Media evaluation

1. EVALUATION
CELIA BARKSHIRE

2. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PROJECT
USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND
CONVENTIONS OF REAL PRODUCTS?
Masthead- name of the
magazine, most commonly,
the mastheads are at the
top left corner of the cover.
The white fits in on top of
the white and makes the
‘XXL’ stand out more. I
think that red and white
have been used as they
contrast well with the other
colours on the page.
Cover line- The cover
line is the large text
that could be a line to
attract the audience to
the magazine, ‘The
Game’ could have
been used to relate to
artist on the front cover
Features- The features of
a magazine are hints to
what is within the
magazine, on this
magazine the title of the
feature has been put in
bold to state the title, then
there is an extra bit of
information written in a
smaller font
Cover image- The cover image
tends to fill up the whole page,
and is an image of a person
that the magazine is promoting
or who the main story/feature
involves. This magazine cover
relates to the genre of music
that it is and follows the rule of
thirds where the eye level of the
artist is a third up the page in
order to be the same as the
audiences eye contact.
Barcode- The barcode is usually on
the bottom right hand side of the
cover showing the price of the
magazine
FRONT COVER

3. FRONT COVER
Masthead- The title that
I used has been placed
behind in order to focus
on the artist, as I
assumed that the
audience would already
be familiar with the
magazine name. The
font that I used relates to
the urban genre and
then I used a different
font and font size for the
second part of the title to
create a different
contrast.
Date line- The date line
of the magazine issue is
normally placed
underneath the
masthead, so I followed
this convention for my
media project. The date
is important as the
readers will want to
know if the news events
in the magazine are
recent.
Features- I made the titles of my
features in either a different
colour or font in order to stand
out and then I used a white font
for the extra information. I used 4
main colours, Red, Yellow, Black
and white. I used these as they
stand out in front of the cover
image/background . I also made
sure that the features were from
artists that are either well known
or coming up artists. I put Jay-z
into a larger font as his name
would draw in the readers.
Barcode- I placed the barcode in the bottom right
hand side to flow the normal conventions of a
magazine as it is not a prominent thing on the
cover.
Cover image- I chose this cover
image for the urban magazine as
the model re-inforces the
stereotypes of urban artists, with
large gold hops and hair scraped
back with a leopard print scrunchie.
I also used an image of the whole
band ‘Erosion’ and used anchorage
text in order to show that she is part
of that band and to give a taster to
the readers of what is within the
magazine . I made sure that the
artists eye contact is 2 thirds up the
page so it meets the readers eye
contact and conveys the magazine
conventions

4. CONTENTS
The title of contents is in
bold to make it stand
out from the red in the
background. For many
music magazines
contents is written in
separate lines to make it
look more rugged and
giving a contempory
feel.
There is minimal
information on this
contents page as the
main focus is the
artist. The titles for
each of the sections of
contents is in a
different font to make
it clear that there are
different sections
other than music
within the magazine.
The background of the
contents is plain so that it
doesn’t take away to
much focus from the
main image. The dark V
relates to the title of the
magazine being ‘Vibe’ .
The cover image is the main attraction of the contents page,
representing the stereotypes of urban music with the gold
chains, teeth and tattoos. The face of the artist is in the centre of
the page showing that it is the main object in comparison to the
contents titles which follow in a small font down the left hand
side.

5. CONTENTS
My contents title uses the
conventions of magazine
covers by going on three
different lines, I chose the
colour white so that it stands
out from the grey background.
I used white to relate to the
model I used where parts of
the jacket are white so I tried
to create a link between the
two.
The titles of the
different sections that
I used are in blue to
link to the model and
also the background
of the second image
from the left on the
bottom column. I did
this in order to join
the page together. I
separated the
contents into two
sections to convey
the conventions of
music magazines by
doing ‘Regulars’ and
‘Features’
I used this cover image
because it matches with the
other properties of the
contents. For example the
colours. I also tried to stay with
two separate columns so I
made sure that the model
stayed in the left hand column
and made the contents in the
right hand column as this
follows the conventions of
reality music magazines.
I put a selection of images
at the bottom of the page to
give a taster of the artists in
the magazine.I tried to use
the same shade of colours
as the title and the model so
that it would link in and there
would be a good contrast I
also did it to bring the two
columns together.
I chose to keep the grey
background because the colour
works well with the others on the
page, and the white and blue
stand out well on it.

6. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
This double page spread
has been split into 3
columns which conveys
the normal conventions.
The background of the
page is grey which is a
simple colour and will
put no distraction to the
rest of the page. The
lights surrounding the
page could suggest the
fame of the artist. The
way the artist is dressed,
his tattoos and general
his image is the iconic
indie/ alternative style.
The artist has taken up a
whole column so that he
is the readers main
attraction. He is also
classically staring
straight into the camera
with no emotion on his
face.
The colour scheme of the page is plain
colours, this makes the pink in the masthead
stand out properly.
The masthead is on the
two columns and is a
quote from the interview,
this is a good way to bring
in readers to read the
article. There is a black
highlight behind the quote
which is made from two
colours being purple and
white, the colours
together could hint a punk
image. The title also
stands out as it is all in
capitals which takes it
away from the main
features of the page
which are in a smaller
font.
The main content of the page is separated into 3 columns which is a
popular convention for double page spreads, also the question has a
highlighted white background with a black font which helps it to stand out
from the answers and makes it easier for the readers. The drop capital is in
bold which makes it stand out and make a powerful beginning.
The news box shows a
subheading and also a
web link to the magazines
website. The colour of
news is in red to shows
that it is not related to the
double page spread.

7. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
I split my double page
spread into 4
columns with two on
each page, I did this
so that the band was
on one side with the
interview on the other
so that there was a
distinctive layout for
the readers. I used a
quote for masthead
on the left side page
as it gave a taster to
the readers of what
the band/interview is
on. I used a dark blue
colour and a different
font so that it stood
out on the page
against the blue and
the black and white
brick.
I used a simple image of the band to show the readers exactly who they were and
what there image was. I tried to make them look like they were an urban band from a
different background than other bands which I mentioned in the interview.I put them
against a blue background to bring colour and a different contrast into the image
I made a brick wall into grayscale then faded it into the
background to make it a base layer for other information. I did
this as the brick matches with the font of the title ‘Erosion'.
The blue, black and red colours also stand out on top of the
background. I used these colours because they all match with
the colours that the band is wearing. I did this so that the two
pages come together.
I split the interview into
two columns and which
follow the conventions of
a normal magazine, I put
the questions in another
colour so that they stand
out over the questions for
the readers. The red text
can also make it more
appealing to the readers
rather than a full black
text which is not
something that someone
would choose to read.
For the title I used
the light shade of
blue to correlate with
the background of
the left column. I also
used a rough font to
give the urban
perception of the
magazine.

8. HOW DOES YOUR MEDIA
PROJECT REPRESENT
PARTICULAR SOCIAL
GROUPS?
I have tried to aim this magazine at a young urban music fans who have a specific
interest in street music. The social groups traditionally associated with this genre
tend to be from urban backgrounds frequently lacking in a full education and often
anti-establishment. I have represented this by presenting bands (Erosion) who
would easily be recognized as ‘Urban’ not only from their appearance but also their
attitude and of course the style of their music.
The photoshoot was taken in a run down suburb which I chose to personify the
often bleak and aggressive outlook equated with urban music itself. I tried to make
the model wear clothes that re-inforced the stereotype of urban people, such as
gold chains, caps, and baggy clothing. In styling the magazine like this I wanted to
make it appeal to this social group with the intention that they would immediately
associate themselves with the images and what it represents which would
encourage them to buy it.
The interview questions threw up some revealing answers in particular the bands
comments about the challenges faced by their community and this concern about
the future of their neighbourhood, is reflected in their lyrics. These raw and
oppressive sentiments will be easily recognizable to this urban fan base.

9. WHAT KIND OF MEDIA INSTITUTION
MIGHT DISTRIBUTE YOUR MEDIA
PRODUCT AND WHY?
The media institutions that I would aim my magazine at
would be IPC Media Production, it is a consumer magazine
and digital publisher that could help to appeal to my target
audience and also help to distribute and market the
magazine to the right places.
IPC distributes the magazine NME, which is a large
Indie/Rock Magazine, it also produces other popular
magazines like ‘Look’ and ‘Now’ and ‘TV weekly’
In addition because this is a very specific genre which has a
strong urban image which is easily identifiable I would pitch
the magazine at associated record labels and possibly
associated clothing lines to see if they would look to offer
sponsorship or distribution deals. However for my specific
magazine I would look for niche media institutions that are
more specialized publishers with strong contact in the urban
music world.
IPC MEDIA

10. BAUER MEDIA
Bauer Media Publishing group is a large European-
based media company, it has a collection of more than
600 magazines, 400 digital products and 50 radio and
TV stations around the world. Examples of magazines
that Bauer have published are Kerrang (Rock) , Q (Indie
& Alternative) , and MOJO (classic rock).
I think that Bauer Media would be good to produce the
magazine that I have done as it is an experienced and
popular publisher that has invested in different genres .
Bauer doesn’t have any Urban magazines in the market
produced by them at the moment so it would be a good
publishing group for my magazine to get involved with.
Bauer Media has radio stations such as ‘Heart’ this
would be a good way to market and advertise the
magazines or artists within the magazine.

