1. Media AS Magazine Production TaskEvaluation Alex Bright
2. Evaluative Question: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? I have incorporated many codes and conventions of a typical music magazine, that targets the audience of which I have also targeted, into the construction of my magazine. This is an actual music magazine that I will use to demonstrate the typical codes and conventions that I have included. I have also created my own logo to help establish An identity for my magazine. This is the logo that I have created. However I believe that I challenge some music magazine concepts as many magazines use full text, rather than a logo, in order to convey their products name. A typical convention is to include the whole band on the Front cover of the magazine, I have also used this form Within my magazine. Many magazines include a large amount of text and Animation along with sub stories that are also inside The magazine. To some extent I have also done this, Although I have taken a more simplistic approach and Decided not to introduce too many extra detail.
3. My Music Magazine Front Cover I have challenged a usual convention in that most Music magazines incorporate a large amount Of vivid colour. But in contrast I have decided to Manipulate the colour theme and ratio of my Photograph that I have used on my front cover in Order to give a black and white effect with a hint Of colour. I thought that this concept was unusual And unique and also helps to add a sense of Drama and effect to the image. An important feature and code of a magazine Is the rule of not placing any text or images over The faces of the subjects within the photograph. This allows the audience to make eye contact and Therefore gives an impression of making the piece More personal to them. I have also decided to Use this very important concept that is used Throughout most music magazines, if not, all.
4. Double Page Spread Another typical convention that I have also used is to structure a large majority of my text into columns for my double page spread. This gives the impression that the text is an article and gives detail. An interesting decision that I have made, is to spread a single image across the double page, which is demonstrated at the top of my magazine. This allows the image to be much larger than usual and creates an interesting feature to the two pages for the audience to view. I believe that this Challenges normal codes and conventions Of a double page spread, however I have Seen this technique used several times. To give an exciting image to the double page. I have decided to include images that do not Incorporate their background. I have placed These amongst the text which then allows the Text to flow around the images to also create An attractiveness to the page. This challenges A magazine that I have previously analysed Within my work and research.
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6. IPC Media IPC Media is one of the largest publishing companies in the UK which produces over 85 iconic Media brands which reaches over two thirds of UK women and 44% of UK men which totals to Almost 27 million people. IPC publish the popular music magazine NME and therefore have great experience in then Market that my music magazine would appeal to. I would suggest that my product would be published with IPC media. Most magazines that have achieved high popularity have been published and produced by IPC. In order to fund the magazine so that it could be published, the product would need to include Various advertisements throughout the magazine. This is the key source of finance for most magazines.
7. Evaluative Question: Who would be the audience for your media product? As I have briefly mentioned the audience that my magazine would appeal to would be those who are interested in and enjoy the music genre that I have decided to focus on. This music genre is alternative rock/ pop and is greatly popular. This music genre has distinctive youth subcultures which means that the music genre follows Distinctive styles included within behavior, fashion, interests and conventions. I have identified A number of these that apply to the music genre and have incorporated them within the Identity and style of my magazine. I have targeted an audience within this youth subculture of the ages between 16- 25 years Old. The gender that my magazine would appeal to, I believe would be generally males. This is because the music genre that I have chosen appears to be increasingly popular with that gender. The main band that I have featured are also all male and therefore would most likely become an icon for other males. However a small percentage of females may also purchase the magazine and may have strong feelings for the members in the band and are therefore attracted to buying the magazine. They may also enjoy that music genre.
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9. I have also included quotes from the band to attract the audience and to allow them to gather an understanding of life as a band. The audience are always interested in stories such as these and are therefore attracted.
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11. Evaluative Question: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product? Practical Production Task Preliminary Task
12. From looking back at the preliminary task I believe that my work and skills has constantly Progressed. For example; I have learnt that professional magazine producers and publishers would be made up of a team of experts who are each assigned to a particular job within the constructing of the magazine. Through this I have understood the skills and job of each of the roles. I have also learnt, how to Capture much better Qualitative photographs This is evident through Comparing images taken For both magazines. I have learnt that planning And preparation is required And delivers great results. It is clear that I have learnt many Key principles, codes and Conventions that help to make a Magazine appear professional During the process of making Both magazines, more so before Constructing the music magazine. Through the process of creating the magazines, I have learnt how the use of vocabulary can manipulate and address the audience that you are targeting.
13. Conclusion I have thoroughly enjoyed the tasks that I have been given. I feel that I have learnt a large amount about magazines and how they are constructed throughout this process. I have also enjoyed learning how to use Photoshop to help me in manipulating photographs and constructing the magazine. I am very pleased with the overall result of my products, although I have discovered many points that I would have perhaps have done differently now that I look back. If I had to have create another magazine I would consider these points. To be able to see the end product completed, it gives me great satisfaction.
14. Media AS Magazine Production Task Evaluation By Alex Bright