Final Versions

These are my final products after all of the corrections and improvments have been made.

Cover Page

Contents Page

Double Page Spread

Evaluation - Question 7

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

I have created a prezi below. Within the Prezi I have explained what I have learnt in the progression to the main task from the prelim task.

This is the link to the prezi:

http://prezi.com/r-yhei8t1tz_/evaluation-question-7/

Evaluation - Question 6

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?


Before the preliminary task I had basic understanding of Photoshop and Illustrator in order to produce media products. During this time, I was also gaining some knowledge in photography and how to take photos at a professional level. My lack of photography knowledge can be seen in the lack of studio shots from the preliminary task. However, at the start of the main task I had a much stronger knowledge of InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator. My skills in photography had also rapidly grown in the lead up to the Main task. At the start of this task, I had a stronger knowledge and was able to produce a much stronger finished product. 


Through looking over my preliminary task and with the help of my fellow pupils, I feel that I have got a much stronger understanding of Indesign. InDesign was used to create the layout of the magazine. After the completion of the main task, I now feel able and comfortable in creating a realistic and professional media product. From the previous preliminary task and from GCSE media, I had a basic knowledge of Illustrator. Now that I have spent some more time practising with the program, once again, I feel that I am now comfortable in creating graphics and text at a professional standard. 


My photography for this task was a lot stronger, which is shown throughout the cover, contents and double page spread. The use of the studio allowed me to manipulate the image easier in photoshop. I feel that photography itself made the product a lot stronger. An example would be the use of depth of field on the double page spread. This made the photo more intriguing and was a lot more attractive to the target audience. 


From GCSE media, I had quite a lot of knowledge of Photoshop. However, there was one aspect that I found difficult. This was changing the colour of someone's clothes, while also making sure that it looked realistic. This is why I looked on Youtube, asked teachers and fellow pupils, their way of doing this. From their knowledge, I was able to increase mine and pick the method that I felt produced the best product. An example of changing the colour, is on the contents page, I have changed the colours of someone's shirt to green. Below I have created a video showing the method that I have learnt in manipulating the picture: 

If the video does no work this is the link :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Em2xbbADwQ

Evaluation - Question 5

How did you attract/address your audience?


I have created a Wordle for each section, to show the words that the audience used to describe the work, when asked.


I asked several fellow pupils to describe in one word, what they thought made the contents, contents and double page spread, attractive to the audience. To show the words used to describe the project, I have created a wordle which shows the words, below. The larger the word is, the more it was used to describe the project.

Gaze theory

In order to attract the audience, I used a model in the key image that would represent, reflect and relate to the target audience. The model that has been used, is a male in his late teens, which is the same age as the target audience. When I asked the audience what attracted them to the magazine through gaze theory, they described the model as being attractive and this would be the reason they would purchase the magazine. This is one factor that reflects gaze theory. The model is wearing iconic clothing to the hip/hop genre, which will be similar to the clothing worn by the target audience, that are fans of hip/hop. By wearing similar clothing as the target audience, it reflects the audience, which addresses the audience and attracts them to pick the magazine up. The short hair that the model has, also reflects the hip/hop genre and so the audience. All of this allows me to take advantage of gaze theory. All of the female audience will be attracted to the model and aspire to be with someone like him. The male audience will look at the model and they will aspire to be someone like him. The Wordle above is a collection of words the audience gave when asked what shows gaze theory throughout the magazine.


Typographic Font

This Wordle shows a collection of the words the audience gave, when I asked them what it was about the font style that reflected the hip/hop genre and attract/address the audience. In order to address the audience, the font must also address the genre. The font style that has been used, is consistent throughout the magazine, this means that it is following the house style. The colours used for the tex and everything else, reflects the house style. This makes each page look neat and connected. The font reflects the stereotype of hip/hop rappers, as it's bold and it is a stereotype, that rappers are bold, strong characters. The boldness and thickness of the font is a great reflection of the hip/hop atmosphere, fans and audience. I feel that the font is a perfect reflection of the genre, which in turn is a perfect reflection of the target audience. 


