The document provides an evaluation of Chloe Bonner's media magazine project. Chloe used conventions from the real magazine "Q Magazine" in constructing her own magazine titled "ZONE". On the front cover, she repeated conventions like using a black and white main image and setting out headlines in a similar style. She also repeated conventions on the contents page like including a screenshot of the front cover. Chloe challenged some conventions by adding an editor's letter. Feedback from peers praised the clear layouts and professional appearance but suggested improvements like higher quality images and more color. The magazine effectively replicates the style of "Q Magazine".

1. Evaluation
Chloe Bonner

2. In what ways does your Media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
The magazine, across the 4 pages, ‘repeats’ (Steve Neale) codes and conventions from ‘Q
magazine’. I used the February 2014 issue of ‘Q magazine’ as my magazine of research. The front
cover of the February issue had a black and white main image, therefore I ‘repeated’ this
convention and made my image black and white on the front cover of my magazine. Additionally, I
‘repeated’ the way that the headlines were set out on the front cover. One of the headlines had a
box with text in it, therefore I ‘repeated’ that and made it the headline for my ‘top indie tunes’
story. Then, my main headline which links with the main image was also spread out big across the
page, like the ‘The Smiths’ main headline that is on my magazine of inspiration.
Here is my magazine ‘ZONE’ and my magazine of
inspiration ‘Q’ this constructs how I have used
conventions from a real media product and put it
into my own media product. However, my
magazine may ‘challenge’ some conventions that
would be in a ‘pop’ music magazine as they
would use a lot more bright and random colours,
whereas I have used more subtle colours, yet
they are still bright so that they can catch the
audiences eye.

3. In my contents page which I have created for my magazine, I have also ‘repeated’
conventions from my magazine of inspiration. For example, I added a screenshot of my
front cover and placed it where ‘Q magazine’ had placed their front cover. Also , I
‘repeated’ the banner across the top of the page with the issue number so that my
audience were aware that this was the first issue of the magazine. The way that I have set
out all of the page numbers, headlines and cover lines has also been ‘repeated’ from my
magazine of inspiration. However, it ‘challenges’ my magazine of inspiration as ‘Q
magazine’ doesn’t include an editors letter, whereas I have added an editors letter with
In what ways does your Media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
an editors picture, signature and contact details at
the bottom of the page. On this page I have
included a picture of the magazine of inspiration
that I used and also a picture of my contents page
that I have created for ‘ZONE’. They are very similar
as I have used many of the conventions that ‘Q
magazine’ have used on their front cover so that
my magazine looks professional.

4. In what ways does your Media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
For my double page spread, I also used conventions that was on ‘The 1975’ double page spread in my
magazine of inspiration. At the top of the page, I added all of Katie Melua’s previous albums and wrote
what year they came out. On ‘the 1975’ double page spread, they have a box at the top like the one I’ve
created, which has each band member describing each other. This can show the audience how many
albums she’s previously had and whether they know any of the albums. Additionally, another
convention that I added to my double page spread that was similar to the real media product was my
main image. I positioned it in the same place as the one in ‘Q magazine’ and added text overlapping the
image. The main image allows the audience to see who the article is about. Another convention that I
‘repeated’ from my magazine of inspiration was Katie Melua’s new album, like Q have added ‘The 1975’
new album. I also positioned my quote from the text in the same place as where Q have placed their
quote. My drop capital is in the same
format as my magazine of
inspiration. However, I have
challenged my real media product by
making the questions from my
interview red and making my
answers black. This relates to the
main colour of the magazine which
creates brand identity for the
audience and brand awareness.

5. How does your media product
represent particular social groups?
The denotation of the representation is the ‘E’ section of the socio-
economic needs table; unemployed, students, pensioners and casual
workers. This is because my magazine is target towards young people of
the ages 15-20, therefore they would stereotypically be students,
unemployed or casual workers. This means that my magazine appeals to
my audience profile as the target audience that I created was between the
ages of 15-20. The magazine, across the 4 pages helps to represent this
social group as the price is only £1.20, therefore people of these age
ranges will be able to afford the magazine. Additionally, it helps to
represent the ‘E’ section as the colours are very bright and will therefore
catch the audiences eye and make them want to buy the magazine if it
stands out to them. My audience can ‘personally identify’ (Katz)
themselves with the character as they are ‘social climbers’ (Maslow).

6. What kind of media institution
(Publisher) might distribute your
media product and why?
From the research that was completed pre-production, I would envisage
that ‘Bauer Media Group’ may publish ‘ZONE’ because they publish many
Indie style magazines like the one I have created, such as; Q, kerrang and
mojo. This means that they are looking to publish magazines that are
revolved around this genre of music. I have done a lot of research on this
publisher throughout my planning and research as my magazine of
inspiration was ‘Q magazine’ and ‘Bauer Media Group’ are the publishers
for this magazine. The similarities of my magazine to ‘Q magazine’ also
‘signifies’ (De Saussure) that the genre of my magazine will appeal to this
publisher as this is the kind of magazine that they’re looking to publish,
considering they already have a magazine that is like ‘ZONE’.

