1. EVALUATION
QUESTION 1
In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Niamh Reilly
2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Follows Conventions
Masthead,
Both
magazines
have a
Consistent colours in house style.
Puff
Main cover image
Featured artist
Date line.
Main cover line
Front Cover
Barcode and price
3. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Rule of thirds: As you can see the
mast head is in the first third of the
magazine this is because of the way
the magazines are stacked in shops.
The magazine is stacked with the
first third showing therefore the
masthead is usually dominant of this
section because the consumer will
see it first and it is the most
recognisable aspect of the magazine.
This reinforces media conventions
because the title is always in the first
third because of the way the
magazines are stacked. My title
further reinforces the conventions of
a magazine because it is horizontal
rather than challenging conventions
with a vertical title.
Front Cover
4. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Image dominant
of 2nd vertical
third
Rule of thirds: The main cover
image is also central to the
cover this reinforces media
magazine conventions as it is
the most used style. There
isn’t much going on in the
midsection (2ndthird) this
makes the cover image
dominant, because the image
is dominant it draws the
consumers attention towards
the image and the cover girl
looking normal with no
particularly fancy props
makes her approachable to
the spectator and seemingly
more human. The subtle
guitar prop makes the
audience think od music and
takes up the bottom
horizontal third.
Front Cover
5. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
My magazine conforms to most
media conventions for
example, my dateline is placed
parallel to the ‘W’ in the title and I
have stuck to a set house style.
The matching house style brings
together the magazine because it
makes it look complete and its
more appealing to the consumer
because there’s not too much
going on. My magazine also
conforms to media conventions by
having different sized fonts to draw
attention to certain aspects of the
contents, and the use of
capitalisation is a subtle way to
draw the viewers attention to a
certain story or article in the
Front Cover
magazine.
6. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
On my front cover there is
only one image. This
challenges conventions of
typical music magazines.
Stereotypically on the cover
of a music magazine the
editors add more pictures of
bands to promote artists and
increase target audience. As
if you were a fan of a
particular band/artist you’d
be more likely to buy the
magazine.
Front Cover
7. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Contents title telling
reader what is on the
page
Contents pages picture
heavy
Date line
Page numbers have
features on
Contents Page
Magazine title on the page
8. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Subverts
Subscription option
Multiple columns
Letter from the editor
Contents Page
9. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
My contents pages subverts media print
conventions by not having a letter to the
editor, most contents pages include a letter to
the editor to make the consumer feel more
including and part of something this
reinforces the need for affiliation in people.
However I chose not to include a letter to the
editor and make my contents pages more
picture heavy. I though my target audience of
young adults would prefer this because they
prefer the more visual aspect of magazines. It
also reinforces conventions by having a
dateline, datelines are conventionally used on
magazine contents pages near the title, my
dateline is situated by the title.
Contents Page
10. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
I used the rule of thirds on
my contents. Many design
teams use this to keep the
audiences gaze on the
page. I used this technique
by angling the pictures and
changing picture sizes to
draw spectators attention
towards the title and then
the page listings again.
Contents Page
11. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
My contents has a total of four
dominant pictures on it which is more
than conventional magazines this is
because it attracts the readers
attention and gives the reader a
further insight to the contents of the
magazine. As you can see to the left
there is a small gap before the text
box this is there to allow ‘bleed’ so
when in print the binding or such
wouldn’t compromise the text.
Contents Page
12. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
Fitting house
style
Photo dominant
Short Article
Strap line
Name of person/artist in
Double Page Spread
different font, standing
out.
Page Numbers
13. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
No direct eye
contact
No pull quotes
Double Page Spread
No shadow
14. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
I chose to keep the shadow on
the left image because it makes
the image look more three
dimensional. This is juxtaposed
to the stereotypical clean cut
magazine images we are all
accustomed too. I wanted to
make the page look more thrown
together in a presentable way. I
felt that the shadow emphasised
the difference between the light
coloured skin and the dark back
ground. The red colouring on the
girls – Jess’ – nail matches the
red on the centre strip, the text
in the article and the red of the
Double Page Spread
mans – Callums’ – shirt and sticks
to the general house style of the
magazine.
15. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
The double page spread has a
distinct house style which
correlates to the rest of the
magazine. It sets a house style for
the magazine which is key for any
magazine especially a first issue.
This house style should be kept
throughout the magazines print
life so I could establish a brand.
The magazines logo/name is in
the bottom right hand corner this
further establishes the brand and
lets the reader know what they
are reading.
Double Page Spread
These things are both typical
conventions of magazines.
18. How does your product represent particular social groups?
Country music is often solely associated with being
just for cowboys and the older generation. Many
under this assumption are incorrect however. As
one of the fastest growing music genres country is
growing increasingly popular with the younger
generation. This is especially relevant in the US with
bands like Lady Antebellum and Sugar Land rising to
fame. It is also gaining popularity in the UK.
19. How does your product represent particular social groups?
I chose to put younger artists on my cover and throughout my magazine to
draw the younger audiences attention. The growing fan base for country music
will be inclined to buy this magazine with a younger artist on the cover than an
older one as they can relate with a younger person more than an older person.