11. WHO WOULD BE THE
AUDIENCE FOR YOUR
MEDIA PRODUCT?
The audience that I have aimed to target in my magazine has been primarily 16-25
year olds who aspire to be like the artists in the magazine and who can also interrelate
with the Urban Genre and backgrounds of the artists. My magazine should appeal to
all ethnicities as the artists and bands all have different social backgrounds and
lifestyles, for example Jay-z in comparison to Eminem who are both included under
the Urban genre.
I also aimed for the audience that would have the tendency to spend their money on
Urban music magazines and would be interested to read about upcoming street
artists. I based my target audience on the results from my questionnaire where 65% of
people aged between 16-25 said they would read this genre of magazine.
In my magazine I tried to mention features which would be of an interest to this age
group so that they expand and increase their passion for urban music, new talent,
trends and can learn about different things other than Urban music and who can also
be able to build confidence and become an individual from reading the magazine.
The magazine is not aimed at those who have a luxury lifestyle and who have a high
disposable income, it is more for those who can associate with the backgrounds of the
artists and the Urban music stereotype.

12. HOW DID YOU
ATTRACT/ADDRESS
YOUR AUDIENCE?
In the magazine I tried to show my music through the front cover and through the
images on the front cover and the artists that were headlined. In order to target the
right audience I named well known artists that the 16-25 age group would be
attracted to. I also put these names in a different colour so that they could stand
out and instantly catch the readers attention. As well as the cover image I used
another image on the front which interconnected to the double page spread so that
readers would want to know more about the band and then buy it. Colours
throughout are vibrant and striking with a different contrast of colours on each of
the pages, whilst the font is deliberately edgy and has references to graffiti
frequently seen in urban areas. The readers eye line normally hits two thirds up
the page so I put Jayz in a big font slightly below that so that it would catch the
readers eye contact.
In the contents page, I created features that would make the readers feel involved
and which would also give information about popular interests such as ‘Festivals’
as these are highly favored by the target age group. Within the contents page I
used lots of images to make it more appealing to the audience as they can
represent the stereotypes and different personalities within the different artists.

13. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT
TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE
PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING
THIS PRODUCT?
BLOGGER
Blogger was new for me at the beginning so I have learnt a lot from using it, It has
helped me to expand on my knowledge and experience a new way of posting
information. It was also a good way to keep track of what I was researching before I
began my magazine and it was helpful for when I did my audience survey as the
majority answered through the post on the blog.
PHOTOGRAPHY
Using different cameras throughout helped me to notice the difference in quality and
I had also never taken pictures of people outside and I had to experiment with the
different lightings and angles to get the right pictures, so I learnt from that.
ADOBE PHOTOSHOP AND INDESIGN
I used photoshop for the front cover and to get the right colours and sizes of
images, however I mainly used indesign which I had never used before this project,
I found that indesign enabled me to look into more detail in my magazine and also
helped me to make it as professional as possible. I found Indesign considerably
more difficult than photoshop which made me take longer on the contents and
double page spread which I should’ve realized would happen from the start and
sorted out my time better.

14. LOOKING BACK AT YOUR PRELIMINARY TASK, WHAT DO
YOU FEEL YOU HAVE LEARNT IN THE PROGRESSION FROM
IT TO THE FULL PRODUCT?
I feel like I have learnt a lot from my preliminary to my full product, from developing my knowledge on
new technologies and from experimenting with different cameras and programs I have been able to
use new techniques to make my magazine look better, even my doing the smallest things, it adds to
the detail of the magazine which is very important. Doing the background research before starting my
full product definitely made it easier to come up with ideas and layouts. Finding fonts to match the
genre that I chose was also something that I didn’t do for my preliminary and I found that this added to
the image of my final magazine.
I have learnt to
•Edit, post and update my blog posts
•Understand and work Photoshop and InDesign
• Take photos outside- find the right lighting and angles
•Save my work in the right format and edit my previous work on photoshop or Indesign