Question 6

What have i learnt about technologies from the

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Question 3

What kind of media institution might distribute your

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Question 7

Looking back at my preliminary task, what do I feel I have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

I think I learnt a lot about using the SLR camera and if i hadn't had the experience of using it for the preliminary my photos in the finished piece would be nothing like they are.
I also learnt that organising my time was very important as if I left things then I would have to rush them to meet dead lines and they were not as good as I could have done them so I tried to make sure I kept on target and did not have to rush pieces of my magazine.
Preparation and planning also need to be done thoroughly, I learnt this in the preliminary as if it's not done properly you get a bit stuck, so then made sure for my final piece it was done sufficiently.
I felt confident with Photoshop in the preliminary but found Quark express much more complicated and harder to use. Although by the end of the final piece I had become much more confident with using the tools within the software.
The biggest thing I have learnt from this project is not to rush in with all your ideas thinking that it will tern out amazing if you just 'throw them all together' but to take the time to plan it out and find the best way to put all those ideas together to form the best presentation you can achieve.

Question 4 and 5 Evaluation

Who would be the audience for my media product and how did I attract / address my audience ?

Teenage to early twenty males, from a better off working class or lower middle class background would be the perfect demographic profile of a buyer of this magazine. Also in terms of a psychographic profile would be an attitude of rebellion, where they just want to do their own thing, with interests in guitar and rock music. With a 'rock and roll', hedonistic life style, this means they would not be to bothered with their work or other responsibilities, but only the things they enjoy and want to do. A perfect example shown in the photo.


I asked my friends what they thought of my magazine cover asking this question.
What did you think to the presentation of my magazine including fonts and colours ?

8:29pmJames
I like the font, could be a little more bold though. The colour is good but would prefer a more vintage style to go with the theme of retro looking guitar

This is good criticism as it brings up issues as to whether I have laid my cover out in the right way, and if I should have chose a slightly different font.

8:29pmScott
i think the fonts and colours are very eye catching for the young audience, they stand out well. because my attention is caught i want to read on because it is easily lay out.

8:33pmRyan
i thought that it was good. i Also thought that it suited your target audience well.

8:33pmSam
the fonts were good and worked well together creating a young look to the magazine and i liked the colours as i thought they worked well together.

But the fact that sam thought the fonts look good show there is a difference of opinion within my target audience.

The feedback i received from my magazines audience suggests that i did my audience research well and that the fonts and colours used were the right ones for my magazine as all the people I asked either like rock music or play guitar and so would be interested in buying this magazine. They reacted positively to the magazine and some said it is lacking in the market and should be done for real.

I followed a number of conventions which guitar magazines similar to mine all use. For instance having a range of the different articles on the cover, on my covers beneath strap lines i have photos of what the article is on for instance a guitar pedal and a photograph of a person that will be in an interview.

Question 2 Evaluation

How does you media product represent particular social groups ?

My magazine dominantly represents males and females are absent from it, not because females don't play guitar but because men are the stereotypical group when representing a magazine such as mine, they are the dominant representation which I chose to stick with instead of portraying emergent or an alternative representation. This photo demonstrates the dominant representation of my magazine.

Its also aimed at teenage to early twenties age bracket, in terms of socio-economic class the magazine is aimed at the lower middle class as the magazine looks at expensive equipment. Another group this magazine is aimed at is 'computer geek/technical types' not because of the style of the magazine but because of the content as there are articles on effects used etc.

In terms of communicating the magazines values to the reader, the language used is very important as it is casual and 'everyday', very informal. Also the use of photos, for instance the main photo on the contents page shows a guitar neck focusing on the plactrum. However the stings are vibrating but also slightly blurred, so the photos are stylish but at the same time have some edge to them.

Question 1 Evaluation

My media product uses existing conventions in terms of its layout for instance my front cover denotes a close up photo of the main sell which is Fender verses Gibson so shows an image of there two guitars.

