1. Mariya Ahmed Evaluation Media AS
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AS Media: Evaluation of Foundation Portfolio
1. In what ways does your music magazine use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real music magazines?
Front cover
I chose to use a banner similar to the ‘Gramophone’ magazine and by following the codes and
conventions, I decided to place the banner on the left hand side. The colour of the banner matches
the model’s outfit to make the magazine stand out more. However I stayed with my colour
scheme, as my model’s outfit was only one colour so I kept my font black and red.
I followed the codes and conventions of the magazine’s masthead by creating a bold theme.
However, I used black and red font instead of white because the background of my magazine is
white and if it was black then it would have blended in with my model’s hair.
The image I used is a medium long shot, which is similar to the ‘Gramophone’ magazine. I felt that
the posture of a female would appeal to my target audience and the majority of the front cover’s I
saw featured women. I then realized if I have a female on my front cover it would attract attention
and make it stand out. The bar I have used on the left hand side follows the same style of the
‘Gramophone’ magazine which feature’s the title of the magazine, issue number and a few article
titles’s to give the reader a glimpse of what is inside the magazine. I placed the barcode on the
bottom right hand corner, which follows the codes and conventions of all music magazines. The
barcode is small and doesn’t take up a huge amount of space, which creates balance appeal to the
magazine.
There is a puff at
the top as the eye
position of a reader
is a ‘Z’, so the puff
is the first thing the
reader will see.
There are cover
lines of different
sizes and colour
to make the
important
information
stand out more.
There are 4 sets
of cover lines.
The masthead font is bold to make it
stand out.Followed the codes and
conventions and made the
font bold.
I moved the puff from the
top to the bottom because
I thought it stood out
more there.
I added 5
short cover
lines and a
quote by the
model which
will inspire the
readers to
purchase the
magazine.
I followed the codes
and conventions by
making the font big
for the name of the
model and used the
same amount of
cover lines.

2. Mariya Ahmed Evaluation Media AS
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Contents page
I chose to place the masthead in the middle similar to the ‘Q’ magazine and I added a subheading
right underneath the masthead so it is the first thing the reader reads as the eye position is in the
shape of a ‘Z’. I decided to create a line underneath it to separate it and make it look more
professional as it does with the ‘Q’ magazine. I have also added a circle in the middle of the line
with the issue number; this shows I am following the codes and conventions of the ‘Q’ magazine. I
followed the codes and conventions by adding the cover lines all on the left hand side with an
image on to, after each sub-heading I have a line underneath so it separate it and makes it look
more organized and professional. After I had written the cover lines I still had some dead space at
the bottom so I decided to add the Twitter and Facebook of the magazine so it can become more
popular. I followed the convention and added a big image of the right hand side which is the
second thing the reader will see, this will show the reader how interesting the magazine looks and
would want to know what the girls are reading and I added 2 images underneath that. At the
bottom I added an editor’s note which is not on the ‘Q’ magazine, as this is something I challenged,
and this would be the last thing the reader will see. The reason why I put the editor’s note at the
bottom is because I think its important the reader reads it last so they remember what the
magazine will contain and this may influence them to purchase the magazine.
The masthead is
in the middle.
The cover lines are on the
left hand side with an
image on top of it.
There is a
big image to
attract
reader and
give an idea
of what the
magazine
will be
about, eye
position ‘Z’.
There are page
numbers on the
images to show
which cover line
the image goes
with.
I decided to place
the masthead in
the middle and
follow the codes
and conventions.
I have made
several cover
lines and kept
them short. I
also added an
image on top,
this shows I
am following
the codes and
conventions.
I have added page numbers on
the images directing it to the
cover lines.
I challenged the codes and
conventions of the
magazine and added an
editor’s note at the bottom.

3. Mariya Ahmed Evaluation Media AS
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Double page
I chose to follow the masthead used in the magazine and had it going underneath each word, this
makes the masthead stand out more. I used different font because I thought that the font I used
was more suitable for my genre. I had one page full of Q & A similar to the other magazine, this
shows I am following the codes and conventions of a magazine. I then placed an image of my
model on the next page similar to the other magazine and continued writing more text to fill any
dead space. I added a pink box at the bottom of the right hand side, which shows I challenged the
codes and conventions as the box includes the concert dates, I decided to place it on the bottom
right because of the eye position which is a ‘Z’ as the reader will read that last and will be more
aware and remember the concert dates and whether they would attend or not. I have also added
an arrow to go to next page for it to continue in case the reader thinks the interview is finished.
This masthead is
big and stands
out, there is also
a sub heading
underneath the
masthead.
Here is an image
of model.
The masthead is
similar to the
magazine and I
have added a sub
heading
underneath the
masthead. I have
used a different
font which I
thought was
suitable for my
genre.
I have placed image of
model and I have
challenged the codes
and conventions by
added a pink box on the
bottom right of the
concert dates.
I have used 2 different
colour, one colour to write
the question and the other
colour for the answer, I
did this so it separates it
and doesn’t look
confusing.

