This is my evaluation for my media AS controlled assessment.

1. OCR Media Studies – AS Level
Unit G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media
Evaluation
Name:
Candidate Number:
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number:
Set Brief - Print
Music Magazine – Production
Preliminary Task, Log Book and Evaluation

3. YOU MUST address the following criteria in order to achieve an A – B grade in the
Evaluation.

4. Task
• YOU MUST evaluate you’re the Pre-Production and
Production tasks you have completed by answering these 7
Questions, which MUST NOT be altered in any way!
• YOU MUST also utilise a variety of technologies to evaluate
your work as this will ensure you achieve the full marks, for
example Answering the questions on a separate Evaluation
Blog Page, Presenting your answers on Prezi, embedding
images/video into a presentation, Producing a Podcast OR a
combination of these and many more.

5. In what ways does your Media product
use, develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media products?
The magazine, across the 4-pages, ‘repeats’ (Steve Neale) codes and
conventions from magazines such as Kerrang and Q. They were used as
inspiration and as style inspirations. From which I found codes and
conventions that I found very interesting to use as they are used to suit
current trends. This includes having the same colours across the whole
magazine which in this case was Light Blue, Navy Blue, Black and White. I have
also used the same fonts from the front cover to represent continuity I also
made sure that I had the basic codes and conventions such as :
The Masthead
The Bar code
The Date/Price
Issue number
A unique selling point
Main image + Headline
Cover lines
Strapline
For my contents I have used additional conventions such as :
Sections
Page numbers
Promotions
Sublines
Web Address/Social networking sites
Another different image of the model from the front cover.
And also the most important message from the editor where i have
addressed the audience carefully so that they feel welcome towards my
magazine and that it encourages them to read it.
My double page spread was made to match my codes and conventions of the
magazine. At first I wanted the main image to spread across both pages so I tilted
the image to suite the page spread and I also tilted the main title of my double page
spread using the “cmd+t” command to tilt and transform the text in the opposite
direction of my main headline so that they contrast each other in orientation and in
colour as the main headline text is black and my double page spread text is white
which contrasts my main headline as this is the style of my magazine – contrasting
colours and texts. Therefore my main image on the double page spread is on the
left hand side along with the main headline of the double page spread. However I
kept the font of both headlines the same.
The rest of the double page spread was conventional as all my questions and
answers are easy to read and easy to differentiate between. I did this by using
contrasting but matching colours, in this case light blue for questions and white for
answers. This reflects the colour scheme of my magazine. I also gave them various
sizes so that the questions stand out more than the answers by making the size of
the font for questions (18pt) 4 sizes bigger than the font of the questions (14 pt).
I have also added a brief introduction to the interviewee, the web address, social
networking symbols, the magazine logo and a magazine badge.
There are also examples of something “different” in my magazine in the forms of
conventions. In most magazines the questions would be asked by the editor and
their name would be used before every question, however I decided to use the first
letter of the magazine name “E” which represents the whole magazine as a whole
and it makes the reader feel as if they are a part of the interview and the magazine
itself.

6. How does your media product
represent particular social groups?
The denotation of representation is to act or speak on someone’s behalf. But in this situation it means if I have
specific material in my magazine which appeals to specific social groups such as; “punks”, “Goths”, “Emo’s”,
“Hipsters” etc. If my magazine appeals to all these social groups then it would be a success because my magazine
would make the economy grow and the larger the target audience the better as more customers would buy my
magazine. Although I though that my magazine would only suit “punks” since it mainly has rock music features
which is really popular among teenagers and young adults as I found this out from my questionnaire and I found
out that people who are mostly interested in my magazine are teenagers and young adults so it would only appeal
to them. As well as having rock and alternate rock as my genre for my magazine, I will also ensure that my
magazine has some traces of pop music in the magazine so I can target other audiences as well as my main
audience as it could also interest them into other genres of music which can make the variety of readers bigger
which can increase the amount of magazines sold. My magazine was also made to appeal to certain socio-
economic groups such as E, D and C where they would be attracted to the magazine because it influences their
daily lifes and as it may be used as a diversion to real life (Katz).It can also affect group D which could be students
and teenagers as rock music can help them become “social climbers” (Maslow) and help them become more
popular. It also gives the reader a “Window in to the world” (Wendy Helsby) as to what “Stars” (Dyer) are like and
how they live their lives.
The magazine, across the 4-pages, helps to represent female artists in a positive way where my front cover
represents a female rock star in order to represent an antistereotype to women. This is done through my cover star
giving a very “dirty look” at the viewer to represent a tough female which then turns into a male gaze (Law of
Mulvey) For example, on the front page I have an image of a female rockstar who is an antistereotype to normal
women who act like women whereas my model acts more in a muscular way

