The document discusses the student's media magazine project. It summarizes how the magazine uses conventions of real media products in its design and layout. While it adheres to conventions like mastheads and editorial layouts, it also challenges some conventions by listing artists on the cover rather than stories and reusing cover images on the contents page. The document also discusses how the magazine represents its target 20-25 year old audience that enjoys electronic dance music. It was produced using tools in Adobe Photoshop to achieve a professional look and replicate magazine conventions. The student learned efficient techniques for layout and how to speed up the production process for meeting deadlines.

1. Evaluation

2. In what ways does your Media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
Media magazine uses the conventions of real media products such as Q Magazine or Elektro
Magazine to make the work eye-catching and interesting to its readers. It uses conventions such as
on my Front Cover there is my Masthead and then a relatable Strapline “Eat Sleep Rave Repeat”, this
is very common in popular magazine so that the readers can associate to the magazine and
recognise it easily. Some other conventions my Magazine uses which are used by real media
products are the use of Social Networking and Synergy throughout all pages in the work. I also used
unique images throughout my work and used pictures that fitted to the genre style. My contents
page follows media conventions by using a stereotypical editorial layout with an editor image and a
small introduction into the issue. My double page spread repeats the typical media conventions by
having the questions in a different colour and format to the interviewee’s answers so it is clearly
what is being asked and what the response is.
On the other hand my Magazine did also challenge current conventions of media products by using a
unique and informal interview for my double page spread to show how the artists didn’t have an
elevated stance and although lacked star appeal were an important part of this issue. My front cover
challenges media product conventions by listing the featured artists rather than having hints at the
stories in the issue. My contents page similarly breaks codes and conventions by using the same
images from the front cover.

3. The masthead below is very
generic and uses the
conventions expected of a
masthead but this is good as it
attracts the reader.
My double page spread doesn’t suite regular
codes and conventions as It is very informal
but this is used to relate to the reader.

4. How does your media product
represent particular social groups?
My media product represents an age group of early adulthood generally in 20-25 category it’s also
represents a typically C1-D category of workers however in recent years as class divide has been less
strict there are a lot more A-C2 category starting to enjoy this genre of music. The reason for a
younger age of listeners to the genre and also readers of my magazine is due to the genres high
energy atmosphere involving intense sessions of dancing at raves and other similar events. This is
different to magazines such as “Q” or “Kerrang” as although they have a similar readership age 20-25
they are usually of a higher category/class and are willing to pay more for their entertainment which
is why Q & Kerrang are more expensive. This is connoted in my front cover through the images which
contain younger people in them implying that the magazine and its music are for a younger age. My
Contents page shows that it is aimed at young adults throuhg its use of bright colours and unique
and stylish font. My Double page spread represents the 20-25 age region as it uses social media and
synergy which is most commonly used by people within that age range.
As shown through this image there
is a generally younger readership
specifically 20-25 year olds and the
images represent this.

5. What kind of media institution
(Publisher) might distribute your
media product and why?
From the research that was completed pre-production, I would foresee that Bauer may
publish ‘E.S.R.R.’ because they have developed a gap in their market for this genre and
they have many other genres already fulfilled so it could be a new niche market for them
to expand in to and expand their consumer range as they do not provide a genre similar
to ‘E.S.R.R.’ magazine.
However I also found that Magazine “DJ” a UK EDM magazine is produced by Thrust
Publishing and because they have experience in the genre it could be a good product for
them as a company because ‘E.S.R.R.’ has ‘instances of repetition’ from the layout used in
“DJ Mag” and so because of their success with this magazine it would connote they could
have success with my magazine also.
As shown this
is my magazine
and it has the
Bauer logo to
show it could
be possibly
made by them.
This image
shows an
example
from Thrust
Publishing’s
DJ Mag