7. Who would be the audience for your
media product and why?
Hartley’s Seven Subjectivities
According to Hartley’s Seven Subjectivities the age of my audience are 15-20. This is
shown through the pricing of the magazine as it is very cheap so people of these ages will
be able to afford the magazine. The target gender for this magazine is both males and
females as there are things that will relate to both genders. The stereotypical ethnicity is
White British male and females for my magazine.
Katz’ Uses & Gratifications theory
According to Katz’ Uses & Gratifications theory, the audience can ‘personally identify’
themselves with the articles and the people within the magazine as this will be the kind
of music that they’re also interested in.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs
According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, my audience are ‘social climbers’. This means
that they will want to read my magazine as they aspire to be like the characters within
the magazine. Therefore, they will read what the characters within the text are getting up
to so that they can try to be like them.

8. How did you attract/address your
audience?
The inclusion of codes and conventions such as the bright masthead
helped to appeal to the target audience because the bright colours would
attract the young audience that I am aiming my magazine at. As there is a
bright red colour that has been used, this means that it will stand out and
attract the audience as it will catch their eye. Here is my masthead:
Another code and convention that I have included in my magazine to
attract my target audience is the images that I have included within all of
the pages. These images relate to my stories, therefore my stories attract
my target audience as they are about topics that people of those ages
would be interested in.

9. What have you learnt about technologies
from the process of constructing this
product?
The denotation of the software used to construct the
media product entitled ‘ZONE’ was Adobe Photoshop
CS4. One of the tools I used through this piece of
software was the hue/saturation tool. I inserted the
main image onto my front cover and then desaturated
it to make it look black and white. This gives the
magazine more of a retro/indie feel, therefore it will
help to attract my intended audience as they will like
the image that is on my front cover.
Another tool which I used through this piece of
software was the shape tool. I created many boxes
throughout all of my pages in my magazine to outline
the main areas. The box tool also makes things stand
out on the page, so therefore will attract the audience.
Additionally, through putting certain pieces of texts in
boxes it looks more professional than just leaving the
text.
This picture shows my front
cover. It includes the
desaturated image that I
created using the
hue/saturation tool. It also
includes some of the boxes
that I created using the shape
tool:

10. Photography Planning – Front Cover
The photo that I have used for my front cover is a photo of my friend
Abbie. I asked her at college if I would be able to take pictures of her for
my media coursework and she agreed. Therefore, I asked her to wear
indie clothing, such as the hat that she is wearing in the front cover main
image. I decided to use my friend Abbie as she has the indie look, therefore
she would fit in with the genre of my magazine, which would also allow
the audience to ‘personally identify’ (Katz) themselves with the character
within the picture.

11. Photography Planning - Contents
The shot type that I used for my editors photo was a medium close up.
This is because I had seen this shot type being used in many different
magazines editors letters, so I ‘repeated’ (Steve Neale) what they had done
for their editors letter to make my magazine look more professional and
like a very popular magazine that is already famous.
For my editors letter, the main image that I have used was of my friend
Abbie again. When we were taking pictures for my magazine we took
many, therefore the one that I have used for my contents page was one of
the pictures that we took then. This means that I have kept the person in
my images consistent as she relates to my main story within the magazine.
Also, she has the indie look and therefore fits in with the magazines genre.
However, she took off the furry coat which she is wearing in the front
cover picture and is wearing a vest top instead, although she still has the
hat on to keep the indie effect.

12. Photography Planning - Interview
I took the pictures that are presented in the double page spread because
they allow the audience to see who the interview is about as the pictures
are just of her. This is ‘repeated’ (Steve Neale) from other magazines as
they use images of just that person to make it the main focus. There are
two main images within this page to show the main person in this article. I
integrated text and imagery together through overlapping the text on the
image. My main headline on my double page spread is overlapping the
main image so that it stands out more and people can relate the picture to
the fact that it is ‘Katie Melua’.

13. Analysing my Front Cover
Main Image
Main Headline
Headlines
Masthead
Social Media links

14. Analysing my Contents Page
Front Cover
Main Stories
Coverlines
Main Image
Editors Letter

15. Analysing my Double Page Spread
Main Image
Drop Capital
Questions
Answers
Headline

16. Audience Feedback
Person 1:
What is a strength of my front cover?
Large, bold font catches the readers attention
What could be done to improve my front
cover?
Add more colour
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my contents page?
The contents are listed clearly
What could be done to improve my contents
page?
More colour
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my double page spread?
Used many pictures and a very detailed
interview
What can be done to improve my double page
spread?
Nothing
Do you think my double page spread will
appeal to my audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What magazine does my magazine look like or
‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) conventions from?
Q magazine
Person 2:
What is a strength of my front cover?
Clear and easy to read
What could be done to improve my front cover?
Add a better quality picture
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my contents page?
It’s very informative for the reader
What could be done to improve my contents
page?
More colour
Do you think my contents page will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my double page spread?
Detailed interview
What can be done to improve my double page
spread?
Make it clearer to read
Do you think my double page spread will appeal
to my audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What magazine does my magazine look like or
‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) conventions from?
Q magazine
Person 3:
What is a strength of my front cover?
Simple and colourful
What could be done to improve my front cover?
Make the photo less blurry
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my contents page?
In a clear order
What could be done to improve my contents
page?
Add a better title than just ‘Issue One’
Do you think my contents page will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my double page spread?
Looks professional
What can be done to improve my double page
spread?
Nothing
Do you think my double page spread will appeal
to my audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What magazine does my magazine look like or
‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) conventions from?
Q magazine

