5. Audience research
The audience research I did was biased on young people/teenagers and from the
results of it showed me what types of things they were most interested in and what
they would look for in a magazine.
6. Other pop magazine audiences
Images of
people who
younger
people are
interested
in
Something
a younger
audience
would be
interested
in
Non
serious
face shows
that it is
targeted at
a younger
audience
Bright feminine
colours suggest its
aimed at females
and about pop
Interested in
things other
than music
More serious look
connotes that it is a
more serious magazine
and there for aimed at a
older audience
For
people
interested
in fashion
From looking at other pop magazines and what their audiences were I found that “top
of the pops” and “we <3 pop” both were aimed at a younger audience while “billboard”
was aimed at an older teenage audience but was a lot more serious. I wanted my
magazines audience to come between the two, of being for an older teenage audience
but be less serious.
7. Primary Audience
My magazines primary target audience would be
similar to the audience of Billboard as it is aimed at
older teenagers interested in Pop and music. How ever
my magazine incorporates a section of fashion and
what the artists style of fashion is, so it has a slight
fashion directed audience like vogue. My audience
would be a mixture of both billboard and vogue as I
want to include fashion elements and Pop music for
the older teens of 14-20 years old. There fore this
makes my magazine a hybrid genre of Pop music and
fashion which I know from research there is a niche
gap in the market for, making my magazine a perfect
fit.
As it incorporates fashion it is mainly aimed with a
target audience of females although some males will
still be interested.
9. Who I Am Trying to Represent
Girly
Older teens.
Aged 14-20
Follow gossip and
stories. Mainstream
audience.
females
Interested in
fashion
Use
technology, s
ocial
networks ect.
Wanting a
light hearted
read, not too
serious
10. My Cover Star
For my Cover star to appeal to and
represent my target audience it had to
be an idealised version of the reader and
what they want to see. It had to appear
to be main-stream and in the style my
target audience would recognise.
My cover star is the same age group as
the reader, making it more idealised and
the fact they appear to be girly can be
presented as a way of appearing to be a
role model and someone the reader
looks up too, especially the target
audience.
11. My cover stars representation
The target
audience are
represented by
people who are
similar to them
selves
Young, fun and mainstream
“Fun” body language
Clear skin, neat
hair and perfect
teeth make them
seem like an
idealised version of
the audience
The red lipstick on
the cover stars
connotes a more
rebellious side which
may interest the
older audience
Direct mode of
address
Flowery dresses make
them seem youthful
and feminine
Excited and playful
faces
The flowery dresses
connote a
girly, innocent feel while
appearing bright and
outgoing
They appeal to an
older teen audience
but still appear to be
less serious and more
fun.
12. Features my magazine uses to
represent the social group
Features
The features
of the
magazine are
all baised
around
fashion and
Pop music.
Masthead
Headline
This represents the audience by
showing what they are interested
in and what kind of things they
will be interested in looking at.
Pop artist.
The bright colours attract
the eye of the younger
audience, while the colours
are bright representing
pop and girly.
The image of the “artists” attracts
the target audience as they are an
idealised version of the reader.
Editors note
It tells you exactly who the magazine is for
which represents the audience as it shows
their personality and the things they
believe to be important.
Image
The
girlyness of
them also
appeals to
the target
audience.
13. Other representations
Beyoncé as the cover star of this
magazine, represents a similar social
group as my magazine does as she
appeals to teens by being a role model
but also appears to be sexy and
aspirational.
Beyoncé connotes femininity as she is an idealised
female role model, but this image shows her
sexuality from the pose she is doing and from the
serious look on her face.
The dark eye makeup connotes a darker and more
secretive side to her, which interests the target
audience.
She represents the mainstream social class but
also girly. Which is the same as my own social
class that is represented through my media
product.
14. Question 3
What kind of media institution might
distribute your media product and why?
15. Publication
After researching different music magazines and publications I found that
my magazine was best published and distributed by Prometheus Global
Media publishing company, which is the same Publication that distributes
Billboard magazine.
Prometheus Global Media is also the publisher and distributor of Hollywood
reporter weekly, film expo group, Ad week and Backstage which I believe
will compliment my Magazine as they are all very well known and powerful
magazines which specify is a particular field with particular target audiences
which differ from mine but would help it get started as the publication is
very experienced and professional in the entertainment industry and have
particular connections with people who could feature in my magazine or
promote it.
