Evaluation Question 7 - 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 since my preliminary task, I have progressed and improved a lot up until my full, final product. I feel that I have improved considerably in using technologies such as Photoshop and InDesign to create my magazine since my preliminary task, which will be evident in my both my preliminary task and final product shown below. As well as this, I feel that I have successfully learnt how to use more conventions, mise-en-scene and semiotics into my magazine to improve both the quality and professionalism. Finally, I feel I have significantly improved in structuring my magazines, such as using text boxes, placing pictures and using more eye-catching fonts.

Evaluation Question 6 - What kind of media institution might distribute your product and why?

In getting my magazine published, I would choose IPC Media as the publisher. IPC Media is a consumer magazine and digital publisher in the UK with a large portfolio selling over 350 million copies per year. The reason I have chosen IPC Media as my magazine's publisher would be that they are well-established in the magazine industry and are well-known amongst audiences. These reasons could help give my magazine a reputation boost and become financially successful as a result of the rapport the company has built with both audiences and the magazine industry.
In distributing my magazine, I would use media convergence to have my magazine as both a physical product and digital download. My research into types of distribution has shown that downloading products digitally is rapidly increasing due to the rise in handheld technology and its benefits of getting the product to an audience faster and cheaper. However, I would still use the traditional method of making a physical product that you could buy whilst shopping as I would want to include exclusives in my physical product for the audience who have gone out of their way to buy it. Retailers that I would want to put my magazine in stock include high-class retailers specialized in the music genre such as HMV or Tower Records, literature and magazine-based businesses such as Waterstones and WHSmiths, and established supermarket chains such as Tesco, Morrisons and Sainsbury's. The reason for this would be to make my magazine reach my intended target audience, as well as a more diverse and varied group of people if they are intrigued my my final product.

Evaluation Question 5 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

In my magazine, I wanted to use media conventions that were already a part of existing magazines in order to keep my magazine as similar as possible to real one. The reason for this is that it would make my magazine more established in its genre as well as making it look more professional. For example, the picture on the top shows a musician walking away from the camera. I wanted to recreate this with my model whilst putting my own spin on it (my model walking away from the camera, towards peoples houses, as if his music is entering them). The reason for this is that the magazine may seem more happier and positive as a result, as if my model isn’t walking away from the camera, but towards something bigger.

However, on the other hand, I have included some individual differences to set aside my magazine from others. An example of this would be not secondary images on the front cover of my magazine seen in many music magazine front covers today such as NME or Kerrang. The reason behind this is so not to detract any attention away from my cover model, using eye-catching fonts and colours to alert the readers of my product to other musicians featured in my magazine. Another would be that I haven't used a banner to show the masthead of my magazine, using instead to advertise the issue number and collectibles inside the magazine. The reason for this is that it makes my masthead stand out more whilst also drawing attention to the things advertised on the banner, that easily could have been unnoticed.

Overall, I feel that with my final product, I have taken inspiration from my research into other music magazines of my chosen genre and used softwares such as Photoshop and InDesign to put together a final product that mixes together the conventions I have identified within other magazines as well as my own ideas and creativity, as well as a magazine that may be seen as similar to real media products and acceptable to be sold.

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Evaluation Question 4 - What Have You Learnt About Technologies?

An example of a technology that I used in the making of my magazine would be Photoshop. Photoshop allows you to edit and change certain pictures, using different features and tools, before use in your magazine so that your magazine can look the best it possibly can do.
The two examples below are pictures detailing before and after being edited on Photoshop:

 As you can see from the after picture, I used Photoshop to remove acne and mess on the brick wall behind my model in order to make the picture look more professional and clean so my magazine would look much better.

Another example of a technology I used in the making of my magazine would be InDesign, a software that allowed me to create both my preliminary task and my final Magazine product. The software allows you to edit features like placement of text, pictures and columns. The software is incredibly easy to use and features many different tools to help you. 

The final technology that I used in creating my final product would be Blogger, an online blog that let me record and detail every piece of my Media Studies coursework, such as my research and planning, final product and the evaluation of my final product. It is very easy to use and uses a wide variety of features to help you. 

Evaluation Question 3 - How Does Your Product Represent Particular Social Groups?

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As I have stated in previous blog posts, my target audience is both males and females in the teenage/young adult demographic. As a result of this, I researched may different music magazines aimed at this audience, such as NME and Q, in the hope that I could identify any features that these magazines used to correspond with social groups interested in indie/alternative music.
Noting that many musicians that are focused in indie/alternative music and their fans have similar dress codes such as leather jackets, jumpers and skinny jeans, the reason for this being in that it can make this specific social group appear stylish and cool. I made sure to dress my cover star in similar clothing to these styles in the hope of visually mirroring and representing that particular social group, as well as influencing them to purchase my final product.
I also chose to make the body language of my cover model quite opening yet subtle, as my research showed that the personalities of many indie/alternative musicians and their fans are quite friendly yet understated. As a result of how stylish yet welcoming my cover star looks, this represents the friendship and mutual respect that these social groups show towards each other.

