The document discusses the evaluation of a student's media product, which is a music magazine. It analyzes how the magazine uses and develops conventions of real media products through its masthead, typography, sell lines, cover story, and barcode. The student aims to represent the R&B genre through the magazine's cover design, layout, and representation of the target audience. The student also learns new skills in using Photoshop and presenting their work online.

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

2. Comparison with real media Mast-head Typography Sell lines Cover story Barcode

3. My media product uses the conventions of real media products as it has the typical masthead, being the name of the magazine, NUMU, although my set out is slightly different as the title of my magazine is a isn't long enough to be positioned behind the main image of the cover. My front cover is powerful, yet feminine like, it is bold and connoting strength; this subverts the stereotypical thoughts or image of a woman. As my magazine is mainly R&B but also Hip Hop, I have connoted words that can be associated with the Hip Hop genre. Therefore making my cover line and typography appropriate for a R&B magazine. The cover line font that I used was, Franklin Gothic Demi, from which I had obtained from Photoshop. I believe that the cover line font that I used is conventional, this is because it is similar to that of other existing magazine cover lines. The colours that I used were, pink, orange and white, I have used a maximum of 3 colours, as it is typical as in R&B magazines, editors will use a maximum of three colours, usually neutral colours. These colours are stereotypically associated with the female gender and also go well with one another, for example, 'VIBE' magazine and 'RAP UP. My magazine also has sell lines, for example,' the rise and fall of Robert Delano', the date and issue of the magazine,' march 10, issue 96, the title of the main article, 'tears, tantrums and triumph', the website, ' http:// www.numusic.co.uk / , barcode, price, £3.75', and typography. Floating quotes are conventional within the R&B genre of music magazines. My floating quotes are used on the double page spread of the music magazine. I have used the colours red and blue to present the floating quotes as this is similar to the colour scheme used on the front cover but also match the artists clothing. The price tag I have used isn't very obvious as it isn't in a special shape, as it is unconventional for my front cover to have an obvious or outstanding price tag. I did experiment with the layout of my front cover and the shape for the price tag initially, but decided not to use the shape. The props I have used include, a puffer jacket with fur, chains and a leopard print bra and a pair of red heels. The previous listed props are associated with the R&B genre, so I decided to use them in my music magazine look like a conventional R&B magazine. As you can see in the, 'VIBE', magazine the artists are wearing, skimpy/funky clothing(2nd example of front cover magazine), In my final front cover. In making my music magazine I also put quite a bit of effort into designing the layout of my contents page and double page spread as I have made mine similar to that of the real media product.

4. Evaluation How does your media product represent particular social groups?

5. The R&B artists in my media product represent celebrities, I have tried to achieve this through the use of props and costume, for example, I have dressed my model in a puffer jacket and a thick gold chain in order to make her look wealthy. I have tried to achieve the look of a real R&B magazine by representing R&B artists stereotypically. I have also chosen branded clothing (Apple bottom) for my model to wear in order to make it seem more realistic.

6. Evaluation What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

7. Bauer reaches over 19 million UK adults across multiple media chanels. they have more than eighty influential media brands spanning a wide range of interests, including magazines and radio stations such as Grazia, Kiss 100, NCM, 4music and FHM. Their business is built on millions of personal relationships with engaged readers and listeners. They connect audiences with compelling content. They have a unique insight allows them to work closely with their consumers to develop innovative situations creating a difference to their business. My magazine shares similarities with that of the magazines produced by Bauer media, for example, my magazine covers a broad range of interests, not only music, but celebrity lifestyle, fashion, cooking, sex tips and musical technology, which magazines like Heat or Grazia magazine. Other institutions include: IPC Conde Nast National magazine company

8. Evaluation Who would be the audience for your media product?

9. Reader Profile

10. NUMU reader profile: The readers for my music magazine are predominately individuals, however they can sometimes differ from mainstreamers to succeeders of the pre 1980's era. NUMU readers are willing to pay for quality and are dedicated to monthly editions. They also like to keep up to date with the latest in R&B and Hip Hop and have a broad collection of R&B and Hip Hop dated back to the 1990's. Favourite radio stations include, Kiss, 1xtra and Choice FM. Favourite music chanels include 4music, MTV Base and Viva. Readers are about going with the flow, they tend to conform to the mainstream music and don’t share interest in individuality, the majority of people listen to R&B genre. They also spend, on average, up to 35 hours a week surfing the internet, by which they spend 50% of that time downloading music. The average weekly expense of living is £50-75. The average yearly expense of Shisha is £170.

