The document summarizes a student's media studies foundation portfolio project where they created a magazine covering new music genres like country, folk, rock and indie. For the project, the student took photos, wrote an article, and designed the magazine layout including a front cover, contents page, and double page spread. They received positive feedback on the unique and creative aspects of their work like an abstract photo and informal article tone. The document discusses the goals and challenges of the project.

1. Media Studies AS: Foundation Portfolio

2. IntroductionI did the magazine projectI worked independentlyI took pictures, edited them, wrote a journalistic article and then put it all together to form a front cover, contents page and a double page spread.

3. I chose to use the genre of “new music” focusing on country, folk, rock and indie.To keep to the conventions I created a simple front cover including title, at the top, side stories and one main picture of the band taking the double page. I made the contents page very simple and in a list format with numbers.I used typical elements because my audience (young adults and teens 16-25), like most, find comfort in “the norm” and like to have some things the same.However I did challenge some conventions with my project e.g. in my double page spread I tried to create a more abstract photo instead of the plain one’s in most magazines, I also wrote the article with a very informal tone and told more of a story than a question and answer session.I believe it is important to try different things, especially in my genre, because the audience do like to see new, fresh, exciting things or else it becomes boring or monotonous and they will lose interest.I thought my new concepts would be useful because it provided another asset to the magazine, instead of just reading and essentially taking in knowledge, the audience can be entertained and also be stimulated by art.The picture was successful from every piece of feedback there was a positive comment about it.Question 1

4. The social group I aimed to represent were the modern young adults who try to challenge modern precepts of the 21st century artist/band. I did this buy creating a band who had made a political song that had made a difference and were very much in the public eye yet didn’t seem too phased, that hadn’t warped after their rise to fame. I achieved this by dressing them in plain clothing, by writing a very informal article including choice language, which the model 21st century artist/band would never use. I also produced an alternative photo which hopefully inspired it’s viewers, it didn’t display the faces of any band member. The concept was to prove that this band were not like customary artists/groups where looks and the superficial are high on the agenda but the music and the message is the sole drive is the music and the message.Question 2

5. I believe Bauer Media Group would be most interested in distributing my magazine, they print top magazines such as Clash, Kerrang and Q. I would say my magazine is quite similar to Q, both include new music, value professional photography and good writing and also include reviews of films, games etc. Although the two magazines are similar mine is focused on a younger audience and also celebrates a more selective genre of music.Question 3

6. In the planning stages of creating my magazine I had to consider the audience I was going to appeal towards. I chose to focus on where there was a gap in the market, this was a serious magazine focused on young adults (16-25) and the genre of new country, folk, rock and indie music.Although the genre is selective rock and indie are probably the biggest with a large scale of bands/artist falling under these titles therefore it will increase the size of the audience and revenue. Question 4

7. To attract readers towards my magazine I used many different ideas starting with the pictures:I tried to take a good quality of photographs.I focused on the band themselves in their own clothing rather than elaborate attire like in most magazines, to entice I genuine music loving audience and to in cooperate the band’s ethics.I chose specific mis-en-scene (cards), the album the band is promoting is called deck.The double page spread featured one large, creative picture of the band. This would challenge the tradition of magazines in this market.The picture in the front cover had the band in an interesting pose, I edited the colouring using Photoshop and had the text framing it. Question 5

8. I also tried to attract readers by the text and it’s content:I composed interesting titles on the front cover, contents page that would grab the attention of readers.The text was blocked, easy to read, coloured and framed the pictures (apart from that on the double page).I wrote in a very informal tone appealing to the young audience.I treated the interview as more of a story instead of the customary question answer format, this would create a more personal connection with band and reader which I think the market lacks in giving audiences.I allowed the readers to relate to the band by describing them in the interview to be very ordinary and down to earth. This goes against the grain of the standard interviews where celebrities are made out to be higher beings.Question 5 (continued)

9. From this project I learnt how to use different creative software's such as; Indesignand Photoshop. I also learnt about blogs, the Blogger website and how to create my own blog. Using these resources I have coloured, reshaped, cut out, embedded videos and pictures. I have also learnt how to use a camera and a studio with professional lighting equipment. I have also learnt how to take these jpeg files off of a hard drive onto a Mac. On top of that the whole Mac system was new to me so I had to learn the ins and outs of that too. I used an online questionnaire to help with the planning of the magazine which was good to know what my audience were actually looking for in a magazine.Question 6

10. My preliminary task was poor compared to my final magazine front cover. This was due to the fact that I had a better understanding of the programmes and equipment, I also directed my models better. The lighting, mis-en-scene, editing, posing were all improved in my final piece. The titles on the front cover was made more intersting by the language, fonts, colouring and positioning to make my second attempt better.Question 7

11. I think my final piece was to a high standard, I think I excelled in the photography part of the project and I think the content of my interview was a perfect match of interest and entertainment. The editing in the pictures was quite good, the choice of fonts and colours were in line with the genre and audience. The titles were appealing and the barcode, dating and pricing all made it look more authentic. However due to a lack of time I think my contents page let me down, the picture was good but the page looked bare and colourless. Other than that my magazine came out very well and I am pleased with what I have created and my especially after I received very positive feedback.Conclusion

12. What does the title suggest to you? A more classy take on indie music.What genre/type of music does the magazine focus on and how do you know this? Indie and rock, the font and titles.What makes the pages look professional and what stops them from looking professional? The photographs and font styles look professional yet the layered text over the picture in the double page spread does not.How genuine does the front cover seem? Very, I like it.Does the contents page simply inform or does it also manage to interest you in reading the rest of the magazine? It informs, yet the picture is what captured my attention.Does the article sound like a piece of journalism? If not what bits sound right? It reads like the type of journalism for the magazine.Does the article layout make you want to read it? If not, why not? Yes it does, it is a shame the photograph is less visible.Feedback 1

13. What does the title suggest to you? It intrigued me.What genre/type of music does the magazine focus on and how do you know this? Indie or grime.What makes the pages look professional and what stops them from looking professional? The barcode and the picture make it look professional.How genuine does the front cover seem? 9/10Does the contents page simply inform or does it also manage to interest you in reading the rest of the magazine? It simply informs.Does the article sound like a piece of journalism? If not what bits sound right? Yes, very good.Does the article layout make you want to read it? If not, why not? Yes, I like the colours.Feedback 2

14. What does the title suggest to you? A trendy young people’s magazine.What genre/type of music does the magazine focus on and how do you know this? Rock is the genre this magazine suggests to me.What makes the pages look professional and what stops them from looking professional? The pictures are to a very high standard.How genuine does the front cover seem? It seems very genuine.Does the contents page simply inform or does it also manage to interest you in reading the rest of the magazine? It simply informs very well, the picture is very interesting. Does the article sound like a piece of journalism? If not what bits sound right? This article sounds very much like a professional piece of journalism.Does the article layout make you want to read it? If not, why not? It is set out very well and easy to read.Feedback 3

15. What does the title suggest to you? It is different and unique because it is wrote in a very informal way.What genre/type of music does the magazine focus on and how do you know this? Indie, I can tell this from the clothing and the models.What makes the pages look professional and what stops them from looking professional? The photography looks professional and unique. I like the lighting used on the article spread.How genuine does the front cover seem? Genuine, the straplines and subheading give it a very professional look.Does the contents page simply inform or does it also manage to interest you in reading the rest of the magazine? It is interesting because of the photography, poses and use of playing cards.Does the article sound like a piece of journalism? If not what bits sound right? It sounds well written and very creative.Does the article layout make you want to read it? If not, why not? Yes, it is broken up with blocks of colour making it more interesting.Feedback 4