My Final Product

EVALUATION-What have you learnt about new technologies from the process of creating this product?

 

Throughout this process I have learnt how to use a digital camera to its full potential to capture high quality pictures. In this process I also used a tripod, this helped to keep the pictures in focus. I also learned a lot about photshop when creating my process; I learned that it is easier to take pictures on a plain background as this helps later when you are cutting the picture out. I also had to be considerate about my surroundings like lighting as this can make the picture, blurry, too dark or too light. In photoshop I used tools to adjust the brightness and contrasts. To cut out images I used the magnetic lasso tool, so that my models hair and the fine edges were left intact.

Using the blog has allowed me to keep track of my work and progress. Because the blog is available for people to view it has allowed me to receive constructive criticism and that has allowed me to make changes so my end product can be improved.

EVALUATION-What would be the audience for your media product and how did you address your audience?

 

I designed my magazine so it would target both male and female’s aged between 16 and 25. The magazine costs £3.50 a month; this is because I have aimed it at the working class and younger people that may only have a part time job or no job at all. This means that this cost is affordable once a month for my target audience. The price is lower or about the same for other monthly magazines it would be competing against.

 I have used a wide range of genre to put into my magazine however my feature is a pop artist; this is likely to attract the younger half of my target audience. I put in other content like R&B and rock to attract the older half.

To attract readers I used I simple colour scheme of red, black and white. I did this so it looked sophisticated but also not boring as the red stands out bright against the white and black. I have used a young model to attract teenagers; this helps because they can relate to the model. The other content in my magazines includes a tribute to Whitney Houston, I also think this would help attract older readers as she is a music icon and older people listen to her.

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

I think Bauer would be ideal to distribute my magazine as they are a multinational media company and well recognised, they also distribute ‘Q’ my other model magazine. I think my product would fit well with this as ‘Q’ has a similar target audience; male and females aged between 15-25. I think that because my magazine is similar to others Bauer distribute they have the money and the means to take a risk and because of my target audience and the wide range it could attract, they would try to see how it would sell.

However smaller companies would not be willing to take that risk because it is targeted at a wider audience and not just a specific group

EVALUATION-How does media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine is aimed at teenagers and young adults between the ages of 15-25, my front cover model will more likely appeal to the teenagers as it is a young pop star. I wanted to portray her as being likable so that the younger audience can relate to her. My model is dressed in casual clothes so that readers from lower and middle working class can also associate with her. Although my model breaks conventions of a stereotypical pop star because her hair is dishevelled, she is dressed in black and she is not smiling for the camera, I think this helps to appeal to the older half of my target audience. The model is also leaning into the camera as if she is going to tell us something. This reflects her story in the article as she is telling us her secrets. I decided to only use one image on my front cover so that she is the main focus. For my contents page I also took pictures of exsisting cd covers like Michael Jackson and Britney Spears, I also took a picture of Drake at his concert. I have added these images because it has given my magazine diversity, this means there is a wider range of audience to appeal to.

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

Looking back at my preliminary task I think it is evident that I have learnt a lot about how to make a magazine look professional. I definitely think my music magazine ‘Loud’ looks more realistic than my school magazine, I think this is because I carried out research of other professional magazines before I started to create mine. On my school magazine the front cover looks plain and the content is not aligned, also I did use any photoshop features like drop shadows. I put more content on my music magazine because it shows readers the rest of the content and therefore attracts them. The same for my contents page, I didn’t use much photoshop features and the photos and writing are not professionally placed. From doing my preliminary task I have learned a lot more skills on how to use photoshop, making it look professional and how to appeal to my target audience. I also learned more on how to use media equipment such as a digital camera which allowed me to get better quality photos.

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

I have produced a magazine that covers a variety of music genre such as Pop, R&B and Rock. My magazine is targeted at both male and females aged between 16-25. 

Before I started my product I analysed existing music magazines, this helped me to understand different conventions of magazines and how each one appeals to their target audience. I then picked a magazine that I would use as a template, so I could identify my target audience and make my product appealing and successful.

My magazine follows a number of technical conventions that I followed from Rolling Stones. I have used a simple colour scheme of black, white and red to help catch the reader’s attention. I have also followed conventions by using one image on my front cover that is placed in the centre.