2. 1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
In my research I analysed various hip hop magazine covers that relate to what I hope to be
creating. Whilst finding well known hip- hop magazines, I investigated what made these
magazines so well known by looking at: the masthead, colour scheme, main image and
layout. This intern is going to help me find out what makes its consumers continue buying
the magazines, in particular I looked and analysed the main images and how they are
appropriate to the target audience while connotating a specific genre. In my hip hop
magazine I'm subtly going to try and break conventions, as I noticed that one specific
convention on a hip hop magazine is a serious expression and often male artists whose
overall apparel is quite ghetto with lots of jewellery.
2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My hip- hop magazine could easily represent a particular audience, this is because the
artists in the main image can reflect how the audience see themselves or who they aspire
to be, this makes them relate more to the magazine and therefore could lead them to buy
it. There overall apparel and the way the artist pose all looks interesting and cool, artist
intern could be setting a trend for a particular social group, because they are famous or
known for what a particular social group love which is hip- hop music.
3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
My product is most likely to be sold in corner shops.
3. 4. Who would be the audience for your media product?
My media product, music magazine will represent black males ages 17- 40 and who are of
middle class, who have a strong interest in hip-hop.
5. How did you attract/ address your audience?
To address my audience I used familiar language, which is colloquial slang. This relates straight
back to hip-hop music where this sort of language is used the majority of the time. It enables me
to speak directly to my target audience with language that other people probably wont understand
unless they where brought up in an urban background. To attract my target audience I would use
‘kickers’ to draw my audience in. Punchy and short main headings and interesting catch lines that
have some link to what my target audience would be interested in, for example I could mention
‘beats headphones’ someone who listens to hip-hop music would probably be interested in these.
6. What have you learnt about the technologies from the process if constructing this product?
I have learnt how to manipulate and enhance images using the program Photoshop. I have also
learnt how to crop an image whilst using layers. The program InDesign would help me to
organise and structure where I want to place my masthead, main image, catch lines and main
cover line. I have learnt to make mock- ups to help structure my magazine.
4. 7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to the full product?
In my preliminary task I failed to blog about how I made my magazine, In progression to
my full product I will be blogging my research, ideas and uploading step by step how I
will make my magazine. I have learnt to do efficient research and planning that would
benefit my work, it is important that I do everything on- time without wasting time. In my
preliminary task I didn’t complete my contents page because of time wasting, however I
knew exactly what I wanted to do because of my research and my draft, I have learnt that
it is important that I upload a good draft and work productively.
