1. 1. In what ways, does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and conventions of
real media products?

2. Both magazine have a bold masthead with a unique font which One main image dominates the cover of both magazines. It is also the
represents the magazine. The masthead of both magazine fills the main feature of the magazine. There is also information related to the
width of the magazine and is stated in block capitals. To stand out main image on both covers. Both covers state the name of the artist
against the block colour background that both magazines have, the and lets the reader know that there is further information in the
colour of the mastheads is also white. magazine about the artist.
Both have short, EXPANDED (My Magazine) VIBE Each magazine has
succinct sub lines/ its own appropriate
sell lines and the colour scheme
placement of these related to the style it
apply to the rule of portrays. My
thirds in order for it magazine follows a
to frame the image scheme of the
appropriately. The colours, red, pink,
colour of the sell grey and white. I
lines also apply to chose these colours
the colour scheme of as they were popular
both magazines. results in the
Majority of the sell research I carried
lines for both out. Vibe magazine
magazine covers are carries a scheme of
expressed in capital blue, white and red.
letters as it is Similarly both
effective in capturing magazine used red
attention. and white. They are
There is a barcode both bold colours
placed in the bottom that capture attention
corner of both instantly.
magazines which
makes it look more Similarly both magazine have an outline There is a photograph of a female on
professional. it is of information in either a header or both magazine covers. From my research Similarities with my
also required for footer. My magazine has a footer and I found that females are more popular on front cover and
marketing purposes. Vibe magazine has a header. The purpose covers, especially across the genre both published music
of this is to inform the reader of these magazine are based on. It attracts magazine front
information featured in the magazine. readers making them want to purchase cover.
the magazine.

3. The basic layout of both
EXPANDED (My Magazine) magazine is similar however VIBE
obviously both magazines
will differ with distinctive
styles. There are differences
in the style of font and
placement of sell lines. Also
my magazine uses a medium
close up whereas Vibe
magazine used a medium
shot for the dominating
image on the front cover.
The sell lines on the
magazine are different as
they relate to the specifics of
both magazine. For example
the main sell lines on both
will relate relevantly to what
is on the cover of each
magazine.
My magazine consists of a
footer highlighting artists that
are mentioned in the
magazine, this is to inform
the reader further and interest
them in purchasing the
magazine. Vibe magazine
does not have a footer
however it does have a
header.
My magazine has a flasher
offering the reader something
more whereas Vibe magazine
does not. Differences with my front cover and
published music magazine front cover.

4. One of the obvious
EXPANDED (My Magazine) VIBE
similarities in both contents
pages for the magazines is
something all magazines
follow: a colour scheme.
Both magazines use 3/4
colours for the contents page
which they feel are most
complimentary to the
magazine. My magazine uses
blue, black, purple and white.
Vibe magazine uses two
different shades of grey,
white and black.
Both magazine have a set of
contents where there is brief
information about the article
and then a page number next
to it. This allows easy access
for the reader as well as
making it convenient.
The masthead stating
‘contents’ for both magazines
uses a similar font style. The
style is bold and basic
therefore stands out to the
reader easily.
The contents page of both
magazines mentions the date.
This informs readers with
what issue it is and is useful Similarities with my contents page and
for marketing purposes. published music magazine contents page.

5. The layout of both contents
EXPANDED (My Magazine) pages differ in many ways. I VIBE
added an editors note in my
magazine to address my
readers personally. Readers
may feel more interacted
with the magazine this way
as it gives them a personal
insight to the magazine.
Both magazines follow
different colour schemes to
suit their magazines. My
magazine uses bold, vibrant
colours that were popular in
my research such as pink
purple and blue. Vibe
magazine uses black, white
and grey to follow the
consistent scheme of their
magazine.
I used several images to
advertise different features
that the magazine offers
whereas Vibe magazine uses
one dominating image of a
female placed accordingly to
the text.
My magazine offers a full set
of contents allowing the
reader to access what is on
every page conveniently.
Vibe magazine only mentions
the page numbers of certain
Differences with my contents page
pages.
and published music magazine
contents page.

