2. I N W H AT WAY S D O E S YO U R M E D I A P R O D U C T U S E , D E V E LO P O R
C H A L L E N G E FO R M S A N D C O N V E N T I O N S O F R E A L M E D I A
PRODUCTS?
When designing and finalising my magazine my intentions were to create something
different and unique form of magazine. I wished to create a detailed, sophisticated and
formal magazine in which can be enjoyed by real music enthusiasts. My aim also was to
communicate with the cultures and social groups associated with music fanatics like the
other music magazines of the same time.
In terms of the magazines content, I have followed the conventions of the usual music
magazines, I had to do this considering teenagers were not my only intended audience,
the content in my magazine is much more 'classic' orientated.
However, I feel that the conventions are followed enough to let the reader to know what
they are getting involved with, all the usual expected features of this type of magazine
are present, which can be advantage but also a disadvantage because there's less
unique features in comparison to competition. I chose to follow these conventions to
keep my design professional and not to different but the disadvantage is it doesn’t stand
out further from the competition of magazines.
Although in terms of replicating original conventions, I am happy with how my magazine
has turned out overall, and I feel that the attention to detail of the particular areas will
allow it to keep up with the competition such as Q, MOJO or UNCUT.
3.
4.
5. H O W D O E S YO U R M E D I A P R O D U C T R E P R E S E N T PA R T I C U L A R S O C I A L
GROUPS ?
My magazine like most music magazines of its type provides for many different
types of social groups instead of one in particular. The album reviews and articles
displayed in this issue are all recent events along with articles based on the past.
The contrast of both the past and present allows many social groups to be
explored, for example indie crowds, rockers, MODS, and folkies are common
examples of groups that are explored in the magazine.
Although there are many articles on the various cultures and groups all articles
are written in the same amount of detail as the magazine covers a wide spectrum
and provides an in depth outlook on the areas of music.
6. W H AT K I N D O F M E D I A I N S T I T U T I O N M I G H T D I S T R I B U T E YO U R
MEDIA PRODUCT AND WHY ?
Within my magazine it clearly demonstrates a sophisticated but informative music
magazine, so in contrast of what institution would distribute them would need to
familiar with the type of content and quantity of the each monthly magazine.
Magazines for the institutions such as Pick me up, OK or Glam would not be sufficient
for the required distribution in terms of time of distribution (monthly and not weekly)
and the amount of paper used in each monthly issue.
My magazine would suit an institution such as Bauer that provides for magazines such
as Q, MOJO, KERRANG and EMPIRE. Most of these magazines are monthly and has
more substance in comparison to the magazines Pick me up or OK. It is important that
the institution I would choose to distribute my magazine with is familiar with the
amount of content my magazine includes and how frequently the magazine is
distributed, this is why I would pick Bauer as my institution.
7.
8.
9. W H O WO ULD B E T H E AU D I ENC E FO R YO U R M E DI A P RO DUCT ?
My primary audience I identified within my questionnaire, was towards a music
enthusiast enjoying and appreciating music from across the board. Many of my
primary audience enjoy magazines such as UNCUT and MOJO which suggests they
have an intellectual outlook on music of the world which is what my magazine has to
offer. The consumers age may range between 17- 21 but the age in which magazine
can be enjoyed by in any as the topic is enjoyed by most ages.
10. H OW D O YO U AT T RACT/ A D D RE SS YO U R AU D I ENCE ?
In order to attract the correct audience which I identified when using my questionnaire,
I found that it was important that a relationship is developed between magazines of
similar content, they do probably have to be published by the same institution, seeing
as though UNCUT and NME have that link through IPC media, it is wise for me to try
and emulate that working relationship link with MOJO on Bauer media.
This would mean dedicating perhaps a couple of small adverts on the website and also
full page adverts in the magazine to MOJO and their current issue, or perhaps their
subscription plan in relation to ours, not as a comparison, however perhaps both could
be linked as a bundle (similarly to the UNCUT & EMPIRE bundle available in shops).
I would also expect the same level of coverage in return from MOJO, obviously for them
to do this it must be of some relation and not an exact replica to their own publication,
their needs to be a unique selling point. The main unique selling point of my magazine
would be the writing and art direction skills, obviously along with the slightly obscure
yet sought after content, a more real product than the traditional 'stock' magazine with
bland type, and dull ideas.
11. W H AT H AV E YO U L E A R N T A B O U T T E C H N O LO G I E S F R O M T H E
PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING THIS PRODUCT ?
As I have mentioned in previous areas of my blog, after my preliminary task I have
developed sufficient ICT skills that has progressed my first and final design.
My preliminary included no Photoshop's or editing effects such as shadows,
contrasting backgrounds or tinted effects.
My first design included a photo shopped image with very minimal detail in terms of
editing and the background was boring and white.
My final design included photo shops and techniques such as layer masking, tinted
pictures, shadowing images, and a contrasting background with a scroll effect.
13. LO O K I N G B AC K AT YO U R P R E L I M I N A RY TA S K , W H AT D O YO U F E E L
YO U H AV E L E A R N T I N T H E P R O G R E S S I O N F R O M I T T O T H E F U L L
PRODUCT ?
14. My preliminary task was a poor effort for what I intended my magazine to become, I felt
that I lacked in all areas of my design reflecting my poor ICT skills. My preliminary task
allowed me to realise this so I knew which areas I needed to work in order to achieve
what I wanted in my design.
My main focus was learning to photo shop, most of the images in my preliminary task
had no photo shopping skills which reflected on my contents page when I had a green
background around the image. Layer masking was a key skill I learned in photo shop
along with the ability to edit areas of the images to increase the clarity.
I found that the worse part of my preliminary task was my contents page, My final
design contents page follows a weird structure but overall is a massive improvement
from this task.
