2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of
real music magazines?
My product: Bold and distinctive masthead is used to draw Original existing product :
in more attention towards the magazine
name.
Magazine name repeated just in
case the audience are not
familiar with the name.
Some of the most known artists of this
genre are used to draw attention
towards the sell line.
Central image helps to
attract readers and is also
associated with the main
topic in the magazine.
striking pose and
dramatic facial
expression catches
attention instantly.
Main topic is bold and
enlarged so most attention is
drawn towards it.
Being in front of the
masthead makes the
main image the main
focus of attention for
the reader.
Different colours used when
highlighting the main topics and
names in the sell lines this is a
typical convention which is usually
used in music magazines.
3. Original existing product:
My product: Black font used to contrast
with the white
background so the
masthead stands out.
Main images are in
front of the
masthead to show
that the name of the
magazine is well-
known with the
audience.
Lists of artists which
will feature in the
magazine, these are
usually well known
artists in the chosen
genre. This is used so
the audience is familiar
with what genre the
magazine is and what
sort of topics they will
find in this magazine.
Plain and clear font gets the
“Top Secret” or “Excusive” message across easier.
grabs the audiences
attention because they The main artist font is bold and also in a different colour compared
want to know what is to the other text this is used because the main attention should be
Bold and enlarged key
currently happening with
words draw the reader in
drawn towards the anchorage text. Being bold and having a
the most artists. different colour makes the audience more aware about who the
and also makes them want
to open and read the main magazine story is about this is also linked to the central
magazine. image.
4. The colours purple, Same font as front cover
grey and black all masthead to show the
match the colours connection between the
which are used on pages.
the front cover this is
used because the Key words are bold
audience should be and in capitals so
able to see a they stand out and
similarity between they also make it
the front cover of more easy to know
the magazine and what the content is
the content in the featuring. Then we
magazine. have a little
summary of what
the page contains
Another image of the artist and these little
which is featuring in the teasers make the
magazine. This helps to reader want to flick
remind the audience about to the page.
the featuring artist. The page
numbers are
also in a
different colour
so they stand
out.
Direct mode of
address used to
make the audience
feel more connected
and involved.
5. Reminder of
magazine Personalised font to match the Questions are
name. artist being interviewed. bold so its
clearer.
Image of the
artist featuring
in the
interview.
Shadow effect
used to show
that the spot
light is currently
on this artist.
Fact file of the artist so the
Quotes used to stand out and audience feel entertained by
draw in the readers attention, they knowing more and exclusive facts
are given a little insight on the about a current trending artist.
interview so they are tempted to
read the whole thing.
6. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My media product represents the social group of teenagers and
young adults who listen to R & B, Hip Hop and Rap music. I have
achieved this by using a model who fits the age range and she is
The slogan “music is life”
also clothed in the sort of clothes my target audience would wear;
represents my target social
stylish yet casual. She is also wearing jewellery which is something
group because they’re people
that is popular with this social group.
who spend a lot of time
listening music and look out
for the latest trending tracks
and albums.
The masthead also
represents my chosen social
group for this media product
because the bold font
The list of artists are connotes the personalities of
currently well-known my chosen social group.
artists of my chosen
music genre so my
target social group will
be familiar with these
artists.
The price of the
magazine is
appropriate for the
chosen social
group.
7. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
According to Young & Rubicam’s 4 consumers
(lifestyle/taste/attitude) my target social group is “Aspirers/
Social climbers” these are people who want to be like
characters or stars they see in the media. They see these
celebrities as role models . Aspirers are those that have
strong materialistic drives and like status symbols.
As you can see on this pie chart the
most popular music genre’s shown here
are pop, hip-pop, rap and
Contemporary R&B. This has helped me
choose these genre’s for my music
magazine. Most teenagers listen to this
type of music so choosing this genre
represents them.
8. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
Using an interview presents my
social group because it can be
seen a sense of escapism which
is something teenagers and
young adults require. Reading
success stories like this help the
audience think about what they
want to do in the future and how
they will try to achieve future
goals.
9. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and
why?