Billboard is the most similar to mine but where billboard is for the more
serious reader, mine is more light hearted and not completely focused on
music.
Also the CEO, Richard Beackham was the publisher of Vogue
magazine, which would help with the incorporation of fashion in my
magazine.
16. These are some of sister publications of Prometheus Global
Media, and would be sister publication to my Beat It magazine.
17. Distribution
My magazine would be sold at £3.50 per issue.
Billboard magazine is £7.50 per issue, but it is an American
magazine which are generally sold at a high price in the
UK.
It would be sold monthly, unlike the other publications
which are sold weekly, as it is a less serious magazine, and
for a younger audience then the magazines like Billboard
and the Hollywood reporter, and teenagers are more likely
to buy on a monthly basis as they have less money to
spend.
18. Distribution-ways to find my product
I can make it
available to find on
twitter and facebook,
and have the symbols
on advertisement for
my product aswell as
the magazine its self.
Have adverts on
music channels such
as MTV and 4music.
Have an app available
for apple and android
which has the website
and other links and
information it, aswell as
being able to buy the
magazine on the device.
19. Distribution-merchandise
Smaller merchandise like the key ring and a cap, in some issues, can be
given out for free as a way of advertising its self. The selling of these
products will encourage brand loyalty and there fore make advertisers
continue to give the magazine money.
20. Beat It events and festivals
As beat it will be part of the same company as the Clio awards, it can take part
in major events as a way of distributing its self. And also provide advertisement
at festivals.
21. Question 4
In what way does your media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
22. Why I chose these magazines
The magazines I chose to look at were Billboard because it is a music
magazine that is aimed at a more serious and slightly older audience,
and keep up with what is happening at the time, similarly to my
magazine. Billboard also has a similar style to my magazine, and follows
a lot of the similar conventions as my own.
We <3 Pop because it is a music magazine that is biased around younger
girls and is focused on pop music.
Top of the pops because it is a fun, non serious music magazine that
looks at popular artists of the time, especially those that girls are
interested in.
23. Layers used. Cover
star covers mast
head.
Bright vibrant
colours with a
3 colour rule.
Front Cover Conventions
Posed studio mid
shot. Not smiling
and direct mode
of address.
strapline
Headlines
telling you
what is in
the issue
Unique
selling
point
Name of
main
artist
Main central image.
Posed studio mid shot
with direct mode of
address
Unique selling
point
cover
lines
Buzz words
Barcode issue number
and date
¾ colour
rule
Mast head using
bright colours
24. Editors note
Headline
Image of a
feature article
Contents
Conventions
Images to do
with the articles.
Bright colours
Headline
Features
House colours
Page numbers
Page numbers
Features
Images to do with
the articles.
Image of a
feature article
25. Headline
Mid close studio
shot
Double Page
Spread
Conventions
Columns of text
with 2 colours for
question and
answer
Pull quote
Stand first
Conventional image of
the star that the article
is about.
conventional
image of the star
that the article is
about.
Headline
Stand first
Mid close studio
shot
Columns of text with 2
colours for question
and answer
Pull quote
26. My magazine conventions
¾ colour rule
Bright
colours
Layers. Cover
star over
mast head
Mast head in
top third
Direct mode
of address
Unique
selling
point
Cover
lines
Posed mid
studio shot
Bar code
Strap lines
28. My magazine conventions
headline
Stand first
heading
Pull
quote
Columns
of text
Image of
star
article is
about
Mid close
studio
shot
Button
with more
info
29. How my front cover uses
conventions
Looking at my front cover in correspondence with other real media products of the same
sub-genre of pop, I can see that there are a range of things making my media product
use, develop and challenge forms and conventions.
For the front cover a magazine a very conventional form for a pop magazine is to have the
cover star over the mast head as it allows the reader to see that the magazine is popular as
it doesn’t need to have the whole masthead on display, and also attracts the target
audience as they know what the magazine looks like without having to see the mast head.