4. Mariya Ahmed Evaluation Media AS
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2. How does your music magazine represent particular social groups?
‘Classical Vibe’ is aimed at both male and female musicians sharing a passion for classical music. I
feel that I have represented my social group through the use of image’s, language and font style
and sizes.
Images
My music magazine represents particular social groups in many ways. For example, through the
images I have used, an image of a female and most of the front covers I saw had images of a
female, which entices the reader and the posture my model is doing will make it more appealing
especially to men. Most of the models wear dresses, which is why I decided my model would also
wear a dress as well. As, I felt that it would be reacting to what my target audience wanted to have
in their magazine, which would give me a higher possibility of my magazine becoming popular.
Font style and sizes
I followed the codes and conventions of classical magazine’s font styles by making it bold and
clear. However, I changed the font style, as the ‘Gramophone’ magazine font style was plain and
simple. I challenged the conventions of simple look of classical music magazines; it was necessary
for me to change the font as most of my target audience said the title is the first thing that would
attract them to a magazine. This made me come to a conclusion that I will have a funkier font to
draw the reader in.
Language
The language I chose to write in was formal and for a well-educated audience as classical is aimed
at a more mature audience. Also, as my magazine is directed to a mature audience I have more
cover lines on my front cover, but I have followed the codes and conventions of the ‘Gramophone’
magazine.
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your music magazine and why?
The media institution that I chose to distribute my music magazine is ‘Haymarket Media
Group Ltd’ because they have already published the very popular magazines, which are
‘Classical FM’ and ‘Gramophone’. Because of this, I feel that Haymarket Media Group has good
experience and trust from local customers purchasing their magazine. Therefore this means, if
they distribute my magazine then there would be a higher chance of it becoming popular. I
also want to use below the line advertising such as press with the Internet as well as
interview’s and I want to use word of mouth, example of this is buzz. This will help my
distribution be more successful by tweeting and using other media platforms. This will help
my magazine expand to the audience and make my product easier to access. Also the price of
my magazine is not too expensive as it is only £2.60, which is affordable.
4. Who would be the audience for your music magazine?
The target audience for my music magazine would be affluent, well-educated readers sharing
a passion for the tranquility that classical music provides for them. This is also aimed at those
people who love to spend their weekends at concerts and theatres.

5. Mariya Ahmed Evaluation Media AS
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5. How did you attract/address your audience in the forms and conventions used in your
music magazine?
I feel my magazines masthead will attract my target audience as it conveys the classical genre
through the big and bold font, its simplicity would make it appeal to everyone.
The image of the model wearing an elegant light dress is very eye-catchy and it gives a mature
look to the magazine, hinting that it is slightly aimed at a mature audience. Moreover, the
female model will attract men as they will find the model attractive and would want to read
more about her and in order for them to do that, they would have to purchase the magazine.
Also, I placed the bar on the left hand side, which is similar to the ‘Gramophone’ magazine as I
feel it is a simple yet stylish way to attract readers. Plus it give’s them a sneak peek into what
the magazine contains inside. Also, the red house style makes the bar blend into the front
cover, which makes it look more realistic than a poster. Also, I placed a puff on the left hand
third similar to the ‘Gramophone’ magazine as it gives the audience an incentive to buy the
magazine. Moreover, the eye position of the reader is in a ‘Z’ shape, so the puff would be the
last thing they would see. However, it will then immediately make them want to purchase the
magazine as the puff includes some interesting facts about what is inside the magazine.
6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing your music
magazine?
I have used and learnt how to use several software’s which I had never previously used
before. I used ‘Microsoft Publisher’ for when I did my preliminary task. I also used ‘Microsoft
Word’ to do my question’s for my questionnaire. Then, I used ‘Microsoft Edexcel’ when
converting my findings of my questionnaire into pie chart’s and bar charts. After that, I used
‘Photoshop’ which was more advanced software of editing my images and actually creating
my magazine. I used this software to remove the background by using the magic wand and
selecting the whole background all at once. When I removed the background from the images,
I added shadow on a few of my images such as the front cover and content’s page to make my
magazine more appealing to my audience and eye catchy. I also used ‘Google Images’ for
inspiration from other magazine’s and to check whether I as following the codes and
conventions of a music magazine properly or not.
7. Looking back at your Preliminary Task, what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it (the preliminary task) to the full product (the music magazine)?
I have learnt and progressed a lot from my preliminary task. As it has made me learnt to
follow the codes and conventions of magazine’s to make the magazine more appealing, as in
the preliminary task I didn’t follow the codes and conventions as much. I learnt how to use
different software’s such as Photoshop which enabled me to edit my images e.g. change the
colour or contrast of image. In the preliminary task I took the images on my phone, which
creates a pixel effect when you make the image bigger, but by using the professional cameras,
the images look more professional and clear. Also, by layering and merging the layer’s, I had
full control over where I wanted to place my text, banner and puffs, which I wasn’t able to do
on ‘Microsoft Publisher’. I was able to edit my images quickly by using the quick selection tool
or the magic wand. Overall, Photoshop allowed my magazine to have a sophisticated
appearance, so that it could compete with the industry standard classical music magazines.
The reason there is a big change in my preliminary task and my music magazine is the use of
software as when I did the preliminary task I used Microsoft Publisher. But when I did my

6. Mariya Ahmed Evaluation Media AS
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actual music magazine I used Photoshop which is a more advanced software and there were
more tools available on Photoshop than Microsoft Publisher.