Media Studies Evaluation

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

With my media product I aimed to conform to certain media conventions as well as challenging others and creating a unique product. I have used the typical layout of conventional magazine pages as well as the conventional layout of magazines, for example, I have:

• A front cover• An advert (on the inside of the front cover)• A contents page• A double page spread (acting as the article title page)• A double page spread (with the main article)• A back cover (with similar themes to the front cover, but with development)

Front CoverFor my front cover I used

certain elements of a conventional magazine front cover; for example I have used a masthead which most magazines have, with the name of the publication. It is in the top left hand corner, which is also traditional for most magazines, it is also in the biggest font on the page, like most other magazines.

MastheadThe title of a newspaper or

magazine at the head of the front or

editorial page.

I also included a strapline on my front cover, this is a conventional feature of a magazine front cover. It is in a smaller and different font to the mast head, this is the use of different fonts which conforms to normal media conventions. However, I have broken normal media conventions by making the cover very minimal, there is nothing else but the image on the cover, it makes it very stylised and would make it stand out on the magazine stands.

Straplinea short, easily

remembered phrase used by an organization so that people will recognize it or

its products.

I have also used a magazine convention for my masthead which is the use of graphics, the letters are conjoined to create a memorable and stylish masthead/logo that champions

the magazine or publication.

AdvertFor my advertisement I

have used a combination of conventional and unconventional magazine techniques to create my advert. I have conformed to magazine traditions by having an advert with a logo, web addresses and a campaign advert title. These conventions make the advert recognisable and accessible.

LogoA symbol or other

small design adopted by an organization to identify its products.

Web AddressA uniform resource

locator, abbreviated URL, also known as web

address, is a specific character string that

constitutes a reference to a resource.

Advert TitleThe name of the advert or

advertising campaign or the product that the

company is trying to sell. Normally the biggest font

on the advertisement.

To break and challenge media conventions I made the advert black and white (monochrome). This does not often occur in advertising as it is commonly thought to be too boring or bland, however, through the disuse of this technique I have been able to make my advert unique and stand out. Also the design I have done on it to make it look like a crumpled flyer is even more unique.

Contents PageThe techniques I used on my

contents page to conform to and develop normal magazine conventions and forms were:

A title which displays clearly what the page is, this includes the graphic from the masthead within it.

Article headers that list the article titles in the magazine.

Article info which give brief descriptions of what is in the articles.

An image relating to the main article.

A publication bio.Varying fonts and sizes.

I have developed media conventions by differing the font colours and layout lines of the page, this is not often done in magazines.I have challenged conventions by having a distinctive, unique house style that includes not capitals in the text (apart from abbreviations) and by having a whole-page graphic design which is layered under everything else, most magazines have their contents pages on white or another plain, block colour where as I have used my textured, shaded design to make it much more interesting and authentic.

House StyleA company's

preferred manner of presentation and layout of written

material.

DPS Title PageFor my Double Page

Spread Title Page I used the following techniques to conform to media conventions:

Title which displays what the article is about or who the interview is with.

Information box which gives a brief description of what the article on the next page is about.

Directional arrow which shows where the full article is.

Magazine identification which has the magazine title as well as the issue number and page number.

For this page I used the same graphic design that I am using the whole way through the magazine, this creates consistency and

continuity as well as a better house style.

To challenge typical media conventions I have used two very contrasting fonts for the title, one is very heavy and bold sans serif font and the other is a very decorative, decadent serif font with lots of ascenders and descenders. I have also challenged conventions but making the title part of the graphic design, is not one block colour but instead interacts with the texturized and shaded back ground, making it more interseting.

Double Page SpreadTo conform and develop media conventions I have used:

A main article image this accompanies the article and gives the page balance.

Graphic design element from the title page.

Pull quote, with an extract from the article in imbedded quotation marks.

Body of text in a column layout.

A gutter to space out the text and image from the edge of the page.

To challenge typical media conventions I have again used the graphic design background that runs throughout the magazine, this is uncommon as most magazines do their interviews or articles on a backdrop of white. I also challenged media conventions by having a graphic design visual instead of just a photograph of the person the interview is with, this also fits with the theme of the magazine on the whole.

Back CoverFor the back cover which I also

decided to do to complete my magazine, I used these features to comply with accepted magazine conventions:

A barcode in the bottom right hand corner, this is common practice in magazines.

A website address that information and other details on the publication can be found on.

A back cover image that is similar in style to the front cover, but still has development from it.

To develop and challenge common media conventions I used the following techniques:

I made the bar code more stylised, instead or it being black bars on a white backdrop it is a semi-transparent white only code that sits on top of the background design.

I purposefully enlarged the barcode so that it was a more prominent feature.

I made the back cover extensively minimal by devoting the majority of it to the image/design, as the front cover is, so that it remains simple and dramatic.

How does your product represent particular social groups?

