Evaluation.

Overview of preliminary task:
I think the layout of my magazine could look much more professional. I feel that the fonts are too simple, and it doesn’t exactly look very interesting. The main thing I like is the photograph of the model because of the light shining on her from the top left. Other than that, I would change everything to make it look more appealing to the eye.
Overview of the main task:
I am very pleased with the way this turned out. Although, I did encounter a few problems. For example, the image on the contents page wasn’t of a good quality, and I therefore had to retake the photograph. I tweaked the photograph by adjusting colours levels, brightness and contrasts and in the end, produced a better image. However, if I had the chance to re-do the magazine, I would attempt to fill as much as I could. At the moment, there is quite a bit of space around the edge on my double page spread. I would also try and put more images on my double page spread seeing as I’ve only included three… But all-in-all I thoroughly enjoyed creating the music magazine. :)
Evaluation:
In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
I’ve kept my magazine quite conventional in the sense that I’ve included puffs, banners, exclamations and a variety of fonts on my front cover. However, I’ve placed the tag line vertically on the left hand side, by the masthead, and instead of having the bar code traditionally in the bottom right hand corner of the page, I have put it in the top left hand side. On each page, I have kept to a distinct house style. I.e. contents; black, white, red and yellow are the consistent colours. On the double page spread I have kept with black, white and yellow, but also used blue and grey.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
I feel that it presents the enjoyment and freewill within the rock industry; nothing in the magazine is too serious, as the variety of fonts, colours and pictures portrays this image.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
Record labels, record companies and music publishers. Magazines will be sold in newsagents, superstores and companies of the like.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
I have aimed my product at teenagers mainly, but also hope to appeal to those in their early 20s, too.
How did you attract/address your audience?
I feel that I have done a good job at creating a professional layout which includes the codes and conventions of a magazine. The content is of interest to the reader.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
Photo manipulation helps a great deal with conveying the right image and message.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
The magazine must be comprehendible and aesthetically pleasing, depending on your target audience. For example, the school magazine is more formal than that of the music magazine.
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Main task - Double Page Spread.

My article was based on the fictional lead singer, Stuart Cole, from the fictional band 'December Falling' who had just come back from a US tour.First, i made up basic questions and then reworded them to sound more 'snazzy':
How was the US? So, you've just done some Hell raising around the USA -how was it?
What was it like on stage? What was going through your mind as you looked across the crowds?
How were the fans? Did you have any crazy, whacked out fan experiences?
Do you think they understand your new album? Your tour consisted of your new album What Goes Around Comes Around. Do you think people understand the messages?
Did any trouble happen? Did you and the guys get yourselves into trouble when you were out there?
Was there any after parties? What about the after parties?
Was there any arguments? Was there any arguments between band members?
Why didn't your girlfriend come with you? Your girlfriend didn't tag along for the tour - why?
Did you miss her? You missed her then?
Once I had sorted the article content out, I created the basic layout:

I added the answers to the questions and added quite to give the reader an insight into what was in the article. I also added a one-sentence description of the content to the banner:

I used images from gigs I went to at Folkestone Leas Cliff  Hall, Brixton Academy and Hammersmith Apollo.

Once the pictures were established, I inserted them onto the article. I also added captions to the pictures to inform the reader where abouts the gig took place (I said they were in American states, of course). Here is the finished product:

Positive feedback: Good use of live photography, clear difference between question and anwser, bold fonts - especially the elipse used.
Negative feedback: more pictures could be included, lots of text - looks a bit daunting.
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Main task - Contents

For my contents page I chose the colour scheme to be black, white, red and yellow; in my opinion i think they're attractive colours. I chose to have about a third of the page to be taken up by one single image of 'The Blackout' lead singer. [At Warped Tour! Again, good times] I altered the colour curves in this picture to make it clearer. I also cropped the image and added a sparkle effect in the top right hand corner to represent lights.
Before:

After:

 






I added this image, a title and the issue number and date:

 I then divided up the content into sections to make it easier for the reader to see. I made these stand out by having the text yellow and it's background red. I also added a banner below the image:

For each article in the magazine, I just named what bands were being featured. Doing this will entice the reader to find out more, because if you see a band you like listed, you want to find out what it's about.

To show the reader what guitar they would win, I included 2 images of [my brother's] electric guitar. As a promotional tool I also included a text box about subscribing about to 'PureScream' magazine. Doing this will increase profits and increase regular readers:

To fill the white space in the middle, I have put a picture of 'Dee Stone' [Myself as the model]. This is too show she is also another main feature of the magazine.
The final product:

Positive feedback: good layout, individual sections of the content are well highlighted, consistent colour scheme throughout the page.
Negative feedback: image in the centre could be edited around the edges better, descriptions (grey text) of content isn't clear.
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Main task - Front Page.

