Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Looking back on my preliminary task I can see that I have made a massive improvement. I have gained a lot more knowledge due to research into existing music magazines and this helped me to improve as I realised the conventions of a magazine help massively in targeting the audience.
Many factors contributed towards my improvement. One of the main factors was the use of planning, when creating my magazine for a second time I came up with a variety of ideas of masthead names, taglines etc. This helped me to discover the best ideas and which idea would be best suited for my target audience. I also done a number of sketches when deciding the layout for my magzine front cover, contents and double page spread.
From my preliminary task I have learnt to experiment more with the tools of photoshop as this helped me to discover new tools and techniques that I could use to make my magazine look better and by this I also expanded by knowledge of photoshop.
As well as expanding my knowledge of technology I have also learnt more general knowledge about how media institions attract their target audience.
Monday, 10 May 2010
Evaluation question six
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
The use of technology played a vital role in helping me to create my own media product. Whilst creating my product I learnt a lot about the ways in which technology is used and how I could apply this technology to improve my product.
Whilst doing my research into existing music magazines I used the internet to get images from music magazines and I used microsoft word to write up my analysis. I also used the internet when creating my blog. I had no previous experience with blogspot.com but now I am able to use the website efficiently.
The first new part of technology I learnt to use was the Canon SLR digital camera This was very different from a small digital camera that I am used to using as many of the setting were different however it did not take me long to get used to. I used this camera to take the pictures for my front page, contents and double page spread. The camera helped my photo's to come out looking professional and realistic this was because the camera was 12 megapixles. Whilst taking my photos of my chosen models I had many things to take into consideration such as lighting and props. When taking pictures for my front page it was daylight so there was no problem with lighting. On the other hand when taking pictures for my double page spread it was slightly darker so therefore I had to change the settings on the camera and turn the flash on.
I then learnt how to upload the pictures onto a mac computer using an USB wire and trasfer them onto a USB memory stick. I found this fairly simple and straight forward as I ahd done this previously during my preliminary task.
The most challenging point of creating my media product was using photoshop elements 8 as I had only used it previously when doing my preliminary task. The first thing I learnt was that every seperate part of the photo has to have its own 'layer'. This is so you are able to edit different parts of the photo without changing the whole photo. With this tool you are also able to 'hide' parts of the photo.
Another feature of photoshop that I learnt was how to adjust the colour of my photo to make certain elements stand out. I used this a lot because I noticed that as I added my text over the top of the image the text become harder to do this and this tool allowed me the darken the background underneath the text so the writting was clearer. I also used this tool to add a shadow under my pug to make it stand out more.
I also learnt how to use the 'fill' tool, this allowed me put block colours onto my front page such as the pug and the banner along the bottom. With this tool I was able to change the transparancy so the writting become clearer and the background was still visable.
The final feature that I learnt from photoshop was the use of the 'text box', which enabled me to write text on my magazine. I had used this tool previously in my preliminary task so found it quite easy to use but I was able to expand my knowledge by learning how to change the colour, font size and font style.
Overall I learnt that I need to back-up all of my work as photoshop is unrealiable as I experienced when the mac computer kept crashing. However photoshop can be fun, very precise but also difficult to use.
The use of technology played a vital role in helping me to create my own media product. Whilst creating my product I learnt a lot about the ways in which technology is used and how I could apply this technology to improve my product.
Whilst doing my research into existing music magazines I used the internet to get images from music magazines and I used microsoft word to write up my analysis. I also used the internet when creating my blog. I had no previous experience with blogspot.com but now I am able to use the website efficiently.
The first new part of technology I learnt to use was the Canon SLR digital camera This was very different from a small digital camera that I am used to using as many of the setting were different however it did not take me long to get used to. I used this camera to take the pictures for my front page, contents and double page spread. The camera helped my photo's to come out looking professional and realistic this was because the camera was 12 megapixles. Whilst taking my photos of my chosen models I had many things to take into consideration such as lighting and props. When taking pictures for my front page it was daylight so there was no problem with lighting. On the other hand when taking pictures for my double page spread it was slightly darker so therefore I had to change the settings on the camera and turn the flash on.
I then learnt how to upload the pictures onto a mac computer using an USB wire and trasfer them onto a USB memory stick. I found this fairly simple and straight forward as I ahd done this previously during my preliminary task.