Evaluation Question 2 - How Did You Attract/Address Your Audience?

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In making my magazine, I had control over the photo's taken and included in the final product. The main artist that features throughout my magazine is an upcoming male musician, known as "The Maze". On the front cover, I decided to pose my model as sitting on top of a wooden climbing frame, looking upwards and not directly at the camera. The reason behind this is that it fits with my magazine's name, "Uprising", in that the model featured is gaining social mobility in his career, that is mirrored by how he and the mise-en-scene around him appear on the front cover. Coupled with the fact that the photo and colours on the front cover are black and white, this may generate mystery and intrigue towards both the cover star and the magazine itself, as people may want to know more about the cover star, and so buy the magazine in order to do so.

As well as this, I have included a banner with an eye-catching colour (red) to inform the audience that the magazine is on Issue number 150 and there is a free, exclusive CD that can be found inside the magazine. I chose to feature this banner and information on the front cover as it uses different persuasive techniques that may make the audience want to buy the magazine. These include making the audience think that the magazine is well established due to the issue number, as well as tempting them to purchase the magazine in order to get the CD.

Evaluation Question 1 - Who Would Be The Audience For Your Media Product?

In previous blog posts, I have stated that my target audience for my music magazine would be both male and female teenagers to young adults, from ages 16 to 24, who are into the indie/alternative music genre.
On looking at my front cover, I believe that the final product appeals to my target audience. One reason for this may be that I only use three colours (red, black and white) with a black and white picture of my magazine's cover star, "The Maze". This may appeal to my target audience as it shows that the magazine mainly focuses on music artists within the same age bracket as my target audience, showing that the musicians featured are relatable to the audience, as well as showing that the front cover is cool and stylish and not overdoing the colour, making the magazine cover seem more cool and appealing towards my target audience. As well as this, the magazine's tagline is "LEADING THE REVOLUTION OF MODERN MUSIC!". This may appeal to my target audience as, if they are fans of the indie/alternative music genre, they may be fed up of what is popular in the music charts at that time and so buy the magazine as they believe that it is also against the music in the charts and features musicians that they would be in to. Finally, the front cover also tells the target audience that there is a free CD inside, tempting the audience to buy the magazine.

On looking at my contents page, the same three colours (red, black and white) are used giving off the same cool and understated vibe as the front cover, appealing towards the target audience. As well as this, the contents page includes several young "upcoming musicians", who may seem relatable to my target audience, as well as "older, experienced musicians", who the target audience may have heard of, making the audience feel interested and intrigued in what the magazine has on offer. Finally, the magazine also contains activities such as quizzes and notes from the author, making the magazine seem more interesting towards the target audience.

Finally, on looking at my double page spread, the article focuses on "The Maze", a young, upcoming musician who shows in the interview that, while he may be famous, he is still a normal guy, making him seem relatable to the target audience. The design of the spread is also very well-organized and written, making it look cool and understated, again appealing to my particular target audience.

Music Magazine Double Page Spread

Music Magazine Contents Page

Music Magazine Front Cover

Ideology

Ideology can be defined as "a set of conscious and unconscious ideas that constitute one's goals, expectations and actions." Ideology is used very effectively in many different magazines, such as to establish the target audience.

 

For example, from the front cover of this issue of We <3 Pop, you can distinguish that the magazine is targeted towards a young female audience by the use of colours usually linked to females such as pink and yellow, focusing on fashion and pop music and the fact that the female celebrities shown in the magazine are portrayed in a very positive and important light, while the males featured are posed and dressed formally, appealing to the young female audience.

 

By contrast, the front cover of this issue of NME can be shown to be identified at a male audience as it features colours such as black and green compared to the fluorescent colours of We <3 Pop, includes more male musicians in a dark light as opposed to the "girl power" vibe given off by We <3 Pop, and uses a different variety of fonts on the cover, again differing with the single font used on We <3 Pop.

Scripting of Double Page Spread

TRAPPED IN THE MAZE… AND THERE’S NO WAY OUT

Its 12:30pm when Liam Maher, better known by his stage name – “The Maze”, struts into the fluorescent, empty, warm studio. As he calmly sits on the chair laid out for him, a massive grin creeps on to his face before asking me “Y’alright?”

2013 has been an incredible year for Maher. His debut single “Lost in The Maze” reached #1 in the Charts in 42 different countries within one week of being released. Also, his self-titled album reached #1 in the Charts globally, gaining Platinum-status 5 times and breaking records as the biggest debut for an independent artist ever.

“I don’t think that I could ever have predicted the amount of success that I’ve had this year…” Maher chuckles, wide-eyed. “It still feels incredibly unreal that I’m here… I still feel like I should be working at my old job in Subway, making Meatball Marinaras for posh w*nkers who can’t be bothered to do it themselves.” He smirks, shaking his head, jokingly.

