2. 1. In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge the
forms and conventions of real media
products?
3. Here is a link to a task I did in class in which I explored the typical codes and conventions of a magazine front cover:
http://chloeoneill96.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/codes-and-conventions-task.html
Front Cover
For the front cover of my magazine, I made sure I included the main generic
conventions of a typical magazine which I learnt through my research. I ensured I used
a masthead, barcode, dateline, price, web address, main image, puffs, pugs and cover
lines. I placed the image of my cover star over the masthead to emphasise her
importance but to also show that the magazine is a recognisable brand. I also edited
the main image so that the flowers in the cover star’s hair were the same colour as the
masthead which shows synergy between the magazine and cover star. I embedded the
web address into the masthead so it does not distract away from the main image and
the cover lines and also looks more professional. One way in which I have challenged
the typical conventions is the fact that my cover star is not using direct mode of
address. Although it may not enable the readers to connect as fully with the star it
does give provide her with her own identity and is unique.
Influences
‘We Love Pop’ influenced ‘BURST’ because of the way in
which it often features independent, female artists as
main cover stars. It also influenced ‘BURST’ as I liked the
way the main cover line stands out compared to the other
cover lines as it is much bigger and in a different colour. It
further influenced ‘BURST’ by relating the main pug to a
male artist as that would entice the target audience more.
I also liked the colour scheme of bright colours, mainly
pink which has connotations to girly and feminine which
relates to my target audience.
4. Here is a link to a task in which I looked closely into the conventions of a contents page and analysed them:
http://chloeoneill96.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/analysis-of-contents-page-from-q.html
Contents Page
For my contents page, I ensured I included a different image of the cover star I
featured on my front cover. I also included the ‘BURST’ masthead and kept within
the pink, grey and black colour scheme to make my magazine look more consistent
therefore professional. I also added an editors note which many magazine often do
and edited the photo in black and white to maintain consistency further.
Influences
Although ‘Q’ is not the same music genre as ‘BURST’, this contents page
did however influence my work as I liked the way the images related to
different articles and the page numbers were featured on them in big,
bold font. I also liked the way in which each feature had a small sentence
underneath it revealing more about the article. Like the ‘Q’ contents page,
I kept my ‘BURST’ contents page quite simple which I thought would be
effective as if it was too busy it may distract the reader from the
information. I
5. Here is a link to a task I did in which I looked specifically at the conventions of a double page spread and analysed
them:
http://chloeoneill96.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/anaylsis-of-double-page-spread-from-q.html
Double Page Spread
For my double page spread, I have kept to the typical layout you
would expect to see in many magazine having a large image of the
star of the left side and the article on the other. I also continued
the same colour scheme of pink, black and grey to sustain
consistency and give a professional feel to my magazine. I added a
quote from the article on the left side to entice the reader into
finding out more therefore having to read the article.
Influences
‘BURST’ double page spread was largely
influenced by that of ‘Q’ magazine. I really liked
the way in which the star’s initial is featured in big
letters on the right side as it relates them to the
article itself. It also stands out and makes it look
more interesting which is effective as too much
text could make the reader loose interest.
6. 2. How does your media product
represent particular social groups?
7. Representations to social groups
My magazine is aimed at mostly young, female
teenagers who enjoy listening to pop music and are
quite feminine.
I have used images of my cover star which purposefully
portray a happy, positive image. Pixie contrasts with the
usual stereotype of a woman in some ways as she is
represented as quite strong and independent on the
front cover as she is facing away. In most of the images
Pixie is not making direct mode of address and is either
looking down or hair is covering her eyes. I think this
further shows her as an independent individual who is
different from others. However, throughout the rest of
the magazine and through the use of props she does
represent a typical, girly female. I have chosen to stick
to this usual stereotype as the readers of this magazine
will fall into the same category and therefore can relate
to the cover star.
In all of the images I wanted my cover star to be smiling
or laughing as I wanted to portray a positive image. I
thought this would be effective as it would present Pixie
as a role model to the younger readers and would
influence them to be happy and positive. It also relates
to my article in the double page spread as Pixie comes
across very real and true to her music and her fans.
8. 3. What kind of institution might
distribute your media product and
why?
9. At the start of the course, one of the first tasks we completed was research into two of the biggest music
magazine distributers ; Bauer and IPC. Here is a link to the information I found out:
http://chloeoneill96.blogspot.co.uk/2012/09/music-magazine-distribution-anaylises.html
As ‘BURST’s’ target market is mostly similar to that of ‘We
Love Pop’ I researched which company distributed it and
found out it was ‘Egmont.’ I considered having ‘Egmont’
distribute my magazine however, as I looked further into it, I
realised they mostly distributed children’s books and
magazines which would decrease my demographic.
Also, the magazines aren’t as mass market as I’d hope
‘BURST’ would be so thought it wouldn’t be suitable.
I then compared IPC and Bauer and decided that Bauer
Media would be more likely to distribute ‘BURST.’ It is one
of the largest music magazine distributors and distributes
magazines with a similar demographic and mass market I
think ‘BURST’ would have.
Although it distributes magazines such as ‘Q’ and ‘NME’
which are not the same genre as ‘BURST’ they are mass
market magazines. Bauer also distributes magazines such as
‘Closer,’ ‘Heat,’ ‘Grazia,’ and ‘More’ which all have the same
type of tone as ‘BURST’ and are aimed at the same target
audience which is teenage girls.
10. Who would be the audience for your
media product?