From knowing this I made my cover stars over lap the masthead to give the idea that they
were more important than it so people would want to read about them, as well as using it
as it was a main convention. The Billboard magazine front cover with Lily Allen as the
cover star uses this conventional form. Another form and convention that my front cover
uses is bright colours. The Top of the Pops magazine uses a very bright colour scheme of
pink, as does the We <3 Pop magazine, which makes it attractive to younger girls who the
magazines target audience is aimed at. My main central image uses conventions and
forms of real media products. They use conventions such as having direct mode of
address to attract the audience and buyer, as does all three of the magazines I looked at:
Top of the pops, Billboard and We <3 Pop. Also all three are studio close up/mid shots, as
it my main central image, and are taken in low key and high contrast which is very
conventional for all magazine images, not just pop magazines.
30. How my front cover
challenges and develops
conventions
I developed and maybe challenged the convention of having layers and having the main
central image over the masthead as I didn’t cover the conventional part of the mast head,
which would be the centre, I covered the far right of the mast head so that it was still very
clear what the mast head was, as it is obviously and unknown magazine. My magazine
front cover does use the convention of a bright colour scheme and house colours of pink,
blue and green with some aspects of yellow but it also challenges the convention
compared to the Top Of The Pops magazine which uses a 2 colour rule of pink and white
where as mine uses a ¾ colour rule to make it seem more vibrant and exciting. Along
with this idea my magazine develops the convention of the target audience for pop
magazines. It develops the convention of just having one cover star, as I have used two, as
it creates more attraction to the front cover from the audience as they are used to seeing
just one, or at times a band. Having two cover stars challenges the convention of where
the main central image is positioned. In Top of the Pops and Billboard the main central
image is in the conventional place of the centre, where as mine, like We <3 Pop, is just off
centre and to the right side more, which makes it less conventional as it isn't that
common, especially when compared with the other two magazines.
31. How my contents page is
conventional
One way in which my contents page is conventional is that it has an editors note
which tells the reader what this issue is about, and some general things about the
magazine itself. The we love this contents page also has an editors note in it, like my
magazine, to entice the reader and get them interested in what the magazine has to
offer. Another convention that my contents page uses is the use of images. My
contents page features a bigger main image which ties into the contents page, like
Olly Murs does in We <3 Pop as he is on the same issues front cover, like Abby and
Kelly are the bigger image on my contents page and are the cover stars on my front
cover. Also the real magazines use a collection of smaller images which also tie into
the contents page and some of the articles and pages in the magazine, like they do in
my magazine, as I have images of concerts and festivals which are names on my
contents page as being features of the magazine. For the real media products the
colour scheme varies but is conventionally bright in the three magazines I have
looked at, as is the colour scheme of my contents page as it is blue, pink and green.
The Billboard magazine colour scheme is blue, white and black, which all together
make it seem bright, We <3 Pop’s colour scheme is blue, green and black and Top Of
The Pop’s is Pink, yellow and white. Which are all bright as is mine.
32. How my contents page
challenges and develops
conventions
The very obvious way that my contents page challenges conventions of real
life media products is that it is two pages, rather than one like
Billboard, Top of the Pops and We <3 Pop, which I did to make it more
unique and to give the reader more of an insight as to what is in the
magazine, where We <3 Pop’s contents page, We Love This, is quite vague
as to what is in it.
Another way is that my magazine goes into more depth about what is in the
magazine, and uses less pictures than top of the pops and we love this
contents page, as it is aimed at an older target audience as they are, as is
the Billboard contents page which, like my magazine doesn’t include as
many images but has a few smaller ones.
My magazine develops the convention of the heading as it simply has
“contents” rather than using a pun of the magazine name like with “we love
this” or having something explaining it like “inside the mag” in the top of
the pops.
33. How my double page spread
uses conventions
My double page spread uses, develops and challenges the conventions
and forms of real media products.
Double page spreads conventionally have a heading which relates to the
article, like the three magazines I have looked at, one article is “brother
love” about the Jonas Brothers and another is “merry christmurs” about
Olly Murs. Both of these cleverly use the name of the artist to create an
article heading. My magazine also uses this convention as my article is
about Icona Pop and I named it “your Pop Icon” as it uses the name of
the group while still changing it. Another way my double page spread
uses the conventions is that it breaks up the questions from the answers
by using colour. The Pixie Lott article uses Blue and white to separate
the questions and mine uses two colours also, how where mine is in a
very different layout as I use two columns rather than three.
