1. Evaluation of my product
This PowerPoint will summarise all of the technical
thought processes and methods I went through as a
product developer to create my music magazine
‘Alto’ and if I achieved the best I could.

2. Does my product adopt, develop or challenge
conventions of media products?
 As a product, I believe that my music magazine ‘Alto’ adopts features
that are conventional for the media sector, whilst introducing original
aspects to establish a unique brand identity. Typical convention such as
using enticing buzzwords and strap lines are crucial in order to attract
magazine readers through subjects they wish to read about, particularly
interviews with global artists. However, for my magazine I decided to
challenge these micro features and adapt them to my magazine. With
my product, thus was done through the use of diverse, young models,
introducing social media and using a quirky, yet simple layout to follow.
In conjunction, these features should create a USP that puts my
Independent music magazine in a
competitive position among others.

3. How does my media product represent particular social
groups?
 Firstly, I recognised that my chosen target demographic
should be young adults between 16-25 year olds. This is
because after conducting my initial market research I
found that most music magazines (e.g. Q and NME) attract
an older clientele with more acquired musical tastes.
Although I had chosen to create and Independent music
magazine, I still wanted my product to appeal to a wide
audience. Within Indie magazines, I found that the
majority of the artists used to represent each issue were
male, hinting at a patriarchal based genre. I decided to
challenge this through the use of using completely female
models in order to not detach my magazine from female
readers. I should have perhaps used a group of both sexes
to model for my magazine, thus maintaining equilibrium,
but due to timing issues and individuality as a brand, I
decided not to.

4. What kind of media institution would distribute my
media product?
 Due to my magazine being targeted at a young
demographic, its distribution must be through
institutions that my target audience uses frequently or is
likely to be aware of. This involves such institutions as
shopping centres or supermarkets which are imperative
to any audience, but particularly shifting my focus on
social media and technology to attaining a young
audience. Not only is having technological forms (Apps)
for the magazine economical for the environment but it is
easier to read, adapting to the consumers needs. This was
featured in my final product where a QR barcode was
placed as a link to my magazine website (my Word Press
blog) which is handy for Smart Phone owners.
Embracing this form of media will be imperative for
future magazines as physical copies are becoming
increasingly expensive and outdate easily.

5. Who would be the audience for my media product?
 As mentioned earlier, my target demographic for my product is 16-25 year old
young adults, of both sexes and from any background. This however changed
throughout the planning process of my magazine where I realised that within the
Indie sector of music magazines women are underrepresented, thus changing my
magazine to a female dominated brand. With this in mind, I used all female models
for the photo shoot for my issue, using a range of mid-shots to close ups to capture
more than is regularly shown in photo journalism. This will positively effect my
target audience as it doesn’t portray women as sexualised or objectified like other
magazine; it is empowering. Using females predominately in my product however
wouldn’t shun male readers, as in the end of the day it remains a music magazine
with useful articles and freebies. My demographic
is also reflected in the pricing of my magazine; I
chose to keep it at £1.50 for a paper copy, with my
App being free to access. This is due to the fact that
the paper copy includes vouchers and freebies that
are useful to have in conjunction with the magazine.

6. How did I attract/address my audience?
Using bold quotes in articles Social media and
highlighted in a different other technologies
colour to summarise long such as QR readers
paragraphs. and Apps.
Articles featuring
artists such as
Mumford & Sons 16-25 year old Using a colloquial
mode of address
that are increasing in demographic within articles and
popularity among
picture captions
mainstream and
for optimum/easy
Indie institutions.
reading style.
Typography that uses
original sans serif fonts Only females models
in order to appear within the
Bright colour scheme to
quirky among other demographics age range
appear youthful and not
music magazines. to give a sense of
serious; easy-going magazine.
realism

7. What have you learnt about technologies from the
process of constructing this product?
 During the construction of my magazine I found
adapting to the general use of the software difficult to
grasp. After trialling the Indesign application in both
my preliminary and final product, I found the
composition of the device too complex and time
consuming to complete within the timeframe given. I
then began to use Photoshop, and after following
YouTube tutorials on how to use it, I felt more at ease
with the widgets and tools given, hence using this
software for my final product. I did encounter
difficulties during the making of the product, such as
using the selection and magic eraser tool to detach the
model from the background (as some items in the
mise-en-scene of certain photos did not correlate with
the image I wanted to convey). However, I overcame
these difficulties and thus now know how to configure
programmes such as Indesign and Photoshop.

8. What have I learnt from the preliminary task and how did
it help with my final product?
 From my preliminary task, particularly due to the timeframe given to
complete it in, I found that the overall aesthetic quality, particularly in
the contents page was poor. This is due to micro features such as font
and colour codes not functioning well together; I should have paid
more attention to detail to amend this in order to create a more
harmonious, simple page. In my final product however, I believe I
rectified these issues as I have had more time and was more
accustomed to the Photoshop programme. I have also learnt more
about the meta language of music journalism and applied this to my
product; similarly to MOJO’s journalistic qualities. Overall, with the
use of a preliminary magazine, I have been able to address issues prior
to constructing my final product which had aided the progression of
my media product and helping to fulfil my criteria.

9. Feature article ‘Meet the My final front cover Model superimposes
new Flo’ suggests that the masthead of the
the audience has some magazine; thus
prior knowledge to implying more
Indie music as it is importance, or
referring to Florence + similarly that the
The Machine. ‘Flo’ is issue is focused on
also in big letter to this artist.
emphasise its aim. The model is
placed towards the
Buzzwords such as ‘Plus’
right hand side of
encapsulate the audience as
the cover, which is
it is not only highlighted in
an unusual position
a different colour but it
to adopt. Her head
gives the impression of
is tilted slightly
exclusivity to the
downwards to give
consumer; they are getting
a more
more than they bargained
approachable look
for. Also ‘More on’ adheres
and she is holding a
to this; listing well known
guitar. She is also
artists and bands
placed on a plain
immediately attract their
backdrop to avoid
in-built audience. Deconstruction distraction.