EvaluationNatalie Jackson

This NME magazine cover highly influenced my own magazine cover as I think even though there's lots of writing, its still very simple. The colours are like the ones I want to use and it’s the same genre as my magazine.Its got all the conventions of a front cover, masthead, main image, secondary images, sub headings/stories and puffs. I like the fact they’ve used the same font for everything and just made the important things bigger.

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

I’ve challenged the typical convention of direct mode of address by taking a picture of someone who has indirect mode of address this is because she is a ‘new’ artist so the readers will have to read the magazine to find out about her. Also it goes with the cover story line ‘I am one to watch’ as she's being secretive by not looking at the camera.

Cover lines/stories stand out because of the white background. Also their famous indie/alternative rock artist which attracts the right artist. Also there's a pun on words ‘we bug Jake’ as his names Jake bugg this will make the reader more interesting as it’s a persuasive technique

Skyline is a typical convention of a magazine and this also includes a puff as Its advertising ‘Free posters’ this will attract the audience because everyone likes free things also it’s on a white background to make it stand out more against the main image.

Main story is bigger than all the other writing to stand out, its continues with the colour scheme. It goes with the main image as she’s a girl and its says ‘princess’ also ‘she's the one to watch’ and she's hiding behind a tree being secretive to attract people to find about more about her, also you want to know why she's so special to be the ‘one to watch’

Short catchy bold masthead to stand out against the main image. Also because it’s a short word it will be remember by the readers and its catchy. Its called tune as this relates to teenagers and music as it’s a popular word to use by younger people when talking about songs. I’ve put it in the top left and not covering the image which is a development of the convention.

Title of the magazine on the contents page, which is a typical convention of a magazine. Makes it clear what the purpose is. Also has the date so the audience know which addition it is. Magazine name present on every page.

Different pictures, of both genders to attract both females and males, they big and they all have something to do with the genre and the this shows the audience an alternative look at what's going to be in the magazine.

Page numbers on the pictures to make it clear what page this articles which makes it easy for the reader to just to flick to the page that they want most.

The contents is in columns to make it clearer to read which I developed the convention from Q magazine

Main picture is bigger than the rest to attract the most attention.

Separated away from the text in the corner away from all the features of the magazine as they’ll read this last. Its to advertise the magazine at a cheaper price if they subscribe. This a typical convention as they want to get more customers to but it’s a week

The layout is simple and attracts buyers and readers as they can clearly see what is in the magazine. I took the convention and developed it from NME and Q magazine layout.

Title of magazine is put on every page throughout the magazine which is a typical convention.

Main image is on the left hand side as this is where someone firsts looks. There's the Union Jack behind the main image which goes with what the article is about him touring the uk as well at making the image bright and attractive to the reader.

Pull Quote from the text which draws in the reader as they’ll want to read more. I picked out something interesting and funny as they’ll want to know the rest of the story. Also its big and bold to stand out against the picture. A pull out quote is a typical convention that I have developed.

Big, bold bright headline to attract the reader, typically seen a the top of the page which is what I’ve done

Page numbers are present in magazines

The text is in columns of three to make it easier to read and to follow. This is a convention of real media products. Also the white contrasts with the black background making it eye catching.

The drops cap shows readers exactly where the article starts. And where the sub text below heading finishes.

How does your media product represent a particular social group?

• The person on the front of my magazine is 18 therefore representing the social group that I am aiming to attract as the majority will be aged between16-25. Also the pictures inside the magazine is of another 18 year old but this time male, this represents this social group in two ways as there young and of both genders resulting in my magazine targeting these groups.

• Throughout my work I have used fonts and colours that are ‘grungy’ as well as fonts and colours that are ‘fun’ and bright, the interest represents the people who are into alternative rock/indie music as this music often has a fun but grungy feel to it therefore I reflected this into my magazine to attract this social group who are interested in this music.

• I've focused my two page spread on a young 'artist and his tour, this represents the social group because their young themselves and are heavily involved in going to gigs so they would like to know about his tour.

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

• I think that Bauer media would be the prefect distributer for my product as their a large company who publish different genres of magazines for different ages groups and social groups.

