Evaluation: Looking back at your preliminary task what do you think you have learnt in the progression?

•I feel from my preliminary task to my music magazine I’ve learnt a lot, I’ve definitely developed my knowledge of the music magazine industry, and how the conventions of the magazine are really important to sales. I’ve improved my design skills across this time and how much effort actually goes into creating a quality magazine. I’ve also learnt a lot about time management and how it’s actually so important, and setting personal goals for yourself can really improve your work. That’s one of the main things I will take away with me, I realised it’s actually very important to  plan out a task like this before you jump in because otherwise you can panic yourself by not having an order to do things, so that really helped. I’ve learnt a lot about how each part of the magazine is really important and how if you abide by the conventions you can get a really different product than if you were to go completely opposite them. Having a mix creates a good magazine because it stays unique but you will always be able to attract people with the simple techniques magazines use all the time. My preliminary task wasn’t very good, but I’ve learnt about creating a product that looks good.  

Evaluation: Who would be the audience for your media product?

•The audience for my media product is 16-24 year old males and females. This is people who actually consume music the most, and that’s why I chose them because they are always interested in something new on the market which is related to music. They are indie though and will be interested in festivals, music and photography. Which is why I included some of my own photography in the magazine which can interest them. Also my artist writes his own music which will interest young song writers.

Evaluation: What have you learnt technologies from the process of making this?

•I’ve used Publisher, Windows Live Photo Gallery, Photoshop, and Blogger.

•I’ve used all of these before apart from Blogger, but it’s really easy to use to create good looking posts.

•I had experience with Photoshop, but editing some of my images on here increased my knowledge of the technology and now I feel more comfortable using it that I did before.

•Windows Live Photo Gallery is a programme on Windows 7 for simply editing photos, and this is what I used to initially change the brightness on my photo’s before using Photoshop.

•Publisher is really simple to use and I’ve had loads of experience with it and it was a good technology to create my magazine with. 

Evaluation: What kind of media institution would distribute your product and why?

IPC media would distribute my product because they have products similar to mine and it means they wouldn’t be taking a massive risk to their company. But at the same time it’s a little bit edgy because of the alternative colour scheme used, and this would still attract a market that isn’t broad, but isn’t a niche market either.

 

Evaluation: How did you attract/address your audience?

I used some typical conventions of a music magazine which will attract my target audience because they are usual techniques that all magazines use. But I’ve also used a quirky colour scheme which will appeal to them because they are “indie”. I’ve used a male model because this will attract girls who might fancy him but boys too because they will aspire to be like him. He writes his own music and my target audience do this too so this will appeal to their personalities. Using my questionnaire I made the magazine suit what they wanted from a magazine, this works best because then you are making a product you know they will want to pick up and read.

I put attractive sell lines on the cover which will entice my audience to pick it up and buy it, this is done on all magazines but I’ve made my sell lines fit into something my audience would want to read.

Evaluation: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My media product represents the social group I’ve chosen through the codes and conventions I’ve used and how I’ve also played against them to create a media product which will attract my target audience of 16 – 24 year olds with no specific gender.

The front cover is open and friendly, although my model isn't smiling he is portraying a strong silent type of male. There are several sell lines on the front, but not too many to over crowd his image, they are mainly on the left which evens out the image and the sell lines, and gives the page structure. There are also some band names at the bottom which give a border to the page and this adds to the cover content. The male model used on the front cover will attract females and males because males could aspire to be like him. But also colours are becoming less attached to gender as we move on because times are changing. The title is quirky and doesn't stick to the usual conventions of a music magazine, but this can attract my audience because it’s individual.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

This is my final front cover, I've made some dramatic changes because my initial cover wasn't good enough.