6. SIMILARITIES
• both magazine have images dominating a page
• the main text is in black and another colour can
be used to highlight significant pieces of text
•Both follow the colour scheme that runs
consistently through the magazine
•The headline of the double page spread is placed
accordingly to the magazine and expressed in
capitals to stand out
DIFFERENCES
•I have used more than one image, I used a bold, eye
catching image on the left spread and then another
image as a faint background to the text on the right
spread
•Both magazine follow a different colour scheme to
suit the style of the magazine
•I chose to take a main quote out of the interview
and highlight it so it stands out and interests the
reader in the spread

7. 2. How does your media product
represent particular social groups ?

8. My media product would convey a number of social groups, and break away from the stereotypical audience
associated with the hip hop and RnB genre. Numerous key features associated with the genre would be things such
as: attitude, power, stylish, urban, baggy clothing, jewellery and upbeat fast/ rap music. To convey the RnB/ Hip
Hop image, I got my model for my front cover to wear relevant clothing such as the baseball cap and baggy t shirt.
As you can see this is very similar to the artist and fits in with the urban theme well. The genre is also often
associated with jewellery so I ensured my model was wearing jewellery that would stand out to the audience.
Colours often associated with the genre are trendy and put together well to make a statement. In my model I kept
the scheme vibrant with colours like white, purple and pink. The genre is often stereotypically linked with a male,
black audience. However to break away from this stereotype I used a female, Asian model to represent the genre.
This is to show that there are a variety of audiences that link to the genre instead of just the stereotypical audience.

9. 3.What kind of media institution might
distribute your product and why?

10. The company would allow it to reach
the audience by selling it from
supermarkets, newsagents, music
shops, gigs . It could also be
advertised on the IPC website where
IPC Media is a very successful company that
people could subscribe to the
produces over 85 media brands. The company
magazine. publishes a wide range of magazine to suit
everyone therefore my magazine being of a genre
that does not exist in the company at the moment
would not be a problem as they are all about the
variety. They have a very wide audience range so
there would definitely be people of interest to my
magazine. Their brands collectively reach 20
million people every month so it would attract
people to take a look at new magazines. Their
audience consists of roughly being 44% men and
two thirds women so there is a decent variety of
gender. They clearly have knowledge in the
music industry as the are the distributors of
leading music magazine NME. To conclude I
would say that distributing my magazine with the
company would be great as it would allow the
company to expand their audience and the genres
they focus on. It would also be good for my
magazine as the company has many great
qualities.

11. My magazine alongside a magazine published
by IPC Media
www.ipcmedia.com

12. 4. Who would the audience be for your
media product?

13. Typical audience for my magazine

14. SERINA AUDIENCE PROFILES KARIM
•17 year old student from Coventry •18 year old student from
and her favourite colour is green Wolverhampton and his favourite
colour is purple
•LIKES: singing, reading and music
•DISLIKES: wasting food and •LIKES: eating, football and music
walking •DISLIKES: wasting food and
walking
•Favourite band: Pretty Ricky
•Favourite song: so confused by •Favourite artist: Kayne West
Pretty Ricky •Favourite song:Diamonds
Are forever
•Other favourite artists/ bands: Tyga,
T.i, Rihanna •Other favourite artists/ bands:
Marvell,Tyga, Chipmunk, Rihanna
•Buys her favourite bands CDs and
downloads the rest •Buys his favourite bands CDs and
downloads the rest on iTunes
•Listens to music on iPod, Tv and
iTunes •Listens to music on iPod, Tv and
iTunes
•Favourite music channel: MTV
•Favourite music channel: MTV
•Favourite radio station: Capital FM •Favourite radio station: Capital FM
and Kiss FM

15. 5. How did you attract/ address your
audience?

