The document is a portfolio submission for a media studies course. It includes the student's magazine called BEATZ, which replicates the style of VIBE magazine focused on R&B music. The portfolio discusses how the magazine represents the target audience of 15-25 year olds interested in R&B music. It also addresses how the magazine attracts this audience through the use of conventions like cover lines, star interviews, and promotions of concerts and websites. The student reflects on what they learned about using technologies like Photoshop and incorporating feedback to improve the magazine from a preliminary draft to the final product.

1. Unit G321: Foundation Portfolio in
Media
Evaluation
Rhiya Heir
6657
St.Paul’s catholic college
64770

2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and
convention of real media products?
I replicated the codes and
conventions from VIBE magazine
into my own magazine which is
called BEATZ. For example across all
4- pages which are my front cover,
contents page and double page
spread I have continuously used the
same colour scheme for the colour
of the text which is black this is
because I'm sticking to the theme
for my own magazine. When I id my
secondary research I looked at
various types of VIBE magazine to
see what they do and to see what
they change, I was amazed by the
colour scheme therefore I wanted to
replicate the same thing.
I included the main features:
1. Bar code
2. Date/price
3. Headline
4. Main image
5. cover lines
I represented different types of
social media on my front cover,
straight away that targets my target
audience, for example social
networks like Instagram, twitter and
Facebook.
My double page was conventional I stuck to the
same layout that VIBE uses. When it came to my
interview I used different types of font so that the
reader could easily notice the difference between
the interviewer and Beyoncé.

3. How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My magazine mainly represents the younger generation, female or male who are
deeply interested into their R&B music. I decided to use Beyoncé as my star appeal
purely because she is known as ‘Queen B’ and she has played a big party in the R&B
industry therefore this would appeal to my target audience.
There's a range of R&B music. You have the original R&B music which are the 70’s
music which is soulful, love making music, smooth soulful which sounds smooth and
includes sexy voices, its also low and sultry and can be seductive. However you have
todays hip hop and R&B music which is more edgy and has a street sound its not too
romantic. You have a more harder beat to the music which destroys the romantic
mood. However this isn't the case with all songs. For example you have Beyoncé who
would sing soulfully and make people feel her emotion when she's sing or weather
you listen to her music, on the other hand you have drake who is most likely to rap his
song, drake would make his music have a hard beat this would influence and
encourage boys to listen to his music. This is good as you have a different range of R&B
music that would target a wide range audience. I was not able to convey this within
my magazine as I chose to focus of Beyoncé which would more likely target more
females than male audience.

4. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
http://www.thisisrnb.com/
This website includes a different range of
social network that would appeal to the
younger generation.
This website post the latest news on all R&B
stars, not only do they focus on one range
of R&B style of music, for example they
explore teen, soul, grown & sexy therefore
this would appeal to a different target
audience. This allows them to build a
personal relationship with their readers
(Katz), I feel that my magazine also does this
due to my editorial.

5. Who would be the audience for your media product and why?
My targeted audience varies from the ages of 15 up to 25, in the 21st century the younger
generation are becoming more familiarized with rappers and song writers such as drake and Nicki
Minaj, the two most famous singers and rappers who are both apart of ‘Young money cash
money billionaire’, the founder is Dwayne Michael Carter, JR, also knows as Lil Wayne by his
rapper name.
The R&B music can relate to the older teenager life due to the meanings of the songs, for
example Drake is famously known for his love songs therefore the older generation can relate to
this therefore it builds a personal relationship with the reader to the artist, but also the readers
will connect with the magazine due to what is being published.
I would say the magazine I have created mainly targets young girls and women (Hartley), as I have
used Beyoncé as my star appeal (Richard Dyer). My interview with Beyoncé focuses on her new
song which females and males do listen to, boys could also be interested in my magazine. Males
would be attracted to the images that are shown on the front cover of my magazine and the ones
on my double page spread. Women are normally objectified and are portrayed as being seductive
this is a pleasure for the male audience (Male Gaze- Laura Mulvey) however I also focus on the
topic of how females should be confident and happy with themselves therefore it s mainly aimed
at females of the 2st century.

