2. In what ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms of conventions in
real media products?
• My main influence and design ideas for my music magazine
was from the current magazine “VIBE.” however I was also
influenced by aspects of “NME.” I used “VIBE” magazine
because it was of the same genre as mine,“ RNB.” And had
the same ideal aspects e.g colour scheme, tone etc. NME had
some good design ideas, like font style etc so I used ideas
from that magazine rarely.
3. Front covers.
VIBE Vs HYPNOTIK
• Firstly both magazine covers come
across sophisticated with a subtle
colour scheme and tone.
• Both mastheads are positioned
right across the top of the cover in
bold clear writing, so the name is
eye- catching . Will also be
recognisable whether stacked
horizontally or/ and vertically
• Both magazines have a banner, so
major artists in the magazine are
shown to be featured, making the
magazine genre specific because if
you don’t listen to the RNB genre
you probably won’t recognise the
artist.
• Both my magazine and vibe have
taken a quote from our double-
page spread on our major artists
and placed it under the name of Both models look directly at the camera.
Both barcodes are at the
the artist. This will interest the This is important because it is a way to
bottom, this is to show that
potential reader, encouraging have eye contact with the potential
it is not an important
them to read the main article and reader. This helps to draw attention, and
feature, it is insignificant to
think “hmm, I wonder why they gives the magazine a more personal feel.
the design .
say that.”
4. Contents page
VIBE Vs HYPNOTIK
• The magazine title is written on the
top of the page because it is the
logo of the magazine. This in done
because of branding, as a way to
familiarize readers with the logo
and colours of the magazine.
However vibe magazine doesn’t do
that it is established enough to just
have the first letter of the
magazines name in the background
and is recognizable in that way.
Both my magazine and vibe have
the first letter of the title in the
background “V” for vibe, “H” for
Hypnotik.
• It isn’t common for a photograph of
one person to be on the contents I loved the way vibe wrote contents
page however vibe always do it , page, as if the letters were stacked
whoever is on the cover is on the up on top of each other . It was a
contents page. This could represent smart idea, creative without
the artists importance in this looking messy.
edition or issue of magazine.
• The colour schemes are carried on
throughout the magazines.
5. Double page spread
VIBE Vs HYPNOTIK
Both of these magazines have a clear cut photograph, both take up a whole side the double
page spread. This is showing the artists significance. It clearly separates the photo from the
text and makes the double page spread look more organised and clear.
Vibe uses a consistent colour scheme, my Hypnotik magazine also does as well. Vibe uses
black, yellow and white and I have used red, black and white. This is important because
sticking to 3 colours isn’t too much to the eye and makes it look sophisticated.
6. How does your media product represent
particular social groups?
• My intended audience are mainly young females and are likely to pay attention to
fashion, the latest, make up and their appearance. Just like any young person in
today’s society. I represented and supported this by using a young, good looking
model on the front cover. This model will be someone most social groups can
admire and be inspired by.
• Because most of my intended audience are in a young age group I made the price
of my magazine affordable and a monthly magazine so potential readers would
defiantly have the money to buy my magazine.
The information from my questionnaire showed that more people in the age group I
was aiming my magazine at preferred to look at the picture rather then read he
writing, I made sure all the information and writing was tidy a clear, too much
writing would bore my intended audience.
My target audience is females with about 20% of males actually picking it up and
reading some of it. Because of this I included many articles to do with fashion,
celeb gossip, some stories about both male and female artists too. This is what will
interest females and males may read it if it includes some male stories as they may
look up to some male models vice’ versa. For example
7.
8. Digital camera
• The photographs in my magazine were taken with a digital
camera. The camera used was a Canon SLR which is generally
used for taking professional photographs. The Cannon SLR is
high resolution and megapixels which means that they are big
images, so won’t get pixelated if they are made bigger. It was
important to use a good camera for my media product
because I was trying to make it look as realistic and
professional as possible.
9. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of
constructing this product ?
I used the internet frequently during my planning mainly to help in
research. When I have needed to look at other magazines and into
other similar media products it was most helpful. The internet was
so helpful as it had so much websites especially when looking for
publishing houses.
Facebook was most useful when it came to getting beneficial results
from my Zoomerang, ideal reader questionnaire. Because of it being a
social network it allowed me result in getting a number of results
from many people and it was easy and quick for them to reply.
Zoomerang I had never heard of before having to create my
media product. It was so useful in my research as I could quickly
sign up then compile a questionnaire online to send out to people
to complete.
Google is one of the biggest search engines worldwide and I
have used over and over again numerously. I used Google the
most in my research. It was helpful in researching publishing
houses and magazines.
10. I used Microsoft publisher often during my planning
of my magazine. I have used Microsoft publisher
many times previously so it wasn’t a problem doing
drafts of my magazine on this program. This
helped me on my prelim task. I’d used it before so I
knew what I had to do and didn’t have any
difficulties with it. Everything you could do on it was
basic, however because of that it wouldn’t be
professional enough to use on my final magazine.
Microsoft word was the easiest to use and I could use
it to type up essays or evaluations I had to write up.
I never knew that I could create a blog so easily
and could be used to display my work. I had never
used it before this project and after a couple of
attempts I managed to understand how to use it. I
can use this new found website to present and
compile future projects.
11. What have you learnt about technologies from the
process of constructing this product?
Before creating my magazine I had never used Photoshop before even
though I knew off it. Creating this product taught me certain techniques
I could incorporate in future product designs, by using professional
editing programs. By using it I was able to make my product look like a
professional magazine.