This is a conventional practice as on all magazine covers the Main sell will be the background of the cover. But many magazines in the genre are aimed at adults with little focusing on adolescents. For instance the Guitarist magazined shown here it uses neutral colours that do not appeal much to youth and could connote such things as blandness, dullness and just a bit boring for a teenager and it isn't grabbing their attention.

Although there are parts of their magazines aimed at beginners that does not essentially mean teenagers. I have aimed my magazine at teenagers as although it is similar to other magazines it challenges the traditional conventions by changing who it is aimed at slightly. For instance Guitarist uses Serif fonts which are mainly used for older and more sophisticated audiences, where as I have used sans serif because I am aiming mine at a younger audience.This makes it stand out as different, as my cover connotes rebellion, power and chaos.

The text in the Guitarist magazine cover is in order and all to one side, where as my cover is spread out and chaotic this also connotes youth like characteristics as they tend not to be organised, and like a lot going on, so this is something they can relate to.

Finished Double page

double page

first page completed second page underway.

Double page spread

my double page spread under construction photos almost certainly finished and text under way.

Contents finished

Finished front cover

photoform

To make sure i knew what i was taking photos of, but also when and where i was going to be taking them i filled in this form.

Contents plan

Two contents page ideas marked in circles with a 1 or 2

Magazine update

Have almost completed my front cover.

Creating the contents page

Ideas for my magazine front cover

Possible heading fonts

Making sense of audience research

In my facebook post i asked a number of questions, the answer that came back suggested names for my magazine, commented on the colour sceme, but in general they liked the fonts i had chosen and the images i had associated with the magazine.

The names suggested were along the lines of guitar puns, such as plugged in, intune, solo and scale. All being guitarists themselves they wouild be a target audience for my magazine and found no real flaws in it.

Audience Research: results

A link to my facebook page where i asked guitar/musical friends to comment on my mood board and suggest improvements to give me an idea of the route i need to take with my magazine and if i have the right idea.

http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/inbox/?folder=[fb]messages&page=1&tid=1232201370778

summary of my magazine typical features

• A laid back tone in addressing the reader.
• A largely rock influence on the magazine.
• Interviews with guitars, from bands of interest to the reader.
• A strinking, edgy, photo of guitarist on the cover.
• Also a section where readers can increase their guitar skills, techniques can be shown in simple steps.

Audience profile

My magazine will be for 16 - 25 year old males interested in rock and it's associated genres such as indie and alternative. They will be from lower middle and working class backgrounds, with a rebellious attitude and interested only in their own wants.
The magazine will be for all stages of guitarist with newer bands and older bands also, it will be in a relaxed laid back tone and the information will be put across in this manner as to relate with the reader. The reader will be on facebook, enjoy programs such as inbetweeners, mock the week and live at the apollo. They would be able to contact us via facebook, or a website.

music magazines - Institution

What does a magazine publisher do?

A publisher is a company or person that publishes products such as books, journals, or software.

How is the Publishing industry organised?

The publishing industry, although there are a large amount of publications, there are only a small amount of people that own them. For instance Rupert Murdoch owns the sun, times, sky, and fox etc. They are organised into owners, or corporations that own them. This means they can represent a scenario in the way they want to, having an effect on the readers. This can be shown demonstraited when looking at the iraq war. Certain news papers showed it as a good thing. But the majority decided it was a bad idea and public opinion went with that. They are also horizontally integrated so can advertise other products using there media influence.

How is this evidenced by the ownership/publication of the New Musical Express magazine?

IPC is a huge organisation that owns many other magazines and is one of the largest publishing companies in England. It is also owned by another group called Time Inc., the publishing division of Time Warner Inc. So not only dose it own many magazines it is owned by even bigger companies.

What are your initial thoughts about the fact that NME is published by ipc media?

My initial thoughts are that nearly all magazines are owned by a bigger company so it’s just like all the other magazines, and that it has earned it’s reputation and always been part of this company so it shouldn’t change now. It dose mean that, the key functions are to advertise its sponsors, whether this be through adverts or by showing images of the target audience wearing a brand etc.

Detailed analysis rocksound

Genre:
Rock, mainly modern with some older references, mainly big bands with some smaller less well known bands getting a focus aswell.