Also my double page uses a conventional pull quote to draw in the
readers as it mentions another famous artist who the reader may be
interested in.
34. How my double page spread
challenges and develops
conventions
One in which I feel I have challenged the conventions on my double page
spread is with the images I used as I kept it simple by owning have 2, and
both are from the same studio, where conventionally one of the images will
be as though it is from a different day, or of an action shot like in we <3 pop
magazine there is an action shot of Olly Murs.
Another way is the layout of my double page spead, conventionally the
heading is with the main image, but mine is on the top left, and my main
image is in the middle of the double spread, which in its self is a
development of a convention as it usually takes up a whole page its self.
36. Front cover
Mast head
Clear
colour
scheme
Direct
mode of
address
Eyes in top 1/3
Excited facial
expression
At least 5
features
to convey
value for
money
price
Different text size
to show audience
which features are
most important
Unique
selling
point
37. Attract and address
My magazine is aimed primarily at females which is
shown through the light and bright colours of
white, blue, green and pink. Also the cover stars
connote femininity as they are dressed in flowery
clothing and look girly, which attracts in the target
audience and as the girls are an idealised version of
the reader, especially for the younger readers, it allows
my magazine to address the audience as they are
something the audience is interested in.
The genre sub-genre of my magazine is Pop which is
shown through the mast head as “beat” relates to the
sound of pop music as well as being a famous song by
the king of pop Michael Jackson. Also the cover stars
facial expressions show this as they connote happiness
and liveliness, they look excited and cheerful with is
associated with pop music more than any other genre.
The reader can relate to the cover star as they fall within the same age group of older
teen, between the ages of 14-20.
38. The language used is between
formal and casual to address the
audience as they want something
that they can relate and
understand but also want to feel as
though they are being treated as
adults.
The list of other artists
attracts the audience as if
they aren't interested in
the cover star they may
be interested in one of
these other artists.
Attract and
address
The mast head stands out
because it is in bright colours
and uses word play on Beats
in music and Michael
Jacksons song, to link it to
pop music. The font connotes
an element of electronic as it
is a bold and mechanical font
which can connote pop music
through the use of using
sound studios. Also it relates
the “beat” of the name.
The cover stars
connote femininity
through their clothing
and their facial
expression shows
excitement which
reveals the values of
the magazine.
39. Attract and
address
The image of the main article draws in the
reader as they want to see what the article is
going to say. The stars also relate to the
audience as they are the same age and the
audience may aspire to be like them as they
are good role models, shown through their
posture, facial expression and clothing.
The sub heading draws in the
audience as it is bright and stands
out on the page, and also reflects
the genre of pop and feminine. The
page numbers allow the reader to
find what it is they are looking for.
Under the article name the
description allows the reader to
know what it is about and
persuades them to read it.
The heading attracts the audience as it used white on black
which stands out, so when someone is flicking through they
will stop to have a look. The font used is the same as the mast
head which makes it appear to be a very important
aspect, also it connotes music studios and the technology
used which represents the genre of pop.
The editors note attracts
the audience as it gives
them an insight as to
what is in the magazine.
The language used is
friendly and appealing to
the target audience.
40. The pull quote attracts readers who
maybe don’t like Icona pop but do like
avicii as it makes it clear that the article
isn't just about the. The font used is the
style associated with avicii and connotes
technology and there for pop music.
The main image connotes femininity and
the fact they are the same age as the
target audience and that they are looking
beautiful makes them an idealised
version of the reader and there for
appeals to the target audience.
Attract and
address
Using the convention
of having different
colours for the
question and answer
makes the article look
more appealing and
be more focused
around the teenage
audience.
The headings and subheading attract
the audience as they are apparent who
the article is about. They are in bright
colours and the font used is quite girly
as it is curly, which appeals to the target
audience of females.
41. Question 6
What have you learnt about technologies
from the process of constructing this
product?