6. How did you attract/ address your audience?
• In order to attract the intended audience I decided to include a lot of institutions, and also promote
different ‘star appeals’ (Richard Dyer) this would attract the audience, for example an R&B audience are
highly attracted to the stars that are portrayed in the magazine, they want to be reading the latest news
on the latest stars. I also promoted “on the run tour”, an audience will always be looking for a concert to
go to so they can experience live music. The price is also an important feature to publish on the front of
the magazine the price indicates and allows the audience to know straight away weather they can
purchase this magazine or not.
Institutions.
Star AppealStar Appeal
Price
Promoting concert

7. • The inclusion of codes and contentions such as having an editorial in the contents
page helped to appeal to the target audience because, with using personal
pronouns such as “I” and “you” makes the reader feel included and makes them
feel that they are apart of something, this can develop a personal relationship with
the editors since the writing is very personal. The audience can also feel that they
have something in common with the editor.
How did you attract/ address your audience?

8. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this
product?
The text box I used quite frequently
across the three pages. This was because I
had to include also of text, and include
things such as cover lines. And also when
it came to my interview I had to insert my
text using the text box tool.
The quick selection tool helps
you to crop out any excess of
an image you don’t want, for
example for my main image
on my front cover I had a back
round which I erased by using
the quick selection. It was
easy and simple to use.
The filter tool which allowed
me to access different
colours, I used this when
choosing the grey colour for
my background I carried this
out across the three pages.

9. Analysing my Front cover strapline
Institutions
& website
Star
Appeal –
Cover line
Star
Appeal –
Cover line
Masthead
Promotion/
Advertisement
Issue date &
price
Barcode
Main
story

10. Improved version of Front page
Masthead
Cover
line
Cover
line
Puff
promotion
institutions
website
Central image
Barcode
Issue date and
price
Strapline

11. Analysis – Front page
• From my audience feedback I noted that my front cover
didn't’t signify an R&B magazine, for example the original
copy had too many blank spaces and didn't’t include
enough cover lines therefore it came across as boring, also
the structure of the original front cover didn't’t flow
therefore it wasn’t appealing. I took this into consideration
and made changes. I took new pictures to fit the genre
better. I included various colours that fits the R&B genre, so
I included deep colours- red, black this created a more
positive atmosphere. I then structured it all differently ad
made the cover lines fit around the image, this appeared
more neater therefore became appealing. I also added a
puff promotion to fill space.

13. Anaylsing my contents page
Editorial
Website
Contact
details

14. Improved version of contents page
Editorial
Institution
s
Contact
details
Website
Page
details

15. Analysis – Contents page
• The feedback I got from my peers and my
teacher were very positive. My contents page
was the best page out of all 3 due to the
quality of it. I have stuck to a colour scheme
that fits the genre of my magazine. However I
still made changes to improve it. One half of
the page I changed the colour that was
included on my front cover I was being
consistent throughout.

17. Analysing my Double page spreadMain image
Institutions
Website

18. Updated version of double page spread

19. Analysis – Double Page Spread
• From my feedback my interview was completed
at a very high standard. However I let myself
down when it came to the image, it didn't’t fit my
genre of my magazine, and it didn't’t show my
capability and it didn't’t present me as a person.
I went away ad took new pictures for my
magazine I was much happier with the new
pictures I had taken because I felt like it
represented my R&B magazine much better.
Including this new image changed the whole
viewing of my double page spread it looked much
more appealing.

21. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt
in the progression from it to the full product?
• Having completed the preliminary task it has made me aware of how to
use Photoshop effectively.
• One thing I've learnt is how to use my time efficiently and to always make
sure your one step ahead. I found myself working at a slower paste but
this is because I wanted to make sure my work as up to a high quality
however I would've liked to had more time.
• I have also learnt how to be original, its opened up my creativity. As this
process was going on I was getting a lot of feedback from my peers and my
teacher this helped me as I was able to make quick improvements and
make my magazine better.