2. In what ways does you media product use, develop or challenge forms
and conventions of real media products?
I felt it was important to establish a consistent house
style throughout the magazine, and I took much
inspiration from Q. What is important to note is that Q
tend to change various elements from issue to issue, but
they have a basic and identifiable staple set of clear
typefaces and a basic colour scheme which, if used
continually, allows for others to be employed and allow
for a more flexible and transitional appearance. For
example, The ‘Q’ masthead is a constant and is never
changed, however the sell-lines will change position,
colour and font every issue depending on the central
image. Q is one of the most visually dynamic music
publications on the market and this lends to its success;
so, in order to make mine a realistically professional
looking product it required this quality.
My central image is conventionally a
medium close up shot, using direct mode
of address. Typically magazines will
conform to the convention of positioning
the central image in front of the masthead
to give a three dimensional appearance
and a clear direct mode of address.
However, I chose to break this convention
because I felt my central image covered
too much of the masthead to be
realistically recognisable, so it sits better
on top. I did however try to utilise the three
dimensional effect in my central sell line,
making my central image stand out from
the cover, which forms relationship with
reader.
It is also conventional for magazines
like Q to feature small graphics on the
cover for a visually dynamic quality.
Like Q magazine, I also included a tagline to indicate the
purpose of this magazine and why you should choose it
over magazines. Switch to better music implies a better
selection as opposed to other magazines, fulfilling personal
integrative needs in the uses and gratifications model.
My choice of colour scheme is
perhaps unconventional for my
choice of representation. Red,
White and Black are colours
typically used for magazines aimed
at men; whilst I am using this to
attract men, I am not aiming my
magazine primarily at men; women
are not presented in an overtly
sexual way, females maintain a
large percentage of content in my
magazine so to attract just as much
a female audience, so as to break
conventions.
Relevant Research
Stacked sell lines
positioned around
the central image in
order for the central
image to be the
dominant attractive
feature. Use of
sans serif fonts and
serif, but with
occasional
appearance of
other fonts. Some
sell lines will
underline other sell
lines.
3. In what ways does you media product use, develop or challenge forms
and conventions of real media products?
Continuity is maintained through the
use of
Contents is divided in to Regulars and
Features
I included a Regulars column with
seven divisions, making the
magazine easy to navigate and also
suggesting a pre-existing readership.
Because my magazine is intended
for an adult
audience, assuming they have an
interest in reading as much as
possible about their musical
interest, I included a section of copy
under each of my headings to give
a sense of the nature of the content,
further draw in the reader and make
the appearance richer in content,
fulfilling Cognitive needs. The copy
may employ hermeneutic coding to
interest the potential reader enough
to buy the magazine, or use the
implication of large content e.g.
“100 legendary soundtracks”.
Names of artists are in uppercase
to highlight their significance and
draw the reader to identify artists
of interest.
“Subscribe” feature maintains
space clearly and implies a
high level of demand for the
magazine.
The header, with the inclusion of masthead,
maintains continuity and house style from the cover. Layout – clear and understandable but offers
a large attractive content. Use of boxes and
lines gives a more organised professional
appearance. All content is aligned with each
other for a cleaner appearance.
I have included two large images to
maintain a clean organised layout intended
for a more mature audience with the
implication of quality over quantity. One of
my images is posed whilst one is in more
of a candid style, implying a range of
content in the magazine.
Use of graphics to appear more stylised and
professional, e.g. the use of boxes in the
header for alignment and the issue number; or
the graphic “ultimate gig guide” extends the
contents outside of the clear divisions of
“regulars” and “features”, and also carries
through to the images which are contents
listings in themselves. This is indicative of a
large content fulfilling the cognitive needs of
readers.
Relevant Research
4. In what ways does you media product use, develop or challenge forms
and conventions of real media products?
Used subtitle to entice reader and
sell the artist. Small features e.g.
switch logo at the end of text,
artists name is highlighted, in
keeping with house style.
The main image (which utilises direct mode of
address) maintains both sides of the double
page spread. The article is positioned far to the
right to allow the central image to be the
dominant feature.
All objects on the page apart
from the main image
utilises staple colours
red, black and white, in
keeping with the house
style.
I maintain continuity with use
of staple fonts (Bell MT and
Franklin Gothic Demi) and
house style (Red, White and
black), for example in the drop
cap and the highlighted
“STAIRCASE
PHILOSOPHERS” in my
subheading are in Red, all
text is in white or black, and all
small detail features (e.g.
