2. The magazine, across the 4-pages, ‘repeats’ (Steve Neale) codes
and conventions from established magazines, such as ‘NME’
which was used as my magazine of inspiration.
For the front cover of the magazine I have ensured to include
key conventions of magazines, such as:
Masthead
Strap line
Headline
Barcode
Date/ Price
Issue number
Convergence
And in the contents I have followed conventions by including:
Sections
Editorial (styled on the ones featured in ‘KERRANG’
magazine)
Convergence (so the readers can access further information)
Images that relate to stories on the front page
The double spread also follows the conventions of music
magazines, for example:
I have used columns and differing colours to define the
questions and answers, this makes the text much clearer and
so easier to read.
I have used images of the subject of the interview.
Additionally, I have taken a quote from the interview and
enlarged it.
And finally, I have introduced the interviewee to the readers
at the beginning of the interview.
However, there are examples of ‘difference’ in my media
product, for example, on the double page spread, rather
than using one large image of the subject, I have use 3
smaller images.
In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
3. The denotation of representation is the way in which ideas, people, and places are re-presented to us in
media texts. Representation works by using messages and stereotypes in the media to make the audience
develop beliefs about ideas, people and places that our represented in the texts. In this context, I means
whether I have used appropriate material in order to attract my target audience. If the magazine was
aimed at multiple social groups, it would have a higher economical success as it would have a larger target
audience. However because my product, contains material, primarily about the rock music genre, it is
most likely to only attract people from the ‘alternative’ social group.
I also believe that the target audience of my magazine would be in the Esteem stage of ‘Maslow’s
Hierarchy of Needs’ because the magazine would look at the achievement of artist that are new to the
industry.
How does your media product represent particular social
groups?
The magazine also gives the audience a ‘Window to the World’ (Wendy
Helsby) because though interviews with different ‘Stars’ (Dyer) the audience
are given an insight to their lives, thoughts, and what it feels like to be
them; this arguably could help the reader personally identify with the stars
featured in the magazine. For example, Niall (who is representing the ‘Star
Appeal’ (Dyer) in the magazine), is presented as a person who has come
from a very ‘normal’ background, and has worked hard to get to where he is
today. This could inspire readers to keep working on achieving their
aspirations, which would be important to adolescent readers because it
could be argued that at this time they have the most aspirations about their
futures, and need the most encouragement to achieve these hopes.
4. “Bauer Media UK reaches over 22 million UK consumers every week through a portfolio of world-
class, multi-platform media and entertainment brands including heat, Kiss, Grazia, Empire, Magic
and Absolute Radio. It creates and curates entertaining media content that audiences love
whenever, wherever and however they want through a multi-channel strategy and a focus on
product excellence and audience insight.” - http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/
I imagine that Bauer Media would publish my product, due to the genre of product,
music; or more specifically, rock music. My product uses lots of cross-media convergence,
through social media and it’s own website for readers to access more information about
features and to give them the opportunity to get more out of the magazine. This fits in
with many of Bauer Media’s other publications, such as ‘KERRANG’ as they also utilize
cross-media convergence.
Bauer media also establishes a strong relationship with their audience, just as I believe my
product does through the editorial, which directly addresses the readers.
What kind of media institution (publisher) might distribute
your media product and why?
5. According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, my product would appeal to people in
the self-esteem stage, which is often adolescents. This could be because this age
group that attempt to climb the metaphorical ladder of popularity, and so they
would read this publication in order to become ‘educated’ and ‘informed’ (Katz)
about all things new. Uses and Gratifications theory (Katz) say that the people
take what they what from the media for their own uses, for example, the readers
between the ages of 14 and 20 may take the inspiring stories of ‘stars’ working
hard for their achievements. Because the ‘Stars’ featured in the product would be
of all genders, it would not apply to a single gender, thus widening the target
audience, Katz’s UGT suggests that while female readers will be attracted to the
magazine because they are able to establish ‘personal relationships’ with them,
while male (Hartley) readers will be attracted to the product due to the use of
female images used as attractants, as females are often objectified for the
pleasure of the male audience (Male Gaze – Mulvey). Since the main ‘Star’ of my
product is male, it could be argued that this works the other way round, for
instance, the male readers will establish a ‘personal relationship’ with him, while
female readers will be attracted to the magazine due to his appearance.