• I think my magazine would fit in as its similar to Q magazine which is distribute by Bauer media, but this magazine is aimed and bought by 75% men and 25% women so I think my magazine could be a contender as its aimed more for both genders and my magazine is aimed at younger age group.

• Also as my magazine is similar to the popular NME magazine which is distributed by IPC media, my magazine distributed by Brauer would be a great competitor.

Who would be the audience for your product?

• My media product would attract people with a main interest in indie/alternative rock.

• The magazine would be aimed at 16 – 25 year olds as this age group are usually the ones to listen to music all the time and want to read magazines about their favourite bands. Also knowing about ‘tour dates’ is also a typical thing a young ‘student’ will want to know as they like to go to gigs. Also the layout is quite modern and mature as this audience will not want to read a magazine which looks childish

• I think that my magazine is aimed at a 50/50 split between both genders as they can relate to the female on the front and aspire to be like here and males will be attracted to her and vice a versa with girls liking the male artists in my magazine and males aspiring to be like them. Also I think alternative rock/indie is becoming even popular with females over the years.

How did you attract/address your audience?

• I attracted my target audience by using bands which are to do with the same genre and that are popular with the people in the target age group and colours which would attract you teenagers/young adults rather than older generation.

Front cover• I have used phrases like ‘free posters’ and ‘time for a new tour’ to attract the audience as

students and young people usually want to have posters to put on their walls and its popular for them to go to gigs as a pastime.

• the colours, red, blue and white attract the reader because their youthful colours which relate to the genre as there not too dark to represent ‘rock’ and not to bright and girly to represent pop so these colours attract the audience as the represent the correct genre of indie/alternative rock.

Contents page• I used the same colour scheme and I used images which are to do with the genre of the

magazine which attract my target audience. With a mixture of males and females to attract both genders to read.

• Also its got a sophisticated look to it as the audience are young adults so don’t want a look to the magazine where its all cluttered and like a child's magazine.

• I've address and attracted the target audience by putting famous band names of the same genre in the contents page ‘biffy clyro’ ‘Jake Bugg’ ‘The Vaccines’ and then ‘tour dates as it’s a hobby for students/young adults to go to gigs. As well as ‘100 top songs to download’ as young people are always listening to music and want to know the next top songs so this will attract my target audience.

Two page spread• I created a story about touring and mentioned Leeds festival as I feel this will attract the target

audience I would like to appeal to, as this social group are involved with tours and gigs and are wanting to go to Leeds festival and so will interested in reading the article.

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

• Before starting the media course I had never used Photoshop, and I had no knowledge on how to manipulate my pictures using it. After learning a few things on Photoshop I was still nervous on using it. However I used tools such as the lasso tool and the crop tool to crop my raw image and I became organised in using different layers in creating professional looking images for my magazine.

• I learnt how to create different images using the lighting when using a professional camera, using this technology enhanced the quality of my pictures compared to when using a phone camera.

• Using publisher to create my magazine enlightened me into how simple shapes and texts can create professional looking magazine so easily if you have the skills and knowledge. Learning how to delete the background of things and change the density and transparency of objects made for a better 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 my design skills have improved since the preliminary task. The main image is very edgy and the background is plain resulting it not standing out and being attractive to a reader.

• The front cover is plain which is a good but in this case its too plain and doesn’t have enough ‘secondary stories’

• The fonts don’t stand out, so wouldn’t attract anyone to read it but the fact I used the same front throughout is good and took this good point to my main media product.

• I feel I am now able to create a magazine, that looks professional, looks appealing but also simple and effective compared to my preliminary task which look unprofessional and doesn’t stand out at all because its poorly designed and didn’t have a full understanding of the technologies used.

1)What gender do you think my magazine is aimed at?25% said men 25% said women 50% said men and women.

2) Do you think that this magazine would appeal to 16-25year olds?100% said yes0% said no

3) What music genre do you think is the main influence for this magazine?90% thought indie10% thought rock/alternative rock0% thought Pop0% thought Dance

4) Would you buy this magazine?85% said yes15% said no

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