Additionally, my “features”
header from contents page
carries through to the double
page spread.
Relevant Research
Language used is
formal and informative.
Conforms to
conventions set by Q
which aims to be
informative over
colloquial.
Footer includes Logo, date,
website and page number
Drop cap draws readers
eye to the article
The layout is presented as
organised as possible to make
for easier reading and a more
attractive aesthetic, for
example, the layout, like the
contents page, uses text
alignment, lines and boxes for a
more organised appearance.
I chose to arrange my text
into two columns; although
this perhaps breaks typical
conventions for artist features
which tend to use three
columns, this form is featured
in my research.
5. How does your media product represent particular social
groups?
Young females is the social group predominantly represented in my media
product. This social group is not presented as adherently feminist but gives
perhaps a more positive representation of females than other magazines (1)
Front covers that feature female models typically present them in a sexual
manner (i.e. shirtless or with a lot of skin showing, and this is not typical of males
in music magazines who are often presented as aggressive or powerful) and I did
not want to conform to this style of representation. Additionally, the content of
music magazine tend to be centric on male talent
An easier access to females may have pushed me into this specific
representation but I also feel it challenges the conventions of other magazines on
the market that are primarily targeted at men.
My colour-scheme (red white and black, with additional colours) is one typically
used to attract the male audience, however with my magazine focussed on
female talent it should bring in a neutral readership.
In my Double page spread I wanted to present females as
My product also primarily focuses on the young adult age group (16-25). I aimed
to represent this age group in a positive light. My image is meant to symbolise
youth (with reference to a specific song that holds significance with the band) and
this rounds off the overall appearance.
The language of my magazine is not patronising or pandering to the audience
with slang and informal language, but may employ occasional colloquialisms for
more stylised journalistic writing. The appearance also assumes a more mature
audience with the privation of rebellious imagery, composition, language or
colours.
(1)
6. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and
why?
Bauer Media is a multi-national company that distributes a large number of popular media
brands including Kerrang (which caters for a niche audience of teenagers and those with
an interest in rock music) and Mojo (which caters for an older audience and those with an
interest in alternative music and classic rock). They also produce Q magazine which is
aimed at the mainstream audience and tries to cater for as wide a range of interests as
possible. This is also the magazine I based my production on.
Bauer media would be an ideal choice of distribution given its pre-existing success with
three popular music centric media brands on the market. I feel that Bauer media may take
on my product because of the level of success it has had with Q magazine. However this
is slightly undermined by the fact that it has a number of similarities with Q magazine and
they would most likely not distribute two publications so similar.
IPC media is a British publishing company that successfully distributes a
huge range of media products catered for niche interests. IPC Media
publishes two music magazines - NME (which generally aims at an
audience of teenagers and young adults with the focus of new music) and
uncut, which caters for a niche audience with an interest in rock music.
Because my magazine closely resembles Q magazine (which is
distributed by Bauer Media) it would seem less likely for them to take on
my product with that part of the market already being fulfilled. I believe my
product may be distributed by IPC media as a contender for Qs Monthly
magazine because of it’s equally successful past and credibility in the
industry, and because IPC media publish two magazines for niche
audiences, my magazine would appeal to a wider audience and fill the
gaps.
7. Who would be the audience for your media product?
Monthly magazines such as Q or CLASH are priced at £3.99
whilst weekly issues such as NME are priced cheaper at £2.20
I asked my feedback group:
How much would you pay for this magazine?
I£1- £1.99 I £2-£2.99 I £3 - £3.99 I £4 - £4.99 I £4+
5 said they would pay £4 - £4.99
5 said they would pay £2 - £2.99
10 of my feedback group said that they would pay £3 -
£3.99
Who would be the audience for your media product?
My target audience is young adults age 16 – 25; reaching
out particularly to females who are typically excluded as a
target audience for music publications. However my intention
is to reach out to as wide an audience as possible, so it does
not cater toward a niche audience, but a mainstream one. My
target audience is one that seeks to be informed of music, so
this implies I am catering for a mature audience, so this
excludes any imagery or language with rebellious
connotations exhibited in magazines such as Kerrang, or
overly colloquial gossip-style magazines such as Top of the
Pops.
Early on I tried to identify my target audience by producing a
short questionnaire and providing it for my feedback group.
With the majority of my feedback group in the age range of
16 – 25, I produced one further bit of research into my target
audience to decide on the purpose of my magazine. This
helped me to establish which magazine I was basing mine on
(Q) and the interests explored in the content of the magazine.
