Evaluation

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

real media products?When making my front cover, contents page and double page spread I used conventions and forms that are specific to

magazines as well as the rock genera. I did this as they are techniques that have evidence that they work well I trying to appeal to a certain target market. As well it presenting my magazine in a way that the consumer would be familiar with. In order to do this I looked at existing rock magazines that are popular with their intended audience and that are also doing well in the current market. Their were three main magazines that I looked at through out the process of making my magazine. These were Kerrang!, NME and Q.

After the collection of primary research I decided to name my magazine Elegant Crimes. Which when I came to designing my masthead I decided not to look at Q and NME due to the difference in length. Instead I look at Kerrang! Who use a strip of colour under the masthead to create a strong contrast which is bold and striking making the masthead eye-catching. I then decided that I would take a similar approach though I decided on a traditional cinema-style billboard lettering with a distressed effect. I believe that this makes my masthead eye-catching and appealing to my target market. As well as following genera conventions.

On all three of the main magazines I have researched a plus banner was used on some of their magazine issues. This is a advantage to the reader as it gives them a insight into the other articles featured in the magazine. The bold plus! Catches the readers eye and draws their attention to it. It also gives the audience a impression that they are getting a lot for their money as the magazine is jam packed with information on different bands.

In my final magazine cover I incorporated many genera conventions and professional techniques that enable my magazine to compete in the existing market as well as being familiar techniques that the audience will be accustomed to. I have also adapted some of these conventions and added my own style to the magazine to add character and individuality whilst also hopefully developing the professional techniques to make them more efficient.

I have included a banner cross the top of my magazine which is also included on Kerrang NME and Q magazines. The banners I looked at in my research showed extra information either about the magazine or about artists. i then decided I would put ‘new acts released for Reading and Leeds’ which is purposefully suppose to intrigue the reader as it doesn’t say what acts have been released. Working as a reason for them to buy the magazine.

I have included a plug to capture the readers attention. As well as give the magazine a edge over its competitors’ as it shows the audience that elegant crimes is the only magazine with the information in.

I have also learnt from my research that magazines don’t always include a image with the text they sometimes just put information on a cover to inform them about other articles. The reason images aren't included is to stop the page from being to cluttered whilst still informing the reader about other articles in the magazine.

This is a collection of some of the most influential magazines that I used to create my own magazine cover. All of the 3 different magazines are of a similar genera to my magazine and so use the same genera conventions that I would need to use on my magazine. As fashion magazines or pop magazines would have different conventions and so would not be very helpful when trying to make a magazine that appeals to the audience of a rock magazine.

I used these magazines to decide on many aspects of my magazine when it came to layout, images colour scheme and text. One of the major aspects of my cover was the main image. Most of the magazines I looked at had a centrally positioned image or a image slightly to the right hand side as the size of the image alone is enough to draw the readers attention to it. After consideration I decided that my image would look better like some of the magazines I looked at positioned slightly to the right. I decided this due to the singers stance and the angle he is facing.

I also realised from my research that the tagline is important in catching the readers attention. I then decided to add more features to my tag line such as the white background with the scribble effect to make it standout more as well as the use of a different font to make it more interesting.

Over all my research helped me use genera conventions and professional techniques to enhance my cover and make it more professional and appealing to its target market.

Who would be the audience for media product?

During my research I brought 3 different rock/metal magazines Kerrang! NME and Q. The genera of the magazines was easy to identify due to the over all look of the magazine and the content of the magazine. For example NME used black yellow orange and red as there colour scheme which is typical of a rock magazine. The black suggests to the audience it’s a heavier and darker music though the vibrant reds and yellows show the energy and fun which is in rock music compared which metal music.

My research showed me how to style a magazine in order for it to portray a certain type of music. Kerrang inspired me most as it is closer to the genera of music that I have chosen. I looked at how they used there photos to there advantage (position colours layout ect) there colour scheme (to attract attention to the most important information ect) and layout (the order which the audience looks at things on the page). I then adapted what I had taken from other magazines and applied It to my own magazine. This enables my magazine to fit in with current magazine trends and to appeal to my target market.

Rock magazines are aimed at a niche market with the audience being of both genders who listen to rock music and are interested in the lives of the artists. The use of informal language and slang shows that teenagers are the main audience of my rock magazine.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

From looking at my research most rock/indie/metal magazines tend to be aimed at older teens. This is because during your teens you are gaining your own individuality and developing your style, whether through the type of music you listen to or the clothes you wear ect. This means they are an ideal target market to niche music genera's as they have the interest and desire to learn about their favourite artists and to follow fashion trends of that specific music genera.

