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

The masthead is in the top left corner (left third) which is typical of many other magazines.

The image is to the left keeping the face in the left third and takes up the whole of the page which is consistent with many other magazines suchas Q.

The lead article is across the middle of the page and in the biggest size font for emphasis and attention like on the cover of We Love Pop.

There is barcode, price and issue number all included in a banner across the bottom of the page which also includes 2 other regular articles- again for emphasis.

Another feature article is included on the cover and in the left third this is so it can be seen on a shop shelf with other magazines.

There is a flash box which includes another feature article.

Masthead

Regulars and Features columns.

A small editors note and linking image is common in most magazines.

This box explains where to subscribe and follow the magazine. It also asking readers to leave comments on the Facebook and Twitter page for the magazine. Many other magazines do this and also an editors note.

Like many other magazines I included my masthead on my Contents page, this reminds the audience of what they are reading and hopefully wont forget it!

I tried to keep a balanced ratio of text to images. I didn’t want it to look too overloaded with either. I separated the two columns; regulars and features, which is common in most magazine, for example in Q magazine.

I used a speech bubble to emphasise my lead article and relating original artwork next to it to draw attention to the artist.

On my DPS I included the masthead again which can be seen in the corner of Q.

Similarly to most magazines I formatted the body copy into columns like many other magazines such as Mojo magazine. Like Mojo I used two pieces of artwork that have taken up the whole of both pages, it makes the page more interesting and readers can always refer back to the image when reading. I used a drop cap at the start of the first sentences on each of the pages, this is common feature in many magazine.

Both the images I have used show the quirkiness of the artist and with the added swallow silloheutte it gives a fun and different edge to the artwork.

Question 2.How does your magazine represent particular social groups?

When creating an artist and choosing a model I thought about the sort of female artists that I wanted to base my artist on. Women like Rihanna and Lana Del Rey inspired my artist, I wanted her to be different, independent, have her own style and represent women from the ages of 16 to 21. Rihanna and Lana Del Rey are very popular female artists, they come across as serious artists but also as happy, fun-loving women. I think the images of my artist represent this well.

When taking the photos of my artist I used an umbrella as a prop to add an element of fun but wanted to show her seriousness and emotional side but also her funny, down to earth persona through her expressions. Like many other female artists such as Katy Perry and Adele, I wanted to show my artist as an independent women. I think these are all qualities my readers want so see in a female artist, especially as the artist is in their age group.

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

Having looked at Bauer Media I believe they would like to publish jukebox magazine, they publish Pop magazine which I looked into when creating my magazine. I drew upon Pop to gain ideas for jukebox and based small parts of my magazine around it, I thought the magazine was very individual and fresh which is what I wanted my magazine to represent. Bauer Media also publishes Q and Smash Hits which also helped me create aspects of my magazine. Bauer Media publishes many influential magazines and is a well know company, their magazine heritage goes back to 1953 which shows their experience. Bauer Media’s website says, ‘Bauer Media reaches over nineteen million UK adults across multiple media channels. We have more than eighty influential media brands spanning a wide range of interests.’ Bauer Media is also involved in TV and Radio stations which would make me feel confident that my magazine would be wide spread throughout each industry.

Question 4.Who would be the audience for your magazine?

I wanted to incorporate all the things that my reader profile represented about my audience so using the model/artist I did and involving fashion and gossip in the magazine I hoped to reach my target audience. My survey shows that the audience for jukebox magazine is females between the age of 14 and 21. After creating my reader profile I realised that readers didn’t just want a magazine about music, but a magazine which included gossip and fashion too. I included this in jukebox and presented info on the front cover.

I wanted my artist/model and my article for my DPS to represent teenage girls and young women, their interests and my readers to be able to relate to my artist. I wanted my artists to portray an average girl who loved her music, was independent and a role model.

Question 5.Audience feedback.

The results from my survey show that those who would read my magazine are 14-21 years of age and the majority are females which reinforces who my target audience is.

The feedback from my survey shows that just over 70% of those who completed my survey thought it was fresh and different. One participant left the answer ‘chic!’ Another top answer was exciting, these results show that the uniqueness and individuality of my magazine is welcome by readers and has worked successfully to gain its target audience.

When creating my magazine and my reader profile I wanted to incorporate fashion and gossip into both. 100% of those who completed my survey gave the answer Music as the top hobby/interest jukebox readers had, and closely followed by Fashion. This suggests that my intention for jukebox to include fashion and gossip has worked from my audience feedback.

The results from my survey show that the artwork and text on the front cover of jukebox appeals to my readers, however the low response to the layout suggests that it could be improved.

The contents page interests my readers through its layout and artwork, this links with the front cover as many of my readers were interested by the artwork. The masthead has a lower response of 25% which indicates that it could be improved.

From my survey we can see that again the artwork is popular with my readers. This suggests that my choice of artist/model has reached my target audience and captured the attention of them. However, the text has not appealed to my audience which again suggests it needs improvement.

Question 6.What have you learnt about technologies?

When creating my front cover I used a photo in a sepia tone, I wanted to bring out the colour so I increased the saturation of the image to enhance the sepia tone. I went to adjustments, selected hue saturation and altered the hue and saturation.

PHOTOSHOP

I learnt how to create a colour box and change its opacity whilst using Photoshop, here I made the box, filled it with colour and used the opacity tool to give it a faded look. I have used this twice on the front cover and on the contents page.

I used the opacity tool on the coloured boxes so they emphasised the text.

Question 7.What have you learnt?

This is my college magazine from the start of my AS media course. I can see that I have made a massive improvement from then. I can now use Photoshop confidently and produce more professional looking work and use the tools properly. My artwork, text and effects are much better and I have used more tools like changing the opacity and altering hue saturation. I have learnt about the conventions of magazines and have incorporated them into my music magazine to give it a more professional look. Overall jukebox magazine is more eye-catching and professional.