This document provides an evaluation of Olivia O'Connell's media studies foundation portfolio. It summarizes how her magazine product uses conventions of real magazines by including elements like a barcode, date line, puffs, and celebrity endorsements on the cover. It also challenges conventions by having a non-direct address cover star. The influences and layout choices for the contents page and double page spread are also summarized. The document then summarizes how the magazine represents teenage girls and which media institutions would be suitable for distribution. Finally, it summarizes that the target audience is teenage girls aged 15+ interested in pop music and links to further details on the target audience and language analysis.

1. AS Media Studies
Olivia O’Connell
G321
Foundation Portfolio
Evaluation

2. 1.
In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real
media products?

3. I have looked at the codes and conventions of a magazine front cover through this activity shown in the link below;
http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-VCbWJLDL1CM/UFr7qfkRxZI/AAAAAAAAAAo/ETRDKQJAIbI/s1600/Publication1.jpg
Front Cover.
For my magazine I related it to several of the generic conventions of a
magazines such as the inclusion of a; Barcode, Date line, a Puff, a
Pug, Cover lines, a celebrity endorsement. I also followed the main
convention of a music magazine which was to make the main image
cover a part of the masthead. Most magazines are able to do this
because their mastheads are recognisable which is why I made my
glitzy and bright coloured so it became recognisable to regular readers.
I did however challenge the conventions as my main image does not
consist direct mode of address. I like this idea as it allows my cover star
to build up an attitude, like she is different to the rest.
My influences.
The main influence for my magazine was looking at ‘Top
of the pops’ which is a popular music magazine which is aimed at young
teenage girls, which is the same as target audience whom I choose to aim my
own magazine at. The thing I liked about ‘Top of the pops’ magazine was the
actual layout and house style used. I like the layout as it is busy and makes it
look as though the magazine has a lot to offer. With my magazine I tried this
affect but didn’t make it quite as packed as I didn’t want to take away from the
mast head or main cover image. I liked the colour scheme of pinks and purples
as the colour connotations connected to them are very girly, love, pretty etc.
This helped my magazine show the relation to my target audience.
Below is a link to my final front page cover.
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/ejude.html

4. I have looked at the codes and conventions of a contents page through this activity shown in the link below;
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-M4fqB4GggmU/UJuAnqhGnWI/AAAAAAAAAD4/_NZRpIuq7Sw/s1600/1st+contents+page.jpg
Contents page.
On my contents page I made sure to include the
same cover star on my front page and my
contents page. This is too create consistency
throughput my magazine so that it all links
together. Keeping along this idea of consistency I
also included the same background and the
masthead to connect it all together. I also think
keeping this similarity makes the magazine
become more recognisable and familiar. I believe
without a magazine creating some form of
consistency can cause the reader to become lost
in it all, putting them off the product. This is the
reasoning behind my decisions.
My influences.
I looked a many different magazine contents pages
when doing my research to gather a wide range of
ideas. I included generic conventions being the most
obvious thing a list of topics that are in a magazine.
Looking at current contents pages in top of the pops
and other music magazines made my decision that I
wanted mine to be simple and not be overloaded
with information as ‘less is more’.
Below is a link to my final contents page .
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/tikyki.html

5. I have looked at the codes and conventions of a magazine double page spread through this activity shown in the link
below;
http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5cFtt1sTDWc/UJuPIRz7BaI/AAAAAAAAAEI/o66j8qG-2IY/s1600/1st+double.jpg
Double page spread
My double page spread looks quite similar to most
double page spreads with the large image on the one
side and then the article on the other side. I didn’t
want to make any drastic changes to the double page
spread because that’s what people are used to
reading so its familiar too them. I have made sure the
language throughout my article is suitable for my
target audience and checked it so it had the correct
grammar and spelling. The background again I have
used to create the on going consistency throughout
my magazine.
My influences.
Like my contents page I looked at loads of different
magazine double page spreads, not only music ones
this was so I could again widen my variety. Looking at
all those double page spreads allowed me to see that
most magazines did the style layout I choose. This is to
do with the how readers are familiar with this layout .
As they are familiar with this it doesn’t cause
confusion to the reader which will keep them happy.
Below is a link to my final double page spread.
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2013/02/hkujk.html

6. 2.
How does your media product
represent particular social groups?