The most challenging point of creating my media product was using photoshop elements 8 as I had only used it previously when doing my preliminary task. The first thing I learnt was that every seperate part of the photo has to have its own 'layer'. This is so you are able to edit different parts of the photo without changing the whole photo. With this tool you are also able to 'hide' parts of the photo.
Another feature of photoshop that I learnt was how to adjust the colour of my photo to make certain elements stand out. I used this a lot because I noticed that as I added my text over the top of the image the text become harder to do this and this tool allowed me the darken the background underneath the text so the writting was clearer. I also used this tool to add a shadow under my pug to make it stand out more.
I also learnt how to use the 'fill' tool, this allowed me put block colours onto my front page such as the pug and the banner along the bottom. With this tool I was able to change the transparancy so the writting become clearer and the background was still visable.
The final feature that I learnt from photoshop was the use of the 'text box', which enabled me to write text on my magazine. I had used this tool previously in my preliminary task so found it quite easy to use but I was able to expand my knowledge by learning how to change the colour, font size and font style.
Overall I learnt that I need to back-up all of my work as photoshop is unrealiable as I experienced when the mac computer kept crashing. However photoshop can be fun, very precise but also difficult to use.
Evaluation question five
How did you attract your audience?
To attract my target audience I used a range of differnt methods and techniques.
I addressed my target audience by directly talking to them and making them feel as if they are getting special additions out of the magazine for instance my pug saying 'festival line-ups: the inside tip-offs'. This would make the reader feel as if they are getting something exclusive. Another example of this is the tagline 'the secret behind the split'. This would make the reader feel as if they are gettin an insight into the celebrities personal lives, this tagline is a main feature of the issue I have created so I added a special affect to the word 'split' and made it red so that it would stand out as bright colours attract a younger target audience.
To grab the readers attention I had to make sure that my magazine would stand out if it was on a shelf along with other music magazines. I did this firstly by making sure the colours I used were bright and bold but still clear and easy to see all the features. I have also used bold texts the grab the reader and draw there attention to main aspects of the magazine such us the band and artist names that my target audience will be interested in. The language which I have used is non-complex and pretty basic as the target audience are of a younger age range.
By analysing a number of magazine that are addressing the same type of target audience as my magazine I noticed that an effective way to draw the reader in is to have one main image on the front page of a popular celebrity that the target audience can either relate to or aspire to. On my magazine I done this by basing my main band on an existing band 'Tegan and Sara' who are from a simliar music genre as my magazine so therefore this will attract the right target audience. I have also added a smaller eye-catching image of the main feature on my double page spread 'MisFit', the image looks unsual and auto-matically draws the reader in. The mis-en-scene is also very effective in attracting my target audience as this will help the audience to relate to the 'celebrity'. The clothes that my models were wearing are fashionable, slightly unsual and represent represent high street fashion this is important as it shows the reader that they can too look like these 'celebrities'. I also used a prop of a guitar in the image to reasure the audience that the magazine was a music magazine.
I have carried out these techniques throughout my music magazine however the main focus is the front cover and this is what the audience will see first and will automatiacally judge first. The mis-en-scene of the double page spread is also of high street fashion but the setting is unsual but natural environment and therefore make the artist 'MisFit' stand out. The artists on the contents page vary in clothing styles but this is all still high-street fashion that the target audience are able to get. The pose of my models are conventional of an indie music magazine, the models are made to look down and moody this helps to attract the audience as this is the kind of music that the audience are interested in. I took a variety of photo's with differnt poses and to see which ones were more likely to attract the right target audience. As my magazine is not aiming to attract young children the poses could not be friendly and smiley. The camera angle of the image I chose of the front cover was a long shot and this allows the audience to identify the band and make them more recognisable. For the double page spread I used a variety of camera angles depesning on the type of effect that I was going for. As my target audience are of a younger age the price of the magazine also helped to attract the reader as they would have a low income I made the price of my magazine cheap but realisic, I also got this impression from my questionnaire as the majority of people voted that they would spend between £2-£3 on a magazine and this is price I made my magazine.
I have tested my techniques with a number of people from my target audience to see if they were effective. I found that all my techniques worked on getting the readers attention and that the main features of the magazine all stood out the most which was my intention.