Bauer Media is Europe’s largest privately owned
publishing group. The reach to over 19 million UK adults
across multiple media so adding a hip-hop, R&B and Rap
magazine with increase the amount of adults who read
Bauer’s media product. Bauer does not have any
magazines with this genre on their market, so adding a
different type of music genre will make this magazine
stand out from within the collection of Bauer’s products.
10. Who would be the audience for your media product?
Gender: Male and Female
Age: 16-24 year olds
Nationality: British and/or American
Ethnicity: My magazine will appeal to all people from different ethnicities. I have tried
to appeal to different ethnicities by using artists from different backgrounds.
Interests: My target audience will also be the type to spend a lot of time on social
networking sites and they also like to keep up to date with the latest music from their
favourite artists. This chosen audience will also like to socialise and spend weekends
and holidays with friends maybe at the cinema or a park rather than doing their
homework. They also prefer to spend more time with people within their age group
compared to family and relatives. They also do not like to miss out on major social
events. This chosen age group are known as the “heavy spenders” who like to buy the
latest gadgets or clothing.
11. How did you attract your audience?
The layout of my magazine A bright colour scheme was
was used to attract my used so the cover was full of
demographic audience. To do energy which matches the
this I made sure that I left central image. Using pink
space in my cover so that the and purple on a mixed
sell lines weren’t confined gender magazine broke a
together this also stops the typical stereotype that
cover from looking dull. these colours are only
associated with female
products.
Using topics and artists
that my audience are
familiar with.
Updates of new music so
“Top Secret”, the audience feel they feel on top of the
like they are being let into latest music from popular
confidential information. artists of the genre.
Model is wearing clothes
that most people who
listen to this genre of
Anchorage text is the largest music would wear. This
so more attention is drawn makes the reader feel as
towards it. if they can relate to the
magazine.
12. How did you attract your audience?
Informal language was used when writing the interview
because it matched the target audience of my media
product. Teenagers and young adults want to read
something that is simple and time efficient. Using
standard English would be dull and too serious for this
audience. Informal language also suits my chosen genre
of Hip-hop and rap because these artists themselves do
not use standard language so this connection is made. I
also used a success story which is something that
teenagers and young adults like to read because these
texts inspire them and give them more hope for the
future.
13. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of
constructing this product?
The Adobe Photoshop program helped make my magazine look more
professional. I used this software to help alter, enhance and remove
background and filter my images to make them look eye-catching and
proficient. I also converted my images to make them the best quality
without ruining the original quality of the images and without leaving the
image looking pixelated. This program was also helpful because I could use
a scale to make sure that all the text and images were proportionate and
on the same level.
Using a camera with more quality helped to make my
magazine look professional and attractive. I had to learn
how to control the lighting and framing whilst taking
photo’s to make sure they came out looking better. I
learnt how to use different photographic techniques and
which ones were more appropriate and popular for
magazines.
More ICT skills were needed during this process, this helped expand
my knowledge and brought me new challenges.
Blogger allowed me to make posts on my research before making
the magazine and the progress whilst making my media product
can be seen.
14. What do you feel you have learnt in the progression
from your preliminary task to the full product?
I have learnt how to use Photoshop in a more
effective way in order to change the effects in
my images. I have also learnt how to change
the layout so it looks more attractive as you
can see the differences between my contents
pages. I can also use different tools to change
the look of my magazine to make it more
professional and to also make it stand out. My
photography skills have also improved since my
preliminary task I know what sort of shots and
angles to use for magazines and the effects
they create. My choice of colour scheming has
also changed as I know how to choose colours
that suit a specific topic or genre. I have also
learned how to attract audience more by using
techniques like giving deals on subscriptions
and using direct mode of address to make the
audience feel more involved.
15. Audience Feedback
Things I did well Things that should be improved
The front cover is very attractive The price is a bit high, I would
and also eye-catching because of reduce it a bit.
the use of colours.
You can tell that this magazine has a You can’t really tell that this
hip hop genre because of the artists magazine is for males as well
you have chosen. maybe changing the colour would
help .
The double page spread and Not enough images in the contents
contents page look very page, another model could’ve been
professional. added too.
I like the translucent text box used
on the front cover.
