Evaluation Q7 - What have you learnt in the progression from the preliminary work to the full product?

Evaluation Q6 - What have you learnt about new technologies in the process of creating this product?

   Throughout the magazine making process, Photoshop has been the main application I have used. Photoshop is a software that allows you to alter a photograph digitally. I used it to design the front cover of my music magazine. At first I found Photoshop difficult to use as I had no previous knowledge of the programme, however through experimentation I eventually managed to create my front cover. Throughout the construction process, I received guidance from my peers which helped to improve my knowledge and subsequently the outcome of my final product. Photoshop allowed me to integrate text and pictures in a professional manner.  

When staring to create my article, I found that Photoshop wasn't suitable as I wanted to create a double page contents page. InDesign was more suitable for the layout of my contents page and article than Photoshop would be because of the dimensions. I used InDesign to make my contents page and my double page article. Like Photoshop, I had never used this programme before. InDesign was another technology that greatly aided the production of my music magazine. I found it to be compatible with other technologies of the sort, such as Photoshop. Similarly to Photoshop I had some difficulties figuring out certain elements at first, however through experimentation I once again overcame any problems. InDesign allowed me to integrate text and images in a professional manner.

PowerPoint allows one to create a slideshow of information. When used alongside SlideShare, these slideshows can be neatly presented on a blog, which is what I did throughout the project. Personally I found PowerPoint easy to use as I had previous experience with it, and I found it to be an effective way of portraying information simply and professionally.

Prezi is another application similar to powerpoint. It allows you to create slideshows to present your ideas, I used this application a few times during the process of making my magazine. Prezi is an application that allows you to create presentations that are more attractive.

I used slideshare when wanting to upload powerpoints to my blog. Slideshare makes it easier to convert the powerpoint to a one able to be shown on my blog.

 Blogger is a website where you are able to upload posts to your own blog, personalised to you. Having never used Blogger before, I found some elements slightly complicated to learn and remember at first, however I was eventually able to adapt things to exactly how I wanted them. I was able to do things such as change the theme and background of my blog, as well as adjusting the width of my page and deciding how posts should be organised. I could access Blogger from any computer necessary. Blogger enabled me to move from consuming work over the internet to producing work for a potential worldwide audience. I have became a "prosumer".

 Microsoft word was the application I was most familiar with as I use it on a day to day basis. Word is an application designed for writing documents so was perfect to write my article for the magazine.

Like powerpoint and prezi, emaze is a presentation website which allows you to create presentations for my blog. I used this application a few times and was easy to use. It was a new application to me but helped me present my ideas and research for my magazine professionally.

Soundcloud is an application I was familiar with before the magazine process. It allows you to record yourself and upload to the internet for anyone to listen to. It is an easy way of getting information across without having to write too much.

 Youtube like Soundcloud was a programme I was already very familiar with. Youtube is a website to upload and watch videos. You can upload original content for anyone all over the world.

Audience Response 2

Audience Response 1

Evaluation Q5 - Attracting an audience

Q5 attracting an audience from bethanyf97

Evaluation Q4 - Who would be the audience for your media product?

"At the beginning my magazine was going to be aimed at males between the age of 18 and 30. When making my magazine I came to the conclusion that I wanted my magazine audience is different. The primary audience age range was between 18 - 30 and the secondary audience is older or younger and some females. I wanted to increase the audience so I included female stories and images to target a female audience as well as male. Music magazines are dominated by male readers therefore I wanted to widen his by increasing the female audience. I feel the magazine is now not gender specific as the content fits for both sexes.

Because my magazine focuses on Indie music, and my research has shown that it attracts a working class/ lower middle class audience. My audience would be largely working class/ lower middle class and in employment. If the audience is in employment that makes it easier to afford seeing concerts, buying music and buying my magazine. The main model and article in my magazine sympathises more with working class males which could attract a male dominated audience. It is clear to see that the audience that would enjoy my magazine the most is people into indie music. This is shown through the content and house style as it was made from inspiration from Q magazine"

Evaluation Q3 - What kind of media institution might distribute your magazine product and why?

Evaluation Q2 - How does your media product represent social groups?

