Evaluation Questions:

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

My product uses the conventions of real media products in various ways. Eye catching titles are a conventional and iconic aspect of magazines that I have transferred into the product; this feature has been tried and tested in the form of a devised test involving whether the magazine stands out from a set distance (i.e. 1 metre to 2 metres) by myself and a few select of the target audience. Conventions are developed in the use of typographic styles and image styles to convey and reflect the genre of magazine as well and the target audience. The title’s font style that is used reflects on the urban culture, and acts as an ‘iconic’ font that will reflect on the magazine and make it a well-known ‘brand’. Here are a few examples of existing ‘typographic’ font styles on real media products (magazines and other media products) that make them well known brands:

Rolling stone magazine is a world known media product. It target audience is the younger generation i.e. teenagers, and focuses on the pop culture, film actors and television.

The typographic style is a conventional feature that makes the product the 'success' it is. The font allows for the magazine to have it as a 'trademark' allowing for world wide acknowledgement

                                                                                

McDonald's is a world wide known brand. It is famous for it's chain of fast food restaurants. It's iconic golden arch 'M' is what makes it recognizable in over 120 countries. This logo and the typographic 'font' that is used by the company is what makes it a global success that is well known.  

Such features as the layout are a conventional aspect of existing music magazines that I have transferred into my product. Such features as the ‘lures’ are conventional aspects that apply for all magazine products; this was an obvious feature to transfer onto my product. But such features as ‘contents page’ layout with ‘band shots’ and ‘mini reviews’ was a feature I developed from existing products like ‘NME’ and ‘Kerrang’.


Here is a video I came across from a market leading businessman 'Mike Harris'. In this video he tackles the question 'What does being iconic mean?'.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The target audience for my music magazine are the ‘Indie scene’. The indie scene mainly consists of teenagers who dress in independent labelled clothing, who listen to an ecliptic range of music (indie to classic rock etc.) and who have an acute taste for cultural activities. This age group in a nutshell is from 15 – 25 (roughly the age of a typical teenager and the end age of a student). Representative of this social group are elements such as the use of models, the use of typographic fonts and the use of language. Other elements that may convey the social group are the actual ‘stories/ articles’ in the magazine themselves.

This is an image that represents the social group that are my target audience. As you can see they are all of the age of about 18 - 23. Their fashion sense and mannerisms are typical of the 'indie' social group.



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

 

The media instition that i would chose to publish my magazine would be IPC media. The reason for choosing this institution is due to the fact that they publish 'NME' magazine (a magazine that is aimed at my target audience and which has influenced my media product dramatically in terms of conventional features). IPC media are a large WELL KNOWN company as well as the company having their own advertising sector, meaning the advertisement of my magazine would result in it become a possible leader/ well known product in the market.

http://www.ipcmedia.com/brands/ Provided is a hyperlink to the 'IPC media' website. (Brands)
http://www.ipcmedia.com/about/advertising/ (Advertising)

An institution to distribute my magazine would be 'newsagents'. One of the newsagent leaders is WH smith. This newsagent are well known for distributing magazines as well as providing in-store exclusive 'subscription' services. I feel that one of the market leading companies for distributing my media product would help for it to become a 'well known', national success. In store the magazine will be placed on a rack. The magazine will be surrounded by contending products so 'eye catching' features were considered before the production of the product. The success of display in WH smith is that the product will be placed at 'eye level' height, allowing for instant 'awareness' of the media product. As well as the leading newsagents to distribute my media product I would like 'smaller' chains of newsagents to distribute the magazine.

Another distribution method that I could possibly use is the use of publishing it 'digitally'. This will allow for the magazine to be easily accessed as it follows new media convergence. Such technology as home computers and laptops mean that the magazine could be viewed on screen. 'Tablets' are a rapidly growing popular way to view the web, and host genre specific 'apps'. Such products as the 'Ipad' will be able to host an app designed specifically for viewing my magazine and others. This allows the accessibility of the product to be greater as it can be viewed 'on the way to work' or 'on the way to school' and the digital format of the product will be cheaper to publish compared to 'print' format.


Who would be the audience for your media product?

The target audience for my media product will be teenagers and students. An exact age barrier will be '15 - 25'. Splitting this age group into two section (teenagers and students) there are many reasons for this audience.Teenagers nowadays are social segregated. There are teenagers who are interested in 'rock' music, metal, hip hop, R n B, Drum and bass, Dubstep and Indie rock. Within these 'music' genres social groups are formed in terms of 'lifestyle' and 'opinions', even 'fashion. The genre of magazine will be aimed at the 'indie' genre, this means that elements such as 'indie' music will have to be conveyed throughout the magazine as well as 'fashion icons'. Teenagers of this social divide typically range from the age of '15 to 18'. The second divide are 'students'. Students to me are typically from the ages of '18 to 25' as this is the typical age of students who attend uni. The reason for aiming the magazine at students is mainly because of the different social groups, but also because bands tend to tour a 'uni' circuit so the 'promotion' of the genre of music will allow for the promotion of bands.

