The document provides an evaluation of a music magazine created by the author. It discusses several design elements of the magazine, including the eye-catching masthead in red and white, subtitle that provides insight into the magazine's content, and images on the cover that represent the target audience. The contents page lists articles in a single column with accompanying images, and a double-page spread uses a question and answer format along with separate images on either side. Overall, the evaluation examines how the magazine's design both follows and challenges conventions of real music magazines.

1. EVALUATION OF MY
MUSIC MAGAZINE

2. The contrast of the
white text on red Bold, eye catching masthead which
background really help appeals to the audience – it is
to make this stand out simply and easy to read.
from the page. The
audience see this and
Subtitle – gives a quick insight
will be wanting to
to what the magazine involves.
know more. It helps
Helps market the product with
that it is on the left
a punchy line to intrigue the
hand side so the
reader.
audience can view this
when it has been
distributed to shops as
they are stacked in a The image of the two in the
certain way. ‘band’ represent my target
audience therefore should
The left hand 3rd rule
is used so the reader help to sell the product. They
can instantly see are also both holding guitars
what it inside this which represents the fact it is
months addition a music magazine.
Bottom banner which
indicates to the
reader/audience what
they can expect to find
in each months I have stuck to the same
magazine. colour scheme throughout
the magazine, this helps
the magazine become
recognisable to the
audience, unique to itself.

3. Reference to the
magazine title
Clear indication
of the what is on
the page.
Subtitles making it
quicker and easier The images can
to read, from relate to the target
glance audience, they are
able to share same
experiences and
interests with the
magazine. They
also make the
magazine more
attractive and
appeal more to the
audience.
Page numbers next to
the pictures which
relate to the text on
the left hand side.
The contrast of
the number of
the text again This will hopefully
help the reader appeal to the keen
to pick out the audience as it is a
page number much cheaper
instantly option that buying it
monthly. Especially
if they audience are
students ( which is
what is targeted.

4. Introducing the band – this is in a bold large Reference to the
font so catches the readers eye magazine title
The names of the
artists show the
audience who
they are, if they
do not already
Main image which know especially
attracts the audience as they are a
and notify them of who ‘new band’.
the page is about
The promotions and
advertisements of
the tour intrigue the
audience. The use of
the bold colours also
help for this to stand
out from the page to
appeal to the
audience.
Page numbers
so the reader
can find the The use of the separate The question and answer format allow the
page they want, colours to help to show the reader to pick and choose which parts they
quotes as they stand out read. The questions are in a bolder font
from the
from the other text therefore stand out from the text, making it
contents page
easier for the reader to select certain
parts.

5. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?
FRONT COVER
When producing my magazine, I tried to follow the
main conventions related to real magazines such as
NME or Q. By a first glance you are able to tell that it
is a magazine front cover by all the details included
within the page such as – bold masthead, subtitle,
barcode, price, addition date, banner, text down the
left hand 3rd and finally the main image in the centre of
the page. The main image is related to the music
industry, shown by the guitars – this is almost a
challenge of forms and conventions as most music
magazines simply have the artist/band out of their
natural association with music (mid shot of the artists,
having direct eye contact with the camera).

6. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?
CONTENTS PAGE
With the contents page, I have made it quite clear
that it is a contents page, by stating it at the top of
the page. Not only this I have followed some
conventions that follow with this page. Both Q and
NME lay the text of the contents in one column,
NME however use the topic title therefore I decided
to use this design. I have challenged the
conventions as I have not come across a contents
page with just pictures of the one side. Q do this in
a similar way but theirs is much more spread out
and has a a ‘Q review’ towards the bottoms which
breaks it up. NME also use the subscribe to their
magazine as a bold box at the bottom of the page.
The added ‘MAIN STAGE’ in the top right corner is another feature
that most magazine use so another convention I have followed.

7. IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE
FORMS AND CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?
DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
This page has very mixed
conventions. Some follow in the
steps of other magazines others do
not. The question and answer format
of text is a good convention of other
magazine as the interview type is
quite popular with celebs as this is
what the audience want to read. On
the other hand the way I have used
two separate images on opposite
sides of the page is unusual to see
as a double page spread. However I
do believe it breaks up the text
therefore will appeal to my audience.
The use of the coupons and advertisements is again a convention of other
media products. It allows the audience to be notified of offers and upcoming
albums but with also adhering to the colour scheme. I have also added in the
main number and magazine masthead in opposite corners, and in all music
magazines I have researched they have done this.

