Evaluation section 7

What do you feel you have learnt in the progression from your first task to the full product?

At the beginning of the year I did not feel comfortable with the editing tools or using a blog. This has all changed now and I can use the tools and I liked using the blog and want to start doing it myself. I did find Photoshop and InDesign extremely difficult at first and I don't feel that confident still now, but it is a better and was useful working with them.
I have learnt that audiences and magazines are connected and that the magazines publishing company is looked into in great detail. I think it was a good idea that the magazines connect with the audience and I like a lot of different magazines since starting this topic. I have also learnt about camera techniques and the effects they have. I know how significant the photo is on the magazines and how it has to portray the audiences in a certain way and connect properly.

I have enjoyed creating and working with this topic even though I have found it difficult to keep on track with this and other courses. I hopefully have produced a good product that is worth a good grade. I have learn a lot of  information about how the audience is important though and how we as a person are looked at before the product is made.

I will continue to read magazines and look at it in the same amount of detail that I have produced my work in. I enjoy also working on my blog and updating it like I am writing here.

There is also a difference in the way my first draft at a college magazine looks to the final product of my music magazine. This shows my progression.

Evaluation question 6

What have you learnt about the technologies that you have used when constructing your product?

Throughout making my product I have used a range of different technologies including :

 

 

Slide share is a programme used for creating online power points and embedding them on blogs and online for people to see them. I used this when I created some power points to put onto my music magazine blog for my exam coursework. I found it difficult to embed into my blog at first but I found it easy to use to create the power point, I soon figured my way around it. It was useful to show examiners and my teacher than I can use a computer to my advantage and take advantage of the technologies and programs that they offer. This could also give me extra marks in my exam for using such things.

 

 

Blogger is a programme that is for people to create blogs on for any reason. Magazine coursework was the reason I have had to create one and on this is uploaded all of my progress. This shows that I can use some media in fun and interesting ways. This was the first time that I had ever used this and found it easy to use and liked using it that I made a blog for my mothers cake business also. You could embed posts and photos onto this and also power points and other such programs can be used and put onto it to showcase some of your skills. I enjoy using this. This is a good way to mark coursework and I like the idea of it and it shows my skills of better.

 

 

Glogster was used to create a poster on my chosen music scene which was indie music. I used arctic monkeys as I love them and it fit well with what type of magazine I wanted to do. This is a good way to show the poster as it is interactive and almost 3D like.

 

 

In design was a very tricky process and took along time to do anything on it because I wasn't accustomed to it. It did do my head in. I used the text tool and used the previews to see everything I put onto the magazine. It helped with the order of my magazine and laying it out because it gave guidelines to stick to. This was the main programme that I used and even though it was tricky I got round it in the end. I also used photo shop which again was difficult to use but I got round it in the end, It was hard to delete things such as the background and other things such as editing text and photos. I used a free outline tool in Photoshop that helped me cut out of the background of the image so that it was just of the main star.

 

 

 

I also used hardware and technologies such as computers and cameras when I did my coursework. Every lesson we used computers to input data onto our blogs and also write up anything that we needed to. We used computers to edit things and type up any information we needed. The internet was used a lot because a lot of the information was of other peoples blogs and also some of the programs where on it. The only problem with this is that in the college system some of the things are blocked so we cannot access some of the information that we want properly. However, using the computers and using them to do a lot of things are useful and better than using pen and paper. Its good that I know how to use computers efficiently also.

 

I also used a camera that was given to me from the college to use. It was good and it was easy to upload some of the photos onto the computer via a usb lead. I enjoyed using the camera and enjoyed the topic overall. I found it easy to upload the photos and also easy to edit them. However, because of the lighting wasn't correct the photos where not perfect but they did the job and they were decent enough to use.

 

 

 

Evaluation question 5

How did you address attract your audience?

