In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
The colours between both these music magazines, Session and Vibe are very similar. I based the design of my music magazine on the one next to it in the insert (Vibe). This was because I found the colour scheme and design layout of Vibe magazine, to be very interesting and also cool and edgy. Even though the genres of these two magazines are different, the colour scheme fits well with them both. I definitely needed to date and give my magazine an issue number. Just like every other music and normal magazine would. This is so that the readers know what issue it is and the day it’s been posted and put on sale. My teaser is placed in the bottom left hand corner ‘You asked the questions’ this was used so that the reader felt like the magazine was talking to them ‘YOU’. The teaser is also a screamer, I have used an exclamation mark to show this. On many magazines the price is placed around the barcode, issue number and date. As like those magazines I have done the same. This is because I wanted my magazine to feel and look real. My main feature was placed just under the masthead on the third left. It was placed her so that it was clear for the reader to see. It’s also in a different colour. The words ‘LUKE BOLTON’ are in red with a white outline, to make it bold and clear. The information underneath the main feature is in white, this was so the reader would know which feature was the main feature. My anchorage to explain my main image is also the main feature, as the model and main star of the magazine is Luke Bolton. To emphasise the winning of Creamfields festival I have highlighted it with a red graphic. This is so the reader can recognise it. My main image is a medium close up. It helps the page look more interesting. It can add understanding of a story or entice someone to read the magazine. The banner of this music magazine, shows which festivals are on over the summer. I have done this to draw readers and customers in, preferable festival lovers, as this magazine is all about live performances and live music.
As like the front cover, I did the same to the contents page, as I made sure that the issue number and date was also on it. The colour scheme has continued onto this page as I wanted it to stay the same to give that same cool and edgy affect through the three pages. Just like a real published music magazine I chose to put an editor’s paragraph, this was done to show who the editor was and how the magazine was getting along. The editor’s paragraph contains how the sales are going, how the readers view the magazine and the future of the magazine. The contents page contains live reviews, interviews, festivals, freebies, albums and contacts for the readers if they wish to speak and contact a member of the magazine production. There are three images on the contents page two of which are the same but reflected, this has been done so that it gives the effect of an illusion, this is so that the magazine looks appealing and interesting. Underneath this image is a caption so that the reader knows why and where its been taken. The other image is of the editor, this is just a small insert which is placed on the bottom right hand corner. The masthead for the contents page has been done in a dark red with a white outline so that it stands out to the reader. Carrying on from the front cover I have also added the date and issue number to this page.
As like the previous two pages, the colour scheme has still carried on because I wanted to keep it the same. An introduction/lead has been created so that the reader knows the basic outline of what the article is about. The font size is all the same, this was to make the article and page look neat and tidy. The large headline ‘Harland way’ has been made bigger than the rest of the writing because I want the readers to remember that band name. The writing for the article is red and white this is to go with the colour scheme and because alternating the colours makes the page look a little more interesting. The large headline also like the ‘Inside this week’ on the contents page, has an outline and is the colour red, this is because it is the main aspect of the page. The pull quote has being placed on the double page spread so that the reader can see what the band member has said within the article. As you can see from the image of the double page spread above, the start letter of every question and answer spells out the band name, this was done because I thought it would give a good affect and make it look interesting. At the end of the article, just like a real music magazine there is the name of the photographer, report and the by line.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
The media product that I have created, is an indie rock music magazine that goes by the name SESSION. It is stereotypically aimed at people between the ages of 15 and 25 who have an interest in indie rock music. The magazine is also aimed at both genders as males and females have interests in indie rock music. The magazine provides them with the latest stories on their favourite and upcoming artists, supplying them with everything they need to know. As the price of this magazine is £2.50 it affordable for anyone in social economic groups. The model on the front cover has being designed to look the way he does to attract an indie rock audience. I've put him in clothes which i believe will help me do that! I put him in a rather plain white t-shirt, dark hoodie with a snapback cap with his hood up. This was done so that i could represent him as being edgy and a little rough. In my opinion this appears to make him look indie. Even though we cannot see this, he doe shave his hands on his hoodie pockets, this was done so that I could make him look laid back and look a little like he didn't care about the photo been shot. But I have realised that because the audience cannot see that he has his hands in his pockets, this isn't able to be seen on the cover. The colours on the front cover, contents and double page spread are all the same. I wanted to use white, red and black colour scheme to give a certain image. This image was that the magazine was pretty dark, rebellious and edgy. As my music magazine is an indie rock magazine, I would most definitely not have the likes of Beyonce or even an old woman as the main image and article. This is because they are no where near indie enough. Beyonce is a Pop/RnB artist, she would be on the cover of magazine such as 'W Music Magazine' and 'Billboard'. These types of magazines contain artists like Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Rihanna. On previous published copies of this magazine, the look they are going for looks completely different to the look I was going for. 'Billboard' and 'W' magazines look bright and bursting with colour, whereas my indie rock magazine is a lot more dark and dim.
