Unit G321 Media Studies coursework

1. EVALUATION
Name: Nikita Da Silva
Candidate Number: 6627
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64770

5. In what ways does your Media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
The magazine, across the 4-pages, ‘repeats’ (Steve Neale)
codes and conventions from well know music magazines
such as Billboard in which I used as inspiration for my
production magazine. I have ensured that I have used all
the codes and conventions: masthead, main image, cover
lines, barcode, Issue, date, price, convergence.
The style of my production magazine has also been firmly
based upon and used Billboards design. As The writing is
placed vertically down the left side of the magazine as it is
in the Billboard magazine. There has been repetition of
colour in comparison to to the billboard magazine – Black
and stone colour and the use of a dark pink in order to
highlight the main headline and in corporate in the rest of
the magazine to appeal to the audiences needs and
gratifications.
Also, there has been convergence used such as web sites
and social networking in order to allow easy access of the
audience. This would therefore appeal to the target
audience of 16-25 year olds as they are in most use of
social media, this would therefore allow the audience to
create a relationship between the audience and media
product, which will increase awareness.
My double page spread is based upon Billboards as
inspiration as my main image has been put in the middle
of the page – as they are the center of the readerships
attention. However, in my double page spread the writing
has been molded around the main image through the use
of the pen tool.
magazine, forms and conventions, differ from my own
media product as, this Billboard magazine does not
feature a strapline, which is considered a key code and
convention of a magazine. To stand out compared to
other similar media products.
I have shown how I have used my magazine of inspiration
in order to develop my media product, as I have put the
star appeal in the middle of the page, so that it is the
center of attention and the first thing to capture the
audiences eye. This is the therefore represented on the
Double page spread in which I have displayed the
interview around the star appeal in order to demonstrate
the star appeal as the center of attention in this article and
so everything is focused around her, like the writing is
shaped around her.
My media product differs from Billboards magazine as
theirs does not feature an editorial, where as mine does.
The use of an editorial is important in order to allow the
audience to create a personal relationship with the editor
(Katz).
Also, through the use of many different cover lines my
media product is then able to appeal to the uses and
gratifications of many different social groups (Katz) rather
than attract the audience through only the use of star
appeal, which may not appeal to everyone.
Moreover, mine has used photos in order to support
cover lines in order to appeal to the other needs and
gratifications of the target audience.

6. How does your media product represent particular
social groups?
My media product represents a target group of 16-26, as it appeals to a wide
range of different genres, and is specifically focused on party goers. This
would then appeal to students and young people of socio-economic needs of
grade E to D. The genre is shown through the main image of ‘star appeal’
(Dyer) which the audience will create a personal relationship with. This
magazine aims to create a diversion from everyday life for the audience
which is represented through the strapline: ‘The UK’s favourite escape’ –
suggesting that this diversion is for relaxation for stressful every day life of
college or work. However, uses of this media product may differ from each
individual as it may appeal to someone simple because they like the ‘star
appeal’ (Dyer), Ariana Grande featured within it and as the main image- who
may be their idol and would want to achieve the success she has done.
Through exclusive interviews with Ariana Grande, the audience will see her
as a model and find ways to relate to her and create a personal identity
(Katz). The use of a vibrant pink colour stands out on the page and
represents my female target audience.

7. What kind of media institution
(Publisher) might distribute your
media product and why?
Through the research I have done in the pre-
production, I would say that a media institution
such as Prometheus Global media would publish
my magazine, as it publishes Billboard. This
would therefore be suitable as Billboard has a
wide range of genres that appeal to wide range of
target audiences. I have used this as inspiration
for my own media product Overload. Billboard
also use a wide range of convergence in order to
attract to the target audience. I have used Ariana
Grande as star appeal, in which is popular within
the charts in order to appeal to a wide target
audiences needs and gratifications.

8. Who would be the audience for your media
product and why?
My media product is aimed at females aged between 16-26. This is therefore
conveyed through the use of pink to highlight key features within my magazine,
as pink is mostly stereotyped as a feminine colour and therefore would appeal to
women. Also, through the use of star appeal (Dyer), Ariana Grande, represents
herself in a feminine manor and is representative of an idol for many women all
over the world. According to Katz Uses and gratification theory, my music
magazine will appeal to a target audience of 16-26 as it aims to create a diversion
from everyday life, such as a college or university student wanting something
they can read in order to relax and take their mind off exams and work.
Moreover, another individual may appeal to this magazine as they are attracted
by the use of star appeal (Dyer), Ariana Grande and see them as a role model in
which they wish to create a personal identity (Katz) in which they find find ways
to relate to. Through Maslow’s Hierarchy, people will see the star appeal (Dyer),
Ariana Grande, as a success and social climbers will want to improve their status
in order to reach and achieve all the fame and fortune Ariana Grande has done
through her success within the music industry.

