The document discusses the skills and knowledge the author gained from completing a preliminary task analyzing magazines. They learned about magazine conventions, improved their Photoshop and photography skills, and understand how to represent their target audience. Key things included analyzing current magazines, using an SLR camera to take professional photos, and learning to effectively use Photoshop to design the magazine. The author conducted a survey to understand their target audience of 15-23 year olds and represented them through images, colors, price, and topics discussed in the magazine.

2.  Since doing my preliminary task I have learnt a lot, I now know that
analysing magazines before producing your own one is very
important as you are able to see what conventions are included to
make a magazine successful.
 Also I have built my Photoshop skills from being very basic to highly
complex, I am now able to edit images and add effects to my work.
 My Photography skills have improved immensely as during the
preliminary task I wasn’t to sure on how to take a successful image
but know I know I have to consider certain elements which includes
lighting, framing, the mise-en-scene and make-up.
 I have learnt about how magazines are distributed online and the
traditional way and how vital representation is when it comes to
producing a magazine as I had to think about how I would represent
each element in my magazine to attract the target audience.
 Another thing I have learnt is different ways to present my media
finding to make my work look more interesting.

3.  Before creating my product I analysed current magazines which relates to the music genre of my choice
which was alternative magazines. Alternative magazines are targeted at a wider audience as the music
genre is of a wider level for example the magazine I produced was targeted at a audience who listen to hip-
hop, rap- RnB etc. After looking at magazines like Billboard and Rolling Stones I came across many
common conventions, I chose to develop these conventions instead of challenging them as these are the
conventions which successfully target the audience and makes the magazine successful.
 Some of the conventions which I followed are:
 -Masthead at the top of the page  The audience look straight away at the top of the magazine cover so by
having the masthead there the audiences attention is grabbed instantly
 -Main cover line anchoring the image
 -Barcode/dateline
 -Spine on double page
 -House style  by having a unique style audience will not really have to look at the magazines name to
know which magazine they are looking at. In the long run it build a identify for the magazine company,
here is a example:
Even though these magazines have different
colour schemes the layout of these magazines
are similar, they all have the image in the
middle which cover lines on both sides. Also
parts of the masthead has been covered by the
image, the reason for this is that the magazine
is already recognisable so the audience don’t
need to see what the masthead to recognise
the magazine.
 -The magazine has a slogan which is “ Bringing you closer to music” which follows the convention of
Billboard magazine which also has a slogan which is “ Experience the buzz”. The reason I decided to
include a slogan was so that if someone was to say “ Experience the buzz” people would straight away
recognise that it is Central magazine. Slogans are very successful convention when it comes to many
different media platforms for example “I’m loving it” is a McDonalds slogan which is used in TV adverts, it
has been used for a several amounts of years and is now recognised by thousands of people around the
world.

4.  During my process of creating my music
magazine I came across two key technological
elements which were:
 SLR camera- an SLR camera is used to take clear and
professional images. It is important to be able to take a
image which is in focus as this is the first part of the front
cover the audience will look at and it will be the main focus
of the other pages too. An SLR camera allows you to control
how you would like the image to be for example if your
image requires movement then the photographer can use
shutter speed so that the final image isn't blurry or out of
focus. I firstly had to learn what each function on a SLR
does but after I was familiar with the functions I was able to
take successful images.
 Photoshop – when I first began to use Photoshop I found it
challenging as I wasn’t able to manipulate image in the way
I wanted them to look, but after carrying out the
preliminary task I started to become more confident with
the program. Photoshop allowed me to crop, cut, change the
colour of the fonts; by being able to do this I was able to
make my magazine look appealing to the audience. When
creating my music magazine I was able to edit images and
add text fonts which I visualised in my mind. Photoshop is a
good program to create a magazine as you are able to use
different tool to create a professional looking product in the
end.

5.  The way in which I attracted my target audience was:
 Before producing my magazine I carried out a questionnaire to find out the likes and dislikes of different age groups. I made
sure that the layout of my magazine was not to busy, which is one of the factors I discovered when carrying out my
questionnaire.
 The target audience for this magazine are young adults ages 15-23, the reason I chose this age group is because I fall into
this category and so I would be able to identify the essentials required to make a music magazine successful.
 The colours which appeal to young adults as if they are to see colours which they like they will peruse the product. The
colours on the front cover are of a blue and red contrast this has been done to make the magazine more eye catching. The
colour blue is seen to be more of a masculine colours as it represents stability and even though red is a neutral colour
between the genders girls are known to like it more as it represents a more intense and passionate person. Also the colour
red stands out, this is why it is often used for road signs. The colour white is used mostly for text as this is certainly a
neutral colour between the gender and like red it appeals from a distance against the shade of blue.
 Another way I attracted my audience was by the images used, the images are of young adults just like them which makes it
easier for the audience to relate with the model of my magazine. The make-up used on the model on the front cover is
different to what you would usually see on a person of her age wearing this is done to make the model look desirable to the
audience. If I had to improve any of my images it would be the last image on the contents page as the black background
doesn’t look natural compared to the other two images above it.
 Also I have included a freebie which is 2 free posters of Rihanna who is a successful musician which will attract the
audience towards purchasing the magazine even more; also it makes it feel like the magazine is worth the money as the
audience get something free out of it.
 I included a different media platform of accessing the magazine through the internet : www.Central.com, the popularity of
the internet is increasing so it would be a effective way to build a wider audience.
 I didn’t directly address my audience this is because the alternative music magazines which I analysed didn’t directly
address the audience they just got straight to the point of informing the audience. Also I asked the audience questions, by
doing this I am creating thoughts in the audience mind and to find out the answer they would purchase the magazine.
 The price of £ 2.30 to me is reasonable and affordable as most of the people purchasing the magazine will be students and
youngsters who are just starting their careers. Also by keeping a price at a decent price it will make the audience feel like
there getting there moneys worth.

