influenced my interpretation of music magazines heavily.

Also the images in both of these are a mixture of well composed images, posed or live. I have tried to include these in my magazine to help the overall appeal of the magazine.

Imag

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These are the various images used. They help to entice the audience as they include the young lads, performing and posing with various instruments.

The composition of each photo was well planned so they stayed true to the genre and they would fit the style of the magazine suitably.

Who would be the audience for your media product? My magazine ‘Mainstream’ is aimed at a variety of different

target audiences. As I have tried to make it appeal to both genders, specifically of around 15 to 19 year olds. Mainly because from my surveys, they are more likely to go out and buy a magazine and read it than someone of a much older age.

I have tried to entice the younger, teenage readers by including younger ‘artists’ who are easy to relate to. Also using the younger males, the boys will want to be them, and try to emulate them, whereas the girls will obsess over them and their music.

Also by using more informal language it helps to target a younger audience as teenagers aren’t going to want to sit and read lengthy blocks of text with long unnecessary words.

How

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Well from my audience research, I was able to get a basic idea of what sort of things to include, layout to use, and colours and fonts to include.

I tried to use the colours that my research indicated were the best to appeal to a mass teenage audience, so I used the darker backgrounds, of red and black, but contrasted them well with the lighter blue, yellow and purple. These were the colours that were rated highly by my audience research.

The layout I considered was attempting to draw the audience in with the bright colours, and flashing coverlines. This was achieved by placing the brighter coverlines in the hot spots and including a bright clear banner underneath the main image.

I tried to base my fonts on a more modern feel, so the masthead was almost sprayed onto the page, which would have appealed to the stereotypical teenager as it’s a sign of rebellion. Also the coverline fonts were more modern and younger, had a real retro feel to them, these would have helped to stand out more to the readers eyes as its different and original.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?Throughout the production of ‘Mainstream’ I

have used a variety of technology to aid me, like digital cameras, video camera, paint and Microsoft publisher.

I was able to develop my skills by using new technologies like Microsoft publisher, I was able to get a better understanding of how best to film and capture images by using the digital and video cameras. Also I was able to use my knowledge of paint to help me increase the quality of the images and suit them to the genre.

Digital Camera & Video CameraI used the digital camera to take the photo’s for

my magazine, I was able to experiment with them, by taking various shots at different angles and zoom.

I used a video camera to film my focus group for my evaluation. They were able to give me constructive feedback with out me having to write down key points or for them to be limited by a questionnaire. I was able to film them for around 8 minutes and they were able to provide various criticisms and improvements that I was able to take down in video format for future reference.

Paint & PublisherMy editing software was paint, purely because

photoshop was too confusing for me. This limited me in some ways, however I feel did the best I could with the software I had available. The photo’s therefore had to be perfect and in need of only slight adjustments.

Finally, my key piece of technology were Microsoft publisher as without this my magazine would not have been able to be put together easily, and it would not have come out as being quite effective as it has. I had no previous experience with publisher before however after practicing with the preliminary task, I feel that my skills had improved vastly and this benefitted me in the main production.

Technology

I used paint to editing the original images. Adding effects was done in publisher but various photo edits were administered in paint.

Publisher was the main tool I used, as this was where I created the magazine. I was able to put the text, images, layout and everything together to create the final piece.

What do you feel you have learnt in the progression from your preliminary product to the full product?I feel that I have improved massively since my preliminary task,

as it was my first experience with publisher and I wasn’t very good. However my main task I’ve been able to use the skills picked up for the preliminary task to aid me in the production of my magazine.

I feel that the overall appearance of the magazine looks a lot more professional, as before it was too ordered and plain whereas now its scattered, interesting and a lot more appealing to a younger audience.

Also I looked into the colour scheme a lot more, as my preliminary task the colours were quite plain and simple, I only really used blue, just changed the tone, so it looked too plain and simple. Whereas in my final task I tried to use darker colours but then have the bright vibrant colours over the top to make them stand out more to the audience.

Progression from Preliminary to Final Product

The difference in texts and images

Preliminary Task

Finished Music Magazine

Front Cover

Contents Page

Double Page Spread