As well as his blatant musical and lyrical genius, Maher has also received several fans for his comedic and topical tweets, with his Twitter profile “@MazeyMaher” currently at 11 million followers and counting. Responding to a question of him being labelled “the Robert Downey, Jr. of independent music”, Maher laughs. “Well, for a start, I’m not f*cking Iron Man! I think he has me beat there.” Putting on a serious smile though, Maher continues: “Seriously though, I’m quite good friends with Rob… he’s one of the funniest and most genuine people I’ve ever met.” It seems that these feelings are mutual, with Downey, Jr. referring to Maher as one of the best musicians of the past 50 years.

However, it’s not all joking about with Maher. He has shown a serious side when speaking about and donating half of his royalties to organisations trying to stamp out poverty in third-world countries. “It’s an issue I feel incredibly strongly about… I visited Africa in my GAP year and was f*cking horrified at what I saw. People shouldn’t have to live like that. That’s why it needs to change.”
Maher has also become well-respected in the gay community since a video went viral of him intervening and stopping a homophobic attack on a young boy by fellow “musicians” MC Willy C and Dominic Breeze. “You should be allowed to be who you are without being attacked, regardless of sexuality. I will not tolerate bullying of any kind, man, you know?” He looks up, smirking. “If you want to attempt to be f*cking big men and attack people, try that s*it with me.”

All in all, you’d think that after the huge success that Maher has gained, he’d want to take things more slowly. However, this is not the case. “I’m going to keep going, bigger and better than before!” He vows. “The reason I’m called ‘The Maze’ is because once you hear my music, you’re addicted and I’ve got you trapped in my theoretical maze.” He laughs loudly. “I owe it to my fans. You go hard or go home.”

Music Magazine Contents Page DRAFT

Music Magazine Double Page Spread DRAFT

Music Magazine Front Cover DRAFT

Fonts

In order to choose the perfect title font for my Media Music Magazine, I have narrowed down my selection to 5 fonts from www.dafont.com. Here are the selections:

The first font is called HACKED:
The reason that I chose this font as one of my selections is that it has a distorted yet professional and neat look that would fit in well with my magazine, as well as linking in well with the independent underground vibe that I am  going for.

The second font is called BROKEN GLASS:

 The reason that I chose this font as one of my selections is again that it fits in well with the tone and look that I want my magazine to have as well as the eye-catching effect that it may have on my target audience.


The third font is called WRESTLEMANIA:

The reason that I chose this font is that it bears similarities to other music magazines of my genre that I have looked at in my research, making my magazine look and feel professional while relating quite strongly to other magazines of the same genre. Out of all the fonts, I feel that this one is my favourite.

The fourth font is called KG DEFYING GRAVITY:

This font was the first font that I looked in to on the website, however I don't think that it suits the genre of my magazine, making it look cartoonish and blocky, contrasting with how I want my magazine to be presented.

The fifth and final font is called PLANE CRASH:

The reason that I chose this font is because it looks very gritty and eye-catching, fitting in with the tone of my magazine.

Magazine Terminology

1. MASTHEAD - the title/logo of a newspaper/magazine at the head of the first or editorial page.
2. THE LEAD - the introduction to a text, often in a bold font or capital letters to attract audiences.
3. BODY COPY - the main article of text.
4. SERIF FONT - a font that has small bars at the end of each letter.
5. SANS SERIF FONT - a font that does not have any serifs.
6. DROP CAPITALS - an incredibly larger letter at the start of a text.
7. CROSS HEAD - a small sub-heading that divides two bodies of text.
8. WHITE SPACE - white space on the magazine other than the pictures/texts.
9. MODE OF ADDRESS - how the magazine addresses it's audience.
10. SELL LINES - a motto for the magazine.
11. BANNER - text that stands out on the magazine.
12. HOUSE STYLE - trademark layout of the magazine.
13. BOARDERS - gaps at end of each page.
14. GUTTERS - two pages meeting the middle with no text.
15. LEADING - the gaps between the lines of text in the magazine.
16. KERNING - the space between the letters in the magazine.
17. STRAPLINES - a secondary header below the main headline.
10. BYLINES - credits to everyone involved in the making of that issue of the magazine.
19. ANCHORAGE - when text and images are relevant to each other.

PhotoShop

PhotoShop is a graphics editing program developed and published by American multinational computer software company Adobe. PhotoShop allows the user to alter images, often used to correct flawed photos that contain problems, such as red eye or spots, by removing these problems in effective ways with the photos maintaining their natural look in the process.
An example of a tool that you are able to use on PhotoShop would be the Spot Removal tool that can edit things such as spots of people's faces or graffiti in the background of a photo. An example of Spot Removal that I have done in the past would be:

                                                                         BEFORE

 

AFTER

InDesign

InDesign is a desktop publishing software application, created by the American multinational computer software company Adobe. It can be used to create and publish several pieces of work such as posters, newspapers, books and magazines (the topic for our coursework). The features of the software allow us to create a professional-looking magazine, these features including gutters, orphans and widows, wide varieties and text formats among us.

Mock-ups of Front Cover, Contents Page and Double Page Spread