Media Evaluation Laura Shannon Candidate number:Centre: 33435 Aquinas collegeAS Media StudiesOCR G321 foundation portfolio

Q1. Who would be the audience of your media product?

Primary AudienceThe results form my audience research show that the primary audience for my magazine will be males and females between the ages of 16-25.

My audience will be predominately females as 80% of my questionnaire results come under females in my audience research. However, in reality my audience of males in ratio to females will most likely be higher, as it may be coincidence that more females took the time to answer my research. This is a factor I kept to mind throughout creating my magazine, DIRT. The age range of my audience means that my audience will be primarily students and young professionals. This means that my magazine will cater for a niche audience of people who enjoy a specific genre of music and live similar specific lifestyle, this being one of enjoying partying, gigs, alcohol and most importantly have a shared love of music.

Audience research: DIRT's Primary audience age group

Age 10 - 15Age 16 - 25 Age 26 - 35Age 36 - 45

The target audience of my magazine are a readers who have a passion for rock music and the sub genres surrounding it. From my research I also found that the primary audience of the magazine shop in places such as topshop, urban outfitters and river island. This helped me base an idea of the style of the magazine and the tone that the magazine would have. Urban outfitters being one of the most popular places to shop and it being considered a more ‘indie’ and less mainstream place to shop, I decided that I would use that as the main basis of the magazine, having it predominantly rock and indie rock. But as the primary audience like places which are considered more mainstream such as river island, I decided that I would make my magazine cater for their other needs and likes and feature bands and artists which could be considered mainstream, but the reader still listens to and enjoys them, (think artists such as disclosure.)

The results of my research also define the music that is most popular with my target audience, defining the type of people my audience will tend to be. The most popular artist amongst the people In my research was artic monkeys, they then went on to say that they would like to see Alex Turner as the cover star of my magazine. My audiences second most popular artist is imagine dragons, and oasis. From these results I have concluded that my audience has a large range and variety of genres of music that they enjoy, but however enjoy genre just as much as they enjoy another. I will appeal to my target audience by show casing a large but relevant variety of artists on the cover. I aim to in The age of my primary audience is relatively young and I can conquer from this that because they are young that they are still discovering new music and growing in music taste. My magazine will aim to appeal to that niche audience of people.

My secondary audience for my magazine would be adults between the ages of 25-35 who are still passionate about music and still have a very music influenced life style.

Secondary Audience

How many gigs or music re-lated events do you go to a

month?

0 to 2 3 to 5 6 to 89 to 11Other

I aimed my magazine at...

People who are likely top shop at

Who go to gigs, music and drinking related events

Who are likely to spend money on

Males and females around the ages of 16-25

That are likely to use social media to help express and enjoy aspects of their life

Influences

People who know and love the music they listen to

Who live in the area of

Young professionals and students

My audience research shows that my preliminary audience currently consumes magazine such as Kerrang, NME, and Q.

I have decided from this knowledge that my magazine will be of a similar style to these current magazines to create a similar tone to appeal to those consumers. However, my magazine will aim to be more desirable to the target audience because DIRT, will have the concept of having a wider but more loyal and committed audience. My magazine will tailor more to the tone of Kerrang which I think connects with the reader, and has a loyal readership.

Similar Products To My Magazine

Audience research: What music magazines do you

read?

Kerrang

NME

Q

Billboard

MOJO

Rolling Stone

Why there is a need for my magazineMy magazine will aim to not only have the loyal readership which tends to be associated with heavy metal enthusiasts and die hard rock fans, but give some of that room for readers who want to find a magazine that has that kind of fan base and connection for sub genres which will be equally featured throughout the magazine, these being such as indie rock and phycadelic. This will be the selling point to my magazine as there is a clear gap in the current market for a magazine of this type. However my magazine will make a strong point of only having artist which are reputable, not one hit wonders that would damage the reputation of the magazine. That is not the point of the magazine and its readers. This is what makes my magazine different to those of the current market and have the edge in the current market.