17. Audience Feedback
Person 4:
What is a strength of my front cover?
Bright
What could be done to improve my front
cover?
Add more thumbnail images related to the
other stories
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my contents page?
Looks professional
What could be done to improve my contents
page?
More detail
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my double page spread?
A lot of detailed information
What can be done to improve my double page
spread?
More colour
Do you think my double page spread will
appeal to my audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What magazine does my magazine look like or
‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) conventions from?
Q magazine
Person 5:
What is a strength of my front cover?
The colours
What could be done to improve my front cover?
Make the picture less blurry
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my contents page?
The layout
What could be done to improve my contents
page?
More colour
Do you think my contents page will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my double page spread?
A lot of pictures
What can be done to improve my double page
spread?
Make it more exciting
Do you think my double page spread will appeal
to my audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What magazine does my magazine look like or
‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) conventions from?
Q magazine
Person 6:
What is a strength of my front cover?
The colours
What could be done to improve my front cover?
Make the photo less blurry
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my contents page?
In a clear order
What could be done to improve my contents
page?
Add a better title than just ‘Issue One’
Do you think my contents page will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my double page spread?
Well presented and looks professional
What can be done to improve my double page
spread?
Nothing
Do you think my double page spread will appeal
to my audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What magazine does my magazine look like or
‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) conventions from?
Q magazine

18. Person 7:
What is a strength of my front cover?
Main image
What could be done to improve my front
cover?
Free space
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my contents page?
The layout
What could be done to improve my contents
page?
More stories
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my double page spread?
A lot of detailed information in the story
What can be done to improve my double page
spread?
More images
Do you think my double page spread will
appeal to my audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What magazine does my magazine look like or
‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) conventions from?
Q magazine
Audience Feedback
Person 8:
What is a strength of my front cover?
The colours are good and eye catching
What could be done to improve my front
cover?
Make the social network names clearer
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my contents page?
The arrangement of the photos
What could be done to improve my contents
page?
Less writing
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my double page spread?
A lot of detailed information
What can be done to improve my double page
spread?
Add more space so it doesn’t look cramped
together
Do you think my double page spread will
appeal to my audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What magazine does my magazine look like or
‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) conventions from?
Q magazine
Person 9:
What is a strength of my front cover?
Looks very professional and has used a good
colour scheme
What could be done to improve my front
cover?
Tilt the Z straight in the masthead
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my contents page?
The amount of information
What could be done to improve my contents
page?
N/A
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my double page spread?
Looks professional and like a real magazine
What can be done to improve my double page
spread?
N/A
Do you think my double page spread will
appeal to my audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What magazine does my magazine look like or
‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) conventions from?
Kerrang

19. Audience Feedback
Person 10:
What is a strength of my front cover?
Good bold masthead, simple colour scheme
and a great layout
What could be done to improve my front
cover?
A better main image
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my contents page?
Good layout, great original images and all of
the cover lines are easy to understand
What could be done to improve my contents
page?
Nothing
Do you think my front cover will appeal to my
target audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What is a strength of my double page spread?
Nice layout and questions are differentiated
from answers
What can be done to improve my double page
spread?
Nothing
Do you think my double page spread will
appeal to my audience of 15-20 year olds?
Yes
What magazine does my magazine look like or
‘repeat’ (Steve Neale) conventions from?
Kerrang
For my audience feedback I created a
questionnaire and handed them out to 10
different people to ask them what they thought
about my magazine. There were 4 different
sections, one for my front cover, one for my
contents page, one for my double page spread and
one for my magazine overall. Everyone that I
asked said that all of the pages that I have created
are suitable and will attract my aimed target
audience. What I have found out through this
questionnaire is that there are very little
improvements that I have to make to my
magazine and that I have ‘repeated’ (Steve Neale)
many conventions from Q magazine and my
magazine looks a lot like it. However, some people
have said that my magazine also looks like
Kerrang. It is good that they have said that my
magazine looks like Q magazine as that was my
magazine of inspiration. Most people thought that
my double page spread was very detailed and
gave a good interview.

20. Looking back at your Preliminary task,
what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to the full product?
I feel that, having completed the preliminary task and learning about the
demands of this production process, I have learnt that I need to be
organised so that I can get everything in on time and at a high quality
standard so that everything looks good and professional, like a magazine
should. I have learnt how to use tools that I never would have known how
to use before through photoshop to help to make my magazine look a lot
better and more professional and to add the codes and conventions that
were needed and that I wanted to make my magazine fit in and appeal to
my target audience.