Evaluation Task 7Josh Stobart

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

products? My media product uses various different media techniques which challenges forms of real media

products. For example I have used a colour scheme which stands out against other magazines. The black and orange colour scheme used contrasts and stands out against everything else. I take advantage of using these colours by having my more eye catching cover lines in bright orange. On magazines such as NME it uses bold text, so I have developed on this idea by using a bold cover line, and then having other, brightly coloured text relating to it around it. This will further catch the reader’s attention over another magazine on the shelf.

Also, throughout the magazine in the contents, I used the rule of thirds, which challenges current magazines as Q, which uses rules of thirds, however, the thirds overlap onto each other where as mine are separated which gives the reader a clear layout for them to read. On my double page spread, I used contrasting colours in order to allow the text to stand out. This also gives a layout so the reader knows where to start reading. The images which are used have been placed strategically to make the article the main part of the spread. The way that I have positioned the two pictures at the top of the page are slanted to give an informal look which corresponds to the genre which the magazine is based on, a more informal, younger genre.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My media product represents particular social groups in various ways, the main artist featured is a young white male. The article is based around him and also about his early life. So this shows that dubstep is aimed at young white males. My magazine represents this by using a young white male on the cover, contents and double page spread.

The genre may represent a middle class socio economic status, as the aimed to young adults, such as students. My magazine represents this by using bright colours and colours associated with a younger audience, such as orange and light blue.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

IPC Media may be an appropriate distributor for my product for various reasons.

Firstly, they publish over 60 well known magazines so they are a reliable publisher who is experienced in the magazine industry. As they already distribute 60 magazines, they will have currently have contacts within the magazine business and be able to quickly get my magazine on the shelves.

Secondly, they publish magazines such as ‘NME’ which is a music magazine aimed at a younger audience on mainstream music, frequently featuring dubstep. This would help because they are more likely to publish ‘BeatMag’ if they already are experienced and profit well from these types of magazines.

What would the target audience be for your magazine?

The target audience for my magazine would be younger, socio economic class E-D, as mainly students and teenagers. Both genders would be targeted by my magazine as I feel both genders that enjoy dubstep would enjoy my magazine. I would still have to cater for older people rather than just teenagers. So I have added in images of music equipment which may appeal better to an older audience. This also makes the magazine look more professional and serious, rather than just targeted at teenagers. The images I used for the double page spread appeals to all of my target audience, as I had an image of a teenager who makes music which would catch the eye of a younger audience and I had images of music equipment to appeal better to an older audience.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I attracted my audience by using a younger artist, this allows the reader to relate to the artist, as he was a teenager. I also attracted the audience as in the images, the artist was wearing very popular and fashionable clothes. This would catch the eye of a fashionable teenager, who is my target audience.

Also, I addressed my reader by keeping the language used informal to keep with the style of the genre which the music magazine is about. I used informal language and slang throughout the magazine to relate to my target audience.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product? I have improved my understanding of using the adobe

programmes. For example I did not know how to use Photoshop or in design before creating this product. But now, I have a good understanding and I feel that I could create more media products using this software. Also, I feel that I am confident enough in order to create other types of media products other than magazines, as I learnt how to edit images in Photoshop to make them look better and appeal better to the audience.

Also, using online programmes such as blogger, I now know how to create blogs and set up online presentations. Before this media

product was created I would not have known how to do so.

Cover Page, made with Photoshop

I started off by making the background boxes for the text to go in, so that I could work around a main template. I then added in the main image into the page, which I moved around before finding the final place. Once the main image was in place I started to add in text and pull quotes to allow the page to look more professional.

Contents Page, made with indesign

I started off by making the background boxes for the text to go in, so that I could work around a main template. I then added in the main image into the page, which I moved around before finding the final place. Once the main image was in place I started to add in the contents features and then the rest of the text into the page.

Double page spread, made with indesign

To begin, I put in the 4 images around the page, so I could base the rest of the page around them, I placed the 2 above slanted as I felt it gives a informal look, I then added in a main background colour and then the main image. The rest of the text was added in around the page too work with the pictures. I used a text wrap around the images so that the text could fit on the page and also relate to the images, it looks more professional in this way.

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

full product?

Overall, I feel that I have improved my understanding of media technologies and tools and that I and now much more confident when it

comes to creating media products. I also feel that since the preliminary task I have learnt skills which will allow me to relate better to my target

audience. I also feel that I understand genre conventions more and stereotypes etc. finally, I feel that I am now able to produce professional

quality media products which relate to what the audience will want to see.