Who would be the audience for your media product and
why?
6. Some of the conventional methods I used
to attract my audience was the ‘puff’ or
promotional competition. And using words
such as ‘exclusive’ to describe the
interview with Niall.
‘Star Appeal’ (Dyer) is also very important
in attracting audience. I chose to have Niall
looking directly at the audience in the
image, because this is welcoming and
creates a bond between the
reader/audience and magazine. The
strapline under the masthead also attracts
the audience because it gives a very brief
introduction into what the magazine is
about. The use of a familiar masthead will
also attract the audience because it will
make it instantly recognisable to the
audience through ‘repetition’ (Steve
Neale).
How did you attract/ address your audience?
7. To create the media product, I used a
program called Adobe Photoshop SC4.
When I began the project, I had very
minimal knowledge of the program,
however while creating the product, I
learnt how to effectively use layers, edit
images, for example removing
backgrounds, how to insert backgrounds,
including gradient overlays.
To create the masthead, I used,
‘dafont.com’. This was so I was able to
create an individual image that would be
instantly recognisable to the audience. The
variety of fonts used on the front page are
conventional of this genre of magazine, and
this ‘repetition’ (Steve Neal) of these codes
make my magazine fit for purpose.
In order for my product to fit in with its
purpose I needed to make it appeal to the
target audience, to do this I used, features
from other magazines of similar genres on
my cover, for example using fonts and
colour schemes similar to those found on
‘Kerrang’.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process
of constructing this product?
8. Because the genre of my magazine was
primarily rock music, I styled Niall in a leather
jacket, as this has connotations of the music
genre, similar to the dark coloured t-shirt and
black skinny jeans.
Photography Planning (Front Cover)
As seen in the second image, a
full body shot of Niall, it can be
seen that he is wearing ‘Doc
Martins’ which are also
commonly linked to the rock
music genre.
9. The image of Niall that was used
on the contents page was also
used as an additional image on
the double page spread, I decided
to do this as I felt that in a similar
way that using similar colour
schemes across magazines links
the different pages, the use of the
same image links the contents
page and the double page spread.
Additionally I decided to use the
other images as I felt that they
effectively presented the genre of
the magazine through the use of
the stereotypical clothing and
bright hair colours / styles.
Photography Planning (Contents)
10. Photography Planning (Double Page Spread)
In the original draft of my product,
the image on the front cover was
also the image used on the double
page spread, however, in my
feedback I received many
comments about how my product
would be better if I used a different
image. Therefore I gathered more
pictures of Niall, although he was
wearing similar clothing, I asked
Niall to use different poses, that
may have seemed more ‘fun’ and
‘playful’ in contrast to the image
used on the front cover.
Before adding the image to the
double page spread I removed the
background of the image, and then
added ‘silhouettes’ behind it, in an
‘echo affect’, as seen to the right.
12. Contents Page Analysis
Title
Sections
Page number
Other image
Editor photo
Editor signature
Convergence-
website
Editorial
Images relating
to cover lines on
front page
Smaller version
of the masthead
13. Mainimage
- smaller
than in
convention
al
magazines
–
‘diference’
Double Page Spread Analysis
Quote
Byline
Social media
sites
Question in
different
font and
colour to
differentia
te from
answers
Introduction
to the ‘star’
(Dyer)
Smaller
version of the
masthead
Convergence,
magazines website
Page
number
Additional
images
14. Audience Feedback
“I like the font, very appropriate for the target audience. Colour scheme good, I like that what he's
wearing fits with the colour scheme. The polaroid's are really good. The back ground of the double page
(silhouettes) look brilliant” - (Joseph Gibbs)
15. From the feedback I received about my magazine I
decided to fill the space at the top of my double page
spread by enlarging the polaroid images and adding
another image.
I also found that the colour scheme I had used was
successful.
I added a drop shadow to the text on the double
page spread because I received feedback that the red
silhouette made the red text difficult to read.
Feedback.
16. I believe that between
completing the preliminary task
and the full product, I have
learnt to use Photoshop in the
most effective way possible for
my purpose.
Specifically I think my ability to
manipulate columns on my
pages improved after research
in the form of tutorial videos
and a lot of “trial and error”.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you
have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