12. I then thought it would be a good idea to show my
first draft of my magazine to a sample of my
intended audience. They could give me useful
Criticism and opinions on what is good and what
should be added or changed.
I knew my magazine would not look professional
Without a bar code or price, this would make it
seem more realistic and my intended audience
agreed. So I put that on my to do list.
My sample said some text did not appear clear
enough, especially my banner along the bottom so
I made it my priority to give my banner a black
rectangle back ground so it stood out.
Another piece of feedback I received was the fact
my main story was too high up. This left a huge
area of empty space which I did not want so I was
to move my main story down, so ”BECKA” the
artists name was in line with her eyes which would
be another eye catching aspect of my magazine.
13.
14. My contents page is so similar to vibe
Magazine. I really like vibes layout of their
Contents pages. Most magazines have a
Contents page with a variety of photpgraphs
However I kept mine like VIBE and used one large
Photo. Even though my magazine consists of the
same Model/ artist being photographed this shows
their Importance which vibe also portrays, showing
the artists power also.
My sample of intented audience who were critizing
My work said Becka should be moved to the left
And the text to the right.
My font should be consistant which I realised
would make more sense so I was to changed my
text on my contents page to the same text I used
on my front cover (Arial)
My target audience said if I left it like this It would
not really look like a magazine because it does not
have enough w
15.
16. “My photo
looked too
plain.” my
target
audience
agreed on, I
had many
suggestions to
add another
picture to my
current one or
A code and
put a quote on
convention of
the picture. So
a double page
I decided to
spread is to
try both and
have the
choose which
writing in
one looked
columns
better.
otherwise it
will not look
professional.
If I kept my
double page
spread like
this it would
look like a
story.
17.
18. What kind of media institute might distribute your media product
and why?
It would be very important for me to advertise my magazine around young
people within the age of 16 – 21 years old. For example the age range enjoy
social networks and watching certain music channels. I would defiantly set
up a Facebook page for my magazine and get people to join the group, that
way the magazine will become more and more recognised.
Also I would organise a meeting with a music channel like MTV Base or
channel AKA as they are RNB music channels and a huge number of my
target audience will watch those channels.
I could also advertise my magazine on a RNB radio station. Advertising can
be very expensive so maybe if a company could sponsor the magazine that
would be great.
To publish my magazine I would probably use Intermedia Partners as they
purchased vibe from producer Quincy Jones. If they have already had
success with a good RNB music magazine then it would only make sense to
use the same company. I could also use Devin Lazerine to be publisher as
he is publisher of a very successful RNB magazine named “Rap Up.”
On the other hand it would be good to use. The reason why I would choose
these is because they would already know would sort of things will be
needed to attract my intended target audience, what they like etc.
19. On the other hand, because my magazine is so similar to one they are already in
partnership with, it would work well for me to take the completely different route. I could
pitch my magazine to an institution such as IPC media. who do not currently distribute
any media products similar to mine. The distribution of this magazine may appeal to
them because it would widen their potential audience and therefore increase their profit
field.
20. How did you attract/ addresses your audience?
The main aspect of my magazine I focused on to attract my audience would have been
My colour scheme and my photographs. My target audience did not favour stories over
Photographs so I knew if I have a colour scheme that was bright, bold and stood out it
Would attract my audience. My colour scheme was black red and white, my title was red
So it would be in contrast with black and white and therefore would be eye- catching.
I made my price of my magazine quite cheap after looking at my questionnaire results I
Noticed most people were willing to pay roughly the same price, below £3 this magazine
Would most likely be monthly so this was more then an affordable.
The name of the magazine I believe is enticing as the word “HYPNOTIK.” is a
Connotation that the music has you in a trance, its almost hypnotic, it is catchy. The way
I spelt hypnotic with a K instead of a C as a play on words, spelling it with a K instead of
C gives the word more character. My title had the same colour as my model's lipstick
And had a gradual tone to it to make it more eye- catching.
My intended audience is females so it was important to keep it female orientated, so that
Is why I used a female model on the front that looked quite admirable and fashion based
I kept my magazine gender specific. Because my magazine was aimed mainly at
females I excluded puff's about good looking male artists and I didn't want to forget about
The minority of males who may pick up my magazine and included stories on good looking
female artists which women may aspire to be like or interested in knowing these artists
Beauty tips
21. Looking back at your prelim task, what do you feel you
have learnt in the progression from it to the full
product?
• My prelim task was to start me of thinking about my composition off my final music
magazine, colour scheme etc. I used Microsoft publisher to make my school newspaper for
my prelim task. It was very basic. I used the program Photoshop for my final product.
• My progression is clear as on my final product I have used a variety of unfamiliar stylish font
styles and was able to edit my photos with effects to give them a professional finish. I was
able to make my music magazine look professional and more like a real magazine.
• When taking pictures for my magazine I used a professional high quality camera instead of a
normal Polaroid which I had used for my prelim task because of this my photographs were of
a good quality for my HYPNOTIK magazine and really gave a professional. My Polaroid
camera made my prelim task (school newspaper) look more like a flyer or leaflet.
• I done careful analysis of other magazines that are hugely recognised and learnt the tricks
they use on Photoshop to make their magazines look better and recognised what made them
stand out from less-successful ones, and tried to use them when making my production.
Photoshop has a lot more tools you can use to edit the my magazine to make the colouring,
positioning and aesthetics of my final product more successful,
• My HYPNOTIK magazine looks much better then my prelim task because the extra research
and tools from Photoshop I applied.