6.  There a six groups which audience are separated into:
 A- Upper middle class e.g. doctors, lawyers and bankers
B – Middle class e.g. teachers, artist and designers
C1 – Lower middle class e.g. supervisors, nurses and deputy managers
C2 – Skilled working class e.g. trade people
C – Working class e.g. labor workers
D – Unemployed, students, pensioners (basically people who have a
very low income)
 The magazine I have created is for young adults, I have represented this
in many different ways. The social group for my magazine falls into the
category C1, C2 and D this includes the likes of nurses and students.

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

8.  The way this has been displayed on the front cover is:
 The main way I targeted the audience was through the mise-en-scene of the main image.
 The model is wearing a dress with shades of grey and orange and black tights. She has heavy
eye make-up which includes black eye-liner, black mascara and grey eye shadow, her lips are
also grey. I decided to make the lips grey and not black as having grey lips show a more edgy
side of the model, it makes her look confident and comfortable with the way she looks and is
represented.
 Heavy make-up has been used creating a edgy and rough look, a teardrop drawn on with make-
up going down the models face is unusual to see.
 The body language of the model shows her leaning forward with her hand on her hips tilting to
the side. All of these factors represent the model to be bold and confident with her appearance
as a whole.
 The clothes worn by the model are dull so the main focus is the models face, her facial
expression show a laid back young adult who isn't really bothered about what people may think
of her.
 Overall looking at the image of the model it represents what young adults are all about right
now. They like to be different from everyone else, young adults like to have there own style
which has been shown through the model as she is shown having her own unique style.

9.  The contents page has three main image which all have there own unique style going back to young adults being
different.
 The first image is of a female model. She is wearing a brown fashionable hat and a brown and cream jacket. These
clothes are representing the model to be someone who likes to put effort into her appearance to look stylish and
trendy.
 The second image is of a male model. He is wearing a white shirt, red jumper and a black and red tie, he has his tie
undone and his selves rolled partly up. The model is represented to be laid back in the way he is dressed and how is he
sitting down; relaxing forward.
 The third image is of a female model. She is wearing a multi-coloured shirt , white t-shirt and two necklaces, she has
her hair tied up and has heavy eye make-up. Also she is covering a part of her face with both hands this is representing
that the model is hiding something (enigma), the models overall appearance is represented to be a rock/indie chic by
the clothes and make-up she is wearing.
 By doing this I am showing of the variety I have within my magazine, the reason this is so important is that my
magazine is targeted at a much wider audience than magazines like Vibe; so by having variety I attract a audience with
different music backgrounds.
 The typeface used on the contents page is the same as I used on the front cover this creates continuity and a house
style. The typeface is simple, I did this intentionally so that audience are easily able to read the text without any
hesitation.
 Also the colours used are similar to the ones used on the front cover, I kept the colours the same so that there would be
a consistent house style used which in the long run creates a identity .

10.  I have chosen to have a far amount of text which does slightly go against the
results I got from my questionnaire but I think there needs to be a balance
throughout the magazine with images and text; also as this is an interview a far
amount of text is required. I have used images to break down the text.
 I have made the layout of this page simple so that the audience are easily able to
navigate around the page.
 Once again I have stuck to the house style which I have created throughout the
magazine. By having all the pages looking similar within the magazine it allows
the audience to become familiar with the magazine they are reading.
 I chose to have the model in two different outfits to show to personalities. The
image of the model sitting down in dressed what a typical young female adults
would wear jeans, top, cardigan and heels. This allows the audience to see how
normal the artist is and the clothes in the second image of the model is the
same as the front cover. I think this works successfully as the two outfits
contrast with each other.

11.  The type of media institutions which could distribute my magazine they are IPC or Wenner Media as these 2
companies distribute well know magazines like Billboard and Rolling Stones, these two magazine are similar to
mine.
 Also the internet is becoming more and more popular by day and now magazines like Billboard and Rolling
Stones are available online so following the conventions of these magazines I would want my magazine to be
distributed online. As the internet becomes more popular in the long run I think the main way magazines will
target the audience is though the internet. Internet is now available on different media platforms for example
Smartphone devices like the iPhone were there are applications of magazine. By having a online version of a
magazine allows the audience to keep up to date with the latest music new instead of waiting for the next issue to
come out, audience are also able to view videos which is also a benefit as my audience are young adults who
prefer watch and listen rather then read.
 The two ways to distribute magazines are by physical or digital distribution.
 Physical way to distribute magazines is:
Publishing Institution  distributer  Retailer  Audience
Example:
IPC/NME  WWMO  WHSmith  Audience
 The digital way to distribute magazines is:
Publishing Institution  Digital Distribution Co. or publisher self distribute using software packages
 Website/ New Media  Audience
Example:
IPC/NME  Specialist/ZMAGS Internet/Phone  Audience