42. My masthead using Photoshop
I pasted the words using the
chosen font of sci-fried from
publisher onto a new
Photoshop document
I then added 4
rectangular shapes
over the gaps in the
letters
I lastly moved
the layers so that
the rectangles
were behind the
text and grouped
them into one
image
I coloured these
boxes in using the
colour tool
43. My cover star (and other images) using Photoshop
For smaller areas
and around the
hair, I used the
rubber
Firstly I pasted the image onto a
new Photoshop page
Next I began removing the
background with the wand
too, which you select and
delete where you want.
Lastly I
changed the
brightness and
contrast.
To edit out the brace
I selected the colour
of the teeth, and
then using the paint
brush, on a low
opacity, went over
the lines of the
brace.
44. My front cover using fireworks
I imported my
cover star
image and
masthead onto
a blank A4
sized fireworks
document and
positioned
them how I
liked
In the same
way I changed
the font, I then
changed the
colours to
correspond
with the image
Using the rubber tool I was
able to rub out the bottom
of the masthead, around
the shape of the cover stars
to give it the effect that the
cover stars were covering
the masthead
Upcoming concerts 2014
What pop artist are you most
like?
Biggest hits of 2013
I think started
to put in the
Exclusive interview
text on the
with Icona Pop
front cover
“Music and singing is
our true passion. We love it”
and changed
the font to
suit what I
wanted
45. My front cover using fireworks
I wanted to create a banner and
straplines so I used the vector
tool to place in a black box, and
black and yellow lines to make
the front cover seem more full
Lastly I inserted the text for the
straplines and changed the
colours to the house colours
To give the
impression that the
cover stars are over
the masthead, as
earlier, I used the
rubber tool to rub
out the line over the
image
I then imported
some the of the
images I had edited
using photo shop
and arranged them
on my front cover
46. My contents page using publisher
Firstly I inserted the two
black boxes onto my double
page and then inserted the
text, changed the fonts and
the colour using the font
tools.
Then I inserted the
images I had previously
edited in Photoshop and
arranged them on the
page. I added page
numbers and texts to the
images to link them to a
specific article using the
text box tool again.
I changed the fonts and
colours as I did earlier
and added the blue
boxes as I did earlier
using the shape tool.
I then started to work
on the actual contents.
Using the text box I
added in the headings
and then the articles
name and description.
Next I created my editors note
by pasting a picture I had edited
in photo shop and forming the
writing around it using the text
box tool for the heading as well.
47. My contents page using publisher
Next I pasted in my
mast head and added a
date to make it clear
when the contents is
from and to show that
it belongs to “beat it”.
Lastly I wanted
to add more
colour, so using
the shape tool I
added some
circles using the
house
colours, and
placed them
behind all of the
other parts of
the magazine.
To add some colour I added
boarders around all the images and
the contents. For the contents I used
the line tool and for the images I
used the shape tool and made it so it
had no fill.
48. My double page spread using publisher
I then pasted my
already edited
image into the
middle of the
document.
The first thing I did was change the
back ground colour on a new document.
I added the
heading next. I
used the effects of
glow on the text
and added a
boarder using the
shape tool and
softened the edges
of it using the
picture effect tool.
Then I added the
text at the top of the
page my using the
text box tool and
changing the font
and colour to match
the colours of the
DPS.
49. My double page spread using publisher
I added in the interview using
text box, and changed the
colour of the font to make it
more colourful, and to show a
distinct difference between the
interviewer and the girls.
To add
conventions I
added a button
with more
information and
a pull quote. I
used the same
techniques as
earlier using the
glow effect and
the shape effect.
Lastly I added an extra image to
fill the gaps and I added the
images of some flowers to make it
seem bright and girly. I did this
by editing them in Photoshop and
simply pasting them in.
50. Overall what I have learnt
From creating this product I learnt how to use various tools in
photo shop such as editing the colour, and the paint tool, and
also similar tools in fireworks such as the wand and vector
tools.
I also developed my understanding of how to use publisher as I
had rarely used it but I worked out how to use different aspects
of it like changing the background colour or adding in shapes.
I feel I had learnt a lot about all of these technologies from
simply trying out different things with them.
The technologies I used were a camera, publisher, Photoshop
and fireworks.
51. Question 7
Looking at your preliminary task, what do
you feel you have learnt in the progression to
the full product?