7. What kind of media institution
(Publisher) might distribute your
media product and why?
“Bauer Media is a multi-platform UK-based media Group consisting of many companies collected around two main divisions – Magazines and
Radio - widely recognized and rewarded as being industry innovators.
Our business is built on influential media brands with millions of personal relationships with engaged readers and listeners. Our strategy is to
connect audiences with excellent content through our broad multi-touch point brand platforms, wherever and whenever and however they want.
Our wide portfolio of influential brands gives us advantages over pure play magazine or radio competitors.”
http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/about
From the research that was completed pre-production, I would envisage that Bauer Media group may publish
“Equalizer” because Bauer media want to build “relationships” (Katz) with their readers and I believe my magazine
does that because of the editorial and the way my magazine addresses the reader directly especially through my
editorial along with synergy and cross-media convergence so that they are able to access all information from all
networks such as social networking sites, the blog, or the magazine itself. This is shown throughout all 4 pages.
The similarities of my magazine to “Kerrang”, where the style of the magazine was copied to suit the target
audience and it also ‘signifies’ (De Saussure) that Bauer may think about being my distributor as there are similar
codes and conventions to Kerrang itself and that’s what their selling point is therefore the two magazines are very
similar to each other but in different contexts.

8. Who would be the audience for your
media product and why?
Hartley’s seven subjectivities
According to Hartley’s seven subjectivities, the target audience for my magazine would be
teenagers and young adults (12- 25) especially for males since most artists featured in my
magazine are females which can also attract females (Hartley) so that bot only I have a male
audience but a female audience also especially if they have role models who are their gender
as well (Hartley).
Katz’ Uses & Gratifications theory
According to Katz’ Uses & Gratifications theory males would tend to be more attracted to the
female side of my magazine as males strive for the “male gaze” (Law of Mulvey) where they are
found as pleasure to the male eye and therefore it attracts the male audience.
Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs
According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, “self – actualisation” would make up the largest amount
of readers as they would try and read information about a specific rockstar or event so that
they can be “educated” and “informaed” (Katz) on everything that recently happened. =

9. How did you attract/address your
audience?
In order to attract the intended target audience of I decided to implement many Unique Selling
points which are very clear across my magazine as I found out from my questionnaire that
people look for very clear and understandable USP’s. and this could be the reason why
someone might buy my magazine.
The inclusion of codes & conventions such as having an editorial or fan comments helped to appeal
to the target audience because it’s direct address which causes the reader to think as if the
magazine was specially made for them. Even when the magazine uses pronouns such as “we”
or “you” can make the reader feel as if they are part of the magazine and they may develop
personal relationship with the magazine meaning that they might buy future issues as a part of
this relationship with the magazine and it may make them feel as if they are a part of the
“community”.

10. What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing this product?
The software used to construct the media product entitled ‘Equalizer’ was Adobe Photoshop CS4. I have used it as it has many tools which
helped me design my magazine and make it. I was able to manipulate shapes adjust colour, saturation and contrast of any of my images. I
was also given the ability to change my text to any font I wanted and place them in any place where I found specific fonts appropriate. I’ve
had enough knowledge as to how to use Photoshop as I’ve used it before so I had a clue as to what to do and how to use it. Therefore I
was able to create new layers move images and delete their background through the use of the magic wand tool which deletes any
background of the same colour, however when the background of my images had different colours I had to use the rubber tool to erase
any pixels that had a different colour to the original background which I had used for both my front cover and the double page spread.
In order for this product to look fit for purpose and appeal to the target audience, I decided to create a
magazine which would be fully aimed at late teens and young adults by using the appropriate codes
and conventions to need the target audience through the use of appropriate tools in Adobe
Photoshop CS4 such as the pen tool because it enabled me to make a “neon” effect for my magazine
which teens really like as it shows the colours more and makes specific sections of the magazine stand
out more than usual and it also makes my magazine special because no magazine has used a “neon”
effect before.
In conclusion I have used various tools like the bucket tool to fill in specific colours so that my magazine
has a consistency throughout the pages. I have also made sure all my effect are easy to see and that
my text is easy to read. I have also used various tools like the shape tool to lay out my pages so that
they are then easy to work on.

