2. 1) IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT
USE, DEVELOP OR CHALLENGE FORMS AND CONVENTIONS
OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?
In my media product I have made use of many
conventions within the three pieces. These include:
Front Cover Contents Page DPS
Larger (main) image Columns Main Image
Masthead Images Varied Fonts
Cover lines Captions Page Numbers
Plug Colour Scheme Columns
Date Editors Letter Website
Price Text Boxes
Barcode
Features
Promotions
Colour Scheme
Left-side Third
3. LARGER MAIN IMAGE
I chose to use this picture as my main
image on the front cover because of the
effective background and I thought I could
work around this picture efficiently.
Additional reasons included that it would
stereotypically appeal to my target
audience.
MASTHEAD
My masthead was one of the
trickiest parts when creating my
product, due to varied reasons
(e.g. deciding on a name which
sounded modern and appealing.)
After choosing the name
Audience.; I began to make my
magazine front cover.
4. However, I came to a point where I struggled when
trying to find other colours to use. I would‟ve been
stuck with only limited colours, such as burgundy, grey
or black.
Because of the struggle and because it was so early
on in the course, I decided to carry out some audience
research in order to see if it was worth changing the
masthead altogether. The audience agreed and I
found that the name and the colour of the masthead
wasn‟t intriguing enough for a magazine; whereas they
did like the style of the masthead.
I agreed, and so after trying to find a name for a long
while, came to the conclusion of GLOBE. This name
represents the multi-culture within music and how
music varies all around the world. I also settled on a
main colour of blue because it is a wide colour and
there are many, many different blues that I could use.
Also, blue can mix with a lot of other colours which
made it easier.
I also found it very difficult to make use of the
convention which many magazines do: putting the
masthead behind the main character on the front.
Doing this was difficult as my photo was taken with the
background already behind him. After working with
many ways to try and make this work; I had to cut out
around his head and create a new picture with that and
then edit it on the top in the same size, so it looked as
though the masthead was behind him, but still
readable.
5. COVER LINES
I use many different cover lines on
my magazine cover which gave my
magazine an edge and made the
magazine look busy which could
appeal to the audience because This is the main coverline I used which was
an attachment to my cover story. I used
there was many interesting features different fonts and colours and also added
in my magazine. effects such as drop-shadows and
embossments to attract the audience and
make it stand out much more.
PLUG DATE/PRICE/BARCODE
Date
Originally the Price
plug I used
featured was: Barcode
I then changed it to this
because I thought the After making my own barcode, I
artist suited my audience researched different magazine
better and after looking barcodes and discovered that many
at other magazines, had different prices on within different
thought the use of the “*” places, so I worked out the price
and the note from it was equivalents and so used that. I also
effective and looked decided to take the chance to
promote my magazine and advertise
more professional. the website.
6. EDITORS LETTER
My editors letter was something I found particularly hard to
write, because I wasn‟t really sure how to connect with my target
audience without repeating myself from the contents page.
IMAGES/CAPTIONS
Here are two examples of where I used both
images and captions. I tried to use a pun on
words within the “Welcome to Marina‟s Electra
Heart” because in the background of the picture,
there are signs in lights that say “electra heart”. I
also used a heart icon instead of an „A‟ to add an
edge to the statement.
7. ADDITIONAL FEATURES
I also created a barcode on my contents page,
where if scanned by smartphones that can read
barcodes, the phone should be sent to the
webpage of my blog
(www.robynlanphier.wordpress.com) .
The use of the twitter and facebook logos are used
for promotion purposes and so I made use of them
so that they would look professional.
8. MAIN IMAGE
The main image I used is quite a
personal picture which could relate
to preteen girls. It is like this
because he is in a comfortable
stance and is staring into the camera
which could create the idea that he
is looking into his fan‟s eyes which
fits perfectly into the audience.
PAGE NUMBERS
I had to make sure that the page numbers on
my DPS looked real and were the same pages
matched up to the one on my contents page.
Also, I used other features such as wrote the
website and the name of the cover story on the
bar where the page numbers were.
9. FRONT COVER
My magazine cover was originally inspired by Billboard magazine but when I
changed my masthead from AUDIENCE to GLOBE and then the colour
scheme of my magazine from just burgundy and black to different blues, it
was further influenced by this particular edition of Vibe magazine. I liked the
colours and the use of conventions on the piece. I made use of conventions
such as the colour scheme, the cover likes and the barcode in similar ways
to this magazine because it seemed effective and made the magazine
appear to look professional.
CONTENTS PAGE
When trying to find inspiration for a magazine contents page, I came across
an NME magazine contents page. I particularly liked the top banner saying
“THIS WEEK” and I also liked the layout; which is what inspired me to have
my own contents page in a similar layout. I didn‟t like the colour scheme as
it is different to as how I imagined my own to be, although I liked the way the
page titles and page numbers were divided into separate sections.
DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
Although my own product is somewhat different to this
double page spread, the layout of my own double page
spread was inspired by this. I particularly liked the
division between the pages: one being a full picture and
the other being the story or interview itself. I liked how
there was only two columns and I also liked the simple
colour scheme, which then influenced me to make use
of this within my own magazine‟s final product.
10. 2. HOW DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT
REPRESENT PARTICULAR SOCIAL GROUPS?
Personally I would assume my magazine would
represent females from pre-teen to late teen, of any
class.
I have presented this by my use of image.
He is fully clothed standing in an innocent
position, wearing typical teenage boy
clothing. The colours are more feminine as
opposed to not, as I have use light blues
and some pink. The majority of artists I
have made use of are particularly targeted
for younger girls and my article asks and
answers questions a girl interested in my
model would want to read about (e.g. if he is
single, when he will be touring. I have also
mentioned that he has been branded “The
British Justin Bieber” – who is a typical teen
icon for teenage girls).
11. Additionally, my product can relate to the audience
because the price is reasonable at £2.10 – not too
expensive.
The fact I have included the use of social
networking links and also a website – this can
relate to the audience because pre-teen females
would be in contact with modern-day technology
and so could make use of these.
The audience could relate to the artists I have
featured; the competition(s); and the poster.
These are all effective because a teenage girl
would relate to these and would stereotypically
appeal to these features.
12. 3. WHAT KIND OF MEDIA INSTITUTION MIGHT
DISTRIBUTE YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT AND WHY?
The media institution which would typically
distribute my product would probably be not only on
newsstand, but also online. The use of a webzine
for my magazine would be effective because the
majority of teenagers have access to the internet
and so they will be allowed to access the magazine
digitally and also, for free.
My target audience could buy the magazine from a
newsstand because it will allow them to have the
free posters which my magazine features.
13. The magazine is released weekly and so with the
price at £2.10, wouldn‟t necessarily be difficult to
afford the magazine if you wanted to purchase each
issue of the magazine weekly.
14. 4. WHO WOULD BE THE AUDIENCE FOR
YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT?
Who was your target audience and how did you
reach that decision?
My target audience was originally those of any age in
working class who listened to chart music. After changing
my magazine it then was teenage girls who were
interested in chart music. I changed my magazine
because I changed the name of the magazine and also I
changed the main pictures. Because the main pictures
were changed, I found that the magazine would more than
likely relate easier to my new audience as opposed to the
older one. I reached this decision after having multiple
pictures which could relate to this and I thought because I
can relate to it myself I would have many more ideas.
15. AUDIENCE PROFILE
Stereotypically, this
would be the sort of
character I would
imagine to buy my
magazine:
- Pre-teen
- Female
- Interested in
stereotypical teenage
boy music
16. 5. HOW DID YOU ATTRACT/ADDRESS YOUR
AUDIENCE?
To attract my target audience, I specifically
made use of colours which could typically
relate to those who are interested in the
product. Alternatively, the main image I
used is one that would typically attract a sort
of „preppy‟ female teenager. Additionally the
promotions, plugs and the article I used also
relates to my target audience.
17. FRONT COVER
I used a blue and pink colour scheme which would
stereotypically relate to the target audience.
I used a plug which would relate to the audience:
I also used promoting features such as the
use of the words “EXCLUSIVE”.
18. CONTENTS PAGE
Again, I used the same colour scheme so that the
pieces linked together.
I used twitter and facebook logos and also wrote
the name of websites so that people within the
target audience who have access to technology
could take advantage of these.
I also made the magazine more personal by
directing it to the audience, such as:
19. DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
I used multiple quotes sort of dotted around and
within the columns that I thought the audience
would take particular interest to, such as:
20. 6. WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT
TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE PROCESS OF
CONSTRUCTING THIS PRODUCT?
The software(s) I used were Adobe Photoshop,
InDesign and Illustrator. Using these forms of
collaborative software was useful to allow me to put all
of my layers and designs together to make one final
successful product.
I also manipulated my images to improve the
appearance of them. I additionally manipulated my
masthead and cover lines throughout the product to
make them look more professional.
Online websites I made use of were those such as
www.wordpress.com; www.prezi.com;
www.youtube.com; www.slideshare.com. Using these
websites allowed me to be more creative within my
construction, and research and planning.
21. 7. LOOKING BACK AT YOUR PRELIMINARY TASK, WHAT DO
YOU FEEL YOU HAVE LEARNT IN THE PROGRESSION FROM
IT TO THE FULL PRODUCT?
I feel as though I have made dramatic
improvements and progression from the product I
made for the preliminary task to the final product of
my coursework task. This is because of the many
conventions I have made use of and the effort and
detail I have put into this task as opposed to the
preliminary. I have also improved my skills when
using the software(s) and so this enabled me to
explore a wider variety of detailed changes I can
and have made to my final products (e.g. drop
shadows, colour picking)