Evaluation Q1 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

‘’When looking for a style model for my double page article, I also looked to Q magazine again. Since Q is a similar kind of magazine to the one I wanted to make I decided to refer to it for help and ideas.

The colour scheme is continued in the article. This links to the front page which creates an iconic house style that will be recognisable in the market place to my audience.

Double pages are good for articles as you can include photos and more information, which in this case is the article I have written. My style model is similar to my actual work.

The top half of the double page is dominated by a landscape photo which was taken from inspiration from my style model. The photo the style model uses is of a similar shot to the one I used. I used this photo to focus on the background more and felt like the photo set the scene. I decided to link my artist to a mise-en scene which is relevant. In this case my artist is from Tyneside and decided to take the photo at the Quayside in Newcastle which is a perfect link and makes sense. It is also relatable with the audience as people will recognise the area and associate the artist with it.

Like my style model I have split my article into for columns with an introduction just like Q have done. I think doing this makes it easier to read and follow. It used a conventional layout mixing illustration and columns. The text is written in black with the questions being in red for the interview. The questions are in red which I did to follow the house style colours of the magazine. The model in my photo is staring directly at the camera which shows clear facial expression and gives a strong connection with the audience.

I used the pun 'Tyne to adjust' as my title for the article which links back to the mise-en-scene and the artist's background story. The pun also adds hints to what the article is about and adds an element of humour that the audience can connect with. I also added a quotation to suck in the audience and give and insight to what the interview is about. At the bottom under the title I added an introduction which gives background information about the artist. This idea was taken from the small introduction in my style model. I think that an introduction is important in an article as it helps attract readers who may be undecided as to whether or not read the whole article. I wrote the introduction in a block colour of red which links with the house style and dominant colours of my magazine which I think helps to make it stand out to the reader and makes it easy to locate.'           

Evaluation Q1 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

‘’When searching for style models I decided to look at Q magazine. Q magazine have a double page contents which I feel allows much more information to be included. You can add more photos and more information which I wanted to do. 

As shown in the Q magazine the masthead is placed in the top left corner. I mirrored this and whenever I included my masthead, which was in my content page and front cover, it was in the top left corner. Another aspect of my contents page is the layout of the original contents page and my contents pages are similar, as in the photos and text are similar.  Another aspect of my contents is that it was created due to inspiration from my style models is the blocks used to highlight the subheadings of the contents list. The thicker red lines to separate each page in the magazine, the issue number and word ‘contents’ are in a large red banner along the top and the ‘features’ of the magazine is in a thicker red bar above the photo.

Q magazine contents pages are ordered, neat and simplistic. The photos are evenly spaced and are similar in size to make the layout look neat. The writing in the contents column and feature column are spaced evenly as well and are directly beneath one another.

Another similarity between the two content’s pages are the use of live images from concerts. This gives a hint to the content of the rest of the magazine. The use of page numbers on the top of each image in the Q magazine is also used in my own. Numbers are used to help guide the reader throughout the rest of the magazine.’’

Evaluation Q1 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

'When making my front cover, I looked to the covers of magazines from Q. Because of this, my magazine covers may replicate certain features of the two magazine covers I used as my style model. However I have changed them enough to create my own house style and to show off my skills.

I used a quotation from my article to hook the audience. I used a different font and a larger size to make it stand out. The main storyline dominates the front page and has the photo to link with the storyline. The storyline has straplines which adds more information and provides a bigger hook for the reader. The main image is positioned in front of the masthead like most magazines. It is positioned and reaching out to the audience to appeal to them and grabbing their attention.

Just like most Q magazines, my masthead is in the top left hand corner of the page. This is usually typical with magazines. The magazine name normally has to stand out and be recognisable. This is to catch the reader’s eye and publicises the magazine in shops.

My masthead is a rectangle shape whereas my style models mastheads are square shaped. This is to make the magazine look bold and clear at the top of a busy front page. My main image on the front page covers half of the masthead however this doesn’t usually matter as a masthead is used in every magazine by the company. This means it becomes recognisable.

I used banners which is a common convention of magazines however not on Q magazines. My style model did not have a banner just a smaller one positioned on the masthead. My banner was spread out along the top of the front page.

It is a simple three font-colour scheme. It has a limited number of fonts and colours which is a common magazine convention.'