What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
A media institution is an established, often-profit based organisation, which deals in the creation and distribution of advertising, entertainment and information services.
IPC Media produces over 60 iconic media brands, with print alone reaching almost two thirds of UK women and 42% of UK men, almost 26 million UK adults, while their websites collectively reach over 20 million users every months .IPC's diverse print and digital portfolio offers something for everyone, with a focus on three core audiences: men, mass market women and upmarket women.
They publish popular magazines such as NME which has become a truly unique multi-platform media proposition. Across the magazine, nme.com, NMETV, NME Radio and the brand's live events and awards, NME reaches over one million music fans every week. NME is the longest published and most respected music weekly in the world. Marie Claire which is a compelling media destination that combines provocative features and outstanding fashion to inspire women who want to think smart and look amazing. Look which is the fast-paced, glamorous, glossy high street fashion and celebrity weekly for young women. It has a unique mix of up-to the-minute affordable fashion, high street shopping advice, celebrity style and news, coupled with thought provoking real life. They publish many more which you can be linked to by the website provided above.
As IPC are a very popular publishing company, I would love them to publish SESSION music magazine because they would be able to provide shops and newsagents with my magazine, this way it could become a well known music magazine. Although IPC publish other popular magazines such as NME (New Musical Express) I believe my magazine will be its rival as it contain everything NME have to offer and more.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
In planning I decided that my music magazine was going to be target at both males and females who are between the ages of 15 and 25. As the magazine is aimed at any one in the social economic groups, it's being put at a reasonable and affordable price of £2.50. I would not target this magazine at younger children, for example, children between the ages of 7 -14. This is because some of the articles within the magazine would contain some traces of bad language. My music magazine also wouldn't be aimed at elderly people, this is because it may not be their style in music.
This audience feedback was collected by doing questionnaires and handing them out around the college, the questions were given to both males and females.
Psychographic profile
SESSION Readers spend:
£170 on footwear per year
£600 on clothes per year
£1200 on audio equipment per year
27% own a digital camera
£170 on a digital camera
Buy an average of 6 DVDs and CD's per year
Spend £70 on DVD's and CD's per year
Internet
92% use the internet
77% use broadband
On average they spend 2.5hours a day
Consoles
£196 spent on consoles in the past year
£109 spent on console games
89% receive digital TV or satellite signal
SESSION readers agree that:
They spend a lot of money on clothing and shoes - 52%
That it is important to be well informed and up to date - 92%
It's worth paying extra for better valued items - 71%
They like to try new activities - 75%
How did you attract/address your target audience?
The price of SESSION appeals to my audience as it is placed at a reasonable and affordable price of £2.50. Previously I did a survey which asked potential buyers and readers what price they would be prepared to pay for a high quality, weekly music magazine. Other music magazines are rougly around the same price, some are even more expensive. Some can range up to the price of £5+. There is a chance for the audience to win prizes and competitions. The competition includes a chance to win backstage passes to the Cream fields festival 2012. The magazine also provides its audience with information on the coming up festivals and events, lets them know what acts are performing and what the dates are. Within the magazine there are reviews, interviews and free stuff. The free stuff includes posters of indie rock artists and competitions for the audience to get involved in. Another factor on the magazine that appeals to the audience, it the main image on the cover, he has the skater boy, indie look, this is how some young teenage boys dress at the moment, so this way he could attract them to the magazine. Because The model is also a good looking young teen, girls may also be attracted the magazine because he is on the front of it. To attract my audience I also included popular bands and festivals on the front cover. I did this so that fellow festival lovers would want to take a look inside to see when the dates are and what the prices were.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
To produce and edit my media music magazine and photographs I used Adobe Photoshop CS5. When using this I came across many difficulties as I was new to using it. But over the weeks I have learnt how to use Photoshop and have being able to produce my final pieces of media work, these include my college magazine which was the preliminary task and my full music magazine. Whilst using Photoshop I have come across many tools needed to produce this magazine. These include the 'quick selection tool' which I used to select images to transfer and edit, the 'blur tool' which I used to go around the edges of my photographs to make the edges look smooth and clean, the 'transform/scale' which I used to change the size of images and text, I also used the 'spot fix' tool, this gets rid of any blemishes or marks which you do not want on the image, the 'layer style' tool, I used this so that I could get an outline around my text which is on the front cover around 'LUKE BOLTON' and on my double page spread which is around the word 'HARLAND WAY' and I also used the 'gaussian blur tool' I used this so that i could give my models flawless skin. To change the contrast and brightness of my photographs I used the panel which enables you to change the brightness, darkness, contrast and generally edit the way your image looks. Each of these tools have being a great help when making my magazine look to its best. To take my photographs I used a digital camera. The image quality of the photographs from using this camera is really good, the images look sharp and bright.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Looking back at my preliminary task, which was the college magazine, to my final product of the music magazine, there has been a huge improvement in design skills and technical skills.
When producing the college magazine I was no were near as confident when using Adobe Photoshop CS5 as I am now after producing the music magazine. As we can see from the images below there had been a big improvement.
