The document provides an evaluation of a student's media product, a music magazine. The student used conventions from existing magazines like Kerrang as inspiration for layout and design. Teenagers aged 16-19 make up the target audience. The magazine aims to attract readers with exclusives on upcoming artists, competitions, and gig information. Through the process of constructing the magazine, the student learned the importance of design, planning, and backing up work. They felt the final product was more polished and informative than their initial college magazine.

1. Evaluation
Alex Mount

2. In what ways does your media product use, develop
or challenge forms and convention of real media
products?
I think that while most magazines are designed for a single gender that,
my magazine may appeal to both because the colour scheme is quite
dark. However this certain issue may appeal more to females because
it features a girlband.
For my magazine I used ‘Kerrang’ magazine for the content layout
because it was easy to follow and I know that that certain magazine
is popular for both genders in the teenage group.
I looked at colour schemes magazines had and experimented a lot. In the
end I used purple, black and red on the front and white and black
inside the magazine. This was so that the front cover looked
interesting but so that the text inside was easy to read.
To make sure my magazine looked professional I studied models poses
and recreated them with the girlband that I used to achieve the
‘studio’ look.
I kept the front cover uncluttered so all of the sell lines were easy to find
and read. I used a masthead, buzz words and added the issue number
along with the barcode for finishing touches. I would of put the price
on the back of the magazine.

3. How does your media product represent particular
social groups?
When I did all of my research I found that more females would of brought
a college magazine. The younger the person filling in the survey the
more often they seemed to want a new issue.
I think that teenagers would appreciate the magazine more because it will
have up to date music but not necessarily pop music. (More rock and
indie).
As the music magazine isn’t focusing around younger music more older
teens (16-19) would enjoy the magazine a lot more than someone 14.
Each issue will have a different exclusive on a different band so although
one band may appeal more to a female audience, in the next issue the
featured band may appeal more to the male audience.
I think with the colours I have picked that the magazine represents both
male and female teenagers.
And with a lower price than some other magazines (1.99) it should be
much easier for a teen to buy.

4. What kind of media institution might distribute your
media product and why?
I think a music shop such as HMV would distribute my
magazine especially if I mention them inside. That way
they can get more publicity and therefore more profit. It
would also fit well in a music shop because it would
feature a lot of the artists whose CD’s will be selling in the
shop, so the purchase of the magazine may lead to another
purchase (cds).
I also think larger supermarkets like Asda would distribute
my magazine so that they can add to their magazine
collection. So that they have more chance of selling
another product and making more money.
It could also be sold online along with other music
magazines.

5. Who would be the audience for your media product?
I think that my target audience is around 16-19 year olds both
male and female. This is why the magazine has a lower
price and a range of different music along with freebies
that teens would want (tickets).
It will have information on new artists that aren’t yet
‘mainstream’ so that should appeal to teenagers, because
they like to be different in the type of music that they listen
to.
It will also have gig information and competitions to win
tickets to shows that may be sold out which will influence
people to buy the magazine to win the sold out tickets.

6. How did you attract/address your audience?
I attracted my audience by using competitions, gig
information, upcoming artists, exclusives and photoshoots
of bands and artists that teenagers want to know about.
I chose bold colours to make the front cover stand out against
any competition it will have.
I kept the font simple inside the magazine so that is was easy
to follow and easy to read.
I used buzz words, mastheads, main images, freebies and sell
lines to attract buyers.
I addressed the readers in a friendly informal way so it wasn’t
like reading a paper, more like a magazine (more
interesting to most people).

7. What have you learnt about technologies from the
process of constructing this product?
I have learnt that technologies are hardly ever reliable
although some can be very useful.
I already knew how to use Photoshop and design software but
doing this coursework I fell that I have gained more of an
understanding in the design area.
I used quite a few Microsoft programmes (word, publisher) in
the planning of my magazines.
All of the technologies I used (whether they were new to me
or not) helped me to make my magazines look more
professional.
The most important thing I learnt was to save everything and
make sure it was backed up!

8. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you
feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the
full product?
Right at the beginning I knew what I had to do but I didn’t
use as many tools and technologies to produce my college
magazine as I did to produce my music magazine.
I felt my music magazine looked far more professional
because I learnt what people were looking for and what
they preferred in magazine designs and their content.
The music magazine was a lot more informative than the
college magazine because it had far more topics to discuss
and I think I enjoyed making the music magazine far more
than the college one.
While the college magazine was far more simplistic the music
magazine was more elaborate and far more professional
looking.