DIRT’s Ideal ReaderThis issue of kerrang features a lot of artists and bands. It draws the readers attention to key features which feature popular band of the magazines genre. It appeals to the same genre of music lovers as my magazines would as the style and approach to music fans is similar.

However to create my magazines individual style and appeal, I will incorporate similar styles like the ones in NME. This NME magazine appeals to its audience as it has a band predominantly featured with very little other information about the content available. This is typical of NME. I will incorporate NME’s approach into my magazine by including bands such as the genre of music that foals is associated with.

By combing these classic key elements of these magazines I will create a niche audience that the magazine specifically caters for as it combines the likes of the genres featured in NME but will take the less sleek, and more personal approach to featuring the artists that Kerrang does.

Q2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Q2

My cover star represents audience and social groups in which DIRT magazine caters for. Alex Turner, the front man of one of the biggest bands at the moment, artic monkeys represents the ideal reader because he is a cool indie rock idol who is well respected for the quality of his music and is popular for being the front man of the band. He presents the people who would buy the magazine as the genre of music he creates represents the types of people who listen to indie rock and what they do with their spare time, for example going to gigs and festivals and enjoying music and life. Readers of the magazine will aspire to be like these people and want to partake in the thing that these particular social groups do.

Alex Turner is an effective and ideal cover star as my target audience said in my audience research that Artic monkeys where their most favoured band, and that they would like to see Alex turner as the magazine cover star.

The Ideal Reader

Q2

Mode Of AddressI have used intertexual references within my magazine cover to creates a code within the readers which they will only understand I they are the audience and readers of the magazine, as they will refer to terms to do with bands and artists which they are fans of in the magazine. I have included these as it adds to the personal and very fan orientated approach my magazine has, which is its selling point.

Referring to kasabians album ‘velociraptor’

Referring to their break through album lonerism

AM short for Artic Monkeys

Referring to fall out boys new tracks going back to their musical roots

Q2

To appeal to my correct target audience my cover star has a purpose to represent an idealised version of the reader of the publication. In order to appeal to as many consumers as possible, the star must appear to be different, by wearing none mainstream clothes, have a hair style that does not appear to be groomed and sleek, and have a stance which connotes an attitude in which my audience would appeal to and relate to.

Alex turner filters his appearance in image for different types of media and different publications to suite the audiences that they are appealing to.

Both images represent different sides to his personality . For example the smart clothing and the sleek slicked back hair represents an innocent positive stylish role model whereas the image of him smoking connotes being a rule breaker, who doesn’t care about things and is cool because of it. It also suggest the rock and roll lifestyle he leads. These would both appeal to different audiences.

Filtering Images To Represent Audiences

Q2

Posed image- probably for a magazine

clean groomed, sleek looking hair style

Smart fashionable or statement clothing. Out of the ordinary style

Ring he’s wearing suggests he has a subversive side

Neutral positive facial expression

Trying to appeal to a an audience looking for a young musician role model

Eye contact not being at camera suggesting interested by how he is perceived or interested in creating a particular image for himself for the media

Old style smart clothes in this picture

Image two

Annotate it

Q2

Sunglasses create an enigma and keep audience at arms length

Smoking a cigarette suggesting he is mysterious and breaks rules

Hair is gelled into a messy old school quiff

Usage of drugs shows he is overtly not against them

Casual plain clothes and leather jacket suggest having style and being style conscious but casual about it

Usage of leather makes him seem tough

Stance is laid back leaning on an old car making him seem rock n’ roll and not caring about peoples perceptions

The fact the cigarette is lit and he’s taking a drag off it suggest sits not for show

Q2

Cover StarIn all of the images of my cover star I have tried to ensure that in every image he appeals to the audience as an aspirational. He is the same age as my ideal reader which would therefore attract my target audience and entice them towards buying the magazine as he is the cover star. The mise en scene of my star represents a cool, powerful, passionate artist through the usage of his posture in the images and the usage of props such as drumming sticks which connote that music is his life, which is what readers of the publication identify with.