11. Evaluation How did you attract/address your audience?

12. Front Cover I have attracted/addressed my audience by using attractive model on the front cover of my magazine in fashionable clothing promoting an enigmatic look, this makes the reader want to read the magazine just by seeing some they think is attractive. I have also conventionally shown a mid close up of the main image which took up the majority of the page. In addition to this I have used the conventional language, 'exclusive', in order to make my readers inquisitive about the' gossip' behind the title. I have made use of the bold large fonts, attracting the attention of the public, making them want to take a further look at my magazine. Colloquial language was also used in my magazine as a mode of address within the editorial and the article on the double page spread, for example, 'shook up the scene', therefore making the reader feel more comfortable by using everyday terminology when relating to them. The poses of the model are also quite 'sexy', in the sense that she is attractive, with a pose that shows attitude and self-confidence, this is a pose of the model on her side looking back over her shoulder at the camera, this is typical for a R&B magazine. (see the 2nd example of a front cover 'Rap Up'). The bright, outstanding colours used, suggest femininity, however the font used can be seen as quite masculine, the purpose of this is to connote the strength of a woman, the magazine is also targeted towards both genders, although the colours used make the cover look feminine. The light blue background colour is to create a relaxed mood. I have chosen to use the orange and pink for the names of the artists featured in the magazine, this acts as a USP of the magazine, in order to attract the reader and to make my magazine seem unique/original.

13. Contents Page I have attracted/addressed my audience by greeting them with a brief introduction on the aim of ‘NUMU’, content of the magazine. This is conventionally used by other music magazines. I have also used the name if the editor, in order for the audience to familiarise themselves with the people who work behind the scenes in the composition of the magazine. I have split the content into two categories by which the reader is able to identify the features and the regulars, I have also used pictures of the other artists also featured in the magazine. Each feature’s topic is followed by a short description, this adds to the interest in the magazine. I have used the theme colours of the magazine (orange and pink) to highlight the artists’ names, therefore catching the eye of the reader, this is a unique selling point that I have used to attract my audience. I have used a bold font for the page numbers, which is conventional of a music magazine, the purpose of this is for the reader to easily identify what topic is on what page.

14. Double Page Spread

15. I have addressed attracted my audience by using conventional floating quotes, to highlight some of the things said by the artist in the interview. My content includes information on the featured artist, shown in the images on both the cover and contents page. I used a mid close up shot of the artist (shown on left hand side)-with the model posing in a ‘diva’ like stance, to give the appearance of attitude and also independence, and a full body shot (shown on the right)- with the model smiling at the camera, this gives the appearance of a motherly look. The purpose of this is to show the artists split persona, as matched to the title of the article. I have also used Mise-en-scene in order to convey this, for example for the picture on the left (diva)- the model is dressed in a fitted dress, chunky black and gold chain and other pieces of jewellery. I have also given her red lipstick to pose with, to show glamour. The lipstick also goes with the colours on the dress. The picture on the right (mother)- the model is dressed in a royal blue chiffon top and black leggings, the jewellery is minimal. Overall I think that the fashionable clothes that I have dressed her in help to create and promote an enigmatic look. I have used a bold font for the title of the article, this makes the reader inquisitive of the content of the article. The article contains colloquial language, for example,’ as a mode address to my targeted audience.

16. Evaluation What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

17. Through the creation of this magazine, I have learnt how to use Photoshop with more confidence in terms of using more interesting fonts, suitable colour schemes and cutting out images neatly. I have also learnt how to upload images/ presentations through the use of the slide share website.

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

19. Looking back at my preliminary task, it shows that I had lack of knowledge of conventions, as I did no research on the conventions of other magazines or any audience research. It also shows very little presentational skills as the magazine appears to be very simple and as though i hadn't put much effort into creating it. I have used very simple font, which is not suited to the target audience of students, as it isn't eye catching. There isn't a good choice of colours as the two colours I had chosen didn't go well together. On the front cover of the magazine there are a few empty spaces. In addition to this the magazine front cover is doesn't stand out, it doesn't look very attractive and eye catching. Preliminary task Final music magazine