Evaluation

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

Throughout my media coursework I have referred back to real media products like 'Q' magazine. I chose this magazine because it is a modern and fresh music magazine read by hundreds of people. It's gives a comprehensive coverage of the current music scene, while not forgetting the trends of the past. The target audience for 'Q' is round 16 plus, due to the variety of music they cover. I thought that my idea for my magazine would be around the same target audience because of the content of the magazine.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine represents ages from 16 plus. It does this by advertising a range of music. From fresh and upcoming artist to older artists such as Elton John, Tina Turner and The Beatles.

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

IPC Media - IPC Media produces over 60 iconic media brands, with print alone reaching almost two thirds of UK women and 42% of UK man - almost 26 million UK adults. 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.

Conde Nast - Conde Nast Publications is a worldwide magazine publishing company. It's portfolio is grouped into 8 sectors: 1)Fashion and lifestyle 2)Home 3)Bridal 4)Golf 5)Food 6)Travel 7)Technology 8)Culture.

Emap - Emap started as a local newspaper company in 1947. Sixty years on, it produces over 150 consumer magazines and distributes them to a global audience. Emap Consumer Media comprises the majority of the portfolio, publishing 70 titles from FHM and Heat to Closer, Empire, Max Power, Angling Times and Today's Golfer. The portfolio is grouped into six sectors: 1)Special interest titles 2)Automotive titles 3)Young Women's titles 4)Entertainment and style titles 5)Celebrity and women's weekly titles 6)Music Magazines.

National Magazine Company - Nat Mags (National Magazine Company) publishes 19 magazines in total in the UK. Their main magazines are: Cosmopolitan, Esquire, Good Housekeeping, Country Living, Harper's Bazaar, Men's Health, Company, House Beautiful and Runner's World.

I think my magazine 'Wave' will best published by Emap because they have a sector dedicated to Music Magazines. They have experience in publishing music magazines like Kerrang!, Mojo, Q, Mixmag and Sneak. Considering I produced my magazine around 'Q' magazine I think that Emap will be best suited to publishing my magazine.

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

I feel that I have included more research into my full product. I took more time into researching different magazines and images to influence my idea's for my final design. Whereas in my preliminary task I just took the pictures without researching them first.

Evaluation of Contents Page

Again, when speaking to the specialists they didn't have much to say about it. They suggested to make the outlining of the images less think and maybe make them grey. I tried it in grey and thinner black. The thinner black looked better because it fitted in more with the colour theme.

Evaluation of Front Cover

The media specialists really liked my front cover and didn't have much criticism about it. All they said to change was to move to 'BEST' section at the top right over slightly to the right to be out of her face a little more. They thought the colouring worked really well and having her head centre of the page was a bonus. They also liked how I had edited away the writing on the top to create a more bold background for the writing.

Evaluation of Double Page Spread

The specialist told me to put more information at the bottom and fill in the top right space which something. I suggested a quotation from the interview. They agreed. So I filled the top right space with a quotation. I also put more information at the bottom and I made the font smaller as when printed the font was rather big on the first copy.

I am really happy with my final double page spread.

Feedback, Reviews and Evaluation

We had specialist come in to talk to us about our magazines. Steve Priddell and Rowland Cowley from UWE. They said that my front cover was really good but to move the 'BEST' on the front cover to the right to get more out of the face.

For the double page spread they said to put more writing in because there wasn't much information there. So I made the font smaller so I could add more information in. I added in the start of the interview to add more writing. They said to make three columns but there wasn't enough room so I just made the font smaller and added more information in.

For the contents page they said to make the line thinner and maybe change the colour to grey.

My friends and family have all said that the magazine looks really good. It looks professional and that they would buy it.

I'm really pleased with the outcome of my magazine and I definitely would do it again if I had the opportunity.

Contents

I decided to make my contents page quite busy and full because my double page spread doesn't have that much on it.

I wanted the main story to be big and cover most the page. So I chose another image from the photoshoot which I hadn't already used.

I wanted the top bracket to be big and bold. So I decided to keep to the colour scheme from the font page. Black, white and red. The black colouring really emphasises the red underneath and makes the important bits stand out.

Front Cover

I really like the front cover. This is my first draft. I decided the name by thinking of other words for music. I then though of waves as in sound waves. I liked it because it's a play on words.

I wanted a close-up shot for my front cover. I imported this image I had taken and then edited it to get rid of the writing/logo on the top because I had overlapping words which looked messy. I then printing on top 'Viktoria Modesta' which is the main article in the magazine.