6. Who would be the audience for your
media product and why?
According to “Hartley’s seven subjectivities” the target range for my magazine would be for
young adults as the genre of music appeals to younger people. Gender would be un-
important as there is an equal age spread. Class would be diverse spreading from Working
Class to in some cases although more a rarity Upper Class people too. Ethnicity would be
typically white although it is not limited to white people. Most 1st World countries will be
more familiar with the genre and therefore buy the magazine; this is because the genre relies
on technology to be made. This can be shown specifically from people at events shown in
images throughout my magazine as there is a clear range of people at the event which
contextualises into the readership of my magazine
After looking at “Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs” my audience would be “Explorers” who want
to look at the musicians in an alternative way and identify with them. This is because many
artists of the genre are also fans and have more recently made the transitions from watching
to performing making them feel similar to the artists.
From research into “Katz’ Uses & Gratifications theory” I believe my readers would want to
“Personally Identify” with the celebrity or musician because as previously mentioned many
artists were originally avid fans who then transfer from listening to performing so there is a
higher rate of identification because of their similarities. This can be seen in my double page
spread as it mentions the two artists themselves were not long ago fans who love the music
and have recently transitioned into producing songs.

7. How did you attract/address your
audience?
In order to attract my intended target audience of the C/D socio-economic group, I decided to use a
puff/competition to first give my audience an incentive of buying with the possibility of winning
something which in my case was tickets to the ‘Tomorrow Land Festival’.
I also planned to attract my audience by utilizing my big image of people enjoying music from the
genre as another reason for them to buy the magazine. Additionally one of my more unique USP’s
the main article with “EJacks & Scotteh”. As they are London based producers, it would appeal
more to the UK audience as they could ‘personally relate’ (Katz) with their experiences. I similarly
decided to attract my audience using synergy across social networking groups like Facebook and
Twitter as they’re both allow social interaction through print media and e-media.
Using
puff/promotion
s and images of
similar aged
people were
used to attract
the possible
audience
My contents
page editorial
and story
banner were
used to attract
the audience
as it gives key
information
about this
issue

8. What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing this product?
The software I used to repeat the codes and conventions for my music magazine ‘E.S.S.R’ was
Adobe Photoshop CS4 (Mac edition). In order for this product to look fit for its purpose and appeal
to the target audience I decided to design my main image using the ‘quick selection tool’ to erase
part of the background. I then used the “layer mask” tool and changed the colour of the
surrounding back image and then bring out the main image in brighter bolder colours. I later used a
very light brush on the remaining image to let it blend into my banner image.
To create the columns for my double-page spread for my interview and have effective incorporation
of text and imagery like you would normally see in a most magazines , I used the ‘Pen tool’ (P) to
create a guideline area so my text would not go over these lines. I think this was very effective
especially around the main image of the article and it made my magazine seem conventional.
These images show the tools used
in the construction of my work

9. Photography Planning – Front Cover
I took these
photos as part of
my audience
profile but they
suited so well I
decided to use
them within my
magazine.

10. Photography Planning - Contents
After taking multiple photos for my
editorial image and also for my
main story I decided to use these
two photos and some other
previous images.

11. Photography Planning - Interview
These are just a few of
the various photos I took
for my interview page. I
used the majority of the
ones shown here.

12. Analyzing my Front Cover
Large Masthead
to represent
magazine
Puff promotion for
Tomorrow Land
Main Image
Social media
and barcode
Magazine web address
Main story information
List of featured
artists Star Appeal
(Richard Dyer)

13. Analysing my Contents Page
Masthead
List of stories
and interviews
in this issue
Featured artists
logos
Cover story re shown
Editor image
Editorial with signature
and social media
Page number in
similar font style

14. Analysing my Double Page spread
Interview
Artist names
clearly shown
Artists social media
links
Artists image
Puff to promote
exclusivity
Masthead
Page number Website magazine

15. 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 how to work at a high level of speed meaning I can complete
tasks quickly with minimal errors and achieve the specific tasks when under pressure. I also
learnt how to use specific tools to speed up the production process such as using the magic
wand tool in certain situations rather than just using the quick selection tool. I also learnt when
to use the pen tool which was very helpful during the production of my double page spread as I
had to use it for each piece of text.
There is evidence of progression that I feel particularly demonstrates how I met the demands of the
production process, for example… looking at the quality of my preliminary task front cover
compared to my main task front cover you can see how the work is neater with all errors
significantly less apparent and also a lot less of them. I would consider this to be because I
gained new skills since then and I now know which tools are best to use in each situation
meaning I can work faster and produce my work at a higher standard.