The combination of the author's main product (a local newspaper) and ancillary texts (a billboard poster and radio advertisement) was effective. The author ensured the ancillary tasks were professionally researched and planned. Both the poster and radio advert promoted the newspaper, using similar visual elements, color schemes, and themes of football to create cohesion. The billboard in particular advertised an interview featured in the newspaper, directly linking the two media products. Overall, applying industry standards and technologies helped the author create high quality, complementary media texts.

1. Rui Spranger
How effective is the
combination of your main
product and ancillary
texts?

2. Introduction
Overlooking the progression of my main task and ancillary tasks, it is evident
that the ancillary tasks effectively enhanced the 'media identity' I have created
throughout my A2 media coursework. The main priority of my brief was to
create the first two pages of an original local newspaper, along with two of the
possible three options for ancillary tasks, which I ended up deciding to create
a billboard poster and a radio advertisement. To ensure that my ancillary tasks
were as professional as possible I spent some time planning and researching
the layout of both the radio script and billboard poster.

3. Use of Media technologies
II used Web 2.0 sites like Google and Youtube to study
existing posters and examine the codes and conventions
used so that I could apply it to my own work. I also
listened to successful radio adverts on Youtube and
dissected what devices were used to make the advert
more intriguing for listeners, like time for pauses within
the speech, low tempo music in background, and easy to
comprehend person voicing the script. I wanted to
produce a advert on the same level, so I began
experimenting with voice recording devices on phones,
but undoubtedly the best quality sound was on a
Dictaphone which was accessible for me and easy to
use. After I was content with the sound of my voice
recording I began searching through music sharing sites
that offer copy right free music, so that I avoid legal
issues. I found this great site called, Jamendo which has
available songs in every category within the music
industry.

4. Main product and Radio advert
From market research I found that including songs
within the soundtrack of the radio advert appeals to
the listening aid of the audience and keeps them
focused on the advert rather than loose
concentration. The link between the radio advert and
my main task is that, the purpose of the advert is to
promote my newspaper ‘Football Fanatics’ but on a
different media platform. Similar points that I covered
in my newspaper, were mentioned in the duration of
the advert, like the companies website, social media
pages, slogan ‘Providing news true to the fans’ and
everything positive we offer readers. Which is great
reading material from a humorous yet informative
perspective on football issues.

5. Main product and Billboard poster
The combination of my billboard design and front cover
of the local newspaper is effective due to the similar
visual elements that they both incorporate. Both are to
A4 scale and demonstrate the layout where the title is
in bold across the top of the page, and slogan
underneath. The colour schemes slightly resemble
each other in consideration that for the billboard poster
the main colour is green in the background of the main
image, where the player is positioned in a grassy area.
In the newspaper front cover all the photographs I took
are of a football match on a grassy pitch. The
consideration of typography where the font is a large
enough size makes the front cover and billboard easier
to read. The colour scheme lets the main images stand
out.

6. Main product and Billboard poster
The focus of the billboard poster is the football player
who is positioned in the center of the image, similarly
the focus of the newspapers front cover is all the
team mates aligned together towards the bottom of
the page. Both the front cover and billboard combine
with the content of my article effectively, because the
main theme behind my main product and the
ancillary tasks is football, and the images of the
football team connotes passion and togetherness.
Where the image of the footballer in the billboard
poster folding his arms, not looking in the direction of
the camera, and a football by his feet could signify
his willingness not to be distracted by anyone and
his determination to succeed in the sport.

7. Main product and Billboard poster
The second page of my double-page spread is
based on an interview with Tyler Andreas whilst the
billboard poster promotes this interview ‘Footballs
newest star? interview with Tyler Andreas in the first
issue of Football Fanatics’. This is quite an eye-
catching statement which will encourage readers to
want to find out more about this player who is
gaining media attention. I even put some of the
writing in red to stand out among the green
background of the poster. The model in the billboard
poster is suppose to portray ‘Tyler Andreas’ which is
a convention of many tabloid newspapers,
interviews with celebrities.

8. Conclusion
Additionally, the combination of the main product and
both of the ancillary texts is effective because I applied
my work to the conventions of real media products and I
have used industry standard software and technology
such as Adobe Indesign, Adobe Photoshop, Final Cut
Pro X and Digital SLR cameras to produce great work.
The ancillary task purpose it to complement the main
task by essentially advertising the product to increase
the public awareness of a new local newspaper.
In the beginning I found the process of creating the main
product and the ancillary tasks challenging in some
areas, as the process of making a billboard/radio
advertisement and a newspaper was new to me.
However, research and analysis of real media products
helped me create texts that are well informed and to a
high standard.