Evaluation...

Evaluation
For my main task I had to construct a music magazine from scratch. As this is my first time doing a task like this, I faced a few problems. These problems occurred throughout the whole process of the magazine production, from planning, to construction of the final magazine piece. However, I adapted to the media production, and slowly began to turn to alternatives in order to over come the problems I faced. I had to create a front cover, contents page, and a double page spread. In this evaluation I will focus only seven main questions, which focus on the whole of my media production.

• In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
In order to gain knowledge of common forms of convention of real media products, market research was conducted. This market research showed me common conventions that magazines use (particularly hip hop magazines). This was beneficial for me, as I could apply this knowledge of common conventions to my magazine. However, I did not what to simply follow them, and create a magazine which looks like every other one. For this reason I developed and challenged the forms and conventions. A common feature I kept coming across in my market research was the colour scheme. My mood board shows few hip hop magazines, a common feature they share is red and silver. I used this by keeping bright complimentary colours, but developed it by choosing my own colours which appeal more to my target audience. Other conventions such as the layout of magazine I did at first follow. However, I thought it would be better to create something more creative and so changed the layout so it differs from ones I have already seen.

• How does your media product present particular social groups?
My media represents teenagers, both boys and girls, from 14 onwards. The issue of the magazine I constructed does however; represent a more male than females. This is because of the masculine colours I used, as well as the bold font. However, I did try to over come this by using a male image. The male image would be appealing to both sexes. Boys would find it appealing as it reflects their interest in hip hop music, whereas a female’s reason could be the same, as well as the fact he can be seen as literally attractive. This weighs it out, and helps notify the audience that the issue is for both sexes.

• What kind of media institution might distribute you media product and why?
The institutions which might distribute my media are institutions similar to IPC Media. This is because it is a successful institution which already distributes music magazines. As my media piece is a hip hop magazine it would fall right in to the category.
I would also like to think my media could me distributed via web 2.0. This is because by using the internet and having a website for my magazine would make it a lot more interactive and modern, and defiantly appeal to a lot more consumers, as not everyone now physically goes and buys a magazine. Also because of the many features which I could have with a web 2.0 distribution. The features I would include are numerous hyperlinks, which link to the different features of the magazine as a whole.

• Who would be the audience for you media product?
The target audience I have chosen for my target audience is , for both boys and girls. The market research I conducted helped me to choose my target audience. Market research was conducted to find out what people wanted, this has helped me, as I have regularly referred to the results as I could include the specific factors in my magazine. Also the fact that I am a part of that age group, I think, makes it very beneficial. This is because, the target audience would be in to similar things that I am into, as we share the same consensus as we are of the same age group.

• How did you attract/address your audience?
I used a range of methods to attract my audience for my magazine. I used my own knowledge, as well as market research to come to a final decision on how to specifically attract/address my audience.
For example, I used a range of colours (but not too many), to catch the readers eye. This is important as the audience I selected are into bright, standing out features. Because of this, I have included this feature in my magazine. The colours I chose appeal to both boys and girls, I haven’t focused on just one, such as just using masculine colours. For this I had to think carefully on which colours to use, so I experimented on a range of different colour layouts, before finding one which compliments each other. So that my magazine would look attractive.
I also used conventional features which my target audience would appeal to. For instance on the cover of my magazine I included a freebie button. This is known to be a successful feature, and as it specifically directs to the audience, makes it more successful in being appealing.
In addition to specifically address my target audience, I was careful with the word choice I chose. I chose to use slang as a way of addressing my target audience. By using slang it makes my audience feel the magazine is specifically for them as this is the type of language they use in every day life. This helps makes my magazine successful, as it directly attracts my target audience. I felt this was an important feature. This is because by using the right language styles, it makes the magazine seem better planned out. Readers would appreciate this, and possible regularly purchase the magazine.

• What have you learn about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
In the beginning of this media production I was an amateur at producing media using technology. Given the chance to create a magazine allowed me to adapt/advance my skills with a lot of technologies.
For instance the software photo was extremely frustrating at first. I found it very hard to use the programme as I was new to it. However, I did get used to it. By using photo shop on a regular basis it allowed me to adapt my skills with the software. At first I knew very little about it, but during the production I got used to editing images, and create a good layout so the text can be seen. Photo shop was useful to me as I had to edit my photo. For example, I had to crop out backgrounds, and apply certain effects such as the transparency of my images.
Using the internet for publishing my media was also something I improved at. Before this task, I have never blogged. Using the suitable website on internet allowed me to challenge my amateur skills and adapt them. By using the blogger website I have learnt that the work I upload can be seen by others. This allowed personal feed back, which I then used in order to improve my magazine.
My use of cameras before this task was also at an amateur level. Through the process of constructing my product, numerous photos had to be taken, and so this allowed me to learn more about the technology. What I learnt was how exactly to take a picture, and all the factors you have to consider, such as lighting and mise en scene. The research I conducted on photography allowed me to apply them to the construction of my magazine. This was beneficial to me as it made my piece look much more planned out, and attractive.

• Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
The preliminary task compared to the main task, now feels as though it was very simple. For my preliminary task, not much effort from me was put it. This is because I thought constructing a magazine is an easy process where photos are taken, and bold text is applied. I have learnt that a lot more consideration needs to be taken when constructing a media piece, specifically a cover, contents page, and a double page spread.
For example, hardly any planning was put into the photographs I took for my preliminary task. For my main task, and argued for weeks, on the type of photo I should take. The things I considered where a lot more beneficial, such as the shot type/angle, mise en scene, and lighting (as well as many other factors). The photograph research is a very important aspect which needs to be taken into account for a magazine. With my preliminary task, I knew very little on images. For my main task a load of research was conducted so that my magazine could be attractive. For instance the photograph research I conducted was extremely helpful. I learnt things which were very beneficial to me such as the rule of thirds. This was a very important aspect for me. With the preliminary task I had no knowledge of the rule of thirds, but with the research, it made it much more clearer on how to take the right photo for the message you want to convey.