Firstly my magazine is aimed to attract both genders as rock music generally appeals to both males and females. Though usually the more indie/pop a rock band is the more female fans It has and the more metal the band is the more male fans it has. Therefore I have decided to feature a slightly heavier band that will appeal more to boys. This is because the market I am aiming my magazine at is at a age where they become attracted to the opposite sex so by having the lead singer featured on the cover the magazine will also appeal to girls. Meaning that the magazine should appeal to both sexes.

The colour scheme I have used also represents the social group of older teen ‘rockers’. This is because it shows the type of colours they prefer and wear and gives it their style. Furthermore the language and register also represents older teens as its written in the same way that they speak and uses slang that is current to the trends that they follow.

How did you attract/address your audience?

The colour scheme has one of the biggest visual impacts on customers, it’s the first thing the audience will notice. Therefore it needs to represent the genera and attract its audience whilst still being eye-catching. Through looking at my research I noticed that rock magazine backgrounds are usually dark with one bright colour that represents the featured artist. This one bright colour makes the page eye-catching to the customer and also highlights important information. There are usually then 2/3 other duller colours that compliment the key colour. Following this technique I used red as my main colour with grey/blue as my complimentary colours and a deep grey/black background. I also used the colour red as it has connotations of danger and passion which fit well with the ideals/image of rock music.

The main image also attracts the audience as it takes up a large portion of the front cover and is positioned in the centre of the page therefore you immediately see it. The main image also addresses the audience in some respects. Usually the artists are looking directly at the camera so on the cover it looks like they are looking at the audience.

Another way my media product addresses its audience is by using informal language and slang. The use of slang and informal language helps the audience relate to the magazine as it is written how they would speak on a daily basis. My magazine also uses slang words that specifically relate to rock ie mosh pit and the audience will relate to it.

What type of media institutions might distribute your media product and why?

Conde nest are a very successful magazine publisher who strive to create the very best magazines available. This is proved by their many awards including The National Magazine Awards, Condé Nast has won more National Magazine Awards over the past 10 years than all of its competitors combined.

Conde nest has a variety of magazine genera's though there could be a potential for my magazine as conde nest have not yet got a music magazine. This means there could be potential for them to infiltrate the market and create more income.

However Conde Nast specialises in providing high end sophisticated magazines for high income earners aged about 25+ . Because of this it could prove difficult to incorporate my magazine as my target market is totally different and conde nast’s elegant style is would not suite the rock and roll genera.

Although there might be a gap in the market for a more stylish rock magazine that really captures ‘rock star’ style of excess quality and disregard for the rules. This could be a good change from the conventional rock magazines that my research says ‘are all the same’ and where little varies in each issue.

A good potential distributor of my magazine could be music mags which distributes a vast variety of different genera's of music magazines. Meaning they have a experience marketing and distributing magazines similar to mine so might me more willing to distribute my magazine. Also as they have more experience in similar magazines they will already have a good idea where would be the best places to stock my magazine to maximise profits.

Although because they already have a wide variety of music magazines they might already have a magazine that covers the rock genera. However I believe that my magazine does have potential and could gain a portion of market share if developed further and marketed.

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

I have used a wide variety of software and technologies during the creation of my magazine. Firstly the magazine its self was created on macromedias fireworks. A program I have had some experience with before. By using fireworks I was able to add text and images to my magazine, as well as shapes lines ect. I was also able to change the texture and colour of the shapes/ lines which I thought was very useful so that the page clearly had a rough rock look and to add personality.

I also used Photoshop to enhance my images. I did this by adjusting the hue and saturation of the images. This helped the colours of my images standout more and be more eye-catching to the audience. It also made the photos more clear by adjusting the contrast and brightness.

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

product?The main thing that I learnt from my preliminary task and applied to my music magazine was to use my research to my full advantage. Looking back at my preliminary work it was rough and lacked professional techniques. Whereas during the creation of my music magazine I have used my research more. I also looked at a wider array of music magazines in order to find the layouts, text, images and puffs that are the most effective. I believe that by doing this my magazine has a more professional edge and that most of the elements work to help entice the reader to buy my magazine.

I also learnt from my preliminary task that the images on a magazine have a huge effect on the readers perception of the magazine. This motivated me to try and get some take some professional and interesting images. Therefore I went to gigs of the featured artists in order to take photos of them playing during a concert which are commonly used in music magazines.

Overall I believe that by doing my preliminary task I gained a better knowledge and understanding of how to create a successful magazine and what things need to be considered during its construction. I also believe that by doing my preliminary task it enabled me to have a better understanding of how to adapt magazine conventions depending on the magazines target audience.