I've now got a variety of fonts and sizes on the cover because this is conventional of music magazines and it really does look better. I've also used a wider variety on colour this time because it makes it look more appealing to my target audience. I changed my model because I had more time to do a photo shoot with this model and a different place to work in.I've also used a different pose where he is looking just pas the camera. I added different bands and sell lines onto the cover because it looked dull before and now it's given the page a different look. I've also changed my colour scheme because the light blue would appeal to a wider target audience. The purple I chose before would stereotypically just appeal to girls, but as I want to appeal to men too I've changed it to a light blue. The title has now changed to a different font which is far more appealing and interesting to the reader because it isn't as bland. There are still some band names at the bottom, but now they aren't my only sell lines they are just extra artists who're featured in the magazine. 

 My second contents page is very different, although I've kept some of the images on the page because they were still acceptable to go on the page. The contents title has gone and has been replaced with the SMD design and "this week" which looks so much better because it's more interesting to look at. There is also much more structure on the page, I did this by centralising the titles for the pages and this means it's easier to find. I've also reduced the size of the editors letter to make it smaller, as some people don't even read it and it means there is more space for other articles or images which people are more interested in. 

My subscription section looks really good, I've created small versions of the "previous" covers and put them together, I got this idea from another magazine I researched, and I think it looks really good. It's also in a black text box which really makes it stand out. There is an image of my model on the inside with some text underneath about him, this is often used in magazines and I think it looks really good in my magazine, and his name really stands out on the page. 

My second double page spread is so much better because I've used better images on the page which actually relate a photo shoot that I've done with the model. I've changed some of the text to relate to my artist because before some of the answers didn't relate to his gender, but the questions are still very similar. The colour scheme is really bright and makes my artist appear happy because it's a happy colour. The title Jakob Bray does have a white section behind it, but this makes it stand out on the page better. The large image on the side with a collection of small images is quite conventional of a magazine and it works well in my magazine. There is a quote on the page which always makes readers think "oh what's that about" and entices the audience to read the magazine. 

Research continued

 

This front cover of NME keeps to the codes and conventions of music magazines.

The image of Noel is the largest thing on the page, and the headline which is about him is the biggest piece of text on the page because this draws your eye in and it's the first thing you see on the page. The cup and saucer are either side of the title "OASIS" as they are important to the theme they are conveying about Noel being very British, but still a thug, because of the play on words, "one thump or two?" which shows he's got a hard side to him although he is holding delicate crockery. Then there are other stories surrounding which have smaller text, and bold headlines to ensure they still stand out. Here all of the smaller sell lines have a different colour title and text underneath which is also a smaller font size. I'm going to use this in my magazine because it really makes sell lines stand out and uses a variety of text which is seen in all magazines.

This cover looks more like the cover of Vogue magazine as it's a special edition, even the way she has been photographed (close up) adds to the style being similar to Vogue. Even though it's a special edition there is a still the clear colour scheme of red, white and black which matches with her hair, this gives a really crisp look to the front cover. There is a typical quote above her name, which gives the audience a personal view to what Florence is all about, it gives a curious feel, which makes the audience want to read on and discover what she is talking about, this type of sell line is used a lot because it creates curiosity inside the reader and they will always want to read on. There aren't many sell lines on this cover because it's the second special edition out of ten, so there is less need to give attractive sell lines about gossip and new releases because regular readers or collectors are going to buy them because it's limited edition.

 

This is an NME contents page, and it sticks to the codes and conventions. There is a picture which presumably relates to the headline on the cover, which is accompanied by some text and the number of the page, this is often used in magazines because it makes it really easy for the reader to find the article they wants to read. Under the central image is an offer to say money buy subscribing to the magazine, I'm using this in my magazine because it attracts regular readers and new readers and it actually shows a saving for the reader, and as people are always looking for a bargain this is an ideal way to attract an audience.  Then on the right is the rest of the news for that weeks issue, which is headed by titles so it's easier for the reader to navigate to which section of the magazine they want to read, it's very clear on the page which readers will like because they don't have to spend more time trying to find what they want. There are also sub titles which create and even easier navigation around the magazine. On the right in a "band index" which gives band names and page numbers so readers can easily find information about their favourite band, this is really useful, especially in a music magazine because some readers will buy it just to read about their favourite band. There is a colour scheme of black, white and red, which works well because it makes it really simple to read because there aren't too many clashing or vibrant colours which can make magazines difficult to read, but this isn't usually found in music magazines, it's more likely to be in a celebrity gossip magazine.