16. I attracted the audience using bold,
vibrant colours such as red, pink, white and
purple. I chose to use these colours as they
were amongst the most popular in my research
results. I used white for the masthead as it
would stand out against the solid colour
background and capture attention. I used red for
the main sell line as this would allow it to stand
out against everything and look almost as if it is
jumping out of the page instantly attracting
readers.
I also put a variety of interesting
cover lines on the front cover so that once
readers were drawn in by the bold colours used
they would be keen on purchasing the magazine
by reading the range of cover lines that would
appeal to them.
From my research I gathered that
people were most willing to pay £2-£3 for a
music magazine therefore I priced my
magazine relevantly to what would appeal to a
majority audience. My magazine is priced at a
fair amount of £2.
I addressed the audience by using
language that was not too formal but more
relaxed and casual. This allows the audience to
feel more comfortable whilst reading the
product.

17. I attracted the audience using bold,
vibrant colours which followed my colour
scheme. Keeping the colours consistent adds a
better and more professional look to the
magazine which the audience will feel attracted
to more.
I used the research I gathered to
decide how many images I use on my contents
page. The most popular feedback was too use a
number of three different photographs. I did so
as I felt this would appeal to the audience most.
Also using a variety of pictures balances out the
text giving the reader a good amount of both.
To interact with readers on a more
personal level I included an editors note. I feel
this gives the reader more and more of an
inside aspect of the magazine.
the language I used to address the
audience was not too formal. It was laid back
and casual which allows them too feel
comfortable with the magazine.
I also included the contents with
brief information and a page number which is
convenient. It also allows easy access to articles
for readers. This is organised with the page
being placed on the left side in order for the
page to maintain a creative look.

18. AUDIENCE FEEDBACK
Overall, how would you rate this magazine?

19. 6. What have you learnt about technologies
from the process of constructing this
product?

20. Internet
Adobe Photoshop
Digital Camera
TECHNOLOGIES USED
Printer Adobe InDesign
PC
Blogger

21. USING ADOBE PHOTOSHOP
This shows one of my stages of
development and how I used
Adobe Photoshop to
manipulate my photographs.
I edited the picture to make
the artist stand out and bring
out the colours of the
magazine, this allows it to
appear more dominant on
the cover. I adjusted the hue
and levels of brightness and
contrast. It is visible that the
slightest bit of editing can
make a big difference that is
why Adobe Photoshop was a
great software programme to
use for the manipulation of
my photographs.

22. USING ADOBE InDesign
This shows some of my stages
of development and how I used
Adobe InDesign to put my
double page spread together.
Here I added a drop shadow
to the text as it allows it to
stand out against everything
else on the page better. I also
changed the metrics to allow
the text to fill the space
better. Adobe InDesign had
numerous features that I
could use and try out too see
what was best for the
creation of my magazine.

23. 7. Looking back at your preliminary task,
what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to the full product?

24. Looking back at my college magazine
I can see that I have learnt a lot
about the conventions of making a
magazine. Also I feel I grasped a
better understanding of the
programmes I used, such as: Adobe
Photoshop, Adobe In Design. The
overall image of my music magazine
is clearly better than my college
magazine. My college magazine
consists of a simple, boring colour
scheme whereas my music magazine
is more vibrant and attractive to the
eye. Also I used Photoshop to
enhance my original images and
allow them to become more eye
catching in my music magazine.
With my college magazine I didn’t
use Photoshop to its maximum
ability as it wasn’t something I was
used to or knew how to use
effectively. In the period of time
between creating the two magazine I
also got better at photography and
My music magazine is better developed and enhanced with therefore was able to take better
more use of software to make the magazine to a professional photographs and a variety of shots
standard. My college magazine is dull and gave me a chance to for my front cover, contents page
look at where improvement is required. and double page spread.

25. My college and music
magazine contents pages are
both clearly very different. I
have used the same number
of photographs on both
contents pages however the
overall look of both differ. My
music magazine stands out
more as it does not follow the
basic look of the college
contents. Also it looks a lot
more professional as it has
more information on the page
and not many gaps in
comparison to the college
contents. Overall I think it is
definitely clear that my
knowledge and understanding
of using software and creating
a magazine have progressed
for a better outcome.