Natalie Nolan's Evaluation of her media product

Natalie Nolan's Evaluation of her media product

• 1.
  Evaluation of MyMedia Product In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? When coming up with idea for my music magazine, I looked at some professional magazines that were centred around the same music as my magazine would (Indie/Alternative rock). The popular magazine, NME was most like my own and would probably be my magazine‟s main competitor. I used the style and layout of their magazine as a starting-point-model. For the title and conventions of my magazine, I forwarded the style of NME by the use of bold and obvious colours. I was consistent with the use of colour thought the magazine by sticking to the four colours; red, green, black, and blue/grey. The title of my magazine was “The Uprisin‟” as my magazine would have a feature in each issue on new and upcoming artists. This title linked in with the model (NME) and represented the genre of music I was recreating, which was the latest „indie/alternative rock.‟ The model had a small strap line next to the title which I had recreated and included in my cover. Some of the magazines I looked at did not feature „exclusives‟ in the form of posters exedra. So, I added a free CD as an exclusive to add to „lure‟ the reader into buying the magazine. I believe that my magazine follows the conventions of a magazine well, even though the cover image is not directly facing the camera. The cover image when looking at the camera seems to loose its effects which is why I chose the photograph that is purposely breaking the conventions by looking away. Thought my magazine I have used original images and asked the public which magazine cover they would be more persuaded to buy.
• 2.
  Evaluation of MyMedia Product How does your media product represent particular social groups? The media product I created represents people particularly from social groups that consist of teenagers to young adults that have and interest or passion for Indie/alternative rock. The media product represents this group of people in particular because it is a current popular style of music that involves fresh creative bands. This magazine would mainly attract young people who are looking for their favourite bands and an insight on the more newly signed/unsigned bands. The magazine in unisex as I think anyone who has an interest in the music featured can read it. I think that my magazine does not appeal to any particular ethnic minority as I did not intentionally design my magazine with this in mind, but was going of the stereotypes on who/what to expect in an indie/alternative rock magazine aimed at young people. My media product doesn‟t target a group of people with the same sexuality as it is unbiased towards it. The language I have used in the magazine consists of catty „banter‟ as my double-page-spread is an interview of a young and upcoming artist. It is well structured and easy for readers to understand.
• 3.
  Evaluation of MyMedia Product What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why? I think that the type of institution that might distribute my media product would be IPC Media. I think they would have an interest in distributing this type of magazine because it has a similar style to NME but looks at more upcoming artists/bands that NME rather that those that are currently very „high‟ in the music industry. My magazine also is more involved with the reader and gives them what they want to hear. Due to the increasing use of social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter, the use of advertisements through these would increase the reputation of The Uprisin‟ and could help get new bands involved with the magazine so that both get maximum coverage. Having an official website for The Uprisin‟ would also really help to present and market the magazine. Fans could subscribe for the magazine through this as well as post comments/new ideas on features. To catch fans attentions, a free sample „mini‟ magazine of the issues could be distributed as gigs that relate to indie/alternative rock because, potentially these would be the people who would most likely buy my magazine.
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  Evaluation of MyMedia Product Who would be the audience for your media product? The audience for my media product would be young adults and teenagers. This would include those that are currently students from high school to university and those who are also working. The audience would be those who are interested in indie/alternative rock as well as gigs/festivals in general. It is proven form my audience research that the people of this particular age group and social group are most interested in this type of music. I did a survey to get some public feedback on my magazine. I asked 20 people that seemed to be in my magazine‟s target audience on what people liked about my final media product. 16 out of the 20 people I asked said that they liked the fact that my magazine cover challenges the set conventions of a professional magazine. they also said that because of this, the magazine is unique and would stand out against its competitors. From this survey it was brought to my attention that 9 people thought the price was too steep being £2.99 which you make them reluctant to buy it. When I asked why this was the case, they suggested that young people do not have much money and could not afford each weekly issue. 18 people said that they thought the colour schemes of the media product worked well and attracted both genders as it is quite neutral.
• 5.
  Evaluation of MyMedia Product How did you attract/address your audience? By using the images I chose I attract a certain type of audience. Because these images are related to the music I have featured to maintain the feel of a professional magazine. The model in the photographs was taken with a guitar to help match the genre and theme of the magazine. The model was wearing certain articles of clothing to represent the type of people who would normally feature in a magazine as well as the way the audience would dress. This could possibly influence their current style of clothing as well. The stories that I chose to feature are similar to those that NME features in their magazines. This helps attract the same audience. Because I have included current affairs like up coming gigs and interviews which are what the fans would want to hear about it will draw the target audience towards my magazine. My contents page, grabs the readers attention because the layout makes things very clear and the colour scheme draws the reader in, as it is bold and continues with the colour scheme from the cover. In the double-page-spread the article is neat and has a professional feel to it. The language I used is laid-back, chatty, and informal as it is an interview with a solo artist. Because the language is like this it can address to the younger generation as well as give them an idea on the artist‟s personality and character. The chatty „banter‟ also makes the audience more involved with the article.
• 6.
  Evaluation of MyMedia Product What have you learnt about technologies for the process of constructing this product? I have learnt through the construction of this product that the angle and lighting used when taking a photograph for a magazine makes all the difference to the quality of the photograph. The angle is important because it creates a sense of attitude to the photograph as well as makes the difference from being appropriate for a magazine cover and not appropriate. The distance the photograph was taken is vital because this determines whether After I edited the photograph in Adobe or not the cover is going to look professional Photoshop. Before and after I edited the or amateur. It also determines whether or not photograph in adobe Lightroom the photograph will compliment the cover. For my magazine product the software I used was Adobe Photoshop CS5, Adobe LightRoom, and QuarkXPress. Photoshop was mainly used for the creation of my front cover. This software was very helpful in editing out unnecessary backgrounds using the quick select/magic wand tool. With Photoshop I was also able to create effects on sections of my cover. This was very helpful because it made sections stand out from the rest as well as altered their design slightly. The software overall helped create a finished product that looked professionally made. QuarkXPress, was a completely new software for me and really helped create my contents/ double-page-spread. This software made writing the article quick and easy because it has a tool that allows you to put text into three columns. This was useful because it automatically rearranged the text to spread/fit properly. By using blogger.com it was a lot easier to store my work and to keep it ordered. The advantage of using a blog is that my tutor can also be updated on how much work I have done and how I‟m coping with the work load. They can also easily fine my work and comment on how it can be improved.
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  Evaluation of MyMedia Product Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product? Looking back, I feel that I have learnt to properly construct a magazine and I have learnt how to make it look professional. I have learnt how to properly colour scheme a magazine so it appeals to its direct audience. I have improved on the way I take photographs and edit them using certain software that are capable of it. I have expanded my understanding on my design skills as well as my ability to write and research for a piece of journalism.