Q3: What kind of media institution might distribute your magazine and why?

Q3

Distribution

My magazine would be a sister publication for magazines such as Kerrang and NME. My magazine would aim to appeal to a more niche audience of indie rock music lovers rather than metal rock music fans, which the genre that Kerrang appeals to.

I am going to publish my magazine weekly. I would release my magazine weekly, like my competitors, Kerrang and NME. The fact that my magazine is released weekly will make my magazine of a similar price to Kerrang. I will price my magazine at £2.20. I will price my magazine at this much because my magazine has a similar age audience to Kerrang and this is a suitable price that my niche audience would be prepared to pay for it.

My magazine would be published with Bauer media group. I would publish with them because my magazine has a similar tone to Kerrang but for a different music genre. By publishing with Bauer they would understand what is needed for the publication for it to appeal to my niche audience. Q3

Multi media platformsI have made it possible for my audience to access my magazine through multi media platforms in social media such as Instagram. By having this popular social media platform it is easy to share pictures associated to music and DIRT. By having an Instagram account where my magazine can share images with reader, it allows the readers to have audience participation with the magazine. This creates a close relation between the reader and the magazine which is important to maintain readership. By having an Instagram account my magazine will partake in sponsored hashtags so that readers can connect with other fans of music and the magazine. These sponsored hashtags give readers access to more images than what are also available in the magazine. This creates a more exclusive appeal to my magazines brand.

Alex turner reveals all in this weeks issue of DIRT! We hope you guys are as excited as we are! Give us your thoughts! #AM

DIRT’s Distribution

Q3

I have also given my audience easy access to my magazine and its brand by advertising a subscription to DIRT on the contents page of the magazine. This allows dedicated readers to feel valued by being offered a discount from the magazine and its cost, and gives the publication the opportunity to have constant weekly readers.

Multi media platforms My magazine also has a twitter page which is also featured on its website. DIRT’s website has information on new bands, gigs and small articles which can be accessed like an online music blog. On the magazines website there is a constantly updating twitter feed which consists of the tweets that have been written by the magazines titter, and any hashtags and mention that mention the magazine too. This gives the reader an insight into what other music fans th9ink about things, and a great deal of audience participation. This will appeal to my target audience as they can access all the information they want on the go, even if they do not have a DIRT magazine on them at hand to read. This leads to my magazines app. The app consists of relatively the same information that is available on the website but is designed to be quick an accessible for on the go reads about the audiences favourite bands and gigs.

The worlds biggest weekly rock magazine. SEE INSIDE: DIRT.com/blognewissue

London, England

This is the banner of my publications online twitter feed. In the bio of this twitter banner I have included the magazines website. This allows my reader to access the magazines website quickly and easily. It also allows the reader to be more involved with the magazine and its articles as they can access some parts of these articles through the twitter feed.

This will be the icon for my publications smartphone, android and tablet app. The app allows the reader to read and participate with DIRT, whenever, wherever. This creates a larger readership and a tighter relationship between the publication and the reader.

MerchandiseThese are some the products that will be available for readers and fans of DIRT magazine to buy. This merchandise will be sold on my magazines website.

Festival sponsorsTo reinforce my magazines importance and place in music and its media industry, the magazine will be a sponsor of a major festival in Britain which will feature some of the main bands which my primarily and secondary audience's are passionate about.

Q4: In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? Q4

On the front cover of my music magazine I have followed the codes and convention of a real media product. Firstly I have created a striking masthead for the magazine with the magazine name being ‘DIRT’. It is important to have a masthead front that creates an overall theme and tone for the magazine and the genre that music that the magazine follows.

