The focus group provided feedback on the student's music magazine pages to help improve the project. The focus group looked at and discussed the front cover, contents page, and double page spread. They were asked about the genre of the magazine, their thoughts on the layout and use of space, and any elements they liked or disliked. For genre, they agreed it was a rock magazine based on the dark colors and subjects featured. For layout, they felt it was crowded but organized. They liked the graphics but felt the double page spread could be more exciting and text easier to read.

1. FOCUS GROUP

2. FOCUS GROUP – WHY?
An important part of creating a media product is receiving feedback
from the intended target audience. The feedback from other people
can help to highlight problems or issues which are difficult to notice
yourself. The feedback can then be used to make improvements or
to learn what to do differently in the future. I held a focus group
with four people who would be interested in reading a music
magazine and asked them three questions about my finished front
cover, contents page and double page spread.

3. E V I D E N C E
H E R E I S A P H O T O O F M Y F O C U S G R O U P TA K I N G
P L A C E .

4. W H AT D I D T H E F O C U S
G R O U P LO O K AT ?
M Y F O C U S G R O U P L O O K E D A T M Y F I N A L F I N I S H E D
F R O N T C O V E R , C O N T E N T S PA G E A N D D O U B L E PA G E
S P R E A D .

5. THE QUESTIONS:
• What genre do you think the music magazine is and why?
• What are your thoughts on the overall layout and use of
space on the magazine pages?
• Is there any elements of the magazine you dislike or you
think could be improved?

6. WHAT GENRE DO YOU THINK THE MUSIC
MAGAZINE IS AND WHY?
THE RESPONSE:
“I think the magazine is based around the rock genre. This is because the magazine has a lot of dark
colours especially black which makes me think of rock. Also, all the people in the pictures look like
they are rock musicians as they are wearing dark colours and have dark make up andpiercings
which makes me think of rock.”
“I think it could be metal, this is because all the explosions and lightning shapes are quite violent
and metal musician also feel quite violent.”
“That the magazine is linked to rock, I think this because the word rock is mentioned on the cover as
well as having rock bands mentioned on the cover. Also the main model is wearing heavy dark eye
make up.”
“Rock because it uses darker colours and it mentions rock legends and because the musicians look
rocky because they are also wearing darker colours and dark colours make me think of rock.”

7. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE
OVERALL LAYOUT AND USE OF SPACE ON
THE MAGAZINE PAGES?
THE RESPONSE:
“I like the layout of the magazine as there is not much empty space and there is a lot of different
things to look at which makes it exciting.”
“I think the layout is good, however, it is a bit too crowded and overwhelming as I don’t know what to
look at first, particularly on the contents page.”
“Lots of detail in the writing, detailed content. The use of young musicians implies the magazine is
aimed at younger people. It’s easy to see which articles are linked to the photos and what page they
are one.”
“Very nice! I think it is very well set out. It looks very organised and easy to read and see what each
article is about.”

8. IS THERE ANY ELEMENTS OF THE
MAGAZINE YOU LIKE OR DISLIKE OR YOU
THINK COULD BE IMPROVED?
THE RESPONSE:
“I really like the rocky feel I get when looking at the music magazine. I especially like the use of the
graphics on the front cover and the double page spread. I think the double page spread could be
made to look a bit more exciting.”
“I like the colour scheme a lot, the red and blue go well together and give it a 3D feel, especially on
the magazine name. I don’t really like how brightly the yellow on the front cover stands out
compared to the rest of the front cover.”
“I like the magazine title and the lightning shapes. I like how they link to the name of the magazine.
However, I don’t really like the graphics behind the text on the double page spread as it makes it
difficult to read. If it was a lighted colour it would be easier to read.”
“I think the magazine is really good! I like the title name and style because it link to rock. I also really
like the star explosion shapes. I like it all and I don’t think it could really be improved.”