1. EVALUATION.
1. In what ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and conventions of
real media products?
I started my preliminary task by researching college magazine covers to analyse
and learn about the conventions. I learnt about the simple layouts that include
headlines and increasing font sizes on the main stories. The masthead has to be
big and fill the top of the page to make it clear to the audience. The main image
has to be my own and needs to be relevant to the genre – education, so I had a
friend take a picture of me in front of SFX college, where I stood holding my folder
with a smile to make the audience feel welcomed. I knew I had to include
important coverlines to interest the reader e.g. ‘TIPS ON..how to cope with
coursework...’ I also added a website in case part of the readers would want to
check online for a more interactive read. One of the most important, distinctive
conventions is the colour scheme. I made sure I used the same colours that
appear in the image to suit the rest of the magazine. All the research I made was
very useful because it helped me create a conventional magazine cover and
contents page with a common look.

2. 2. How does your media product represent
particular social groups?
My media product represents my particular social group
because my main image is of teenage female that is part
of the specific age group. I have not used any slang
through text as the magazine is about important help and
news that every student may need and it is aimed at
mature students.

3. 3. what kind of media institution might
distribute your media product and why?
My media product being a college magazine, my
targeted audience are SFX college students as the logo
of the school is placed on the front cover. Therefore my
product would be distributed in the college itself and
perhaps in libraries as quite a few school magazines are
kept there for students.

4. 4. Who would be the audience for your media
product?
The target audience for my college magazine are for all
students that attend SFX college, that are the age 16-18.
I made sure that the magazine had a youthful, happy
vibe by using bright colours, relevant images and
subheadings that would capture the attention of the
readers and interest them enough to pick up a
magazine.

5. 5. How did you attract/address your audience?
I attracted my audience by using a student as my main background
image. The student being me, I decided to pose with a folder,
wearing my college ID to show I’m a serious student, but with a
smile on my face, to welcome the readers and show that college is a
good environment and not always stressful. I used an effective
colour scheme, blue being the main colour as it signifies confidence
and intelligence. The cover lines I used weren’t about school trips
and fun activities, they were more about ways in which students with
difficulties could be helped, e.g. If they’re stressed, how to organise
their timing and coursework etc.

6. 6. What have you learnt about technologies from
the process of constructing this product?
I already had some previous experience in using InDesign and
Photoshop, however when I was constructing my front cover and
contents page I learnt about document grids and baseline grids on
InDesign. These helped me arrange all my text appropriately to how
I wanted it on each page, and it also allowed me to place each of my
images correctly.

7. 7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you
feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the
full product?
I have learnt that making a magazine takes a lot of time and effort
and that it is important to make a lot of research to make sure you
know your target audience and to use the right conventions. I was
also able to increase my ability to use the InDesign programme tools
accurately to create my finished product.