 

The language that I used on the front cover of this magazine is shown here. I used selling words such as 'shocking' and ' special' which gives the audience the impression that they are important and they are involved. These types of language should excite and interest them. I attracted them due to looking at what the audience would want to see. I have hopefully give of the impression that I knew what I was doing. I tried to use different conventions to do this. I used flashes and used the colours yellow, red and black so that everything complimented each other and they are simple which is what the reader of this want. The readers of this magazine are interested in the contents not what the colour scheme is, they are more deep. Yellow is the block colour that is used for the most exciting of the stories such as ' john myres shocking new album' and ' the fear'.

The models on the front of my magazine could be the reason to attract my audience. this could be because they fit into the scene of the music and people can relate. The male audience may want to be them and the women audience may think they are handsome. They are both young and people could find them attractive. I made sure that the clothing was set to the genre also. I made the models look into the camera and make them the mode of address as if they are looking at the audience, I find this technique very striking and effective.

The masthead on my front cover is large so that the audience can tell what the magazine is and always recognise it. Further on my magazine, I have put the names and stories what is included in my magazine in red. This is because red is a powerful colour and will attract the audiences attention to this and make them want to read and want to buy.

The word plus is in yellow on a red background so that it stands out and shows the audience that they are getting a good amount of content and its interesting. This could be the reason someone buys it. There is a lot of information on my cover, so that should interest the audience that they are getting what they pay for as their is a lot of good stories. I have also used recent and regular bands to make sure this is the case.

This is my double page spread. I have used the article to show the reader what is to come if they buy the magazine and to see what is in it. I have used an attractive main model that dresses the same as what people may expect of a 'indie'. Looking directly at the audience he is giving the audience the effect that he is looking at them. Which is good with the quote next to him.  He is also holding a guitar which people find attractive and interesting. I have set the photo so that the guitar is off the page and through the title. This is to show a edgy effect. I have then shown some home photos of the model which shows a fun and exciting side of him which I think people will like because it shows that people who read this magazine are fun and like a good laugh and a party. I stuck to the general house style here also, with the same colours ect.

I feel that the language I have used is interesting and readable. I believe that the readers would enjoy is because it is fun and young written and also funny such as ' I got followed to the toilet'. Which is standing out in the article so the audience again sees a fun side. This is how I attracted the audience by the element of fun and games with a edge. which again can be seen in a typical 'indie' person. This is a light hearted effect and this is also shown in the quote' the fans are amazing. I couldn't ask for better and that comes from the heart'. This gives the fan something directly to them to read.

The tour dates are also something that will attract audience as it gives them something to look forward to.

In my contents page as you can see I used a fun and vibrant photo which shows again the fun and yet edginess of this magazine. It again follows the colour scheme and looks nice and neat. It attracts the audience because it has a lot of information and yet is easy to read and follow. It gives live dates which excites the audience and shows reviews on loads of artists. I have worded the text so that it sounds exciting and used bands and artists that are part of this genre and the audience loves. I have used words such as' Exclusive and specials' which connotes that there is something worth looking at. It should create an explosion for the reader when they read it. I have put these things in yellow so they stand out.

The photo is another direct mode of address but it is a more fun and looks cooler. However, I feel like the audience will feel more relaxed and might have a giggle about this photo. It does work well though with the ones underneath also. I have used a subscribe now button to show readers they can get issues and look at the magazine online, which shows this magazine is keeping up to date with its readers and catering for their needs.

Everything I have done in this magazine is to keep the audience interested and keep up to date with the genre of music and articles that magazine such as Q and NME produce. I think I have done well and think my magazine is good enough to buy. With the pictures and articles also, are effective as people like photos.

Evaluation question 4

This part of the evaluation is about audience.

 

This is what I did for audience research. this shows what kind of things my audience is into and what they like to do and what films they like to watch and obviously what type of music. In showing the above reader profile it shows what my audience wears and what type of people they are and what they like to do.  I've added readers quotes about the magazine in this to show what they like about the magazine and why they buy it.