9. How did you attract/address your
audience?
My magazine attracts an audience of 16-26 through the use of ‘star appeal’ Ariana
Grande who is a well known successful artist who would attract my target
audience. She is considered to be a role model through her fame and fortune she
has gotten through success, so therefore the target audience will aspire to be like
her (personal relationship, Katz). I have used codes and conventions such as the
use of cover lines to appeal to a wide range of different target audience according
to their uses and gratifications (Katz). Moreover, the use of convergence within my
media product specifically attracts my target audience of 16-26 as they are most
in touch with social media and will therefore use convergence such as Twitter and
Facebook to create a personal relationship with the magazine (Katz). In order to
attract a female audience of 16-26, I have used the influence of feminine colour,
pink, in order to appeal to my target audience so they feel that the magazine will
fit their needs. The cover lines I have used will appeal to the target audience as
modern artists are ones in which young people of 16-26 will listen to and they will
relate to as role models so it will meet their needs and gratifications (Katz).
Through the use off puff, I am able to appeal to my target audience by offering the
chance to win something which they may be attracted to.

10. What have you learnt about technologies
from the process of constructing this
product?
Through use use of technologies used to create my media product ‘Overload’ I have learnt
and developed on my knowledge on use of software Photoshop.
Through the use of the magic wand tool I was then able to get rid of the background of
my image and have the main image of star appeal (Dyer) on its own. I then used the
rubber tool in order to touch up and ensure that it looked precise and the picture looked
of professional quality.
Also, I used a gradient fill on the shape at the top of my magazine of my front cover as
well as on the contents page which then fades out into the background colour. This
therefore incorporates the pink colour used in the main headline.
Moreover, I have also demonstrated use of the pen tool on my double page spread as I
have shaped the writing around the star appeal in order to demonstrate the star appeal
as the center of attention in this article and so everything is focused around her, like the
writing is shaped around her.

11. Before manipulation After manipulation
Photography planning – front cover
Initially I used a full body shot on my front cover and
challenged my magazine of inspiration. However, this
didn’t look effective as it left too much space around
the image and therefore showed focus around the
cover lines more than the image its self. I manipulated
and cropped out the background, in order to make my
main image stand out on my magazine. I increased the
brightness, vibrancy and saturation in order to make
the photo look more professional and therefore appeal
to my audience.
I then decided to retake my photos and use a mid shot. I
then used the quick selection tool and the rubber to
remove the background of the photo. I increased the
brightness, vibrancy and saturation in order to highlight
it as a main part of my page. Therefore, through the use
of a mid shot, my main image covers most of the page in
order to appeal to the uses and gratifications of my
audience. It takes up most of the front cover and
therefore focuses it as the main part of the magazine to
appeal to its target audience. Her smile represents her
to be friendly in which will appeal to the audience, as
they will create a personal relationship with the star
appeal as they see her as a role model.

12. Contents - photography
After manipulationBefore manipulation
In this photo, I have shown Ariana
sitting and looking down. This
therefore represents the innocence
of women in which the audience
may relate to, therefore creating a
personal relationship between the
audience and the magazine. I have
then manipulated this using the
quick selection tool and the rubber
on Photoshop to remove the
background. Through increasing
the brightness, vibrancy and
saturation in order to make it stand
out more and make it look more
professional. When increasing the
size of the image I held down on
shift to ensure that the image was
not distorted.

13. Double page spread - photography
After manipulationBefore manipulation
This photo shows the star appeal, Ariana
Grande, is the middle of the double page
spread as she is the center of attention
in which the target audience is focused
on. It therefore suggests that the page is
focused around her which is why the
writing is shaped around her through
the use of the pen tool. I manipulated
her by getting rid of the back ground,
through the use of the quick selection
and rubber tool on Photoshop. I then
increased the vibrancy and contrast in
order to make it stand out on the page.
This therefore makes my magazine look
more professional and stand out to the
target audience. When increasing the
size of the image I held down on shift to
ensure that the image was not distorted.

14. Analysing my Front Cover
Main Image
Strapline
Masthead
Main headline
Barcode
Date
Issue
Price
Cover lines
Puff
Convergence

15. Analysing my Contents Page
Editorial
Page Number
Editor
details
Picture of editor
Page numbers
Cover lines
Magazine
masthead

16. Analysing my Double Page spread Interview
Page number
Magazine masthead
Brief
introduction
Magazine responsibilities
Interview
Interviewees
initials
Convergence
Images
Convergence
Editor
initials
Pull out quote
Main
Image

17. Looking back at your Preliminary task,
what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to the full product?
Having looking back to the preliminary task I feel that I have become more
aware of and developed my knowledge on the use of Photoshop, and now
am extensively aware of the many different tools and how to use them in
order to make an effective media product. I have specifically demonstrated
this through
Also, through my research and my own production work I am now able to
see what is effect in attracting your specific target audience. And therefore
what codes and conventions are most important in attracting their target
audience. I discovered this through feedback received from my audience
feedback. A main feature that I changed after audience feedback as the
purple colour was too dominating on the page and therefore made it hard
to read the cover lines through.