In What Ways Does Your Media Product Use, Develop Or Challenge Forms And Conventions Of Real Media Products?

When researching other media forms, I took into mind what the main features were, so that I could use them on my school and music magazine.

One way which my magazine front covers relate to other media forms is by including a title, to inform readers of the name of the magazine. When researching magazine covers, the title was generally always big and located at the top of the page, therefore I put the title across the top of the page, in the hope for it to stand out if it was sold in the shops.

Both my magazine front covers relate to other media forms by having a central image, with a direct mode of address. This is because central images should create a relationship with the audience, as it is more than likely to be the first thing that a reader will see. Furthermore like the magazines I researched, I used it in order to make the main feature of my magazine stand out.

Another way which my magazine covers relate to other media forms is by including cover lines as they indicate the contents of the magazine, which informs the reader and encourages them to buy it.

I also used graphic features to relate to existing examples. On my school magazine I used a star image to make the main feature of the magazine stand out. For my music magazine I used a star image for the price, in order to make readers see what a good price the magazine was. Furthermore I also used an arrow to point to one of the celebrities of the magazine.
Another way is that I used buzz words on both front covers. Other media forms used buzz words like ‘exclusive’ to imply that the magazine is the only one to cover the story, which is the reason as to why I have used it.

Both magazine front covers have their own house style to represent the genre of the magazine as well.

I have also used specific colours for the front cover of my magazines and I have used them on all my features like the title and graphic features, so the cover does not look too busy.

My music magazine cover itself relates to other media forms by including a price and bar-code, as it would be sold in shops. My price on my magazine is displayed as £1.20 I made the £1 bigger than the 20p, as when I reserached toher media forms I noticed that they did this too. It also has a strap-line, which most media forms have. My strap-line appears above the title, as this is the place where strap-lines are often placed, and it offers to win tickets to a big event. I have used these features for the reason that when I researched other magazine covers I thought these features were most appealing to me and they are what would encourage me to buy a magazine.

My school magazine cover itself has a slogan, which relates to other media forms as slogans are catchy and convince the reader that there is something special about the magazine.

My music and school cover are different to other media forms as I have not used rhetorical questions, which would make the reader feel a part of the subject.

My music magazine cover is different to other media forms, as it does not include a slogan, this would have added to the magazine being more interesting and possibly more encouraging.

My school magazine is different to other media forms as a price or bar code is not included, however this is because it is a school magazine and will be given out for free to pupils and teachers. In this case my school magazine could relate to other existing school magazines.

My double page feature for my music magazine relates to other existing media forms, because it has a main headline which stands out to catch the readers eye.

It also has a main image which is posed with a direct mode of address, this sets the mood of the story-line, by suggesting that it is going to be a casual interview.

Another way which it relates to existing forms is by including a sub-heading, this gives a short summary of what the article is about and I have used a list of 3 to emphasize that there is a lot of content in this interview.

Furthermore instead of going straight into the interview I gave a short introduction, like the Carlos Santana interview I analysed.

Finally I used other images to show the band doing other things which relates to the Top of the Pops interview as that has many paparazzi shots and old images of the band in their own time.

My Magazine/ Double Page Contents Pages

I printed off my front cover design first, when I completed it so I could see what it would look like.

I saw that the background was quite dull, and that the cover needed some more features. Therefore I decided to make improvements, I changed the background so it was a bit more lighter, but I could not make it any more interesting as I was limited to how much time I had left. I also made the images around the edge smaller so I was able to add some cover-lines, which I had planned from my first drawing designs, but I placed them in a different place this time.

Then I printed it off to see the outcome and I thought that it was much better.

This is my contents page that I created.

When creating my contents page I kept to using two of the colours that I used on my front cover - purple and green. I chose to use these colours because these are the magazines main colour, and thought that I should carry on to use them on the contents page. I also divided the contents into sections, in order to let the reader know that the magazine has lots different features. I used a image of 'Independent Ladies' because they are the main feature of my magazine, this image makes the contents page more appealing for the reader. It will also encourage the reader to read the interview with 'Independent Ladies' as they are the only image on this page.

I also printed my double page feature off, and also decided to make a few improvements on this, I changed the introduction to the interview to a different font to make it stand out and relate to other double page features, as they change their font sometimes too. I also put an advertising for the band page at the end of the interview and used the same font as I did at the beginning and placed it in a red frame to keep to the theme of all the feature.

It was important to design my magazine cover on paper first, so I was able to create my front cover and double page feature with an idea of what it would like and so I would not be sat there without a hesitation. It helped me, because I was able to gather ideas for my images as well. I managed my time by making a weekly plan and aiming to finish them off by the deadline I set.

