As part of my AS Media coursework, I have created a slide share of my evaluation of the music magazine I created. This evaluates the choices I made and whether they were effective or not.

1. Unit G321: Evaluation
Molly O’Donovan

2. The magazine, across the 4 pages, ‘repeats’ (Steve Neale), the
codes and conventions from similar indie rock magazines such
as NME. This was the magazine which helped me focus of the
structure and design of my magazine. The similar structure of a
contents page being divided into sections with the main story
having a short introduction. I created a similar convention as I
thought it would be effective for connoting the indie rock bands
and music. Also, the creativity of my double page spread was
influenced by NME magazines but also my own ideas because I
believed that portraying the layout I have works best for
connoting the ‘exclusive’ story about Bastille. Furthermore, the
use of the colour red and black is used within NME magazine,
consequently I used similar colours so that the expression of
indie rock is connoted to readers. Therefore this makes the
magazine I created CURVE more realistic and understandable,
so the genre of music I have chosen is denoted easily and
fluently.
In what ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?

3. How does your media product
represent particular social groups?
The denotation of the representation is to social groups
which are fans of the musical genre indie rock.
Therefore these social groups may be interested in
festivals such as Reading and Leeds. Consequently,
the social groups that are interested in indie rock that
are fans of the music and particular bands would want
to visit their favourite artists live. Therefore my media
production denotes the sense of being a fan for indie
rock music. For example, on the contents page there is
a section about festivals. I used this in my magazine
because I knew that it would be effective through the
social groups.

4. What kind of media institution (publisher)
might distribute your media product and
why?
From my research I have discovered that
a media distribution that may distribute
my media product is TimeInc.UK because
of the magazines that they publish. They
publish NME magazine, which is
extremely similar to the magazine I have
created; this is because the genre of
music both CURVE and NME have in
common is indie rock. Therefore,
TimeInc.UK is likely to publish my
magazine as my magazine also has
similar codes and conventions to NME,
such as the colours red, black and white,
font style, layout and structure.

5. Who would be the audience for
your media product and why?
According to Hartley’s seven subjectivities, the audience of my magazine are
both male and female, ages between 16-24. This is because the indie rock
genre of music targets this audience. Consequently, as CURVE is an indie rock
magazine, the target audience is the same, this is because the audience that
will buy my magazine will be interested and influenced by the genre.
Furthermore, this leads to Hartley’s theory being linked to my target audience
of male and females aged 16-24.
According to Katz’ Uses and Gratifications theory, the target audience will want
to identify with the famous artists which the magazine will focus on in the
different issues. Therefore the audience will inspire to be like their role models.
In the magazine I have created, Bastille is the artist/band which is being
inspired by the intended readership. Also, the audience will be entertained
through the gossip and information they discover in the double page spread.
As this is entertainment there is information which will be interesting and will
make the interview exciting for readers, or they will not be interested in the
magazine again.
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the target audience of CURVE
magazine will be esteem because of the respect the audience will show for the
artists which are mainly focused on in the issue. This portrays the esteem
because it connotes how there is sense of confidence within the magazine,
especially if there are repeat purchases from the readers.

6. How did you attract/address
your audience?
The inclusion of codes and conventions such as convergence and
puff/promotion has helped to appeal to the target audience because people
that enjoy the music genre of indie rock are attracted to certain aspects of
the music through websites and social media. This is because indie rock is
a developing genre of music which is becoming more popular in society;
therefore a way of expressing the music to the public is through
convergence, as the awareness for this music will increase. As social media
(convergence) is developing consistently and creating awareness to
audiences, the use of convergence throughout my magazine (CURVE) will
emphasis the awareness and popularity to others. Consequently, this will
attract or address my target audience as they will be influenced through the
convergence and will want to therefore explore further about the magazine
online and through social media such as Facebook, Twitter. Furthermore,
the use of a puff/promotion within my magazine attracts my target audience
as 16-24 females and males are interested in festivals, so will therefore be
attracted to buy the magazine to be within a chance of winning iTunes
Festival tickets. As a result, the attraction for audiences of my target
audience will want to experience festivals and be part of the ‘buzz’ for them.

7. What have you learnt about technologies
from he process of constructing this
product?
In order for this product to look fit for purpose and appeal to
the target audience, I decided to create the front cover using a
full image, with minor corrections. This is because the image I
took had a background which I wanted to include to
emphasise the band ‘Bastille’. I felt as if this worked because it
made the members of the band stand out and make the image
look more realistic than adapted. The use of the selection tool
helped me select areas of the image which I wanted to keep
and which areas I wanted to delete. Therefore, this enables
the image to look more professional. Furthermore, the use of
the shape tool enabled me to create the rectangle at the
bottom of the front cover, to create emphasis of the
convergence. I also used the tool on both the contents page
and double page spread to emphasise the information
portrayed about the magazine. In addition, I used the pen tool
on the double page spread so that the interview could be
positioned so no gaps were left on the page. Therefore this
would make sure that this page was not deemed boring or
plain for readers to read. Pen tool
Shape tool
Selection tool

8. Photography Planning – Front
Cover
I chose this image for the front cover
as it was a mid-shot of the band
(Bastille). I also used the background
for the band on the front cover to
connote an indie sense to readers. I
also chose this image as a cover line
photo of John Williams (AKA Jake
Bugg) to connote more acts within
my magazine.