LIIAR analysis of Session Music Magazine
Language –
Front cover
The colours between both these music magazines, Session and Vibe are very similar. I based the design of my music magazine on the one next to it in the insert (Vibe). This was because I found the colour scheme and design layout of Vibe magazine, to be very interesting and also cool and edgy. Even though the genres of these two magazines are different, the colour scheme fits well with them both. I definitely needed to date and give my magazine an issue number. Just like every other music and normal magazine would. This is so that the readers know what issue it is and the day it’s been posted and put on sale. My teaser is placed in the bottom left hand corner ‘You asked the questions’ this was used so that the reader felt like the magazine was talking to them ‘YOU’. The teaser is also a screamer, I have used an exclamation mark to show this. On many magazines the price is placed around the barcode, issue number and date. As like those magazines I have done the same. This is because I wanted my magazine to feel and look real. My main feature was placed just under the masthead on the third left. It was placed her so that it was clear for the reader to see. It’s also in a different colour. The words ‘LUKE BOLTON’ are in red with a white outline, to make it bold and clear. The information underneath the main feature is in white, this was so the reader would know which feature was the main feature. My anchorage to explain my main image is also the main feature, as the model and main star of the magazine is Luke Bolton. To emphasise the winning of Creamfields festival I have highlighted it with a red graphic. This is so the reader can recognise it. My main image is a medium close up. It helps the page look more interesting. It can add understanding of a story or entice someone to read the magazine. The banner of this music magazine, shows which festivals are on over the summer. I have done this to draw readers and customers in, preferable festival lovers, as this magazine is all about live performances and live music.
Contents page
As like the front cover, I did the same to the contents page, as I made sure that the issue number and date was also on it. The colour scheme has continued onto this page as I wanted it to stay the same to give that same cool and edgy affect through the three pages. Just like a real published music magazine I chose to put an editor’s paragraph, this was done to show who the editor was and how the magazine was getting along. The editor’s paragraph contains how the sales are going, how the readers view the magazine and the future of the magazine. The contents page contains live reviews, interviews, festivals, freebies, albums and contacts for the readers if they wish to speak and contact a member of the magazine production. There are three images on the contents page two of which are the same but reflected, this has been done so that it gives the effect of an illusion, this is so that the magazine looks appealing and interesting. Underneath this image is a caption so that the reader knows why and where its been taken. The other image is of the editor, this is just a small insert which is placed on the bottom right hand corner. The masthead for the contents page has been done in a dark red with a white outline so that it stands out to the reader. Carrying on from the front cover I have also added the date and issue number to this page.
Double page spread
As like the previous two pages, the colour scheme has still carried on because I wanted to keep it the same. An introduction/lead has been created so that the reader knows the basic outline of what the article is about. The font size is all the same, this was to make the article and page look neat and tidy. The large headline ‘Harland way’ has been made bigger than the rest of the writing because I want the readers to remember that band name. The writing for the article is red and white this is to go with the colour scheme and because alternating the colours makes the page look a little more interesting. The large headline also like the ‘Inside this week’ on the contents page, has an outline and is the colour red, this is because it is the main aspect of the page. The pull quote has being placed on the double page spread so that the reader can see what the band member has said within the article. As you can see from the image of the double page spread above, the start letter of every question and answer spells out the band name, this was done because I thought it would give a good affect and make it look interesting. At the end of the article, just like a real music magazine there is the name of the photographer, report and the by line.
Ideology – The UK’s newest rapid selling music magazine, Session is an edgy, live music provider for all the indie rock lovers. The magazine sits at the heart of the cross-platform brand that discovers great music and talent. The Session brand is due to go worldwide and have a huge reputation in other countries. The quality of this magazine is great, it has everything music lovers need. This reputation is extended not only through the magazine but also across online, radio, TV and on into Session's unique events.
Institutions – The editor of Session Music Magazine is India Whiteley. With Session I feel it has more an aim to entertain and inform rather than just talk about music. I feel a magazine which reviews charts and new releases would be a more informative magazine however Session includes articles such as stories from Harldway, who are a new Indie Rock band as well as other artists such as Paramore and Kings of Leon.
Audience – In planning I decided that my music magazine was going to be target at both males and females who are between the ages of 15 and 25. As the magazine is aimed at any one in the social economic groups, it's being put at a reasonable and affordable price of £2.50. I would not target this magazine at younger children, for example, children between the ages of 7 -14. This is because some of the articles within the magazine would contain some traces of bad language. My music magazine also wouldn't be aimed at elderly people, this is because it may not be their style in music.
Representation – This particular music magazine represents a young, fresh and new indie rock band. They come across in the magazine as being cool and edgy. This magazine cover represents indie fans and what they love and who are passionate about music. They show pictures of the latest gigs and have reviews on them and interviews with band members, also they have pictures of bands and information about upcoming gigs and how to get your hands on tickets, it’s mainly a positive representation.
