Unit G321: EvaluationMolly O’Donovan

The magazine, across the 4 pages, ‘repeats’ (Steve Neale), the

codes and conventions from similar indie rock magazines such

as NME. This was the magazine which helped me focus of the

structure and design of my magazine. The similar structure of a

contents page being divided into sections with the main story

having a short introduction. I created a similar convention as I

thought it would be effective for connoting the indie rock bands

and music. Also, the creativity of my double page spread was

influenced by NME magazines but also my own ideas because I

believed that portraying the layout I have works best for

connoting the ‘exclusive’ story about Bastille. Furthermore, the

use of the colour red and black is used within NME magazine,

consequently I used similar colours so that the expression of

indie rock is connoted to readers. Therefore this makes the

magazine I created CURVE more realistic and understandable,

so the genre of music I have chosen is denoted easily and

fluently.

In what ways does your media product use,

develop or challenge forms and

conventions of real media products?

How does your media product

represent particular social groups?

The denotation of the representation is to social groups

which are fans of the musical genre indie rock.

Therefore these social groups may be interested in

festivals such as Reading and Leeds. Consequently,

the social groups that are interested in indie rock that

are fans of the music and particular bands would want

to visit their favourite artists live. Therefore my media

production denotes the sense of being a fan for indie

rock music. For example, on the contents page there is

a section about festivals. I used this in my magazine

because I knew that it would be effective through the

social groups.

What kind of media institution (publisher)

might distribute your media product and

why?

From my research I have discovered that a media distribution that may distribute my media product is TimeInc.UK because of the magazines that they publish. They publish NME magazine, which is extremely similar to the magazine I have created; this is because the genre of music both CURVE and NME have in common is indie rock. Therefore, TimeInc.UK is likely to publish my magazine as my magazine also has similar codes and conventions to NME, such as the colours red, black and white, font style, layout and structure.

Who would be the audience for

your media product and why?According to Hartley’s seven subjectivities, the audience of my magazine are both male and female, ages between 16-24. This is because the indie rock genre of music targets this audience. Consequently, as CURVE is an indie rock magazine, the target audience is the same, this is because the audience that will buy my magazine will be interested and influenced by the genre. Furthermore, this leads to Hartley’s theory being linked to my target audience of male and females aged 16-24.

According to Katz’ Uses and Gratifications theory, the target audience will want to identify with the famous artists which the magazine will focus on in the different issues. Therefore the audience will inspire to be like their role models. In the magazine I have created, Bastille is the artist/band which is being inspired by the intended readership. Also, the audience will be entertained through the gossip and information they discover in the double page spread. As this is entertainment there is information which will be interesting and will make the interview exciting for readers, or they will not be interested in the magazine again.

According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, the target audience of CURVE magazine will be esteem because of the respect the audience will show for the artists which are mainly focused on in the issue. This portrays the esteem because it connotes how there is sense of confidence within the magazine, especially if there are repeat purchases from the readers.

How did you attract/address

your audience?The inclusion of codes and conventions such as convergence and puff/promotion has helped to appeal to the target audience because people that enjoy the music genre of indie rock are attracted to certain aspects of the music through websites and social media. This is because indie rock is a developing genre of music which is becoming more popular in society; therefore a way of expressing the music to the public is through convergence, as the awareness for this music will increase. As social media (convergence) is developing consistently and creating awareness to audiences, the use of convergence throughout my magazine (CURVE) will emphasis the awareness and popularity to others. Consequently, this will attract or address my target audience as they will be influenced through the convergence and will want to therefore explore further about the magazine online and through social media such as Facebook, Twitter. Furthermore, the use of a puff/promotion within my magazine attracts my target audience as 16-24 females and males are interested in festivals, so will therefore be attracted to buy the magazine to be within a chance of winning iTunes Festival tickets. As a result, the attraction for audiences of my target audience will want to experience festivals and be part of the ‘buzz’ for them.

What have you learnt about technologies

from he process of constructing this

product?In order for this product to look fit for purpose and appeal to the target audience, I decided to create the front cover using a full image, with minor corrections. This is because the image I took had a background which I wanted to include to emphasise the band ‘Bastille’. I felt as if this worked because it made the members of the band stand out and make the image look more realistic than adapted. The use of the selection tool helped me select areas of the image which I wanted to keep and which areas I wanted to delete. Therefore, this enables the image to look more professional. Furthermore, the use of the shape tool enabled me to create the rectangle at the bottom of the front cover, to create emphasis of the convergence. I also used the tool on both the contents page and double page spread to emphasise the information portrayed about the magazine. In addition, I used the pen tool on the double page spread so that the interview could be positioned so no gaps were left on the page. Therefore this would make sure that this page was not deemed boring or plain for readers to read. Pen tool

Shape tool

Selection tool

Photography Planning – Front

Cover

I chose this image for the front cover

as it was a mid-shot of the band

(Bastille). I also used the background

for the band on the front cover to

connote an indie sense to readers. I

also chose this image as a cover line

photo of John Williams (AKA Jake

Bugg) to connote more acts within

my magazine.