This double page spread looks good because there is just a simple image of the artist, Lily Allen and then are giant quote from the interview which has an loud attitude, which is similar to Lilys' personality, her pose shows a lot of attitude, not moody but quite in your face "look at me"  It is set out like a ransom note with different sized text which gives an edgy rock feel even though she is a pop artist. The whole attitude oozes a tough man attitude, similar to a rebellious teenager which she was. There is a mixed vibe between a rocky wild child and a pop princess. In a sentence explaining the article above her name is in red bold text to make it stand out to anyone who doesn't yet know who she is.

The colours are usually associated with a rock magazine as well which add to the character of the page. The white background makes Lily stand out and draws the eye towards her. This also makes the headline stand out more because the background is so plain it allows everything else to stand out more. If it had bright colours it wouldn't make a statement in the same way. 

Reader Profile

This is my reader profile for my target audience.

Interview

Here are some mock up questions that I might use in my magazine.

• Is there a song or artist you would like to cover?
• You got into music a young age, what inspired you to do so?
• What would you say has been the biggest challenge of your career so far?
• What advice, if any do you have for someone who is just starting out in the music industry?
• So what are your plans for the coming year?
• Can we expect you to release an album soon?
• Do you have any back stage secrets from your tour?
• Who has supported you throughout your career?
• Would you ever take a leave from music to start a family?

Photoshoot Choice

For my photoshoot, I had to choose a suitable place to take my pictures. I also had to consider several options:
Where? - The beach? The Woods? A Field?
When? - What time of day? Evening? Midday?
Who? - Male or Female model?
What? - What should I photograph them in?
Poses? - Which poses should I make them stand in?
I've decided to take the photographs in the woods, in the evening because there should be a still bright light, but the sunset should make the photos look really good.
I'm also going to choose a male model, this is because he will appeal to girls and boys will look up to him as a style icon.
I'm going choose fairly casual clothes, but they could be from a designer place, but the target audience wouldn't know. I'm also going to allow the model to choose poses that feel natural, but for some pictures I'm going to ask the model to stand in certain places because of the light or the setting.

Photoshoot

 Here are some of the other unedited

images from my photoshoot, I used Windows Live Photo Gallery to edit my photos.

Here is evidence of me editing my photos, I changed the brightness in some photos because they weren't bright enough to use in the magazine, I also changed the contrast in some images to make the colours more vibrant.

First Draft Music Magazine

 If I could do it again...

 My initial front cover didn't have very many sell lines which made it look empty and boring, which wouldn't attract my target audience or anyone else really. My model's pose went against the codes and conventions because she isn't showing her face, which wasn't right as magazines always show the face of the artist. Also the title in this is really plain and doesn't stand out against the background and make an impact like I wanted it to. The graded background doesn't really work well because although it fits in with the colour scheme, it does just make everything blend together in a really boring way. The sell lines that are just grouped together at the bottom don't have a very good impact either because they don't stand out to the reader, if it was on a magazine stand the bottom wouldn't show anyway, so it's really pointless having them at the bottom. Also there is little variety in text sizes or in font, which means it all looks very similar. To make it stand out more I need to rethink my ideas because this version isn't as good as it could be. 

The initial contents page lacks anything exciting, although it does have some good points, such as a variety of images, it still isn't good enough. It lacks a real structure which makes it confusing to read, and the images are set onto the page but don't look as if they match the headlines. The title "contents" is in a dull font and only stands out because it's white, otherwise I would barely notice it. The image on the top right of the page is badly edited with too much black background so it looks quite odd if I'm honest. The editors letter takes up too much room on the page and so does the image. In most magazines it's quite small so it looks out of place and awkward. The subscription section at the bottom looks really silly because it's not in a box with colour and it doesn't actually stand out to the reader, so it doesn't emphasise the fact it's a good offer. 