I have followed the conventions of existing media products by spacing my masthead central at the top of the magazine cover so that it is the first thing that the reader sees. I the primary image juxta posed on top of the masthead covering some of the lettering slightly. I have done this to connote that the stories that are inside the magazine are of an exclusive quality and can be found only in DIRT magazine. It is also important as it shows that the cover star is more important than just the name of the magazine. This is a typical feature of music magazine covers. I have also included an secondary image which is hanging down from the banner over the top of the masthead to show another image of an important influential artist. By having images covering the masthead it also suggests that the magazine does not need for its lettering to be full seen as people know what magazine it is as it is a well known and renowned magazine.

Q4

Masthead

I have followed codes and conventions of real media products in my front cover further by including a typical banner and header to include the names of other artists that are included in this particular issue of the magazine. I have challenged the conventions of some magazine banners as I have included a secondary image of an artist above my cover star. However I think that this works well as it is typical feature to have several artists featured on one magazine cover. In addition to this my rival magazine would be a magazine such as Kerrang, and Kerrang uses lots of images as it suites the appeal of its particular audience.

Banner

I have then gone on to show an image of other features on the magazine and my double page spread on the contents page through a print screen of each image. This entices the reader to flick through and easily fin the articles which are being shown to them.

I have followed the conventions of a contents page by having a letter from the editor, talking about the different features of the magazine in a chatty style to create a positive tone with the reader.

Contents page conventions

I have used a popular artist to be the cover start for my magazine. I have followed the typical forms conventions of a cover image by having the image central and the star using the ‘The gaze’ looking straight into the camera. I have chosen my cover star through popular demand in my audience research questionnaire in which I got people of my target audience to answer.

In addition to my image I have used a pull quote relating back to my double page spread and in large font , the name of the cover star. It is important that I have his name in the largest font on the page so that music lovers will be drawn in by his name to buy the magazine. It is also important because music lovers tend not to be interested in the image or will not recognise the artist, as much as they will recognise and be drawn to the name. I have also included lots of secondary images as it is important to show images so that the reader has an idea of what each features about. In addition to this it break up the page an makes it more visually appealing t the reader.

Cover star Image

The colours that I have used on my cover are primarily, black, red, white, yellow, and grey. I have chosen these colours are they are typical of my genre, and compliment each other, as well as this they connote the genre of my magazine which is rock/indie rock. In my audience research it was the second most popular colour scheme voted by my target audience. I did not choice to use the first most popular colour scheme which was purple, black, white and red, as I think that this colour scheme works better for my particular magazine.

Colours

I have finally included additional information on my cover, including information relating to offers, and secondary features in my magazine. I have chosen the features and artists who are in the features of my magazine through what my target audience said that they would like to see no the cover of the magazine. Majority of the artist that are the most popular with my target audience made it onto the cover.

In addition to this I have also included the general legal information for a magazine, including the date, issue number, price and barcode for the magazine to be scanned in a shop.

Additional and legal information

Q5: How did you attract/address your audience?

Q5

Q5

Magazine Masthead

I first of all attracted my audience by the bold house style mast head that I created for my magazine. The masthead that I have created is bold capital lettering but the inside of the letter is shattered like glass. This connotes the style of music that my magazine features and the types of personalities that it would appeal and cater towards. I have chosen as the standard colours that the masthead uses, black and white. I have chosen these because they do not suggest that my magazine is based specifically towards one gender. In addition to this, I chose black and white so that the masthead would compliment the surroundings it has on any page of the magazine.

Q5

Image of my cover star I have attracted the audiences attention in the image of my cover star through the usage of the rule of thirds convention which has been used when placing the image of my cover star on the cover of the magazine. By doing this it makes the cover star look like he is making eye contact with the reader as they look at the product, being a persuasive feature by using mode of address towards the reader.

The cover stars facial expression is somewhat neutral and confident. This connotes that the cover star is a powerful confident person, which would persuade the reader to buy the magazine the audience of my magazine like to read and learn about the lives of their favourite band front men. There is a slight smirk value to the facial expression that the cover star is pulling, this suggest to the reader, along with the cover feature article underneath that he has something that is has been hiding that he has to share with the audience, which creates a unique story line which will persuade readers and fans of Alex Turner to buy the magazine.