Language/ writing style    

I asked the audience why the  language and writing style attracted and addressed the them and how it reflected the hip/hop genre.  I have now created a Wordle to show the words the audience described. There is colloquial language used  throughout the entire magazine. By not using formal text or literal text the language used, is closer to that used by the target audience. The use of colloquial language, means that the language is relatable to the target audience. It also means that it is easier for them to read particular articles. With the language being more understandable to the target audience, it makes the magazine more attractive to the audience. Colloquial language addresses my target audience directly. The interview also includes foul language, such as that used by the target social group. By including this type of language, it addresses the audience even more directly and makes the magazine more attractive to the audience.

Evaluation - Question 4

Who would be the audience for your media product?

In order to answer this question, I have created a video, where I have asked my fellow pupil who they think the audience for the media product would be. The questions that I asked were 'Who would be the audience for my magazine? and why do you think that?' 

Below are the videos:


Part 1:

Part 2:

Evaluation - Question 3

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

The most common institution for the music magazine to be distributed in, is a newsagents. The reason for this is because a newsagents distributes newspapers, gossip magazines, music magazines etc. everyday. As my product is a music magazine, it would be appropriate for a newsagents distribute it. I have used Photoshop above, to demonstrate the use of my magazine in the newsagents, to show how suitable and appropriate the magazine is, to be distributed by a newsagents. 


Similarly to a newsagents, a company that would distribute the magazine, would be WHSmith, as again it sells magazines on a regular basis and is a trusted company, therefore the audience would be more likely to purchase the magazines. As the product is a magazine, it means that it would be advisory to have it distributed in a well established, trusted and popular shop,  WHSmith is a one of these shops.  Again, I have used Photoshop to demonstrate my point. 

I have also looked at several media distributing companies. One that has caught my attention is 'IPC|MEDIA.' To the left, I have used Photoshop to put the IPC|MEDIA logo onto my final cover page. 


The reasons that I believe IPC|MEDIA would be a good distributer, is because they produce over 60 iconic media brands, which means that they reach a very wide audience. It is also because it is the UK's leading consumer magazine company. The company says that IPC's diverse print and digital portfolio offers something for everyone. However, they do not have any magazines of a hip/hop genre. For this reason, I believe that my magazine would be a great addition to the company. My magazine would widen the audience further and increase their profit. 


The company state they have a 'focus on three core audiences: men, mass market women and upmarket women.' My target audience falls between men and mass market women. The magazine also widens this audience slightly, giving the company a larger profit. As the company has no hip/hop magazine, instead they have punk rock and pop magazines. It means that my magazine will not have have to compete with any other top selling magazines because they are not of the same genre. Another reason that I have chosen IPC|MEDIA to distribute my magazine, is because if has partnerships with lots of large supermarkets. By having my magazine in large supermarkets, it means that a wide audience will be able to purchase the magazine, a wider audience than the magazine would get from newsagents alone.     


Link to useful IPC|MEDIA sections - http://www.ipcmedia.com/
                                                     http://www.ipcmedia.com/about/                                                                
                                                     http://www.ipcmedia.com/about/advertising/

I also wanted to look at distributors that do have hip/hop magazines and are popular. For this reason, I looked at 'XXL,' a very popular hip/hop magazine and I looked into what the distributor the magazine uses. This magazine is one of the most popular hip/hop magazines around the world and one that I researched in order to create the design for my project.




I found that the distributor for XXL was Harris Publications. To the right, I have used Photoshop to show my cover being owned by Harris Publications. 


The reason that I believe Harris Publications would also be a good distributor is because they publish over 75 titles, all of the world. It publishes a wide variety of magazines, which means that the audience is very vast. The main reason that I have chosen this distributor, is because they publish XXL, which has the same target audience as my magazine. At this moment, it is the only music magazine being published by Harris Publications. For this reason, the audience will see a new magazine and be more interested in purchasing it.


Link to Harris publications - http://www.harris-pub.com/
                                        http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harris_Publications#Music   

Evaluation - Question 2

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

In order to answer this question, a Prezi has been created, where the aspects of the magazine that represent particular social groups have been highlighted.


Below is a link to the Prezi:

http://prezi.com/cajwprhfkphc/evaluation-question-2/