11. Photography Planning – Front Cover
Final
My front cover had to follow a brief, this meant
that I had to make sure my front cover image
atypical of the alternate genre. I thought very
carefully about how the mise-en-scene would be
representative of this. Dressing my model in a
leather jacket and the manner in which she was
instructed to hold the guitar were symbolic of the
‘uncaring’ and ‘cool’ vibe meant for the target
audience. I purposely conducted the photoshoot
in a darker surrounding to maintain this ‘feel’. I
decided to take full body pictures first so I have
more editing options and a bigger resolution. As
my magazine is blue, black and grey I had to make
sure that my model was contrasting but also
matching the colours therefore she wore very
Goth clothing to suite the target audience and it
also matches the colours of my magazine – black
and grey, where blue was used to make things
easy to read for the reader.

12. Photography Planning - Contents
• In order to maintain the “flow” of the magazine I had
to make sure all codes and conventions were almost
the same. This means keeping the same colour
scheme and style of the text across my magazine. In
order for specific stories to stand out more to the
audience I was aiming for I had to choose the correct
pictures and headlines that will actually engage into
the audience. In order to keep the style of the
magazine and more engaging I have used humour and
dark backgrounds to keep that “feel” that the
magazine creates. When I took the pictures I had to
make sure all clothing fits my audience and that the
style of the pictures are matched as well, such as dark
backgrounds. I have also decided upon making the
text easy to read through the use of colours that
contrast each other and so that text is easy to spot for
my audience and those with disabilities.

13. Photography Planning - Interview
• For the interview I had to make sure the
reader feels as if they are interviewing the
interviewee therefore I had to create a picture
where the interviewee makes direct eye
contact with the reader. To do this I have
made my star look relaxed in the pictures as if
it was a casual conversation so that the reader
does not feel uneasy and so that they actually
have enjoyment from the interview. I have
kept all colour schemes and style of the
magazine as well. I also had to make sure my
content spreads across both pages and so that
it creates and effect as if the interview was
just a big page.

14. Analysing my Front Cover
Neatly annotate the
Screen Grab of your Final
Front Cover –
4-5 Annotations at least
and apply appropriate
media language.
Arrows should be RED as
well!
Masthead – the main
name of the magazine
Main Headline – The
main story of the
magazine
Cover Lines – The other
articles inside the
magazine
Main image – The main
image which is based
around the main story
Barcode/Price/Date/
Issue

15. Analysing my Contents Page
Sections
Page numbers
Promotions
Sublines
Web Address/Social
networking sites

16. Analysing my Double Page spread
Interview

17. Audience Feedback -
This is one method of gathering Audience Feedback needed to get a Level 4 (16 – 20 Marks)
• YOU COULD produce video interviews of what people think of the work, as well as
explore other more creative means of gaining feedback.
• This should be neatly presented in your Blog Page (embedded).

18. Responses
• From doing research through
SurveyMonkey I was able to
gather data from specific target
groups. From this response I
am able to see what the
audience is interested in and
what they are looking for in the
magazine such as that they
would like the colour scheme to
be black and white and what
band they like such as
Metallica, to be included in the
magazine.

19. Responses
• From this response I
was able to tell what
gender my audience
usually is how old they
are what magazines
they read and what
they want to see in my
magazine such as Bring
Me The Horizon and
the same as other
response black and
white colour scheme.

20. Responses
• In this response I can
tell that my audience is
a male based area and
that they have specific
preferences in my
magazine such as old
rock legends and a
different colour
scheme – red and
black.

21. Looking back at your Preliminary task,
what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to the full product?
I feel that, having completed the preliminary task and learning about the demands of this
production process, I have learnt how to construct a successful piece of work through making
plans and organising my work. This also includes learning how specific software’s work and how
to use them to create an exciting piece of work.
There is evidence of progression that I feel particularly demonstrates how I met the demands of the
production process, for example displaying how my work was made and what I included in it to
support how my magazine was produced and to show that all work produced was made by me.