Evaluation

 Who would be the audience for your media product?

 Before making my music magazine, I had to ensure I had a strong target audience I could aim at in which maybe thinking about also their being a gap in the market for this. Ensuring my magazine would be unique and original, to prevent competition from ‘too similar’ products. To ensure the largest possible target audience then, I aimed at both genders, automatically increasing this. There fore seeing a gap in the magazine industry for a new, fashionable ‘Indie-Pop’ genre featured product. I also feel now looking at my piece as a finished product, in comparison to its audience I am confident to say my magazine targets, young people between the ages of 15-24 (being both aspiring to the young age for this as a style or influence, yet mature and interesting enough for the older area), of both male and female, who have an interest in the Indie-Pop culture or music scene.
Here I have collected some images in which I feel represent my target audience, either from the style or appearance of the people, or the poses or surrounding settings. Revealing the Indie-Pop cultured style, linking to the house style of my magazine.

 How does your media product represent particular social groups?

I made my magazine to be in the genre of ‘Indie-Pop’ in the influence of artists such as, Kate Nash, Ellie Goulding, Oasis, Florence and The Machine, Jason Mraz and The Kooks etc. This created a hybrid between Indie and Pop blending the two to base it around such artists. This gave the unconventional genre, a bigger target market therefore aiming at both Indie and Pop audience’s. Also, still being a fairly newish genre within the magazine industry giving an advantage and decrease in competition with other existing products again increasing chances of larger sales. Also putting responsibility on the magazine to fulfil a good Indie-Pop portrayal.

Above shows I have collected images representing the sort of people the Indie-Pop culture would be aiming at and how my target audience for the magazine would appear. The font and colour schemes were also selected, in which I thought best suited the Genre.

I also manipulated my language within the magazine using the sociolect of familiar phrases and words within the text to give them a personal recognizable, touch in which becoming on their level and to ensure it  is being recognised as aimed at them. Such as slang phrases, and a friendly laid back tone of address, “exclusive just over two years after their album hit the top spot” and “Jam Packed!”. Also engaging features within the contents, which would interest them and describes in a friendly persuasive tone “plans exposed-for a bigger and better event than ever before.” This is also reflected through the house style being simple yet effective, again to portray the laid back Indie manner, with minimal unnecessary text, simple backgrounds within the photography, and plain pastel colours.

I also ensured the models used within the photography were dressed, posed and looked like typical ‘Indie-Pop’ listeners, or ‘followers’. So the target market can relate, aspire or recognise this as the trend within this social group. This was therefore linking to my research, looking at the style of Indie-Pop listeners and what at the moment would be seen as their fashion. For example one of the recognised male trends for the Indie-Pop audience at the moment shows to be Denim shirts, buttoned to the top. I therefore carefully thought about manipulating this into my magazine. As, if I created a Indie-Pop magazine with models wearing more ‘rockery’ or ‘statement’ clothing, it wouldn't be fulfilling the task of representing Indie-pop listeners, and could possibly confuse or loose readers. 

The props used within the photography create an eye-catching and effective image for the magazine, however also subtly used to link to the portrayal of Indie-Pop. For example the hair accessory on the head of the model on the cover, excessive statement jewelery the model is wearing and the old style camera in the double page spread, again showing the trend and influences the Indie-Pop culture show. With the electric guitar representing the Indie-Pop genre as music.

How did you attract/address your audience?

  

I chose my target audience through my research within the industry of a magazine product, and also by the genre I chose, automatically a starting point of whom to aim for. I addressed my audience in an informal manner, to make the reader feel at level with what they are reading and want to read on. As more of a formal tone could make the reader feel inferior and not appeal to them.

For my school magazine I chose the target audience to be specific to year 12 pupils. I attracted them by manipulating the magazine to suit them, by making the name ‘Twelve’ to give a feeling of it being their own, used models their age, colour schemes that would be unisex and appeal within their age group and used current issues or trends that would interest them.

This  therefore gave me an insight into the attraction of audience’s and how to do this. For my music magazine, I got my first initial idea of what to do and use, which my audience would want, was again through my research, and my questionnaire. From this I took the most popular of choices, naturally to target the largest possible amount of people for the genre and developed from there. Again I used a name that would be simple yet effective to engaging the readers, colour schemes that would be both for male and female, which would attract the ‘indie’ type. Such as pastel’s and white. Also using both female and male models for the photography of the magazine to show it as a unisex magazine.

