AS Media Studies

EvaluationJennifer Griffin

In what ways does your

media product use, develop

or challenge forms and

conventions of real media

products?

My magazine incorporates generic conventions which I became familiar with through the convention tasks I did

such as many different analysis of magazines.

Link to my first magazine analysis

Left third Direct address

Barcode

Date line

and price

Cover lines

frame model

Constant colour

scheme

Centre

model

Url

I used existing magazines to familiarise myself with the codes and conventions of magazine covers, looking at music magazines in particular. I concentrated the most on Rolling Stones magazine which taught me how to lay out my page.

Through this I learnt about the ‘left third’ of the page and how that is where your masthead should be to make your magazine recognisable when on the shelves. I also realised that many of the models are using ‘direct address’ to make the magazine feel more personal to the reader. I made sure that my model was looking directly at the camera to gain a connection with the audience. I laid out the barcode and price and all other common features in a similar way to other magazines so that the attention isn’t necessarily drawn to them. I also ensured that my main cover line stood out to draw in the attention and point out why the cover star is being featured.

I wanted to make my cover lines ‘frame’ my model like on

many of the Rolling Stones covers. I also brought my model

in front of the masthead as the masthead should be easily

recognisable even if partly covered and it brought all of the

attention to the cover star as she is the main attraction.

I stuck to a colour scheme as this is what I have observed

from other magazines, they stick to a ‘house style’ so the

cover doesn’t look over the top and so all attention is drawn

to the model.

My main influence was Rolling Stone magazine. I did the

most research into this magazine and I adopted many styles

from it.

Link to research into Rolling Stone magazine

All of the models on the cover of these magazines looked

very glamorous and girly which is the look I went for on my

cover. They are framed by the cover lines and the majority

of the models are based in the centre of the page which is

what I did.

Contents page

I drafted my contents page and I decided to stick to the same style because I liked the simplicity.

Link to draft contents page

I learnt from my research that there was always a main star as the focal point so I ensured that the centre image stood out the most.

Contents page analysis

I kept to a simple colour scheme and kept to the same style font to keep it looking neat and like the other types of magazines in this genre.

Double page

My first proper influence was NME magazine as they had

the model on the one side with the interview on the other

which is a simple style that I liked.

NME magazine analysis

I then looked in Q, and it had a double page spread very

similar in the style I wanted.

Q magazine analysis

How does your media product

represent particular social

groups?

My magazine is focused towards young women, similar to

‘Rolling Stone’ magazine.

My cover star looks sweet and innocent looking and is

dressed in black clothing to look classy and stylish.

One of the support artists is very happy looking,

representing her as being a stereotypical bubbly, easy-going

teenager.

What kind of media institution

might distribute your media

product and why?

Bauer media is a distribution company that produces

magazines such as Rolling Stone, Q magazine and Kerrang!

and I feel that this company would distribute Harmony. As

Rolling Stone is my main inspiration, I looked into their

distributer and decided that as they have the same target

audience it may fit in.

Bauer Media - Rolling Stone Magazine

This company overall is modernised and would best support

my magazine for young music fans.

Who would be the audience for

your media product?

My magazines target audience is young females around the

ages of late teens/early twenties. The magazine is aimed

around this age group as it is girly and feminine.

How did you attract/address

your audience?

My masthead 'Harmony’ is a music related name which

shows that it is a music magazine which will attract music

lovers. It is a simple name that can easily be remembered

and it also sounds modern and unique compared to other

magazines.

My colours are pastel colours which will appeal to young

women as they are classy, feminine and girly. They are also

fairly bright colours that are more likely to be associated

with teenagers and young women as they are bubbly and

fun. I kept a colour scheme to keep it looking neat and

mature but not boring.

The images used are all of people within the age range of

the target audience so the readers can relate to them and it

makes the magazine feel more personal. The main star is a

young female who is very attractive and who young women

may aspire to be like as not only is she beautiful, but she is

starting a successful career in music. She looks sweet and

approachable so it gives the magazine an innocent vibe as

oppose to edgy. The use of direct address also makes the

magazine seem more personal and makes the readers feel

more connected with the cover star.

What have you learnt about

technologies from the process

of constructing the product?

Blogger

Blogger is an easy way to display my work and research into

my media product. It is simple to use and laid out in a

presentable, easy accessible way. I liked this method of

storing and organising my work as I can go back and

remove or edit any previous work easily and neatly.