9. Photography Planning –
Contents Page
I chose this image because all of the boys are
looking at the camera for an editors ‘selfie’
image. I thought this would be effective as the
editorial is placed below the introduction to the
main story, therefore this image would support
the interview. Also, the editorial picture I used
was to identify myself as the editor to readers.

10. Photography Planning -
Interview
I chose this image because recreated the
look I was trying to create. As Connor is
representing Dan from Bastille he had to
try and create a similar facial expression
which he successfully did.

11. Analysis of Front Cover
Masthead – The
masthead is positioned
here because it stands out
boldly to the readers so
they are aware of the
name and can see it
quickly.
Puff/Promotion – The
reason this is positioned
here is so it is one of the
first things readers see.
This will therefore attract
readers to want to buy the
magazine to know how to
enter the competition.
Strapline/ Tag Line – The
importance of this is very
high as it provides
evidence to readers that
the magazine is
established but also worth
the read.
Cover Lines – The cover
lines support the main
headline and create
awareness of other stories
within the magazine.
Main Image – I chose to use
this main image because as it
presented the theme of Bastille
as a unit being together. This
was what I wanted to present
because it brings reality to the
image.
Main Headline – I have
positioned the main
headline here because it
stands out, but also
provides enough room for
the cover lines. But also
ensures that the page
does not look
overcrowded.
Convergence – The
convergence is positioned
here because it is
important for readers to
recognise the ways of
keeping up to date with
the magazine.

12. Analysis of Contents Page
Masthead – I included the
masthead to continue the
magazines awareness as
it is a necessity that this is
included in the contents
page.
Sections – This is to
section the contents page
to make it clearer to
readers. This will therefore
guide readers to focus on
areas in them magazine
which they would want to
read.
Cover stories – These
stories support the main
story so that the magazine
is not boring. This
consequently creates a
further interest for readers.
Editorial – As this is the
first issue, it is highly
important that the readers
can identify with the editor
to create a relationship.
Therefore this will lead to
repeat purchases from
readers.
Introduction to the main
story – This supports the
main interview because it
creates awareness of what
the interview will focus on.
Consequently this
emphasises the story so
that readers feel intrigued
and want to read the
interview.
Puff/Promotion – This
promotes the magazine to
create a bond between
readers and relationships.
This will therefore keep
more readers interested in
reading the magazine.

13. Analysis of Double Page
SpreadMasthead – This
identifies the magazine
to continue the theme
and acknowledgement
of the magazine.
Interview – The
interviewer and Bastille
are in different font
styles so that readers
can recognise who is
talking when. The
interviewer (me) is in
bold font and Bastille is
in normal font.
Website and Page
Number – This indicates
the recognition of the
Quotes – An interesting quote of the
interview is displayed largely to intrigue
audiences, so that the audiences are
immediately interacting with the interview.
Supporting Image –
An image along side
the main image
portrays the interview
with the full band of
Bastille rather than
just of the lead
singer, Dan Smith.
Credits to the
Photographer,
Stylist and Editor –
This recongises the
important people
behind the scenes of
helping to put the
interview together.
Main Image –
Having the main
image supports the
interview
demonstrating the
main focus of the
magazine.
magazine so that readers can access the interview online, to create a
wider audience for online readers as well as audiences that buy the
magazines.

14. Audience Feedback –
Social Media
The feedback given is effective as it helps to give me an insight to other
people’s opinions. This is so I can adapt my work to the standard which my
target audience want. I can understand how my work is to a standard of
which I can achieve the audience which I want to. Therefore, resulting in my
progress over the time of learning how to make a music magazine with a
targeted audience of 16-24 year olds which enjoy listening to indie rock
music.

15. Preliminary Task to Now…

16. Preliminary Task to Now…

17. Front Cover
The front cover of my preliminary task compared to my music magazine task is not at the same
standard. This is because the knowledge I used from the preliminary task, I adapted to create a
more realistic magazine rather than a very basic template. I fell as if this helped me make better
decisions because I did not want to create a similar front cover to my preliminary task. Therefore I
have learnt different skills using Photoshop and my creativity skills to help create a realistic,
interesting, creative music magazine front cover.
Contents Page
The contents page of my preliminary task compared to my music magazine task is very basic again.
This is because I have been able to adapt my music magazine using NME magazine for knowledge
to create a similar style of magazine following the genre of indie rock. As at our school we do not
have a school magazine, I found it difficult to to create a particular layout which was appropriate for
a school magazine. Therefore, I was able to be creative for the music magazine using knowledge
from reading previous music magazines, especially NME.
Preliminary Task to Now…