When I created my front cover and double page feature I did incure a few small creative problems, from the beginning. The most common problem was trying to fit everything in and keeping my created designs and actual designs the same. I had to not use extra strap-lines on my front cover because I was limited to the space. On my double page feature it was difficult to fit in my interview as well as a central image and other images. When editing my photos I had problems with going around the edges of the models, as you need to have a steady hand. However after taking my time I managed to complete the task without the models having parts cut out of them.

Who Would Be The Audience For Your Media Product?

Before designing my music magazine cover, I took into consideration the target audience and thought about what their typical lifestyle would be like. I thought about:

• Music: RnB and Hip-hop
• Marital Status: Single if young or maybe with partner if in 20s
• Where they live: Living with parents or at university
• Profession: Student
• TV show: Soaps, dramas, music channels, reality
• Type of Holiday: Lively places e.g. Spain
• Mode of Transport: Bus or car if old enough (Corsa)

I have created an appealing magazine to my target audience through my images. I have used actors who would not be likely to read this type of magazine, because the target audience would want to read about these of type actors in my magazine. The posed images and direct mode of address create a relationship with the target audience as the actors are looking straight forward. For example the central images for my magazine cover and feature have the actors looking directly at the camera and have a little smile on their faces or they are pouting.

The language in which I have used for my magazine cover and double page feature also relates to my target audience, because I have used slang so it would be like how some of my target audience would speak. I have made the font for a younger audience as older adults would probably not find the font that I used appealing.

The layout is not a simple, plain design as I chose to have the images and text spread out. I decided this because my target audience is more likely to appeal to a magazine with a lot of features on, than rather a plain cover and just one main feature with few images and formal text.

What Kind Of Media Institution Might Distribute Your Media Product And Why?

From researching magazine companies, and having created my music magazine, I think that the genre of my magazine would fit into the Future publishing company, for the reason that they specialise in music magazines.

This is the website for Future publishing: http://www.futureplc.com/future/

I think that IPC, another magazine publisher, could possibly distribute my magazine as well, as almost 26 million UK adults read the magazines that IPC publish. Therefore my magazine would be sold to many people in the UK. This is the website for IPC publish: http://www.ipcmedia.com/

Looking Back At Your Preliminary Task, What Do You Feel You Have Learnt In The Progression From It To The Full Product?

From looking back at my preliminary task, I think that I have learnt a bit throughout the progression of my full product. For example when I created my school magazine, I did not keep on top of things, and therefore it got a bit rushed. When it came to my music magazine task, I managed my time by making sure I had finished one task before starting another. This way I would have not got confused and forgotten to finish off something.

I have also learnt how to use Photoshop more successfully, as well as Publisher, because I had to use this for my double page feature. I thought that this was an easier programme to use than Photoshop because I have used publisher before and not Photoshop.

When I first created my plan for my music magazine I was able to keep on track and meet my deadline. However, as I went on a school trip for a week I was unable to continue to keep up with my deadlines when I returned, as I was a week behind on my work. Even though this problem occurred I managed to catch up and manage my time by focusing and working to the best of my ability. Furthermore for homework I would plan out my answers for my blog, so that I could add them to my blog once I had finished my front cover and double page feature.

The Photo Shoot

For taking my images I used my own camera as I knew how to use it. When carrying out my photo shoot I made sure that I considered mis-en-scene: location, lighting, costumes, make-up and props.

When doing my photo shoot I decided to use people who liked the music that my magazine was based around, I did this because they would dress how the target audience for my magazine would dress.

I organised my models for the photo shoot by telling them to wear what they felt comfortable in, so it would express themselves. For the photos that I wanted to use as my posed images I chose to use a white background, therefore I arranged to meet them where I could take a photo with a simple background which I could easily edit. For the photos that I wanted to be used as paparazzi photos I arranged to meet them at specific locations to represent their lives out of the music scene.

For my band photos I took lots of photos, so I could get several poses and be able to compare them to see what would be the best. Therefore there were some photos which I did not chose, for example I tried to get an image of one of them standing up and the other squatting down, however they were too far apart from each other and it did not look very appealing.

Analysis of central images for front cover:

For my main photos of the band, I chose for the girls not to use props and let them dress how they wanted to, so they could feel relaxed and not be shy.

- Wearing dark clothes, against a white background, makes the band stand out more
- Wearing own clothes, shows their own style and makes them feel comfortable
- Make-up not drastic, as it would be over the top and not represent themselves
- Mode of address: Direct, connection between them and reader
- Kept to a white background as these will be used as main images. Also they're easy to cut out and edit on photoshop
- The lighting which I used was light, in order to reflect their youth and that they are a new band - In the first image, they both have a small smile, suggesting their friendliness
- On the second image, they are both close together, suggesting a close relationship

I chose to use the first image to be the central image on my music magazine covers I preferred how they were posing and standing, and did not think that the second image did not represent the band that much.