Audience:
15 - 25

Title:
Rock sound, the name tells you exactly what it’s about, for people who like rock music and especially new music as it has the Puff 'new music first'

Style:
Black, White , Blue , Yellow. These are the main colours used. Layout is the standard strap lines going down the page with a big main sell and photo of the band. The contents page also has a photo of the main sell with white and red text.

Content:
A big interview with a band, then a few shorter interviews with bands. Top albums of the year, band secrets, advice from rock stars, also a lot of gossip on side project bands and what stars have been up too.

Mode of address:
It’s very chatty as it is mainly interviews.

Photographs:
The photos really focus on bands, or solo artists. They are photographed either outside in forests, by lakes, in the streets. Or in doors on sofas, in recording studios, warehouses etc. Either as serious bands that are really dedicated to their music, or as fun loving bands that just want to have a good time.

Publisher:
Patrick napier

'main production planning: initial ideas collage'

Guitar, Rock, Teen, Punk, rebellion. An indication into the kind of words that will be used frequently.

A guitar magazine for a teenage audience. A casual everyday tone should be taken, interviews with popular guitarists.

Fonts I could possibly use for my magazine:

Play Music Pickup Detailed analysis

Genre:
Musical, mainly rock/ indie, huge focus on guitars but other influences get reviewed and mentioned.

Audience:
15 - 30

Title:
Play music Pickup. As it is a free magazine it encourages the target audience to do exactly what it says and to pick it up. Also the Play music can grab their attention as that is hat the readers of this magazine are about, they will be developing musicians.

Style:
Blue, Black and white are the main colours used. The layout Has a photo of the main sell taking up the entire cover, with some of the items being reviewed in the magazine at their feet. The layout attracts a younger audience, largely because they interview new bands, and the layout is aimed at a younger audience.

Content:
Reviews, Competitions, Help pages, interviews with bands or/ and guitarists. Advice like how to be endorsed or get the most out of guitar effects or amplifiers. This magazine is full of advice on how to progress as a guitarist and how to go a bit future with your equipment and this appeals to the audience age I have suggested, as they are less experienced.

Mode of address:
Laid back and uses slag casually. For the readers it is how they would talk and address their own friends.

Photographs:
The magazine is full of pictures of Guitars, Amplifiers, effects, Bands, Equipment and also a lot of people that are of target audience age with their views on certain products.

Publisher:
Nick Bryant

detailed genre research

Genre:
Guitar magazine for guitarists

Audience:
Guitarist aged 18 – 50

Title:
Guitarist. Very straight no non sense, can’t mistake what it is about and who it is for.

Style:
White, red, orange. More traditional then other gu itar magazines for an older audience with the younger readers as a minority.

Content:
Guitar reviews, Equipment reviews, playing advice, and how to sound like your favourite guitarists. Also interviews with guitarists, about them selves there playing, gear and how they created their styles. They articles would appeal to the audience as they are interested in the artists and want to pick up tips/ advice on guitar playing.

Mode of address:
Colloquial, casual. The language is non formal bring a relaxed tone to the magazine. The readers would find this easier to relate to, and it is appropriate as the subject has no need to be formal.

Photographs:
Guitars, effects, guitarists, amps and general equipment and gadgets for guitar. Some of the photos haven’t been taken by guitarist magazine, for instance on the cover there is a picture of jimi Hendrix, he was not alive when guitarist was first published. So they have taken it from another source. But most these pictures have been taken in a studio or controlled conditions. The people are being represented as powerful, in control, and have a certain class about them.


Who published the magazine you analysed yesterday?

Future publishing limited.

Are they part of a horizontally integrated media conglomerate?

They have various websites, and hold 27 annual events but they are a huge company producing magazine for the U.K., U.S. and Australia., but they are a huge company producing magazine for the U.K., U.S. and Australia.

What do you consider to be the implications of this business structure for your magazine?