I decided the price £2.90 because most magazines are between £2 and £3. I think my magazine would be high up in the price bracket because it has high quality images and information in it.

I really like the colour scheme. The red, black and white goes really well. I was told to keep the colouring simple which I think I have achieved.

The image portrays everything I wanted it to do. 'Rock Chick'. She looks fierce and fearless.

I think that is what my target audience would be. 'Fierce and Fearless'.

Double Page Spread

This is my second draft of my final double page spread. I had already researched double page spreads and had made a mock up one. I now have my pictures so I imported it into the file. I really like the page. The image is really eye-catching and the writing is big bold and the right kind of font.

The only thing I need to change is the red underlining under the word 'Modesta' because I print screened it before word checking.

'Rock Chick' Photoshoot

I really happy with the outcome of the photoshoot. I told my model that I wanted a 'Rock Chick' look and we styled her clothing according to that and also having inspiration from 'Jessie J'. We did her make-up dark and gothic to reinforce the effect of rock.

My favourite photo is the last one because of the colouring in the photo. All the dark colouring makes it feel harsh and rocky. Also her facial expression is perfect for the look I was going for. I changed the saturation and sharpness to create the sharp edges. I think this photo will be perfect for my double page spread.

The second last photo I tried to make it a different story for the magazine but the angle of the camera didn't work. However I still like the composition of the image. With the magazines surrounding the model making it look like a music magazine page.

I think I will use the 6th image for my front cover as it is an extreme close up and the facial expression tells us everything we need to know. 'Rock Chick'.

I haven't yet decided which one to use for my contents page. I will probably use a number of images for the contents page though.

Front Cover Image Research

I really wanted to create a 'Rock Chick' look and feel for my magazine. Edgy colours and clothing was what I wanted to find. I searched for 'rock chick' in google and found some images.

Some of the images don't represent the complete 'Rock Chick' look but I still like the composition of the photo.

I really like the bold colours in this photograph. Especially the red background matching with the red lips. The colour red also represents 'sexy and revealing' which is almost what this picture is trying to convey.

It's not exactly a 'rock chick' look but I like the colour scheme and interesting mise-en-scene.

I really like this photo. Although it isn't a rock chick look it still has the colour scheme I am looking for. With the bold red and black. Simple colour scheme is good. I like how she is sat. Laid back and chilled. However I don't think this is the right kind of image for my magazine.

Although this image doesn't have the red, black and white colour scheme this is the kind of image I am looking for. Fearless, dangerous 'rock chick'. I like the way she is holding the guitar and that the colours match her outfit and hairstyle. I want to try and re-create this image, but with my colour scheme of red, black and white.

This is my favourite image out of all of them. It shows a girl who is fearless and ready for anything. I like the colour scheme too but I would add a dash more red in the lips and nails. I would also try and get some red shoes in at the bottom of the image. I like the simplistic feel of it. With the white background and the black clothing this is a perfect image for my front cover or double page spread.

Contents Page Reviews

I really like this contents page because of the big main picture which is the main article for the magazine. The page is almost minimal but still contains the relevant information.

I like how the page still has the 'Q' in the corner still representing the magazine.

I really like the simplicity of this contents page. With

mainly the title 'ICONS'

and the image covering the page and only showing the important information and pages.

Magazine Research

I decided to go for a female readership target audience because I know more about the female audience. So I decided to research my current favourite artist which I could base my article on, 'Jessie J'.

She is an upcoming British Female Artist who currently has a number one song, 'Price Tag'.

She is popular and fresh which is why I have chosen her to focus on.

She has her own style which I have been inspired to choose for my magazine.

Idea's for Double Page Spread

I want my magazine to be about a 'rock chick' so thought it would be a good idea to have the main double page spread about the new upcoming rock chick of the season.

This is one of my idea's for my double page spread in the music magazine. I like the simple colours of black and white with a little dash of gold to give it a little sparkle.

There is minimal information about the article but this is how I want it to be, simplistic and clean.

I like the effect of Font I have used. It's called 'Cracked' which resembles the artist, Viktoria Modesta, that she has 'cracked' the public and is now breaking through with her debut album and singles.

I need to get my own picture for my background but this is the information I will be using.

Front Cover Research of 'Q'

I really like the contrasting colours of black, white and red used in the front cover. Especially the use of red lipstick to match the some of the writing and the background of the 'Q'. I like how the background image covers the whole page and the writing is over the top of the image. I think I will use this idea for my front cover.

I like the use of the blue theme in the front cover. Especially the arrows matching the 'beast'. I also like the bold highlighted writing at the bottom of the cover. It's very eye-catching and the matching colours of the puma's is really effective.