Analysis of three smaller images for front cover:

I took three other images to use on the front of my music magazine.

- Props: mp3 in his hand to show that he’s involved with music
- He is sitting down to show he’s laid back
- He is wearing dark clothes, in order to reflect that he is a serious person
- The objects in the background will be cut out i.e the poster and the other chair
- Posed image: as he is in an interview for the magazine
- Not smiling shows his attitude
- Against a white background, which will help me when I edit the image on Photoshop
- Mode of address: Indirect, no connection with the reader, connected with the words that I will use on the front cover though "growing up in the hoods", suggests that he is an individual
- Wearing own clothes, represents his style and shows that he is a rapper (wearing hat, scarf etc.)



- Prop: umbrella, ‘paparazzi’ shot therefore it looks more like she was ‘papped’ outside on a random rainy day. Also implies that she does not want to be seen, hiding herself

- Also on the phone, to make the image look like she has been ‘papped’ too, leaves reader wondering who she is on the phone to

- Costume: wearing a floaty top, her feature in this magazine is that it is suspected that she is pregnant, therefore wearing this will make it seem more believeable. Wearing lots of accessories

- Out on her own and not looking as glamourous, because it is a 'paparazzi' shot

- Looking at the ground, suggests that something is wrong or maybe she is embarrased that she's pregnant 'again'
- Image taken outside, no editing needed to be done

- No props used
- Two characters wearing clothes that will represent the situation that they are in, which is that they are a new couple

- Location is in town, during the evening, therefore there is dark lighting. Wanted the image to show that they are going out together in the evening to emphasise their story, and show that he goes out when he is not working

- Main person: looking at his 'partner' and smiling, links to the storyline that will be used because its her making him smile

- Mode of address: indirect, 'paparazzi' shot

- Arms around each other, shows they care about each other

Analysis of images for double page feature:

I also took images for my double page feature, in order to make the interview look more appealing. I used two images which they had posed for to show their relationship, and used two other images to show the band before they were famous.

- Mode of address: direct, creates a relationship with the reader
- Both images easy to edit, due to plain and white background
- Image 1: Both smiling, direct mode of address to represent friendliness. Mid shot so reader is drawn to their faces. Holding each other to represent their closeness. Wearing alot of clothes, which stands out agains the plain background
- Image 2: More serious pose, shows a bit of attitude. Long shot, so can see whole body and can see how they are posing, helps set the mood

These two images were the posed images that I chose to use, the second image was the main image on the feature and I used the other one to show that the band together again. I chose to do this with the images, because I think that the second image is a good long shot and shows their whole body.

- Both posing together, and have their arms around each other - shows their friendship as they're 'best friends'
- Dressed up to emphasise that they're at a party
- Mode of address: direct, posed photo. Used as a photo taken a while ago before Sarah was in the band
- Other people in the background, to show that it is a party

This image will be used on the double page feature as it will show Sarah before she joined 'Independent Ladies'.

- All close together, shows they're a family, represents Jauden's life before the band, posing together
- No particular style, own clothes as it shows them at a party
- Mode of address: direct, and phot which will be described as a family photo
- Dark background, may be hard to edit on Photoshop if I wanted to

This image will also be used on the double page feature in order to show Jauden when she was younger, it represents her life before joining the band too.

After taking my images I had to put them onto my own memory stick, so they did not get lost and I could keep them organised. I edited them using Photoshop, this allowed me to cut any unwanted parts off my images. The only images that I edited were the central images that I wanted to use on my music magazine, and one smaller image for my front cover.

To improve my photo shoot, I should have thought more about camera angles, and how I could have taken different shots in order to create a better representation of the models to show the reason for why they are in the magazine.

Planning My Own Magazine

After having researched other media forms I began designing my own music front cover on paper. I agreed first with another person to create a magazine with the same name, so we could create a monthly magazine. We agreed to use the same colours, but both create our own layout to show a different edition of the magazine and show that it has different features each month.

I created two designs first, they were both very similar, but just had different layouts.

I only used colours on the title of my magazine, so I could see what would be most appealing. When designing my front covers I had to consider what the target audience would be and what they would want to see. I also had to begin thinking about what images I would need.

Next I picked the design which I liked the most and drew it out onto an A4 piece of paper.

I used the first design that I drew, but kept to the colours used on my second design, because I thought that the colours looked more appealing that way.

Then I designed my own double page feature on A3 paper, this was a lot easier to create as double page features genuinely all look the same, as they have the same featurues in general.

I did not use the same colours as I did on my front cover, because I wanted to be a bit different. Therefore I used just one colour, which was red as I felt that it represents the bands name - “Independent Ladies”. Once I had designed this feature, I wrote my interview for the band. This was quite easy, because they were a new band and could answer simple questions, such as “How did you meet?”