In order to show what type of people would read my magazine I have represented the target audience through the photos and text above. I have created the identity of my readers just by showing the common interest of fashi0n, music, partying and friends. The images I have used are of teenage life and because im that age I can relate and put across what I would like to see in a magazine like NME. Yes, there are older readers but they also can relate through the magazine and what's inside it. I used quotes so that the reader is almost part of the magazine and shows other people why they should read it and it also gives us feedback on what the audience is liking.  

The models I have used in my magazine are of the indie genre which is listened to by both genders and attracts both audiences because it is a mix of music. I believe I have met the needs of my audience because they expect a fun but truthful indie magazine with the latest news and facts about new upcoming artists. 





 

Evaluation question 3

This is my prezi on publishing  company's and which one I will  be choosing to publish my magazine.

Evaluation question 2

Describe your choice of photos and tell us about the audience you are creating your magazine?

 I chose these types of photos to take so that they fit in with the music magazine well. The bottom photo especially shows a indie/rock feel to it and does on my magazine also.

These types of photos shows of  what the audience is like because the photos are showing young and good looking people in them and that's what most audience want to see, as well as their favourite artist. I wanted a lot of different shots for my magazine and I got some shots sat down, stood, looking away and looking towards the camera. This gives the audience a feeling of connection with the artist.

 

 I created this magazine for 16-30 year olds that are into rock and indie music such as arctic monkeys and the rolling stones. It has everything that needs to be in a magazine and shows everything that that age group would like to see in a magazine like this.

My magazine would tell you that the audience for it is young and up to date with new music. Listening to radio stations such as radio1. I used ideas so that they would stand out in my audiences mind by adding onto the front cover badges and updates about new albums and posters and also tours. This would attract an  audience because they always want to know about what is new and out.

 I've tried to target my  audience by the images and also articles which have a range of gigs and shoots of gigs and shots. It keeps the audience interested by having articles and reviews about gigs, festivals and the bands involved. Also every week, there is one main big article about a new band and makes them the focus and they have a double page spread about them which I have created.

The people that would read this type of magazine would be stereotyped to look Indie and Mosher like. Yet alternative dress and personalities would read and listen to this type of thing. Most of these people would be seen as crazy and up for a laugh as they don't care about what people think of them hence why there are alternative to others. Depending on what they are listening to as the music in this magazine is different all the time, would show their outlook on life.



Who are the people that listen to this music? - Known as the indie people of society, who wear alternative clothing and older clothes, vintage. They listen to anything to do with Arctic Monkeys to Tom Odell, they are different people than people such as ' chavs'. BBC states that these type of people have low self esteem, not gentle, creative and aren't hard working. Which would really be correct for most of that. However, most indie people like to just smoke and have fun.

Indie music. What is it about ?

The meaning of the term "indie rock" is contested today by many musicians, fans and commentators. Some use the term "indie" to describe any rock music produced by artists working within the network of independent record labels and underground music venues that emerged in the United states and elsewhere in 1980s and 1990s. Others see indie rock as a distinct genre of rock music with a specific artistic aesthetic, and care less about the context in which it is made. Many embrace both meanings of the word, believing that the aesthetics of the genre and its means of production are deeply intertwined.

Indie rock artists are known for placing a premium on maintaining complete control of their music and careers, releasing albums on independent record labels and relying on touring, word-of-mouth, airplay on independent or college radio stations and, in recent years, the internet for promotion. However, in the 2000's many acts with a musical style identified as "indie" signed to major record labels or their subsidiaries, and began promoting themselves through more traditional media outlets. This has led to a further blurring in the meaning of the term.

There music is a lot darker than pop for example.
They enjoy a smoke and a festival.
Their events would be a lot of drugs, drink and sex.
The videos are always darker toned.
 














HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF THE TYPES OF MUSIC THAT
INDIE PEOPLE LISTEN TO AND WHAT MY MAGAZINE WAS REACHING OUT FOR.




 

Evaluation - question 1

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
 
My media product uses the different conventions as they should be used. I have tried to add as many in the magazine as possible especially in the contents page and front cover.
The front cover has many unique selling points such as communicating to the audience about new albums, interviews and photo shoots. Which is what people want to read and I know this from my audience research.