This double page spread is not good, the images along the side are awfully edited which really brings down the look of the page and they don't really relate to the captions with them. The title is very blurry which makes it look really bad, and how the background is still around it also makes it look bad. I'm not sure on the background colour of the 2 pages being different, I can't decide if it looks unique or just rubbish, but when I do it again I think this will be changed. The overall colour scheme of the page doesn't really fit and now I think I'm going to be changing it because it's actually quite dark on the page and brings down the idea that my model is bright, bubbly girl who's really enjoying music, it would be suited to a metal band or something heavier. It doesn't represent my target audience well because it doesn't really show what they're into - and this is just through the colour scheme. 

Research continued

 

This front cover of NME keeps to the codes and conventions of music magazines.

The image of Noel is the largest thing on the page, and the headline which is about him is the biggest piece of text on the page because this draws your eye in and it's the first thing you see on the page. The cup and saucer are either side of the title "OASIS" as they are important to the theme they are conveying about Noel being very British, but still a thug, because of the play on words, "one thump or two?" which shows he's got a hard side to him although he is holding delicate crockery. Then there are other stories surrounding which have smaller text, and bold headlines to ensure they still stand out. Here all of the smaller sell lines have a different colour title and text underneath which is also a smaller font size. I'm going to use this in my magazine because it really makes sell lines stand out and uses a variety of text which is seen in all magazines.

This cover looks more like the cover of Vogue magazine as it's a special edition, even the way she has been photographed (close up) adds to the style being similar to Vogue. Even though it's a special edition there is a still the clear colour scheme of red, white and black which matches with her hair, this gives a really crisp look to the front cover. There is a typical quote above her name, which gives the audience a personal view to what Florence is all about, it gives a curious feel, which makes the audience want to read on and discover what she is talking about, this type of sell line is used a lot because it creates curiosity inside the reader and they will always want to read on. There aren't many sell lines on this cover because it's the second special edition out of ten, so there is less need to give attractive sell lines about gossip and new releases because regular readers or collectors are going to buy them because it's limited edition.

 

This is an NME contents page, and it sticks to the codes and conventions. There is a picture which presumably relates to the headline on the cover, which is accompanied by some text and the number of the page, this is often used in magazines because it makes it really easy for the reader to find the article they wants to read. Under the central image is an offer to say money buy subscribing to the magazine, I'm using this in my magazine because it attracts regular readers and new readers and it actually shows a saving for the reader, and as people are always looking for a bargain this is an ideal way to attract an audience.  Then on the right is the rest of the news for that weeks issue, which is headed by titles so it's easier for the reader to navigate to which section of the magazine they want to read, it's very clear on the page which readers will like because they don't have to spend more time trying to find what they want. There are also sub titles which create and even easier navigation around the magazine. On the right in a "band index" which gives band names and page numbers so readers can easily find information about their favourite band, this is really useful, especially in a music magazine because some readers will buy it just to read about their favourite band. There is a colour scheme of black, white and red, which works well because it makes it really simple to read because there aren't too many clashing or vibrant colours which can make magazines difficult to read, but this isn't usually found in music magazines, it's more likely to be in a celebrity gossip magazine.

This double page spread looks good because there is just a simple image of the artist, Lily Allen and then are giant quote from the interview which has an loud attitude, which is similar to Lilys' personality, her pose shows a lot of attitude, not moody but quite in your face "look at me"  It is set out like a ransom note with different sized text which gives an edgy rock feel even though she is a pop artist. The whole attitude oozes a tough man attitude, similar to a rebellious teenager which she was. There is a mixed vibe between a rocky wild child and a pop princess. In a sentence explaining the article above her name is in red bold text to make it stand out to anyone who doesn't yet know who she is.

The colours are usually associated with a rock magazine as well which add to the character of the page. The white background makes Lily stand out and draws the eye towards her. This also makes the headline stand out more because the background is so plain it allows everything else to stand out more. If it had bright colours it wouldn't make a statement in the same way.