11. Here is a link to a blog entry in which I went into detail about the target audience I would suspect ‘BURST’
magazine would have:
http://chloeoneill96.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/research.html
Target Audience
I would say that ‘BURST’ magazine’s target audience
is mostly similar to that of ‘We Love Pop.’ My
magazine is aimed at young teenagers 15+ who
enjoy listening to pop music. Due to the cover
stars, stories and colour scheme, I would also say
that my magazine is mostly aimed at females as the
articles would mainly interest them. The aim of my
magazine is to inform the reader monthly of all the
latest ‘gossip’ to do with the pop industry and their
favourite pop stars. My magazine also provides the
reader with extras and exclusives which relate
specifically to my target audience.
A typical reader of ‘BURST’ magazine would be a 15
year old teenager currently attending school who
listens to pop music, artists such as Katy Perry, Pixie
Lott and Girls Aloud etc. She would also be a typical
‘girly-girl’ i.e. loves the colour pink, flowers and
hearts. She would enjoy reading magazines such as
‘We Love Pop‘ and ‘Top Of The Pops’ as they are
similar to ‘BURST.’
12. 5. How do you attract/address your
audience to your media product?
13. Attracting the audience
Colour
One way in which I tried to attract my target audience is through the use of colour. I
made my colour scheme pink, black and grey. I used the colour pink as it is mainly
associated with femininity and has connotations to girly. It also portrays a positive
feel therefore representing the feel of my whole magazine. I used the colours grey
and black in order to highlight the pink more. I also thought if I used to many
colours, my magazine would look too busy and the reader wouldn’t know where to
look. It also gives a simple yet quite classy look to my magazine therefore appealing
to older teenagers also i.e. 18+.
Language/register
As my magazine is aimed at teenagers, I didn’t want the language to be too formal or
serious as it would not appeal to my target market. On the other hand, I didn’t want
to make it too colloquial with too many ‘slang’ words as I think it would have only
appealed to a much younger audience which I didn’t want. I used words and phrases
such as ‘exclusive,’ ‘reveals all,’ and ‘WIN!’ to entice the reader as they are getting
more for their money. Pop music also had connotations to positivity and happiness
unlike that of rock which is more negative so I didn’t think the use of swear words was
appropriate. Overall, the main tone of my magazine is informal and chatty which
would appeal to a mass market.
14. Images
In the images of my cover star, I have tried to present her in a positive light
therefore being a role model for the readers. In each image she looks particularly
happy and again the use of pink in her lipstick and flowers would appeal to a
female audience. I didn’t want her to do and rebellious poses or gestures as I
think that would portray a negative feel.
Here is a link to some of the original photos I didn’t want to include in my
magazine as I didn’t feel they gave the right feel:
http://chloeoneill96.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/afdhsjskdifhbndklasdf.html
Masthead
I decided to keep my masthead quite simple as in
my research I realised that plain mastheads were
quite effective e.g. ‘Vibe’ and ‘Q.’ I used a font
called ‘Vogue’ font which is quite sophisticated
appealing to an older target audience but used the
colour pink to appeal to a younger, more girly
market.
15. 6. What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing the product?
16. Advantages:
• Many effects available to edit photos giving them a professional feel
• Magic wand enables you to cut the background out of images giving them a neater look
• Quite simple to use
Disadvantages:
• Hard to use when using it for the first time however easy when you get used to it
• Using the magic wand tool takes a long time and becomes tedious
• Once you have flattened the layers you cant un-do it so it becomes difficult you decide you want to change
something
Advantages:
• Easy to use, more likely that people would be familiar with using the programme
• Easier to move text and images around than paint.net and there’s no need for layers
• Visible construction lines
Disadvantages:
• Not many effects to edit photos
• Can only crop photos, no magic wand tool, makes photos look less professional
17. Advantages
• Simple to use, adding/deleting/editing posts
• Easy to add images to posts
• Helps you organise your work and lead to in the direction to the final magazine
Disadvantages
• Not able to change the dates on posts or add extra ones so if something is forgotten or needs
editing it becomes difficult
• Time management is hard to keep up with sometimes, posts have to be done regularly for time
management to look good
I also used the programme ‘Slide Share’ when uploading my evaluation PowerPoint to my
blog. Slide Share was more effective than simply uploading my PowerPoint straight to my blog
as it enables hyperlinks to work properly. This is the first time I have used this programme
and, again, have gained new skills relating to technology.
18. 7. Looking back to your preliminary
task, what do you feel you have learnt
from it to the full product?
19. Comparing the front cover of my preliminary task to the front cover of my music magazine I have realised that I
have learnt a lot and gained many new skills. It is clear that I have come more familiar with how to make a
magazine look more professional in terms of layout and have learnt how to position images and cover lines
better. There is also a lot of white space on the front cover of my preliminary task which looks unprofessional. I
have also become more familiar with the programme paint.net, as I am a new to Media I had never used it
before, when making the front cover of my preliminary task I mainly stuck to publisher which isn’t as good.
20. Comparing the two contents pages, I can also see a huge improvement. Again, I have adapted the skill of
having less white space making it look more professional. I have also used more page numbers which also
makes it look professional as real media products would contain many different articles. I have also stuck to
three colours where as in my preliminary task, I used quite a few which made it look busy and
unprofessional.
21. 8. How successful do you feel your end
product is in fulfilling the task? How
well does it fit the brief?
22. Overall, I think my final product is successful in fulfilling the brief as I have produced a new music magazine with a
front cover, contents page and double page spread. I have done thorough research into existing magazines and
the codes and conventions and have displayed this knowledge in my own magazine. I think my strongest aspect is
my front cover and the weakest is my contents page, I think is looks less convincing as a real media product than
my other pages. I am particularly pleased with my images and the quality of them as I think they look really
effective and professional. I think I have been successful with my time management which my blog should reflect
and have definitely improved greatly from the preliminary task and have developed many new skills .