I developed a house style which was red, black, white and yellow which I know is the most popular of colours  for this type of indie magazine as the colours complement each other and stand out. This house style is constant throughout the magazine and you can see that it works very well together.  I have chosen these colours because they work well on magazines such as Q and NME and these where the inspiration that I based my magazine on.  I focused my magazine on this genre of music and type of magazine because I knew people that have the look to fit that type of magazine and It is the only one I read myself.


The masthead on the magazine shows what type of magazine it is by the dark colours and the glow of the yellow behind it.  I believe that it looks professional and smart and would be easily recognized.  I believe that the masthead is as important as the main picture on the front cover because it is the first thing that people notice and they know how good the magazine will be by looking at it. Mastheads will also always be at the top of the page and to the left  and so here I have followed the conventions of a real media product.

The graphic features I have used is a small picture in the top right  corner which creates an effect that is has been dropped just into the magazine. This complements the magazines genera as it is messy and not really organised but still effective just like some of the artists that the magazine features. There is also a small picture in the bottom left which is telling the reader that there is a photo shoot. I have put this on the front because readers want to see pictures of their most loved artist. What is on the front cover is what I believe audiences want to see on them and in them.
Also used on my front cover is a flash. This almost looks like a sticker and it sounds exciting and stands out to inform the reader that their is a shocking new album about to be released.
I believe my house style and conventions of the music magazine meet those expected of a magazine of this genre.

The contents page is also following conventions and styles of this type of music magazine and again I believe that I have done it pretty well and I think this is the best out of the contents, double page spread and front cover. There is a lot of the conventions being used here and it looks professional.  It has hardly any white space and it works well that way. There is a lot of information and all of them are numbered . Details are given and the photos are great! Everything also stands out.  Here the house style is carried on as the colours here are the same as the font cover and as the double page spread. 

Using white writing on the red background with a glow makes it eye catching and stands out. Also there isn't much yellow on the page which helps a lot as them things stand out a lot more.
 Instead of writing 'page 12' I have just wrote the page number so that the page can be located easier and it saves a lot of space.

The main picture is big enough so that it can be easily seen and with the complimenting pictures below it and some text make the whole thing fit together. Even though their is a lot going on here it does work well enough to hopefully get me the best mark I can.  I have also included a gig photo of the arctic monkeys which makes the contents a bit more exciting because it is live.

Here the house style has been consistent and It shows through as the magazine looks professional.

 The double page spread does have a lot of white space but not to much I have made sure that Liam's guitar is off the edge of the page for some effect and then added some smaller shots at the bottom to show some fun into the magazine. We can see from this that Liam's code fits well with the magazine and the boy on the front cover also has a jacket like this. They are the targeted age that the magazine is targeted at so they would be who would be buying it.

I have laid this out the way I have so that it separates the page and so that attention can be focused on different parts separately. I have stuck to some conventions here them being the quotation being out of the text and the drop capital letter. I have also added a stand which is a introduction to the celebrity before the main article. This would tell reader that did not know the artist what the article is about before they read it . I have followed the convention that the image is always on the left ( usually).

Here also the double page spread is following the same colours and house style as the other pages. It has the page numbers that are the same as the contents page.

The banner across the top right which states what magazine it is so that the reader still knows and what page they are on is also on that. I have also added another perk of stating some live tours that he might be doing, I found this a good thing to put on just to give it something extra.

As well as the quote being out of the text on the left there is also a quote out in the centre of the text to catch the audiences attention.

Over all 3 parts of my music magazine I believe that I have taken the typical conventions of a music magazine and adapted it to make something quite good. I like what I have done and I believe I have reflected this type of music well and artists. Everything is consistent and looks fine and I also believe that the article is also interesting.


This is question 1 answered. I also believe that I don't really have dead space on my magazine.
 

About a similar magazine, some of this however related to my own.