Photography Planning –

Contents Page

I chose this image because all of the boys are

looking at the camera for an editors ‘selfie’

image. I thought this would be effective as the

editorial is placed below the introduction to the

main story, therefore this image would support

the interview. Also, the editorial picture I used

was to identify myself as the editor to readers.

Photography Planning -

Interview

I chose this image because recreated the

look I was trying to create. As Connor is

representing Dan from Bastille he had to

try and create a similar facial expression

which he successfully did.

Analysis of Front CoverMasthead – The

masthead is positioned

here because it stands out

boldly to the readers so

they are aware of the

name and can see it

quickly.

Puff/Promotion – The

reason this is positioned

here is so it is one of the

first things readers see.

This will therefore attract

readers to want to buy the

magazine to know how to

enter the competition.

Strapline/ Tag Line – The

importance of this is very

high as it provides

evidence to readers that

the magazine is

established but also worth

the read.

Cover Lines – The cover

lines support the main

headline and create

awareness of other stories

within the magazine.

Main Image – I chose to use

this main image because as it

presented the theme of Bastille

as a unit being together. This

was what I wanted to present

because it brings reality to the

image.

Main Headline – I have

positioned the main

headline here because it

stands out, but also

provides enough room for

the cover lines. But also

ensures that the page

does not look

overcrowded.

Convergence – The

convergence is positioned

here because it is

important for readers to

recognise the ways of

keeping up to date with

the magazine.

Analysis of Contents Page

Masthead – I included the

masthead to continue the

magazines awareness as

it is a necessity that this is

included in the contents

page.

Sections – This is to

section the contents page

to make it clearer to

readers. This will therefore

guide readers to focus on

areas in them magazine

which they would want to

read.

Cover stories – These

stories support the main

story so that the magazine

is not boring. This

consequently creates a

further interest for readers.

Editorial – As this is the

first issue, it is highly

important that the readers

can identify with the editor

to create a relationship.

Therefore this will lead to

repeat purchases from

readers.

Introduction to the main

story – This supports the

main interview because it

creates awareness of what

the interview will focus on.

Consequently this

emphasises the story so

that readers feel intrigued

and want to read the

interview.

Puff/Promotion – This

promotes the magazine to

create a bond between

readers and relationships.

This will therefore keep

more readers interested in

reading the magazine.

Analysis of Double Page

SpreadMasthead – This

identifies the magazine

to continue the theme

and acknowledgement

of the magazine.

Interview – The

interviewer and Bastille

are in different font

styles so that readers

can recognise who is

talking when. The

interviewer (me) is in

bold font and Bastille is

in normal font.

Website and Page

Number – This indicates

the recognition of the

Quotes – An interesting quote of the

interview is displayed largely to intrigue

audiences, so that the audiences are

immediately interacting with the interview.

Supporting Image –

An image along side

the main image

portrays the interview

with the full band of

Bastille rather than

just of the lead

singer, Dan Smith.

Credits to the

Photographer,

Stylist and Editor –

This recongises the

important people

behind the scenes of

helping to put the

interview together.

Main Image –

Having the main

image supports the

interview

demonstrating the

main focus of the

magazine.

magazine so that readers can access the interview online, to create a

wider audience for online readers as well as audiences that buy the

magazines.

Audience Feedback –

Social Media

The feedback given is effective as it helps to give me an insight to other

people’s opinions. This is so I can adapt my work to the standard which my

target audience want. I can understand how my work is to a standard of

which I can achieve the audience which I want to. Therefore, resulting in my

progress over the time of learning how to make a music magazine with a

targeted audience of 16-24 year olds which enjoy listening to indie rock

music.

Preliminary Task to Now…

Preliminary Task to Now…

Front Cover

The front cover of my preliminary task compared to my music magazine task is not at the same standard. This is because the knowledge I used from the preliminary task, I adapted to create a more realistic magazine rather than a very basic template. I fell as if this helped me make better decisions because I did not want to create a similar front cover to my preliminary task. Therefore I have learnt different skills using Photoshop and my creativity skills to help create a realistic, interesting, creative music magazine front cover.

Contents Page

The contents page of my preliminary task compared to my music magazine task is very basic again. This is because I have been able to adapt my music magazine using NME magazine for knowledge to create a similar style of magazine following the genre of indie rock. As at our school we do not have a school magazine, I found it difficult to to create a particular layout which was appropriate for a school magazine. Therefore, I was able to be creative for the music magazine using knowledge from reading previous music magazines, especially NME.

Preliminary Task to Now…