My magazine targets a very certain social group that is defined by factors such as:

o Interests (things a certain group may find interesting or have an interest in)

o Income (the amount of money they or their household make)

o Age (how old they are)o Parentage (who their parents are)o Location (where they are from or are living)

InterestsInstantly, the social group who would express an interest in this magazine would have to be interested

in music as this is a music magazine. Secondly, the type of people that would buy this magazine would have to be interested in electronic music – specifically future electronic music styles such as:

Future Garage Ambient Wonky Post Dubstep Glo-Fi Chillwave

People who are interested in these kind of music genres will be interested in my magazine, these are the main styles of music that the magazine focuses on. Similarly anyone that is involved or interested in sound design, music production, sound engineering or film would most likely be interested in it. Additionally, anyone that likes art or design or graphics will probably have some interest in it because of the design and images in the magazine.

IncomeA person that would be interested in this magazine would most likely have to have a medium to

high income, this is because as the publication involves a lot of design and one; would be expensive to print, making the cost rise and the content in the magazine relates to hobbies and interests that are more expensive than others, for example an interest in music technology normally has a higher cost than for example; an interest in a sport, this is mainly because the equipment needed is much more expensive:

An interest in music technology would normally require:

A Computer (£1000+)

A Digital Audio Workstation

(£200+)

A MIDI Board (£120+)

A Microphone (£130+)

A selection of instruments

(£600+)Total = £2050+

Because of the nature of the cost of an interest in music technology, it would be likely that a person who would have an interest in my magazine would be in the middle to upper bracket of income. This is also reinforced by the fact that research shows that the majority of people interested in music technology come from a middle class background, this shows that the people that would most likely be buying my magazine would be from a background that has a middle to high income.

AgeResearch shows that the majority of people that have an interest in music technology or sound

design are in the age bracket of 16-35, this is a relatively young audience compared to other areas of interest, for example, people who have an interest in fishing have an average age of 60, people who have an interest in classical music have an average age of 54, and even people who have an interest in rock music have an average age of 33.

This shows that music technology has a comparatively young audience, thus naturally making my the target audience of my magazine of a similar age.

This may be partly due to the fact that music technology as an interest has only recently become available and accessible, mainly due to the fact that it has never been available on such a scale before. For example, the first Digital Audio Workstation was only invented in 1978, and even then it was only a very primitive one. Electronic music only became socially acceptable and possible in the 1980s, 33 years ago, technically we are still in the very first years of the electronic music age – meaning that the target audience for my magazine couldn’t be much older that 30.

Here is a list of producers that produce the kind of music that would be featured in my magazine and their ages, giving a gauge on what kind of age people interested in this are:

Stumbleine23

Sorrow22

Asa24

Submerse23

Jamie Woon26

ParentageAn interest in music technology and electronic or dance styles of music also depend a lot on

parentage. This is because music technology and electronic music is still so young that for someone to have an interest in this area they will most likely have come from a certain household or have some kind of common interest with their parents, for example; research shows that people who are interested in music technology or sound design now (most likely age 16-35) most likely come from parents that are musical in some way, most of them being interested in the music technology of their day, i.e. Punk, reggae, soul, funk or disco.

Additionally, parents who were interested in these kind of genres are most likely to help fund and encourage an interest in music technology or sound design, thus making it easier for their children to be able to delve into this area of interest.

LocationLocation is quite a key influence on interest. As well as being able to inspire people, a place is

important in helping an interest or talent thrive. There are certain areas which specialise in certain interests and hobbies, these are normally capital cities as they gain the most interest but, especially in the case of England, there also a very wide spread across the cities.

Here is a map with artists who might be potentially featured in a magazine like mine:

Gasface

Budeaux

Swarms

CoMa

Stumbleine

Asa

Shura

Sorrow

Sangam

Stomobox

Atsuko

Zomby

Rustica

Kelle

Burial

As you can see, the most prominent cities are undoubtedly Manchester,

London and Bristol.

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

For my media product there would be a definite type of media institution that would distribute my product because:

The style of my media product means that there has to be a certain type of distribution to a certain audience, this is because the nature of my magazine means it wouldn’t fit in with magazines such as:

Due to this, although income and sales would probably be higher, it would be unsuitable to have a media institution such as Bauuer distribute my magazine as it would not be the right audience that they are aiming at – it is not as commercial as any of the above magazine.

A much better choice for a distributor for my magazine would be the likes of Stack Magazines. This distributor is much more suited as it specialises in much more unconventional and independent music publications such as:

Stack is an ideal publishers to distribute my magazine as they specialise in independent, unconventional publications, especially in music.

I would also ideally distribute it through Stack Magazines as their magazines have a big focus on design and graphics and this would be very suitable for my magazine as my magazine focuses greatly on graphics and design. Essentially, Stack Magazines would be the most suitable home for a magazine such as mine.