For the main task, I have to create the front cover, contents page and double page spread for a music magazine. I chose to do a rock/metal magazine as this is my favourite genre of music. My main audience will be in their mid-late teens i.e 16-19 years of age, but I will try to market to those older as well.
Drafts for masthead:

 

After choosing my masthead [I chose 'PureScream' in the end] I had to place a tag line [bursting eardrums since 1982] and also decide on what colour background I wanted:

 

I then had to think about placement of banners, pictures,etc. so I added pictures of the free bees that would be in the magazine - posters. Including free things will help entice my target audience to buy the magazine.

I chose the model on my front cover to be the lead singer of a band I like singing into his microphone. [Taken at their Roundhouse gig in London - good times] To have the image of him on his own with no background, I edited the picture by erasing everything around him and flipping the image horizontally:
Before:

After:

I then placed the image onto my front page:

My next step was adding the coverlines' text, along with the banner's and puff's. I made sure that the main double page spread story cover line was bigger than all the rest and made sure it stood out more. I used a simple, bold text and involved different colours to highlight key words. For the others, I kept them the same to give the magazine a professional look. I included exclamations in the cover lines, banner and puffs to show urgency and importance:
Coverlines
"EXCLUSIVE! Stuart Cole gets up close and personal on tour"
"DEE STONE  back in the studio"
"THE USED announce new tour"
"PLUS! win BIG prizes when you enter our competitions"
Banner
I've included a list of bands that will be in this week's issue.
Puff
I have exclamated the price to show how cheap it is. Here is the final product:
 

Positive feedback: Good use of bright colours, professional layout, effective advertising of the posters and interviews.
Negative feedback: Could come across as too busy, writing above the posters is hard to read from a distance.
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Music magazine audience research.

I need to gather some information again to see what content I should include in my magazine. Instead of creating a word document and sending it out via email, or even printing a questionnaire out and handing them out, I thought it would be much easier to create a survey online - it causes a lot less fuss. The website I used was www.surveymonkey.com, but, unfortunately, you can only create up to 10 questions (otherwise you have to pay). Luckily, 10 questions seemed enough in the end.


http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/JH8KSSZ 
The link to my questionnaire -^


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Double page spread analysis.

To grasp an idea of how to set out a double page spread and make it look attractive, I need to analyse a couple from a music magazine. Once again, I am going to pick one from Kerrang! Magazine.


Issue # 1276
Article:
Main Title - Font change puts emphasis on the word 'fun'. The yellow makes it bold a bright, making it stand out.
Photography - Relaxed, easy going, friendly. All members are smiling and laughing which means they are having a good time; it reflects the band and their image. It's staged with props and the mise en scene presents a place of fun and relaxation.
Puffs - Quotes from the article entice the readfer into reading it - they're giving an insight into what's included in the article.
Postage stamp - It's metaphorical; it's as if they band are sending a message to the reader.
Colours - Colour scheme is clear; yellow, black, orange, and white.
Content - Various lingual techniques. eg. elipses, rule of three, etc. The article is about the band finally picking up and playing at reading, asking fans to "see at least one set".


Issue #1183
Gig review:
Main title - bold, yet plain and simple - Doesn't distract the reader from the main review. Includes a rating - informs the readers of the gig's success.
Photography - Live gig pictures. Main image is of the lead singer with the fans, showing him as appreciative and interactive; good publicity. Others include band members and also of them socialising weith their support band and having fun.
Writing/captions - Puns about the pictures making it comical for the reader. White on black makes them stand out so they won't be missed.
Sellotape - Looks like the photos have been stuck down to make a montage of images. It also looks more realistic.
Content - Review on 'Avenged Sevonfold's' gig in London. Includes both negative and positive feedback. There is also a section called "how was it for you?", containing a statement from a band member making it more appealing to the reader.

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Music magazine research.

So I have a clearer understanding of the music magazine industry, I am looking into my favourite magazine (Kerrang!) so i can find out the different conventions of a rock/metal magazine. I am doing this because it is the same genre I want to do for my main task.

• Genre: Rock, metal, emo, alternative, etc.
• Audience: Mainly teenagers - ages 14-21, rock/metal fans;
• Content: interviews, articles, free posters, gig reviews, new bands, new releases, album reviews, gig dates, advertisements;
• Publication: Sold all over the UK weekly, Australia monthly and in Spain;
• Image: Care-free, hardcore -language and images used, bands interviewed all portray this image, along with its house style and layout.

 Examples:

Front cover analysis:

Black on white masthead – effective, makes it stand out.

Lead singer’s head overlaps the title - showing us that the magazine doesn’t need lots of space for the title because it’s recognised around the country.

Big, bold cover line – takes up most of the cover line space. Makes it stand out and tells the reader who the main article will be about.

Pun within the cover line - “unfold the puzzle”, the theme of the band’s album is puzzles. As well as this, the Paramore cover line has a pun, too, creating a relaxed and casual feel to the magazine. “Hayley starts a ‘riot!’”. “Riot!” is the name of their album.

Exclamations – creates a sense of emergency; a ‘must read’. The fact that there are things on offer for free also entices the reader into buying the magazine.

Red banner - informs the reader who else will be featured this issue.

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