Also focusing on what the readers expect to see from an ‘indie-pop’ magazine, adding realism to this by including the iconic words and features that would be seen from a magazine.

Such as a bar code, price, and issue number, and engaging features and headlines on the cover, that the target audience would be interested in knowing, as using a rock band within a feature interview would not be ideal for what the audience want or expect to read. Although to improve my magazine, typical ‘strap lines’ or more detail within the iconic features could be used more, to do so.

Circled: Traditional and iconic features including Main Featured Headline (being an interview with a new, popular Indie-Pop artist) also being larger and brighter than the other text on the cover to attract/lure the audience into the magazine through this feature which is expressed to be popular and wanted, a bar code and price/issue number to add to the realism of the magazine as an existing product with iconic codes and conventions of a magazine. 

Circled: Key features within the magazine, listed in the contents page, drawing in and essentially attracting the audience. The photography also linking to the style and image represented to attract the audience and influence them. The website given, showing the modern times of how its linking to the attraction of the younger generation of having a website rather than an address or old styled subscription sheet which can be posted. The old tape record, addressing the link within the magazine and music.

Including the underlines, 'Exclusive' promoted to the audience giving the magazine the advantage of them knowing its exclusive within this magazine for them. The tecnique of a 'lure' is also used and underlined showing a 'FREE' poster of some sort, this attracts the audience in as a persuasive tec nique to make the audience want to purchase the magazine as a product.
Also the page number, all linking to the normal codes and conventons of a realistic magazine.

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

and

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

After creating my school magazine I feel it was a very beneficial task to work on, as it indeed as predicted gave me an initial insight into the creation of magazines in many ways. For example things such as making a magazine relevant to a target audience or even as simple as layouts and colour schemes, expanding my creativity. For example the research done before making each magazine taught me the amount that can be learnt from carrying it out and how it helps the whole process of the magazine if done correctly giving you a constant task of what to aim for in which you chosen target market, also chose from research, wants. This therefore gives me an advantage when starting my music magazine to ensure I create it to the best on my ability. Also about the basic codes and conventions of making a realistic magazine with simple things included such as prices, barcodes, page numbers etc, this adds to the realism of my products and what essentially makes them comparable to existing magazines. After making both magazine products I can also see clear improvement within my creating and making skills, showing I have learnt from doing both tasks. I feel my stronger skills after evaluating my products, would be the photography and editing skills, and how I can acknowledge and create a clear house style or educational theme, within the models chosen, their clothes, poses etc. Also colour schemes and layouts, with my school magazine I feel having a unique and fresh approach to a typical school magazine. On the other hand, looking back and now having learnt from doing the task, I recognise there are also weaknesses within the magazine, that my grammar or use of language could be improved and worked on, also the layout of articles on the cover, I therefore included an original and Indie styled layout to, the cover of my final music magazine, after ensuring I recognised and worked on my drawback.

Here I have purposely put my two magazines next to each other. I feel this is the best way of comparing the development I have made throughout the production process. I feel my photography was always a strong point, as I already pursue this as a hobby and am currently doing an out of school photography class. This shows were I was most confident and shows how I can use the appropriate angles and shots for the magazine for example a medium close up for a cover of a magazine as an iconic shot. However from looking at my preliminary task it shows my layout skills showed weakness and the appearance of my headlines and mast head. the usual codes and conventions of a magazine have a skilful way of creating a good balanced cover. I feel after recognising this weakness I developed it very well and am pleased with the positioning, font and style of the headlines on my magazine. Also by using the main featured article in a different, larger and brightner font, as a lureing tecnique, in which I didnt do in my school magazine. However this time being less spread out and more minimal putting focus on the image, which is what I wanted to do. I also chose not the include a strap line in my music magazine, although I do think it suited the school magazine and tied in the cover as a whole I feel it was unnecessary and not appropriate for the genre of Indie-Pop.

