Written Evaluation

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

My media product follows the same format and layout as many existing music magazines. For example, the double page spread consists of one page being an image and the other page being text. I chose to have a consisting colour scheme throughout the magazine of red, black and white; which is also common in many existing music magazines. The front cover consists of a large image being of an up and coming artist who is featured in the magazine. This does not follow the normal conventions of a music magazine as usually the most famous artist is featured on the front cover. But my aim for this particular issue was to promote this new artist. Nevertheless, on future issues I will have not only up and coming artists featured on the front cover, but also popular, famous artists. However, popular mainstream artists are also named on the front cover to attract my target demographic, which are 16-24 year olds of both genders. The title of the magazine is placed in the top left-hand corner, as conventionally people read from left to right. Therefore all the text on the front cover appears on towards the left of the page. The bar code is placed in the bottom right-hand corner also as a consequence of how people read. My front cover is very simple and does not have many images or text on the front cover; compared to most music magazine covers which are very clustered with text and images. But this is as I wanted my target demographic to find out for themselves what my music magazine is about, rather than telling them all about it on the front cover.

The contents page also follows typical conventions. I have placed my editorial in the top left-hand corner, as this will be the first text my audience reads; I want my audience to value my opinion and this will also help with establishing a brand identity. I have also placed other top stories to the left of the contents page, as my audience will also read this first. I have included a subscription box, in the centre of the contents page, being able to suscribe to magazines has become a common convention of magazines, therefore I included it on the contents page. This will help with profit as my audience may decide to keep purchasing my magazine in advance and it will also help with maintaining numerous target audience members."What's Inside?" is placed on the right-hand side of the page and this does not follow the convention of a typical magazine as the audience may read this last. This was due to the focus being on the new artist, featured on the front cover.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

As my target demograhic is young people aged from 16-24, this is the social group my magazine represents. I decided on this target demographic as these are the most likely people to be interested in current and modern music. The artist's expression on the front cover is quite loud and eccentric and could be portrayed as she is shouting at you. This reflects how young people are seen in society today, they are portrayed as being rebellious and always seem to be expressing their opinions; possibly because they feel like they have to. The artist's expression reflects a side to her which is not seen in her interview, she is the complete opposite to what you would stereotype her to be from the front cover. Consequently, proving how young people are not always as they seem, this is the message I wanted to convey in my magazine, therefore my target demographic will be able to relate to my magazine.

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

Conde Nast would be a possible institution to distribute my magazine as at the moment, they do not distribute any music magazines. Therefore they have a gap in their market and my magazine could fill that gap and increase the profit.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

My target audience is male and females between 16 and 24. The artists which feature in the magazine appeal to both men and women and my magazine includes a variety of popular genres which would interest young people of both genders.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I attracted my target demographic by making the artist wear fashionable clothes, which would appeal to the target audience. For the text I used conversational and humorous language, for example "a smile big enough to put the cheshire cat to shame." This was so I could relate to my target audience and this would also help with achieving brand identity. Brand Identity is important as then my target audience will keep on buying my magazine.

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

I have successfuly learnt how to use Photoshop CS3 and edit photos without having to go on the website Photobucket; which I had to do before. I have also learnt how to use blogger and all that features that are included with it.

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

I have learnt how to use Photoshop CS3 effectively and I now know how to make my magazine look more professional. I have learnt that all details need to be perfected, as I was a bit lazy when producing my student magazine and looking back at my student contents page, it looks very immature and unfinished. It is also very important to show a consistent housetyle, this also adds to the professional look of the magazine.