The document summarizes the author's evaluation of a magazine cover they created. It follows conventions like including a masthead and rule of thirds layout. It aims to represent sixth form students at a particular school without focusing on any social group. The intended audience is both male and female sixth form students at that school. In creating the magazine cover, the author learned skills like photo editing in Photoshop and using blogging platforms.

1. My Magazine Cover Evaluation

3. 2. How does your media product represent particular social groups? I tried my best not to aim for one social group apart from Sixth Formers. I wanted my magazine to be for any gender and any social group so I made sure my magazine’s name and coverlines would appeal to any type of student. The main image is taken outside, with a casual feel and natural lighting so that my audience will feel that the magazine is genuine and not artificial (some magazines use models and backgrounds that seem too perfect to be real). However, I could only use one model for my cover, and I decided I’d make it a girl but I made sure not to let her wear makeup or girly clothes, or that might put off male students. Unfortunately, the colour scheme I chose may seem a little too girly so I may change that to attract male audiences too.

4. 3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why? I decided my magazine would be made and distributed by Sixth Form students of St. Marylebone, as they relate to the target audience (Marylebone’s Sixth Form students) the most. There could be a special team which is changed every year and is made up of both Year 12s and 13s. They would be in charge of the school’s magazine and have different roles, e.g. Editors, Article writers, Reporters/Researchers. Students should be able to apply for a role in the magazine team whenever there is a space, and if they do make it onto the team, they will gain valuable experience making and distributing the magazine and will be able to put this on their UCAS. Perhaps there can be one member of staff in the team to assist and help sort through potential candidates for the magazine team.

5. 4. Who is the audience for your media product? (the target market )? My magazine is aimed at both male and female 6th Form students. Because the magazine is called ‘Marylebone Monthly’, it is obviously only for St. Marylebone’s Sixth Formers. Originally I was planning to aim my magazine at struggling students, to help them with UCAS and homework, and give them special tips, but it became a magazine purely for entertainment and wasn’t really related to school problems. On the other hand, the team in charge of the magazine could decide to release two magazines every month, one focusing on entertainment and the other focusing on advising and helping students.

6. 5. How did you attract/address your audience? The coverlines are in the left third, so that it my magazine was on a rack, they would be the first thing you see. I chose interesting topics (“Caught on Camera!”) and questions directed at the reader (“Don’t know where to go for lunch?”) to get their attention and interest them. My main cover image has warm lighting and colours rather than harsh, artificial ones. This contributes to my magazine’s casual feel which I believe makes my magazine more appealing. Eye-contact from my model also engages the reader more. The informal tone of my coverlines may make it seem more personal rather than detached. I think if I can edit my magazine more, I will add a button saying “Only 99 p!” or something indicating there is an amazing competition so that the reader will be more inclined to buy the magazine.

7. 6. In the process of constructing this product, what have you learnt about the technologies employed? I had never previously used Blogger or Slideshare and had limited experience of Photoshop. In making my Magazine cover I learnt how to: • Straighten photos in Photoshop • Use and maintain a blog • Upload Powerpoint presentations onto my blog using Slideshare