Evaluation

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

From the textual analysis on front covers I found that the most magazines pick at least 3 colours and used them repeatedly throughout the text on the front page. Also they link the cover lines and photos which create an overall theme to the front covers. The photos that are usually used are of mid shots and of a selection of people relating to the text.
From textual analysis of contents pages and found some key features. They are a big heading, date, columns, page numbers, articles, information split into sections such as ‘news’, ‘reviews’ and ‘features’, blocks of colour, bold writing, tag line, Headline and advert.
From the textual analysis of double page spreads I can see that double page spreads should include an article written about a band or singer. The page should incorporate both text and photos. The photos should feature band members linking it to the article. The colours used in Kerrang are red, black, greys and pink. I think I will use the colours black white and red. It should have an interview and the text should be split up to show the questions, answers and speakers. These will separate the text and make it easy to read.

From the questionnaire I found that my magazines audience should be boys and girls around the age 16+. There should be a varied music genre so it can cater for everyone. It should be £3 and should contain interviews, articles and interesting/ gripping topics.

This picture shows the basis layout of a front cover. The masthead is set out so it covers the whole width of the page, written in the biggest font, stand out and be at the top of the page. The barcode should be small and appear in the corner of one of the pages. The main cover line is usually placed across the page and over the top of a photo which usually links the text and photo. Cover lines are found in columns down the page and written in a much smaller font than the main cover line.

They are used to lure the reader in and make them want to read on. This is important as the front cover is what makes you by the magazine and it usually spontaneous. My front cover shows the masthead, main cover line and barcode in the same places as other magazines but the layout is slightly different from the norm making the magazine unique. My research on other magazines has had an influence on my work as I have used at least 3 colours and used them repeatedly throughout the text on the front page and follows on throughout the magazine. Also I linked the cover lines and photos which create an overall theme to the front cover.

This shows my contents page and all the features that are used on most contents pages. They is a big heading, date, columns, page numbers, articles, information split into sections such as ‘news’, ‘reviews’ and ‘features’, blocks of colour, bold writing, tag line, headline and advert. These are all key features of a contents page showing that my contents page is quite similar to the normal.

This shows the layout of a double page spread. I used it as a basis for my page.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

• teenage girls
• varied music taste
• cheap price to pay
• interviews and interesting/ gripping topics; gossip column

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Bauer Media Group could distribute my media product because they have a gap in their market for a teen magazine. At the moment they publish both Q and Kerrang! Q's audience is described as an open minded experience seekers, which are usually showed by middle age music lovers. Whereas, Kerrang's audience is define as individually minded, independent of thought and musically experienced, this audience is of young spirted teenagers to young adults, manily 16+. So there is a space for a magazine which looks at teenagers aged 14+ and there likes in music.

Who would be the audience of your media product?
From my research I decided that I should base my magazine's audience on teenage girls around the age 14+ who love music in the sense of gossip and celebrity lifestyles.


How would you attract/address your audience?
It is an A4 full colour magazine which contains interviews, articles and interesting/ gripping topics. The cover features girls and boys the same age as the reader, this allows them to relate to the people in the articles. Cover lines such as 'who's with who this week?' appeal to the reader as they enjoy reading gossip and love interests. I feel that the magazine covers all the interests of teenage girls. The quizzes, freebies and poster pages help advertise the magazine make you want to buy it so you can have these things.The magazine covers all areas that a teen magazine usually does. These include gossip, intervies with celebrities, education, new releases and interesting/gripping articles. The language used will be familiar to the target audience so it will be understood easily.

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

I have used Publisher to create my front cover and contents page. This was a good programme to use as it allowed me to set my work out on an A4 page and move it around. I used Paint and Gimp to edit the photos and to add more colour to the pages. I found that it was easier to use Paint as Gimp was quite had to use. I also used a digital camera for taking my photo. This worked well as it enabled me to take my own photos and to see them while doing the photo shoot. I have used the blog to record all stages of the pre-lim task and main task. This made me more organised and set it out all it one place. Also it allowed people to comment on my work which gave me guidance will creating my pieces.

What do you feel you have learnt in the progression from pre-lim task to the main task?
In the pre-lim task I found it hard to start off as it was a new experience and once decided on an idea i didn't do many drafts so didn't experiment. In the main task I did lots of drafts which made it easier for me to come up with final ideas. Also by the main task I was able to use most of software needed to create my final pieces.