To attract my target audience I used a range of differnt methods and techniques.
I addressed my target audience by directly talking to them and making them feel as if they are getting special additions out of the magazine for instance my pug saying 'festival line-ups: the inside tip-offs'. This would make the reader feel as if they are getting something exclusive. Another example of this is the tagline 'the secret behind the split'. This would make the reader feel as if they are gettin an insight into the celebrities personal lives, this tagline is a main feature of the issue I have created so I added a special affect to the word 'split' and made it red so that it would stand out as bright colours attract a younger target audience.
To grab the readers attention I had to make sure that my magazine would stand out if it was on a shelf along with other music magazines. I did this firstly by making sure the colours I used were bright and bold but still clear and easy to see all the features. I have also used bold texts the grab the reader and draw there attention to main aspects of the magazine such us the band and artist names that my target audience will be interested in. The language which I have used is non-complex and pretty basic as the target audience are of a younger age range.
By analysing a number of magazine that are addressing the same type of target audience as my magazine I noticed that an effective way to draw the reader in is to have one main image on the front page of a popular celebrity that the target audience can either relate to or aspire to. On my magazine I done this by basing my main band on an existing band 'Tegan and Sara' who are from a simliar music genre as my magazine so therefore this will attract the right target audience. I have also added a smaller eye-catching image of the main feature on my double page spread 'MisFit', the image looks unsual and auto-matically draws the reader in. The mis-en-scene is also very effective in attracting my target audience as this will help the audience to relate to the 'celebrity'. The clothes that my models were wearing are fashionable, slightly unsual and represent represent high street fashion this is important as it shows the reader that they can too look like these 'celebrities'. I also used a prop of a guitar in the image to reasure the audience that the magazine was a music magazine.
I have carried out these techniques throughout my music magazine however the main focus is the front cover and this is what the audience will see first and will automatiacally judge first. The mis-en-scene of the double page spread is also of high street fashion but the setting is unsual but natural environment and therefore make the artist 'MisFit' stand out. The artists on the contents page vary in clothing styles but this is all still high-street fashion that the target audience are able to get. The pose of my models are conventional of an indie music magazine, the models are made to look down and moody this helps to attract the audience as this is the kind of music that the audience are interested in. I took a variety of photo's with differnt poses and to see which ones were more likely to attract the right target audience. As my magazine is not aiming to attract young children the poses could not be friendly and smiley. The camera angle of the image I chose of the front cover was a long shot and this allows the audience to identify the band and make them more recognisable. For the double page spread I used a variety of camera angles depesning on the type of effect that I was going for. As my target audience are of a younger age the price of the magazine also helped to attract the reader as they would have a low income I made the price of my magazine cheap but realisic, I also got this impression from my questionnaire as the majority of people voted that they would spend between £2-£3 on a magazine and this is price I made my magazine.
I have tested my techniques with a number of people from my target audience to see if they were effective. I found that all my techniques worked on getting the readers attention and that the main features of the magazine all stood out the most which was my intention.
Evaluation question four
Who would be your target audience?
The target audience for my music magazine are both males and females teenagers aging from 14-19 years old. They would enjoy and be interested in the indie/electo-pop rock music genre, listening to bands such as 'paramore' and 'Tegan and Sara' who I have featured on my front page, they may also be interested in music by artists such as 'La Roux' who has not been featured in my magazine but is similar to the artisit which I have created 'MisFit'.
I have made the colour scheme of my magazine appeal to both genders as this helps me to widen my target audience range however I have kept the colours inkeeping with the age range of my audience by using basic and bright colours. The layout and design of my magazine is lively and bold but delivers the right informations and highlights the best features to help attract the right target audience. I have also taken into consideration the price of my media product when thinking about my target audience, as they are teenagers they will not be able to spend an awful amont of money so this is why I made my magazine as cheap as possible but also kept it realistic.
The features stopping everyone wanting my media product are the use of language, genre of music, colour and the models I have used. I have tried to make all these features of the magazine as youthful as possible by using bright colours, non-complex language, models of the same age as the target audience and a music genre that older people may not enjoy as much.
The target audience for my music magazine are both males and females teenagers aging from 14-19 years old. They would enjoy and be interested in the indie/electo-pop rock music genre, listening to bands such as 'paramore' and 'Tegan and Sara' who I have featured on my front page, they may also be interested in music by artists such as 'La Roux' who has not been featured in my magazine but is similar to the artisit which I have created 'MisFit'.
