Final Project EvaluationFinal Project Evaluation

Vicki Dempsey

1. In what ways does your media product 1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? conventions of real media products?

My product follows conventions by having quite a simple front cover making it clear and easy to read. It also has main image that takes up the majority of the page. The colour scheme is conventional too as it is bold and involves contrasting colours which suit the type of music magazine I have chosen which is indie/rock. I used a bright streak of red which is shown throughout my magazine as it gives it something slightly different that stands out which links the images and the pages they are put on. One thing that my magazine does challenge convention with is with my double page spread as it’s not set out in the usual text and then image. This is because I used a collage affect with the images I created and then added text surrounding it.

When doing my research I found that magazines like Qkeep the front cover simple I followed this convention as I found it effective with my style and colour scheme.

2. How does you media product 2. How does you media product represent particular social groups?represent particular social groups?

It is for both male and female and for 15 – 20 year olds. For people that are into their music and like to know what’s going on in the music world. It could be for the aspiring musicians and for the fans of rock/indie music.

I would say that this magazine would mostly reach the male audience just because in this genre of music there seems to be more male bands and artists but this doesn’t mean that female artists and bands wouldn’t be included

3. What kind of media institution might 3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?distribute your media product and why?

It could be advertised online on social networking sites like Bebo, Facebook and Blogger which means it will reach its target audience worldwide as it’s mainly teens and people in their early twenties that use it, which would be ideal if it was sold worldwide. Also getting it mentioned on the radio and maybe on music download sites for example iTunes, as this immediately targets music listeners. Short adverts on music channels would also be ideal as again it targets the audience directly. My magazine could be printed by an already well known publisher, this could draw in attention and also the other magazines of a similar audience they produce could advertise my productas well.

Well it is for 15-20 year olds mainly as it indie/rock music which is mostly from this generation so I thought this would be suitable. My product also includes images of the kind of bands that would exist in this kind of magazine it also gives the kind of information a reader would want for example “Gig dates” and new tours basic information that would be expected from a music magazine by its audience. Other magazines such as Q and Kerrang were my inspiration and so I have a similar audience to them.

4. Who would be the audience 4. Who would be the audience for your media product?for your media product?

5. How did you attract/address your 5. How did you attract/address your audience? audience?

The kind of language used in my product was very informal so that is comfortable to read as it’s how the audience would talk. My product has a large image of a well known band on the front to entice the reader and there a few other articles mentioned e.g. “new gig dates” which makes the audience want to read more. The type phase style and size is fun so are interesting and eye catching.

6. What have you learnt about technologies 6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the from the process of constructing the

product?product? I have learnt how to use the computer to edit images to how I want them such as altering colours and cutting them out from unwanted background. I have also learnt how to use the social networking site Blogger which I have posted all of my work on. I have also expanded my photography skills by choosing different shots.

Problems with the computer: sometimes the program couldn’t do exactly what I wanted so I would have to alter my idea. Also the photos resolution was altered and became weaker once resized and added it into a program. I also had issues with posting my work as I didn’t always post it when I did it and may have got added later after I may have posted something else meaning things weren’t in order.

7. Looking back to your preliminary task, what do 7. Looking back to your preliminary task, what do you feel that you have learnt in the progression you feel that you have learnt in the progression

from it to the full product?from it to the full product?

I learnt how to make the overall appearance more professional. I also found sites on the Internet that I could use to create my text and the design of my magazine names. I have looked a huge range of photographs of bands and artists and try to take how their photos are taken into account when producing my own. I have looked at many different examples of different genres of magazines to understand what their conventions where and then tried to incorporate that into my final product. This was all done when I was researching.

I also think that I have learnt how to use and manage my time when doing specific things when doing the planning and understanding how real magazines companies design produce and sell a product.

I feel that I have made a more than adequate effort whilst making my magazine I also enjoyed creating it and gaining new skills along the way.