7. Representations to social groups.
The images I have used in my magazine I
have used to relate to teenage girls who
are in touch with their fashion and enjoy
the Glitz and glamour of celebrity life.
I have stereotypically represented my
model as a fun, loving happy woman who
enjoys to shop and listen to pop music.
The way I have positioned her I wanted the
woman to come across un-stereotypical as
she has created herself and wont be living
up to any former celebrity (which is
mentioned in the article). Also, the way in
none of the photos she is not looking at
the camera which makes her look
rebellious as its going against the generic
look at the camera and smile pose which
‘top of the pops’ tend to go with their
cover star image. I think representing her
in this was shows her as an
individual, independent woman. This is a
good representation for young girls as it
shows someone who has done well for
themselves with confidence and courage
that they can aspire to be like.

8. 3.
What kind of media of media
institution might distribute your
media product and why?

9. The distribution of my magazine.
Major distribution;
Bauer media;
This is one of the major distributions of music
magazines who distribute current magazines such
as; Kerrang & Q which are two of the most widely
known magazines.
http://www.bauermedia.com/
IPC Media;
IPC is another major distributer who distribute
current magazines such as; NME and Uncut. NME
is one of the best selling music magazine which
has a mass audience whereas Uncut has more of
a niche audience.
http://www.ipcmedia.com/
BBC;
BBC is a massive company who distribute Top of
the pops magazine as the show was aired on
their channel. This is why I would choose BBC as
its big and known widely.
On my Publication plan is a more detailed plan
for my magazine. It also includes where I would
want my magazine to be sold. The link below
shows my publication plan.
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/
blog-post.html

10. 4.
Who would be the audience for
your media product?

11. My magazine target audience.
Below here is a link to my blog where I have concluded the target audience for my
magazine which is teenage girls (15+) who enjoy to listen and keep up to date with pop
music. The aim of my magazine is too obtain up to date information on all things pop.
Such as the newest top 20 and the latest news on new and upcoming celebs. Below is the
link where I analysed what I would have to look for in a target audience and my final
decision.
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/potential-target-audience-for-my.html
I set up a questionnaire which I made to see what different teenage girls wanted and
didn’t want from their music magazine. I did this to help be eliminate certain things and
work more on other things such as; how much they would pay, would they want it
weekly, monthly etc, and what they wanted it to contain. Below is the link to my
questionnaire and the questionnaire results.
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/publication-plan.html
I ensured the content of my magazine was suitable for this age range by using suitable
language and topics within my magazine. I had to make sure that none of the context was
too difficult to understand so that a 15 year old would not be able to understand it. I had
to make it quite simple. Below Is a link to a detailed language analysis profile where I
looked at the how language had to be a certain tone, style, register, different forms of
address and particular vocabulary for different ages. Looking at this helped me to ensure
the text that I did include was appropriate.
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/language-analysis.html

12. 5.
How do you attract/address your
audience to your media product?