It means that there is a lack of choice within the magazine market, and that the opinion of the owners are shown through out all the magazines.

contents page

Questions for the evaluation

Questions for the evaluation

1. My magazine front cover uses a Mid Close up picture on the front of its cover which resembles many magazine covers on the market; we also use the same style of strap lines as used in magazines such as Elle, with the layout of colour and size of font. In regards to challenging the conventional concepts of real media products, I don’t think I did anything too controversial as I tried to keep it similar to other magazines without copying them as possible.

4. The magazine would appeal to females ranging from 18 - 25 as a target audience.

5. I attracted the audience by advertising real issues in today’s society, issues that people want to read about and care about, fashion advice, relationship tips. This attracts a large audience and has proved commercially successful already. We address them with friendly informal language to give a more relaxed feel to the magazine.

6. I have learnt how to use industry standard Photoshop and Quark express effectively, How to use a Digital SLR camera and to use it effectively. How to lay out a magazine front cover and contents page and the termkinology used when discussing the parts that construct the magazine.

music magazine: initial research

Mix Mag is a dance/club music magazine, aimed at 18 - 25 year old men and women predominantly in the working class social group.

The Psychographics to define the readers of mix mag would be hedonistic as the dance/club scene is generally seen as promoting the kind of values hedonism entails.

The cover of this magazine has a few things that make it stand out, the colour of type, as this makes it catch your eye being bright and bold, with a sans serif font for mix mag then serif font for the main sell below. Also having a photo of Calvin Harris on the front to advertise the fact that there is an article on him in the magazine, people who don't normally buy the magazine may, as they like him and his music.

Future music is a music tech magazine aimed at 20 - 40 year old men, of middle class status, as this magazine is full of expensive equipment.

The psychographics to define the readers of Future Music would be technical, clever possibly even geeky. As some of the content of the magazine is very complicated and you would have to have a real understanding of technology to understand how the products in the magazine work.

The cover of this magazine appeals to its audience because it's smart, has a good choice of coloured font and its layout shows the reviews in a very clear way .

Kerrang is a rock music magazine aimed at 13 - 20 years mainly male, but some girls would read it, if they like they are fans of musicians or bands in the magazine as well.

The psychographics of the readers of Kerrang would be, rebellious as that's what the music this magazine is promoting is all about and incites rebellion. But also hedonism as it's a selfish do what you want when you want styled magazine as well that is encouraging this type of lifestyle.

The main sell of the magazine is clearly stated with a picture of Biffy Clyro, talking with Kerrang about their new album. This is shown with a masthead and cover photo of the band. Also the other articles reviews and band interviews are listed or have small pictures and straplines advertising them in clear colours. This is appealing to their audience.

Guitarist magazine, is exactly what it says it is, a magazine for guitarists. The demographic for the magazine is 18 - 40 year old men of middle class. This magazine is a lot harder to specify compared to some of the others as it appeals to a lot of guitarists of many ages, as it teaches you the guitar parts of songs from many eras, this one in particular has a song with Jeff Beck (a famous 60s and 70s guitarist)playing guitar in but then along side that a much more recent song buy Jack White.

It's Psychographic is technological and specialised.
The cover is striking with the use of colour, the way the 3 guitarists on the cover are laid out is as if they are jumping out at you, but also as if Jimi Hendrix ( in the middle) is looking at you. This grasps you and your attention and FUZZ in bold bold letters makes it stand out that this issue is really focusing on it. So the main sell is very clear.

maincover plan

connotations to communicate

hectic chaotic lifestyle
live for today
youth
laid back
casual
fun

colour sceme

Use of a bold sans serif title pn a white backgroud. Very basic with only two lines of wording and a picture on the front. In the picture is a man being swallowed up by a can of beans.

as analysis of a magazine cover

The band Irony is Dead are shown on the cover infront of a white background, they are the main sell and their name is infront of them. There is a christmas theme and although they are dressed in dark clothing to represent there style of music there is tinsel around their necks and snow on the tops of teh name. The wording is in sans serif font the important phrases like band names are in red. There is also a freebie in the corner made to stand out with the screamerand also highlighted with the red back groud.

first blog

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