Stack Magazines also focus on music orientated magazines, especially independent music magazines and alternative music magazines, this is perfect as my magazine isn’t a very commercial or conventional music magazine.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

My audience would have certain attributes associated with them that would define them and make them the target audience for my magazine, these include:

o Radio Stations they listen too TV programmes that they watcho Magazines they are subscribed too Films they watch o Artists that they listen too Directors that they might like

Radio StationsMy target audience for my magazine would be interested in radio stations such as ‘Rinse FM’, ‘Pulse FM’, ‘BBC Radio1Xtra’, ‘BBC Radio 6 Music’, ‘Blurred FM’ and ‘Sub FM’. This is because these stations normally play the kind of music that would be featured in my magazine, styles such as: o Future Garageo Post-Dubstepo Garageo Ambiento Glo-fio Chillwave

TV ProgrammesThe type of audience that I would be aiming my

magazine at would be people that are watching tv series such as:

Breaking BadMad Men

SpooksThe Walking Dead

Game Of Thrones

This is because research shows that people that like the things that my magazine features tend to like these kind of TV shows. So if it came to advertising I would advertise

to fans of these kind of programmes.

MagazinesThese are some other kinds of magazines that

people who would be interested in my magazine would like, therefore making them a target audience:

FilmsThese are the kinds of films that people who

would like my magazine might watch, making them an audience for my magazine:

ArtistsThis is a list of music artists that people who would like my

magazine would listen to, as well as artists that would likely feature in the magazine.

Sorrow / Asa / Stumbleine / Submerse / Sangam / Ghost Ark / Kelle / Muroidea / EPLP / ModuleModule / Gasface / Budeaux / Venture / Rustica / Atsubox / Cholombian / Chrimean / Retral / Sipp / Sun Glitters / Ghostek / Kid Smpl / Olaf / Essay / Delete / Smaug / Bija / Fedbymachines / Fog / Jernalism / Lunova Labs / Autumna / RHH / Tulpa / Shivre / Sina / TMMRW / Akopian / From Fields / Hiatus / Kyson / Becoming Sun / Ghosts of Paraguay / Swarms

DirectorsThese are the kind of directors that people who

would be interested in my magazine would like:o Stanley Kubricko Steven Spielbergo Woody Alleno Ridley Scott o Quentin Tarantinoo Martin McDonagh

How did you attract your target audience?

I attracted my target audience through the use of:

o Attractive musicianso Attractive graphicso Attractive designo An interview with a desirable figure

Attractive MusiciansThe use of musicians that are desirable in the

genre of music that my magazine focuses on attracts people to the magazine. For example, a person who is interested in Future Garage (which is the main focus of the magazine) would be interested in the future garage artists that would be featured in the magazine, for example; Sorrow, Submerse, Asa and Ghost Ark.

Attractive GraphicsThe use of attractive graphics instantly draws

people to the magazine. A good looking magazine is one that instantly grabs people’s attentions. By taking a lot of time and effort to make the magazine look presentable and professional, it increases it’s audience pull. This is a crucial feature to it’s success.

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

product?From constructing this product, I have learnt a

few different things about technology; these include: the use of photoshop and photoshop tools as well as the use of online social media technologies to help track and monitor progress in a certain preject i.e by using blogger, weebly or blogspot as a publishing medium.

Photoshop and Photoshop Techniques

For this project I used Adobe Photoshop and techniques and tools within Adobe Photoshop to achieve professional looking images, graphics and designs.

• Adobe Photoshop is a graphics editing program developed and published by Adobe Systems.I used photoshop to edit my photos that I took to create much better looking imagesand graphics for my magazine.For example the use of the Photoshop feature: Colour correction (Curves, levels etc.)helped to improve the colours and tints of my images, transforming what could be dry, boring images into colourful, exciting, vibrant creations.Additionally, the use of correction layers such as Saturation, Hue and colour balance can

transform the feel of images; for example, a good saturation adjustment can transform a dark, flat image into a summery, nostalgic graphic.

Also, the layering feature in photoshop is extremely useful, I can layer different images and graphics on top of each other and change the opacity and layering styles of them to create amazing looking visuals.

Social Media SitesDuring my project I used sites such as Blogger,

Weebly and Issuu to upload and track my progress throughout the course. This taught me about the uses of social media sites as a way to track and monitor progress and improvements in a subject, this is very useful as it helped me to see how well I was doing and what I needed to do to improve.

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

product?I have definitely seen the progression from the preliminary task to

the full product. My planning and research improved immensely and the final product was much more professional and attractive. I have learnt about media concepts and techniques that are used to create and develop a media product such as a magazine. I now understand what is needed when setting up and planning a media product. I also feel that I have learnt what is needed to successfully design and create an attractive, professional media product that would appeal to a particular target audience. In conclusion, I feel that I now have the skills needed to plan, research, design and create a successful media product designed for a certain market and target audience.