13. Attracting/addressing the audience.
Colour;
I choose six colours to work with which were a lime green, a hot pink, a lemon yellow, a sky blue, orange
and a plum purple. I choose these colours because I believe that they come together and compliment each
other. I found a glittery background that contained these coloured which I thought would work well as it
links to the title ‘Glitz’ being as it is glitter. This background also stands out and creates a vibrant, fun look. I
also believed that it related to my target audience as glitter is seen as a girly thing.
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/house-stylecolour-scheme.html
Images;
With my original photography, it took two attempts to get them right. The first attempt resulted in images
that were of a poor quality as they were blurry and also they didn’t look very professional. Also, the way I
had my model dressed wasn’t very celeb like and didn’t work well. The link shows this first attempt;
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/hsjsjsjskss.html
The second attempt I made was a drastic improvement as the images were more varied, goof quality and
the model looked the part. I was glad how they turned out and actually found it quite difficult to choose
which ones would work best throughout my magazine. Here is the link showing my further photography;
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/pdfoco.html
Masthead;
My masthead was one of my favourite parts in the finish. I loved the effect which I discovered using
paint.net which allowed me to add a glittery effect. I liked how it turned out as it linked to the masthead
title itself. I think title ‘Glitz’ could be seen as slightly un-relatable but I like
this contrast as it can relate to the glitz and glamour of celebrity life.
Below is the link to my finished, final mast head;
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/h.html

14. 6.
What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing the product?

15. Technology- Paint.Net.
Advantages; Disadvantages;
- Simple - Time consuming of the cutting
- Photos effects; out of an image.
brightness, contrast, shadowing - Its easily to ‘over-edit’ a photo.
, feathering etc. - Not enough memory.
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.c - Having to change it to a JPEG
o.uk/2013/01/ofjkdopvkodf.html file to go onto the blog.
- Photo cutting with the magic - The software could be difficult
wand- no background to photo. to use if you weren't good with
computers.

16. Technology- eBlogger and publisher.
Advantages of eBlogger;
- Easy to add posts
- Easy to delete unwanted
posts
- Easy to edit posts.
Disadvantages of eBlogger;
- Posts have to be added
frequently so that the time
management is good.
- Cant add posts between
dates.
Advantages of publisher;
- Easy and simple to use.
- The construction lines.
- Print preview to view it at
different stages.
Disadvantages of publisher;
- There are no photo editing
techniques.
- Its hard to move photos
around because the
construction lines can be
quite restricting.

17. 7.
Looking back to your preliminary
task, what do you feel that you
have learnt in the progression
from it to the full product?

18. Preliminary front page. Final front page.
Comparison of the two front pages.
Looking at these two together I can see where I have greatly developed my skills with using pain.net and my
ability of arrangement. The preliminary front page looks more amateur then my final front page looks. The
masthead is weak and the cover lines look rushed and look as though they were made on paint. There is too
much going on and is no real focus. The image is of a good quality but has no meaning. The masthead on my
finished piece is much stronger and looks more professional. Overall, I think I have made a good development.
Here is link to my preliminary front cover task below;
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/preliminary-task-stacs-sixth-form.html

19. Preliminary contents page. Final contents page.
Comparison of the two contents pages.
Looking at the two contents pages together I can clearly see a development. My finished piece has a strong
image which is continuous from my finished front page and also the masthead is stronger. The inclusion of the
editors note also makes it look more professional and realistic. My preliminary tasks again looks very
amateurish and un-organised. There is no main focus with nothing showing to offer the reader. Again I can see
how my skills have developed by looking at these two images. Here is the link to my preliminary contents
pages;
http://oliviaoconnell95.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/perliminary-task-contents-page.html

20. 8.
How successful do you feel your
end product is in fulfilling the
task? How well does it fit the
brief?

21. Overall success.
Overall, I think I have been reasonable successful with my media product and I think it fits the
brief quite well. I have created a magazine that follows the codes and conventions of a music and
general magazine and gone against them in some aspects making my magazine different to
current ones. I think the research that I did helped me to create my product to the best possible
way and without it, my product would look something like my preliminary task. I am most please
with my masthead as I believe is could become very recognisable also I believe my front page
came out strong and realistic looking. If I had to do it again, I would work more on the contents
page as I don’t think it looks as good as the rest. Overall, I loved creating this product and believe
I have done it to the best of my ability from looking at the development of my skills through the
preliminary task. Also, I think I have kept well to my time management throughout the duration
and have enjoyed creating and keeping to the pop music genre.