In the vlog I wasn't able to include the images mentioned. They are provided below.

In order they stand as - Never mind the Buzzcocks (Noel Fielding in centre), Nick Grimshaw and Ed McFarlene.

How did you attract / address your audience?

Gaze Theory:

For my magazine I have chosen models that represent and reflect the target audience. The main model that is used is a male in his late teens (17 years old). He is seen to be wearing a denim shirt and has a quirky, slick hairstyle reflective of the genre (an undercut). As well as costume props allow for reflection on the genre and target audience, in this case the artist holds a guitar, the way in which it is held seems 'cool' and shows that it is an fashion 'accessory' instead of a 'musical instrument'. These features allow for the play of gaze theory. The female target audience will look at the model and aspire to be with someone who is like the model, whereas the male audience will look at the model and aspire to look like them.

Typographic Font:


The font style that is chosen is consistent throughout the magazine. This is because it follows a house style. The font reflects on the 'urban' culture as the letters appear to be slightly 'battered' and 'rough'. Some letters are even slanted which reflects on the 'subverted' views of the 'independent world'. To me this urban typography is perfect for the magazine and helps to convey and attract the attention of the chosen social group.

Language/ writing style:


Colloquial language is used throughout the magazine. Instead of 'formal' and 'literate' text this to me helps to attract the interest of the target audience. use of Colloquial language means that the target audience can relate as well as understand certain articles. Articles are written in an 'informal' way, this allows for 'cultural' views to be learnt by the target audience, and will attract them.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?


From the start of the preliminary task I had basic knowledge in using software such as Photoshop, Illustrator and In design to produce a media product. As well as software I had basic knowledge in taking pictures of a professional standard. This is conveyed in the preliminary task where studio shots haven't been used. But along the way my skills have rapidly grown. At the start of the main task (music magazine) I had a stronger skill-set in laying out and producing strong graphical content.

Photoshop specifically deals with manipulating images, this is a skill that i have strongly adapted. I am now able to take a picture in a 'professional' manner i.e. on a DSLR, and fully equipped studio, produce a detailed and professional image that will successfully reflect on the product and then I am able to (in detail) manipulate to my advantage. An example of this is directly editing the background and composition of he model on the front cover (adding smoke behind the model and casting his face in shadow.

Illustrator specifically deals with the layout and composition of the page itself. I am now able to comfortably create a basic layout of a magazine and transfer conventional aspects to create a professional or near realistic media product. In Design specifically deals with 'graphics' and 'text'. I am now able to create graphics for titles which conveys a professional product. Positioning of text was made easy in the program as features such as 'text overflow' and 'text wrap' allowed for me to create a conventionally correct product.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what did you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

The development of the preliminary task was fairly smooth, time management was a vital factor in this task. Towards the end of the task, time was against me, and with a stronger schedule the final outcome could have been a stronger media product. Time could have allowed me to plan pictures more thoroughly for such things as the front cover. Features such as composition and perfectly creating an iconic/ conventional mise en scene could have lead to a stronger product. Improving this would involve me having to use stronger conventional features of a 'school' environment. Instead of this the final product conventionally represents and focuses on the 'winter theme'. Around the beginning of the music magazine, one key factor was put into place to allow for a steady and successful process (a detailed production schedule).

Clearly I have learnt how to manage time into creating a successful production process. This skill was primarily learnt at the end of the preliminary task as I was finding my ground in 'production', 'distirbution' and 'exhibition' methods. A solid and strong skillset has been learnt in 'new media' technologies such as 'Photoshop' and 'Illustrator', that  has allowed for me to create media products such as my magazine.Taking these skills onboard I have been able to adapt them to create a strong media product. As well as helping me towards my music magazine I am able to transfer these skills into my current 'advanced production' where I will be making an audio visual product (music video). Creating these products will allow me to expand skills into creating strong media products in the future (possibly outside of education). Another area that I have strongly learnt about through the progression of this process is a clear understanding for the different 'media platforms' 'Print', 'New media' and 'Audio visual'. Such platforms as 'New media', has allowed for me to understand 'new' ways of creating a successful product as well as 'Exhibitioning' and 'distributing' it (digital media such as 'tablets' for showcasing media such as 'Print' and 'audio visual').