I have made the colour scheme of my magazine appeal to both genders as this helps me to widen my target audience range however I have kept the colours inkeeping with the age range of my audience by using basic and bright colours. The layout and design of my magazine is lively and bold but delivers the right informations and highlights the best features to help attract the right target audience. I have also taken into consideration the price of my media product when thinking about my target audience, as they are teenagers they will not be able to spend an awful amont of money so this is why I made my magazine as cheap as possible but also kept it realistic.
The features stopping everyone wanting my media product are the use of language, genre of music, colour and the models I have used. I have tried to make all these features of the magazine as youthful as possible by using bright colours, non-complex language, models of the same age as the target audience and a music genre that older people may not enjoy as much.
Evaluation question three
What kind of media institution might distribute your product and why?
A media institution that may distribute my music magazine would be a common publisher that is used to publishing other media products such as newspapers, comics, books and other print based products.
I would like a institution such as ICP media institution http://www.ipcmedia.com/ to publish my magazine. From my reserch into this institution I have found out that IPC Media produces over 85 iconic media brands, with their print brands alone reaching almost two thirds of UK women and 44% of UK men –almost 27 million UK adults – while their online brands collectively reach 20 million users every month. This is a vital point in chosing who I would want to distribute my magazine as want an institution that wasn't more well known for distributing magazines for one particular gender.
This media institution comprises a wealth of leisure brands including Country Life, Horse & Hound, Rugby World and Decanter, as well as lifestyle brands including Nuts, Mousebreaker and NME. The fact that this instituion published 'NME' magazine is specifcally appealing as this is similar to my magazine so therefore I know that my target audience will be familiar with the media institution. However this may then be a downside to the publishing company as they may not want a magazine such as mine competing with one of their own magazine of a similar music genre.
As the music genre of my magazine is fairly common of music magazines my magazine can be sold and distributed along side its competitors in places such as supermarkets, newagents and by subscription. These would be good places as they are easily accessable and many people would recognise these places.
Supermarkets and drug stores such as 'Tesco' and 'Boots' would be a good way for my magazine to be distributed as many people attend these weekly so therefore they will not be put out of their way to get my magazine.
The use of subsciption is also an effective way for my magazine to be distributed as the reader is able to get a new issue each week this is also easier for the customer as they will get the magazine delivered directly to them.
Kiosks would not be a very effective way to distribute my music magazine as music magazines are of a small niche and therefore are not common enough to be sold in this way.
A media institution that may distribute my music magazine would be a common publisher that is used to publishing other media products such as newspapers, comics, books and other print based products.
I would like a institution such as ICP media institution http://www.ipcmedia.com/ to publish my magazine. From my reserch into this institution I have found out that IPC Media produces over 85 iconic media brands, with their print brands alone reaching almost two thirds of UK women and 44% of UK men –almost 27 million UK adults – while their online brands collectively reach 20 million users every month. This is a vital point in chosing who I would want to distribute my magazine as want an institution that wasn't more well known for distributing magazines for one particular gender.
This media institution comprises a wealth of leisure brands including Country Life, Horse & Hound, Rugby World and Decanter, as well as lifestyle brands including Nuts, Mousebreaker and NME. The fact that this instituion published 'NME' magazine is specifcally appealing as this is similar to my magazine so therefore I know that my target audience will be familiar with the media institution. However this may then be a downside to the publishing company as they may not want a magazine such as mine competing with one of their own magazine of a similar music genre.
As the music genre of my magazine is fairly common of music magazines my magazine can be sold and distributed along side its competitors in places such as supermarkets, newagents and by subscription. These would be good places as they are easily accessable and many people would recognise these places.
Supermarkets and drug stores such as 'Tesco' and 'Boots' would be a good way for my magazine to be distributed as many people attend these weekly so therefore they will not be put out of their way to get my magazine.
The use of subsciption is also an effective way for my magazine to be distributed as the reader is able to get a new issue each week this is also easier for the customer as they will get the magazine delivered directly to them.
Kiosks would not be a very effective way to distribute my music magazine as music magazines are of a small niche and therefore are not common enough to be sold in this way.
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