8. COMPANY TO DISTRIBUTE MY MAGAZINE
As it would be a new magazine and unfamiliar to
everyone, I think a bigger company that has been
very successful in magazine distribution would be
much more useful than a smaller, less well known
company. Therefore I would chose Bauer Media
Group. They are a huge company who distribute
worldwide (15 different countries). Not only do Bauer
produce magazine but they produce on other media
platforms as well, such as Radio and Television.
This would be extremely useful as they could help
market and advertise my product through all the
other media platforms – For example via radio 1 as
they have a target audience similar to mine.
Hopefully by using Bauer as my distribution
company, eventually my magazine will be as
successful as Q or KERRANG.

9. HOW DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODCT REPRESENT PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUPS
The fact that within my magazine there are only images of my targeted age group
represents their age. They can relate to the images and share interests and experiences
with them. The social groups which would be represented would be the elder teenage
social group. Within all the images they are dressed normally, no outrageous clothing or
mad hair styles so the represent the mass population of teenagers/early 20 year olds.
The types of things that were mentioned within my magazine would also be of interest of
the social group my magazine was aimed at for example fashion tips/ festivals/ rizzle
kicks/ boyfriends and girlfriends.

10. TARGET AUDIENCE OF MY MAGAZINE
The general audience for my magazine would be late
teens, early 20’s. I don’t think the magazine would be
suitable for young teenagers as there may be some
aspects they are not related to, i.e subscribing,
festivals or fashion tips. On the other hand I think it is
too young for late 20’s as they may not be as
interested in a young new band or winning tickets. I
think my magazine would appeal more so to females,
as it talks about new boy bands and fashion tips,
however I do think I may appeal to the males of the
odd occasion due to the winning of tickets.
TYPICAL BUYER OF MAIN STAGE MAGAZINE
19 YEAR OLD FEMALE STUDENT
ENJOYS LISTENING TO CHART MUSIC – RADIO 1.
INTERESTED IN THE LATEST FASHION & CELEBS
NOT SO INTESTED IN POLITICS, NEWS.

11. HOW DID YOU ATTRACT/ADRESS THE AUDIENCE OF YOUR MAGAZINE?
Throughout my magazine I have tried to use minimal text, much more images.
I think this appeals to my target audience as they do not want to be reading a
lot of text such as in a newspaper. Obviously for the double page spread I had
to use quite a lot of text however by making it into a question and answer
based page I was able to cut down on the text a lot.
The images I have used the audience are able relate to such as the image at
the festival – many of my target audience will have or will want to go to
festivals so can share interests and similarities with the image.
The price of my magazine is at £1.99. I have made my
magazine this price as I feel it would be suitable for the
target audience. It is likely that they will be in either full
time education/ college/ uni/ new job therefore will not
have a huge amount of money to slash out so I decided
to make my magazine a relatively cheap one. Also from
earlier research made through a questionnaire it was
found that £1.99 was the preferred price. Within my
magazine there are offers and prizes to be won which I
think also attracts my target audience as they will always
be looking for these offers and giveaways.

12. The technology used in the process of constructing my product
To construct my magazine I used Adobe Fireworks. I used this program
as I have previously used the program so am aware of all the different
tools available. I find it such a useful program as you are able to edit
images, add different shapes, interesting backgrounds, shadows and
much more. I have learnt that using a professional program such as
Adobe results in a much more successful end product.
The camera I used was the
Panasonic FZ38. Although
this is a very good camera
and will obviously result in
better quality images I think
the main way to get the best
representations out of your
photographs if how you take
them – shots, angles and the
mise-en-scene.

13. Looking back on your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to the full product?
My preliminary task was produced in Microsoft Publisher whereas my final product was
constructed in Fireworks. There are clearly a lot of differences between the two
programs and looking back the one program produced a much more professional look.
Publisher did not have the punchy, bold look a magazine should have therefore I have
learnt that to produce a successful magazine, you have to use a program that has all the
tools that are needed to edit images, and to create a bold appealing magazine.
I have also learnt that research is key! For my school
magazine (preliminary task) I didn’t really research into
school magazines so I was producing it on my own
opinion and thoughts of a school magazine rather than
looking into real life school magazines. For my final task
I did research therefore found it much easier to portray
the true conventions of a music magazine.
The final aspect which I have learnt is that taking more images pays off.
You are able to choose from a range of images and pick the best ones. In
my preliminary task I took only the images I needed, and no more
whereas in the final product I took a variety of images, using different
shots and angles which I was able to use the best photographs.