52. The progression of my Front covers
First draft of product
Preliminary task
Aquinas magazine
Final product
56. Rule of thirds
The work on rule of thirds helped me to create my final product as
I knew that for the best result with my images I needed to use it
and get my images on one of lines and the eyes on another. I tried
to use it in all of images.
The eyes are generally along the top
line, and the heads fall towards the
second line on the right.
57. From my preliminary task front
cover evaluation
From looking at my evaluation, I used the pointers and feedback to
form my final design and as a way of knowing what I need to
improve.
58. First front cover
My first front cover, as part of the
preliminary task, is a lot less
detailed and lacking in
conventions such as other images.
It is also very plain . How ever the
use of the “a” from the Aquinas
logo fits the target audience as
they recognise it. The image is
done in Photoshop but doesn’t
follow the conventions of a
normal cover star. Also the
colours are very bland.
59. Final front cover
From my preliminary task front cover I
saw that it was lacking a lot of
conventions, from doing work on front
cover conventions, so I made sure to
include them. Such as a ¾ colour rule,
strap line, cover stars with direct mode of
address and mid studio shot. Also the
fonts had to fit in with the genre of the
magazine, pop, and connote pop music to
the reader. All the things on the front
cover had to represent the audience too.
Such as the colour scheme which is bright
colours to portray a girly and pop music
feel.
60. Mood board
My mood board is what I used to base my
whole magazine on as it gave a few ideas
of what things my magazine needs to
represent and what “pop” means.
63. What I learnt
From the preliminary task front cover I have
learnt a lot about how important the
conventions are, as from my feedback I found
that it didn’t really attract the audience as
there was nothing drawing people in, so with
my final I made sure to include all the
conventions that I could. I also learnt about
what different techniques of photo shop
worked, such at bringing the brightness and
contrast up to make the cover stars seem
perfect and idealised by the reader.
Also I learnt that the mast head is very
important as the font has to match the
genre, so on my final design I chose to use a
techno font to represent the fact that pop is
modern and what is in fashion at the
minute, also the colours entice the reader and
draw them in.
64. From my preliminary task
contents page evaluation
From looking at my evaluation for my contents page I was able to pick
out what needed changing in order to create my final design, what
needed to change and what needed adding.
65. First contents page
My first contents page, I believe, used all
of the conventions well such as editors
note, image of an article. How ever it did
miss out a few crucial things such as
having the images link to an article. I did
like the design of it and from my feedback
I found that it was quite eye catching and
worked really well.
My Photoshop skills did need improving
though as the lighting on the “learning
Centre” image isn't very good, and the
background of the main image needs
editing out.
66. Final contents page
From the preliminary task I knew I needed
to make the font more exciting and fit the
genre of the magazine more, so I used a
more tech font as it connoted technology
and future, which links to the idea of pop
music. I also knew that I needed to link the
images to specific articles, so I added page
numbers onto the images to show that the
image is what the article on that page is
about.
I used a lot of colour as well as from the
feedback I found that using bright colours
would draw more people in.
67. What I learnt
From the preliminary task I learnt all the
things that I needed to improve on my
magazine, as well as the things that worked
well to give it an over all professional feel
and attract the target audience.
I improved my Photoshop skills
massively, as I was able to edit them to
look professional and to take out all
aspects I didn’t want, such at the brace.
I also learnt that it is very important to use
a good colour scheme that represents the
genre and the audience well, which I used
in the ¾ colour rule of blue, green and
pink.
I definitely think that my contents page
improved in all aspects.
68. Final double page spread
We didn’t do a preliminary task double
page spread, but I used the feedback
given with the other pages and from my
evaluation to create it as I was given an
idea of the types of things I needed to
do.
I used all the conventions so that it was
attractive to my target audience and I
made sure that the colours used were
the same as the front cover and the
contents page (house colours).
69. Over all
Overall I feel that my final product was a
massive improvement from my preliminary
task as I was able to see what I needed to do
and include to make it better. My final
product is quite similar in layout to my
preliminary as I liked the design and I found
that other people did, as it was quite exciting
and spaced out.
i think that the thing that improved the most
was my photo shop skills as I learnt how
different techniques looked on the page and
how I could use different tools to create
different effect, such as the brightness tool to
lighten the image up and make it look more
youthful and idealistic.