Value for money

Q5

I have introduced the idea that DIRT is of value for its audiences money by presenting the content as being very exclusive to the reader.. ‘AM Front man gives us the inside tory’ suggest that it is a reliable source as the information has come straight from Alex turner and that its never before heard information which is of value to the audience to be the first to know.

By showing the reader that there is an opportunity to win exclusive tickets to a special come back tour, it suggest to them that they should buy it because the value of the magazine money is little in comparison to the money to ticket would cost if they won it.

This suggest that the content of the magazine is hugely bigger and better than other rival magazine of its kind. By claiming that its ‘the biggest’ suggest to the buyer that they should opt for DIRT as they get more content for their money. ‘Plus’ and ‘exclusive’ very simply suggest to the

reader that the content of the magazine can only be accessed by buying the magazine and that they should not put off buying the magazine because there is a lot that it has to offer.

Magazines Features

Q5

I have created these features to attract my audience because my audience enjoys these bands . I know this through my audience research that I created before creating my product.

My audience enjoys music related events such as festivals, therefore I have created a festival related feature which features some of the biggest indie rock bands in Britain- this will appeal to my audience also due to the fact that it is an ‘exclusive preview’. I have also included an article about Miles Kane who ‘takes America’ as he was one of the artists that my target audience said that they liked.

Q6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Q6

Q6

Photoshop- invert colours tool

Photoshop- Brightening tool

Publisher – Cropping tool

Photoshop- magic eraser tool

Q7: Looking back at your preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in the progression to the full product?

Looking back on my work that I created form my preliminary task, I feel that I have learnt a sense of what is key to have on the page of a magazine cover and contents page and how it should be portrayed for the reader to see. For example I feel that I have a better sense of displaying the main feature of the magazine which sells the magazine as a product in a more efficient way. This being done through the colours that I have chose, I chose colours which I felt complimented each other better than the colours that I had chose previously on my ‘Aquinas’ magazine. Secondly I felt that since my preliminary task I have improved on my sense of composition. This is important in making the reader see what you want them to see first on the page which will draw them into being interested in your magazine, and buying it. I have also improved by creating a better cover line for my cover in comparison to my Aquinas magazines. I have improved further too by the masthead which I have created for my magazine cover. The masthead is more professional and aesthetically pleasing. I have finally improved by choosing a more suiting cover star to my magazine and its genre with an improved quality of the picture with my knowledge from making my Aquinas magazine.

Q7

Aquinas magazine cover- DIRT music magazine cover

Aquinas Magazine DIRT Music Magazine

Aquinas magazine contents page- DIRT magazine contents page I have progressed from my Aquinas magazine contents page product to my DIRT magazine contents page product firstly by the colour scheme I have used in the layout. With my first product, the layout was very basic with little intricate detail which made it look and feel like a genuine professional product. In my Dirt magazine I have used a range of colours which all compliment each other well, whereas I feel in my Aquinas magazine the colours did not complement each other and looked somewhat childish which would not particularly appeal to its target audience. I have then gone n to improve my product by the quality of the images that I have included. I have used a range of images which relate strongly to the features which are in the contents page. This makes it a more convincing product and it appeals more to the target audience. I feel that I have thought about the layout of my contents page in the second product more thoroughly, I have included a lot more attention to detail. For example, all the text in the columns are aligned with each other. All images in the columns are made to fit neatly between the spaces which in general just makes the page more aesthetically pleasing. There is more contents features on my second product too, as I realised that more effort would be needed to make the page look like a genuine magazine contents page. Lastly, I have improved the product by creating a stronger house style for the magazine by the creating icons such as the ‘cover story’ icon which has been used a few times throughout the contents page, this reinforces the link between the cover and the contents page, which I feel my Aquinas magazine lacked.

Aquinas magazine contents page DIRT magazine contents page