My magazine is an example of the growing country music social group that
involves a younger audience. The connotations of having a younger cover
model is subverting from typical stereotypes of old men in cowboy hats. The
younger girl would attract teens and they would find it more interesting that
an older person. Because it is a country magazine but also is attracting a
younger audience my magazine widens the country music magazine
demographic.
22. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
The two main institutions that sell music magazines are IPC media
and Bauer. My magazine is a country pop/rock magazine so both of
these institutions would be suitable to distribute my magazine.
Alternatively I could choose a less well known institution.
IPC media would be a good institution to use
for my magazine. Although they have two Bauer currently owns two
music magazines already one is labelled as music magazines; ‘Kerrang!’
an ‘indie rock’ magazine (NME) and the and ‘Q’. These are current
other one (UNCUT) is more labelled as a popular music magazines. The
‘classic rock’ magazine. Which leaves an genres of these magazines are
opening for the genre I am focusing my rock and would be a good
magazine on – country pop. institution to use for my
magazine because neither
Institutions: IPC and Bauer
magazines have genres of
country music.
The institution that would
be more suited to
distribute my magazine
would be Bauer.
23. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I have determined that Bauer would be a
more suitable distributer for my magazine
because there is not a large cross over
with the genres of their other magazines
‘Kerrang!’ and ‘Q’. Unlike IPC
media, Bauer’s doesn’t have an ‘indie
rock’ magazine. This is why Bauer may be
interested in my magazine, although it’s
not of ‘indie rock’ genre, my country
magazine involves folk music, and country
rock which is liked by the same audience
that listens to indie rock.
Bauer
26. Who would the audience be for your media product?
Many people do not realise new modern
country musicians because of how diverse
their sound is, and how used they are to artists
like Dolly Parton dominating the stereotypical
country genre. my magazine would appeal to
people who like; Taylor Swift, Lady
Antebellum, Sugar Land, Brad Paisley, and
Carrie Underwood. These are artists of the
new country generation, and having these big
country stars on my magazine may attract the
target audience and maybe even a secondary
audience of all different types of people of
age, race, gender or class.
27. Who would the audience be for your media product?
Unlike most typical music magazines my
magazine doesn’t have a particular small
interval set age group, my target age group is
between 13 and 30 as country music is
widely diverse and can appeal to any age but
I feel this age group would be most
interested in this magazine from my
questionnaire results. Another reason is that
country music magazines in the UK is more
of a niche market so I can’t be completely
sure of a definite target audience. My
magazine accommodates the target
audience by looking classically modern with
a young artist cover image.
28. How does your product represent particular social groups?
Socio-economic Status I categorised my target audience using socio
A – Upper Class (Higher managerial, administrative and economic status.
professional, such as Mangers, Lawyers, all high paying
jobs earning demographic would be around £50,000 and Using the ABC demographics. I defined my
over) target audience in the ABC21 categories.
B – Middle Class (Intermediate
managerial, administrative or professional, such as These are upper class, middle class and
deputy secretary and or above average pay, earning
demographic would be around £35-50,000)
lower middle class workers. My audience
C1 – Lower Middle class (Supervisory or Clerical, junior would more than likely be from these
managerial, administrative, such as a supervisor or highly
skilled working job (one where more than one skill is categories. I found this information by
required))
C2 – Skilled working class (Skilled Manuel workers, such
gathering a focus group to comment on my
as mechanics, etc) final magazine. In this questionnaire I asked
Please note for C1 and C2 the earning range is for both
£15,000 – 25,000 participants their post code and their current
D – Lower working class (Semi and unskilled Manuel
workers, such as mechanical trainees, or shop
total house hold income to determine where
workers, earning demographic would be around £7,000 – they were on the socio-economic ladder. I
15,000)
E – Lowest level of income earners (pensioners or found that the participants in my focus group
widows, casual or lowest grade workers, those on who were essentially a select representation
Socio-economic Status
Benefits, such as students, earning demographic would
be around £5,000-7,000) * of my target audience were in fact ranging in
status from A – C1 however none of them
were lower than C1. This correlated with the
pricing of my magazine being £1.99 which is
a mid price for a magazine.
* http://neofalcon.wordpress.com/2010/11/13/the-socio-economic-statusthe-abc-scalethe-classification-of-employment/
31. How did you attract/address your audience?
Big bold title, attracting
readers attention. ‘TWANG’ Puff lets the reader know its
associated with country new, draws attention
music, and the font had a towards the product letting
country feel to it. the reader know that this
may be something they’ve
been looking for but haven’t
found before.
Win grabs peoples attention Specific words are
so do words like exclusive highlighted to grab the
which gets people interested. readers attention. It also
inclines the reader to read
on.
Fans will be instantly drawn
to the image of the artist.
One main image dominates
the page and guitar is quite
clearly in view showing it’s a
music magazine
Artists name is big bold and
highlighted this draws
attention towards it and fans Price and barcode in the
will see this and be bottom
interested. It also tells us
something about the
contents of the issue.