It also gave me the opportunity to develop my technical skills with programmes such as publisher, word and Photoshop (Elements 5.0 exe). As all were essential in creating a realistic look for my magazine. I used Photoshop for the editing of the images to adjust or change the appearance in some way. I was already familiar with the programme however the magazine gave me an extended knowledge on it, especially when used in a journalistic/media way. Generally also the skills and knowledge learnt to using at the same standard as journalist or editor when editing my images on Photoshop, shown in more depth in my ‘Photography development page’.

For example the use of Photoshop to crop and cut around my model for the double page spread to give the flow and effect of blending the two images to create an effective, open double page image. 

Also linking back to my Photography development Post it shows how I edited the images Hue/Saturation to a more dimmer, and effective tone to represent the style and layed back manor, also reflecting on already existing magazine photography from my research, in which media editors would use in a real magaine. Also used on publisher to do this, showing a variation in my editing skills within the programme.

(print screen example of Using the Hue/Saturation tool in Photoshop)

(print screen example of Using the Contrast/Brightness tools in Publisher)

This is essentially created my magazines house style, for example the use of changeing the effects of images to fit within the Indie-Pop genre more, shown in existing magazines:

I was also introduced to the website www.dafont.com which again helped me to understand why existing products may use and to know it is there an can be used when making my final music piece. I used this website alot within the making of my magazine, and found it very useful and helpful, including a wide variety of choices, as I essentially always found a relevent font to what I wanted.

www.dafont.com For example used in my mast head, and magazine logo/title ‘CROSSOVER’.

I also used the internet and online search engines to help me with my research, and to develop my knowledge within the genre before attempting to represent it. I used these to essentially extend my knowledge and to explore more within the features of my magazine for example, existing products (competition), relevant bands to the genre, and my target audience etc.

For this I used:

I also used the Programme paint, within the editing of my images. Mainly in 'touch-ups' of my images for example in my double page spread after removing the background in my image as shown above, I inserted this into paint and created a new background, in which flowed in to the Image used next to it on the double page spread, to give the effect of one image creating a more open and flowing spread.

 Overall I feel I learnt many new skills and techniques from the creation of the school magazine to my music final piece as looking back at both it shows my development and growth into manipulating a product in a realistic and journalistic point of view to the best of my ability. Also learning about the construction of such a product as a magazine ensuring, images, interviews, and headlines etc as crucial for it to be one.

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

In the reality of creating a new magazine product, the design and genre etc, would only be on aspect within building a successful product for a target audience. For example advertisement, pricing and profit and the distribution on the product would all be key factors that would have to be approached. 

To decide what media institution I would want to distribute my Music (Indie-Pop) Magazine, I had to do initial research into existing institutions to find which would be suitable. The institutions I have researched are; IPC, Emap, WWMD and Bauer.

Emap

''Emap is a business-to-business multiplatform media group, whose brands inform, inspire and connect within the sectors they operate in. For millions of people across the globe involved in the built environment, retail, media, fashion, health, education, government and automotive sectors, Emap provides essential news, analysis and access. We depend on the imagination and passion of our people to invent and develop our brands, and drive our business forward. Personal accountability is at the centre of Emap, which means Emap employees are empowered to create the kind of timely, dynamic products our customers find essential.''- Emap 'about us' from http://www.emap.com/about-us.

After researching into Emap as a distributing company, and establishing the general area in which it involves, I think it wouldn't be an ideal choice for my magazine as a product. This is because of the already products they distribute into  include educational or health related for example, 'Health Service Journal'(HSJ), and 'Architects Journal'. This means the company itself wouldn't be as knowledge on what to do with a magazine such as my Indie-Pop product, nor would my target audience initially look on their website for a product such as mine own due to its more specific type. However on a positive it could be seen in which a new, debut genre within the company for them to expand into, or even that competition between similar products within the distribution would be very low.

IPC

'IPC Media produces over 60 iconic media brands, with print alone reaching almost two thirds of UK women and 42% of UK men – almost 26 million UK adults – while our websites collectively reach over 14 million users every month. IPC's diverse print and digital portfolio offers something for everyone, with a focus on three core audiences: men, mass market women and upmarket women.Our men's portfolio (IPC Inspire) comprises a wealth of leisure brands including Country Life, Horse & Hound, Rugby World and Decanter, as well as lifestyle brands including Nuts, Mousebreaker and NME.