I like how both of the front covers have the circle on the right hand side advertising the next best article in the magazine. It's very eye-catching.

Double Page Spread Research of 'Q' Magazine

I really like the use of the transparency within the photograph; this is because it helps create detail and emphasis’ the importance of the individual artist. It also makes him more vibrant and eye-catching. The postures of the band are very stern and up right, this gives the impression that they are very serious and grown up.

All the artists are in similar clothing, within the same shades of colours and textures. This is emphasised throughout the page by the way in which the colours used are of the same font colour used.

I especially like how the text is all placed to one side away from the rest of the image. I like this as it doesn’t over crowd the detail and importance that is revealed through the picture.

The feature of three members of the band have had their transparency in the image adjusted so that they don’t stand out as much, whereas one of the men has been made slightly brighter; this suggests to the audience that he may be the main focus of the article. He is also the only member in a different colour clothing, for example the three members at the back are all dressed in grey, black and white colours which match the majority of the texts whereas, the artist on his own is dressed in gold which is only used once within the text. This text states ‘Will he’, this suggests to the reader that this may be written about him as it shows a link between the two in terms of colour and shading, as they both stand out from the rest of the uniformed colours.

I also like the simplicity of the pages, for example there aren;’t any bright and over powering colours. This helps create a sophisticated impression as bright colours suggest fun and child like excitement. I also like the black highlighted text suggesting that it is a vital bit of information that needs to be read immediately by the audience. Looking at the text, I like how the questions are in a slightly bolder text than the answers, this helps break the text up and makes it a lot clearer for the audience to read, I will refer to this idea when producing my magazine.

Final Magazine Cover

This is my school magazine final cover. I used bright bold colours to catch people's attention. I chose the name 'Strive' because it has the correct meaning. To do well, and to you strive to succeed. I used the big main picture because it has students smiling making the front cover positive and energetic. "Together we make the difference" is the school's slogan. It goes well with the magazine name 'Strive'.

I've had good feedback about my front cover. People have said they like the colouring and the mosaic bit in the centre with the different images.

Others have said that there could be more writing but it's also nice with just images.

Photographs

I took these photographs for my front cover of my magazine. I wanted to capture students working and enjoying themselves. My main area was the library so I could get pictures of students working. I then wanted to get some students having fun, so I found some sixth form students to have a picture. I also liked the idea of the pupil receptionist. I think I will have the sixth form students as my main photo on the front cover because it portrays the enthusiasm in school. I will then have the other images on my front cover to show what will be inside.

Front Cover Designs

I used my research to get to this idea. I liked the main photograph as the background and then overlapping pictures that are the inside topics. I want to have a classy looking magazine.

This was my second idea. I liked the idea of having the magazine name down the left hand side as none of my magazines I researched had this. I still wanted to carry on the idea of the overlapping images.

Researching ideas for a front cover

When researching school magazine covers I decided to select magazines from the same age group and tried to collect the same type of information. I chose these four magazine covers because they are all different in quality, quantity but yet they all still convey the same message, which is portraying the correct feel and environment for the school. Two of the magazine covers have a selection of photographs to enable the reader to see what is going to be in the magazine, I like this idea and I think I will use it on my magazine cover.

Marlwood School - September 2010

The masthead consists of the colours of the school uniform which adds to the effect of the magazine name. Also it is edited to symbolise the magazine name, (grapevine). The bold writing in white makes it stand out from the background picture. It's a current picture which shows it's up to date. It has the school slogan at the bottom right of the magazine cover. The little pictures overlapping the front cover shows what is going to be in the magazine content.

Catholic Memorial High School - Fall 2008

The happy smiley faces on the cover makes it seem that the school is a happy environment to be in. Also having the different age groups on the front it makes you feel welcome. The sophisticated colours add to the effect of a well maintained school. The bold white writing with the shadow makes it stand out more, this is the main point on the cover. The main headline in the magazine is advertised on the front cover and it tells you where to find the information.

The Castle School - Contact, Spring 2010

The bright, friendly colours make you feel welcome and makes you want to read the magazine. The different pictures on the front let you know what is happening and tells gives you a preview of the magazine content. I like this idea because it's a bright and interesting way of telling the reader the information in the magazine. The big bold white writing makes it stand out and is eye catching to the reader.

Mercy High School - Fall 2008

The masthead is bright and bold it is edited to make the it look like a mosaic, fine cut edges. The school logo is also on the front and the information tells you what is inside the issue. The bright colourful image represents the attitudes of the pupils and staff and also shows that the school life should be enjoyable.