8. How did you attract/address your audience?
My target audience of young adults are the most
likely to take it further than just reading the magazine.
In aiming at young adults it is the prime audience for
utilising synergy and integrating a multimedia
approach with advertising a website, which is
featured on the footer of each page.
Masthead is in clear sans
serif font (Franklin Gothic
Demi), in white and all upper
case, it stands out from the
cover.
Direct mode of address with a
strong main image, which
immediately establishes a
relationship with the
reader. This is
emphasized by the bold
central sell line which
utilises a 3D like effect.
In order to stand out I also felt it
was important think of sell lines as
an opportunity to exercise
diversity, so it was key that
illustrate my sell lines in a number
of interesting ways e.g. the taped
on effect list.
Illustrative graphics in the
form of a standalone graphic,
attention details such as the
crown graphic complementing
the idea of “reigning”.
Illustrative presentation of sell
lines, the idea of Movie
Soundtracks complemented
with a “movie rating” graphic.
I felt it was important to attract
my audience by presenting a
large range of content on the
front cover, i.e. having a lot of
popular names on the cover to
spark interest a greater
audience.
Use of superlatives to emphasize
the significance of the content,
e.g. ULTIMATE, LEGENDARY,
GREATEST, SUPREME.
What also may attract my audience
is a bold colour scheme, kept as
simplistic as possible for a greater
impact – the consumer is not
swamped with a chaotic front cover.
I use a staple set of colours: Red
Black and White.
The strap line [Switch] “to better music” implies a
better selection as opposed to other magazines,
standing out above the rest.
The strap on my central sell
line is suggestive of new
information, fulfilling
cognitive needs.
9. What have you learnt about technologies from the process
of contrasting this product?
In order to assemble the images, text and features, I used Photoshop. Prior to this I already had
some basic experience with Photoshop, but as visible in the difference in quality from my preliminary
task and my main task, I learned to utilise this software to help realise a more visually interesting and
professional looking magazine. Personally Photoshop (CS3 or elements 7) supersedes any other
editing programs I have used beforehand, in terms of quality, diversity and usability. I learnt how to
give my work a professional finish, and layers are incredibly useful in making the production pieces
easily changeable. I used tools to improve my images, for example, Skin Colour Adjustment tool
which allowed me to give photograph more realistic look by changing how the lighting affected the
skin tone. I also used when need the auto levels tool which balanced out lighting contrast and white
balance.
In the process of creating my product, I learned how to use DSLR cameras. For my coursework, I
used an Olympus E450 for my double page spread images, and a Canon 550D for my front cover.
As an absolute beginner I had no prior experience with cameras of this level of quality, and shooting
the photographs for my Preliminary Task was a difficult feat at first and it required the help of others
to get the hang of it. However, with the assistance of teachers and the following tutorials (published
by Jay Yao, which provides a beginners course on the functionality of the camera, how to utilise each
feature and the effect each one produces in combination with others) I was able to learn how to use it
in combination with key lighting and natural lighting.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mezp_xo6RTk&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=1XBzHRpHAgo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=qwusEcJuSGU
10. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel
you have learnt in the progression from it to the full
product?
My preliminary task cover only features text on my front page with only two
fonts in use, and there are no particular features that draw the reader in
aside from the central sell line which lacks impact. This is clearly not the
most outstanding front cover of a magazine. Since then I have learnt to
make more interesting use of space on the front cover, for example, in
addition to text, I have also used graphics that give the appearance a more
stylised look, and developed a consistent house style.
There is a distinct difference in how much content there is on my front
covers. In my Preliminary task I was minimal with the surrounding space
chose to use. In my main task, I tried to make more interesting use of space
e.g. with graphics down the side of page, using a range of fonts and colours
as opposed to the left side of my preliminary task which utilises only one
font and one colour,
In my contents pages there is a clear difference in quality. In my preliminary
task, I use minimal detail. It is clear I have become more aware of
conventions of magazines, e.g. elaborating on my subheadings with a
section of copy, employing hermeneutic coding into my subheadings, the
inclusion of page numbers, a logo and a dateline in the footer.
I have also learnt to pay attention to detail, for example the inclusion of a
date line or barcode. On the front page, and a subscribe feature down the
side of page and the use of the masthead to maintain continuity in the
contents page. I have learnt that it is important to identify and cater for one
specific target audience, so as to know the nature of the content you are
producing.