Our mass market women's division (IPC Connect) comprises famous women's weeklies including Look, Now, Chat and Woman; TV entertainment brands including What's on TV, TVTimes and TV & Satellite Week and, online, the goodtoknow network.  Our upmarket women's division (IPC Southbank) comprises luxury fashion brands including Marie Claire and InStyle, lifestyle brands including woman&home and essentials and home interest brands including Ideal Home, Livingetc and housetohome.' From the 'about us' page on http://www.ipcmedia.com/about/

As a distributing company, it is clear from the large recognizable brands included, it is a successful business. This would give  me the confidence in putting my brand in this alongside the ones given. However the target markets they work upon at the moment seem very segregated between the two genders, where as for larger sales I created my magazine to be uni-sex. On one hand this could be a new branch for the company eliminating other magazine competition within this area, or could restrict the sales and advertisement and only focus on one gender, as what they are used to for magazines.

Bauer

''Bauer entered the UK scene with Bella magazine in 1987. Introducing a new format that mixes previously unseen real life editorial and exciting service features, Bella made a significant impact on the women's market. The company gained attention again in 1990 with the launch of Take a Break magazine. Touching the lives of millions of women with its unique blend of upfront real life and competitions, the title quickly became market leader. Despite strong competition, Take a Break has maintained its No.1 status, currently selling over 1 million copies a week.
 The 1990's saw H. Bauer further strengthen its portfolio with the launch of TVQuick in 1991, that's life! in 1995 and TVChoice in 1999. Together with sixteen successful puzzle titles within the stable, H. Bauer has always had a major presence in the UK magazine market with a considerable market share.''  From Bauer 'About Bauer' from http://www.bauer.co.uk/aboutbauer

Again, like Emap after researching into Bauer as a distributing company I again didn't think it was suitable for my magazine product. Again for the reasons in which the company has a clear genre or type within products it distributes shown in its about me to be mainly low priced, television or female specific magazines which would not be ideal for my Indie-Pop choice.

Plastic Media

'Plastic media is a fashion/music/lifestyle publishing house and event agency founded in 2003 by Kira Stachowitsch and Clemens Steinmueller.
Our internationally renowned magazines INDIE, INDIE English Edition and material girl are distributed worldwide and available at the best newsagents and most important national and international chain stores. Additionally plastic media creates and produces magazines, lookbooks and catalogues for various clients, from international brands/companies to independent designers.'  From the 'Info' page on http://www.plasticmedia.eu/info.php

After researching and using online search engines to look at magazine distribution companies in more depth as I didn’t feel the first three were suitable I discovered Plastic Media. I feel Plastic Media would be ideal for my magazine as a product. This is because my magazine has the same target audience to what them as a company already aim at, and being an obvious popular choice for any Indie genre. It also appears to have an on trend and fashionable approach, appropriate for what I want. I also feel that even though the other products they represent are also aiming at my target audience, competition wouldn't be an issue as I am confident that my product is unique and original and has an advantage in that the hybrid of it being both Indie and Pop, would be something new and popular for the company. It also tell us it is an international distribution company meaning they distribute their products, not only in the UK but in Europe and all around the world, meaning the target audience possibility would be at its peak, increasing the chances of higher sales.

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

As mentioned in a previous question, in my magazine to create the realism of an actual product I included iconic codes and conventions of an existing magazine. For example, on the cover a; bar code, price, issue number, engaging cover shot, featured headline, other headlines/articles, luring techniques and mast head. Are all included to add to the realism of the magazine as a product.
Also used in the Contents and Double-page spread pages, with the use of; ordering the text in columns done as a technique in which most magazines use, a traditional Heading/ Standfirst and Subheading within the article, an Enlarged Quote in the Interview with the artist, the Page contents listed with page numbers referenced, an editors message, page numbers, Photographer of the Images labeled (Byline), Typeface (to show consistency through a the magazine) and websites and contacts etc. This also adds to the realism of the magazine as a product and shows the use of forms and conventions of a real media product.

However this could be developed more on the cover by including a very traditional and iconic Strapline. This adds to the identity of a magazine and can sometimes become one of its signature elements, or its main luring technique.
I also feel it challenges forms and conventions of a real media product, as it is being used in such an original effect, with little similar existing products, it shows experiment within the musical genre to what I feel would become a strong product within its target audience.