32. How did you attract/address your audience?
Big, bold title, instantly Polaroid style pictures
draws attention to the give it a old feel but as
contents of the page. they are coming back in
to style it keeps it
modern and not
outdated.
Two tone page listings
give readers a further
insight into the article. Featured on the cover so
fans know instantly who
she is.
Highlights main articles.
Magazine brand further
reinforced to establish
the brand
33. How did you attract/address your audience?
Picture dominant for quick
get to know All the colours fit the house
information, appears casual style so further reinforcing
and laid back and establishing the brand to
new readers.
Big dominant of
the right side
picture is a
selling point for
fans.
Picture dominant left
side with album
image attracts fans
Question and answer
article so that audience
Page numbers and magazine Name is featured big and know they are getting
logo in corners establishing bold in the centre so people reliable information.
the brand. especially fans will be drawn
to this article.
36. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
Magic Wand Tool
I clicked on the white
background then right
clicked and selected ‘select
inverse’ which then selected
only the text.
I used the magic wand tool on
Photoshop. I used this
throughout the project on the
front cover, contents page and
double page spread. It was
especially useful for text.
Photoshop
37. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
Clone Stamp Tool
I used the clone stamp tool to
move the girl over making her
closer to the boy in turn making it
look more intimate.
Starting image
Final image
I made the brush bigger and
selected the image I wanted
to clone by holding alt and
right clicking.
I then cloned it to
the right so the girl
Photoshop
was closer.
38. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
Filter Editing
I used filters to edit the picture so it
would look warmer and so it would
have a more ‘country’ feel and fit my
Photoshop
house style.
39. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
Photoshop
40. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
Changing the Opacity
The opacity of the puff was
100%. I changed this to 85%
so it would still stand out
but wouldn’t block out the
main cover image.
Photoshop
41. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
Crop Tool
First of all I went file >
transform > rotate 90 CW so
the image was the correct
way round
Then I selected the
crop tool and I then applied the crop
cropped the image to get my final image.
to its desired size.
Photoshop
42. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
I used ‘PicMonkey’ and ‘DaFont’ to get
different font types for my magazine.
These sites gave more interesting and
appropriate fonts than the default
fonts on Photoshop and InDesign.
Out of the numerous options
I picked the ‘fancy’ category
as these fonts fitted the
house style of my magazine.
PicMonkey & DaFont
I opened a blank
document, selected the font
‘Rye’ and typed my magazine
name to get my chosen font.
43. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
Making a Barcode
DaFont
44. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
To create my magazine pages I
opened a new InDesign
document
I selected 4 pages, 1 for the
contents page, 1 for the
cover, and 2 for the double
page spread.
I then moved the pages around so they were
set in order and the double page spread was
now one page.
InDesign
45. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
To create a house style for my
magazine I used the I then highlighted the text I
eyedropper tool wanted that colour and used a
swatch of the selected colour to
change the colour of the text.
Once selected I held
down alt and picked the
colour I wanted
InDesign
46. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing
this product?
I selected the spreads option so
To export my final magazine, I the double page spread exported
went to file > export. as one image rather than two.
I then selected a JPEG file type
to allow upload to the blog.
InDesign
47.
48. EVALUATION
QUESTION 7
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you
have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Niamh Reilly
49. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full
product?
From the preliminary task the main progression I
encountered was making another page. Instead of
just making a front cover and a contents page, our
brief was to make an additional double page
spread. This was an easy progression as it added
more depth to the magazine making it easier to
establish a set house style. The main progression
for me was writing the article.
50. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full
product?
The main task cover image
progressed from a direct – medium
close up – head shot with eye
contact to a mid shot with the girl –
Kate – looking down at the main
cover article to draw the readers
attention towards the main headline
and strap line. By taking the shot of
the girl looking down at the head
line readers attention is drawn from
the main cover image to the head
line to the strap line to the other
minor cover lines then the puff, the
title and around again keeping the
spectators attention on the page.
51. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full
product?
From the preliminary task I feel I
have learnt a considerable amount
more about conventions of
magazines and there is a significant
improvement in quality skills. I have
refined my skills in Photoshop and
indesign to create photo filters and
edit photos using clone tools and
such. I feel like this make my
magazine progress from looking
quite childish to more professional.
52. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full
product?
I felt that since the preliminary task I have learnt more about
both layout of things and composition. These things
combined have made my final magazine more interesting
and visually appealing than the preliminary task. It also
added dimension to the main magazine.
53. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full
product?
Editing pictures to give them a warmer effect and
emphasising warm colours within them made them stand out
and fit the house style a lot better than just using the natural
light of the original photographs in my preliminary task.
54. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full
product?
Overall I learnt how to use a wider range
of tools on PhotoShop and I also learnt
more skills on InDesign. Both these
programs helped develop my magazine to
a higher standard and make it more fitting
for the target audience. I felt that the
preliminary task helped build my
knowledge of these programs and that
task helped refine my skills for the main
task. This make it look much more visually
appealing.
