Location, props and costume

For location I decided to use the photography studio in the college because I felt that the white background would brighten up the front cover. I wanted to keep the front cover simple because there is already a lot of colour in the text and this may cause the text to become lost or less visible. I did want to use a different background for the feature article though. I wanted to have my model leaning on a brick background to show how down to earth the singer was, so that the reader could relate to him. But I couldn’t find the right model and the person that I did use, Liam, was being very difficult to work with so I doubt I would be able to have him pose outside of college. Also but keeping the background plain it made it easier to edit them out of the images and place them on different backgrounds.

I decide not to use any props because I didn’t want to have too much on the front cover and I didn’t want to take the focus away from the model. Since the picture I took of my model was mainly of his face I didn’t use props because you wouldn’t be able to see them anyway. For the feature article I wanted to only use images of the band members because I wanted all of the focus to be on them and not the material goods that would surround them. But for the contents page I did use some images of some props like the guitar, I thought this would make the page look more interesting rather than having just images of people on it. Also I felt that if I put images of props on this page then it may encourage the reader to see what else is inside the magazine.

I tried to have my model wear clothes that would match the genre of the magazine, rock. Luckily he wears clothes similar to this so I didn’t need to ask him to wear anything specific. These clothes represent the clothes that my target audience would wear so hopefully they will feel the connection between then and the magazine and this will encourage them to buy it.

Draft of contents page

I like the layout here as it is quite all over the place which really represents the way typical rock magazines are presented. Lots of images here will keep the reader interested and since they will be linked to the articles inside it may encourage them to read what is going on in the images.

Third draft of magazine cover

I really liked this cover as the writing of the masthead  is supposed to look like the wire of a microphone, which is why it has a plug-in at the end. this would obviously suggest a music magazine and because it is quite unusual it may attract more people to buy it.

Second draft of magazine cover

I wasn't too sure on this cover as it is quite minimalistic, and since I am crating a rock magazine this may not help attract my target audience, and it isn't as cluttered as most rock magazines are.

First draft of front cover

This was the first idea that I thought to use for my magazine. I really liked the masthead as it shows attention to detail and also symbolises how the music inside the magazine will shatter you mind because of how loud it is. I may use it in my final product but it may take a while to create on Photoshop but it should be worth it. when asking my target audience what they thought of it they thought it was a really good idea and it would really good when it is done.

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

I have become more aware of how much magazines have developed the way they get their magazine shown. It had changed so much from just magazines in small retail shops to big magazine industries to being sold and advertised online and maybe even into mobile apps.

I have gathered much more information on the magazine industry; I know have a much better understanding on how much it actually influences people all over the world. By learning about the stereotypical means that the media places upon society, I have a much better understanding on how marketing, advertising and image influences what people would buy. For example a woman would be expected to buy a glossy fashion magazine where as a man would typically buy a sports magazine, that is if he wasn't ‘hard at work’.

All of the research proved useful when developing my ideas for the magazine, I was able to see the big and subtle differences between what make a magazine appealing. By looking at the different layout of magazine I could see how particular ones show different styles of magazine and how these particular layouts will attract different target audiences. Also by seeing what is advertised in the magazine i was able to see how every little thing in the magazine should always be aimed at the target audience.

I have also picked up on how much presentation really matters; it’s all the little details that are on the cover that make a person want to buy it, especially when you are aiming for a particular audience. Things such as text alignment, if it’s out by a few centimetres, it looks wrong or too messy. If I don’t like the way it looks then why would anyone else? Presentation is everything. By learning how much presentation means to the media I was able to achieve the desired affect that I would want my target audience to feel. I also played with the opacity levels on some of the layers on my front cover, I feel that by adding new elements to the cover then it would keep it interesting.

It is always important to make drafts. I made a few drafts before I made final decisions and even after I decided what I wanted I still made alterations. But I wouldn't have been able to make these without getting feedback from other people, by talking on what other people said then I could widen my target audience by making something that everyone likes.

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

Have learnt a lot from Photoshop at the beginning of the course I hadn't used it at all, now I have become much more confident when using it. I have picked up on all of the basic skills, after struggling at first I did pick up the skills. This has been very useful in trying to make my magazine look realistic and appealing to my target audience. I have learnt a lot about the best way to present my magazine and all of the effect in photo shop have helped me in doing so, for example,

Using the camera was easy as I have used cameras before; I was able to make the photos I took more professional by taking them in the photo studio. Using the lights and background I was able to take the pictures

to a professional enough standard. Although, I was disappointed that the images turned out a bit darker than I wanted but I was able to use that to my advantage, as my magazine isn't bright and happy so this added a more convincing mysterious atmosphere.
I also used survey monkey so that I could ask and receive feedback from other people, this website allowed me to see how many people liked specific things about my magazine ideas in survey form. This was very useful as it helped me collect information so that I could make my magazine suitable for everyone.

Using the blog has proved very useful when looking back on how I started out the project and how it has developed throughout the course. I like how I can put my ideas up for everyone to see but I can just as easily take them down and change them whenever I want. I also see this as a safer way to store work as there is less of a chance that it will be lost or destroyed.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I have used bright colours to attract my target audience but not too bright as this would create a childish atmosphere for the magazine which isn't ideal. On the front it has an image of a band member looking quite mysterious, and this would appeal to the skater type of teenager as this is probably how they appear to people as well. In front of this image are the word ‘Exclusive Interview’ this may encourage people to read about and know his story the story. 

The magazine has its own individual look which should help teenagers to relate to wanting to be an individual which will lead to them buying .Teenagers wanting to be their own person and read about people like themselves will boost sales and encourage more individuals to read it.

Direct address isn't used but I still include offers and prizes that would appeal to the audience. For example ‘Free You Me at Six keyring’. By advertising what you will get when buying the magazine may also boost sales. A teenager may only be interested in the free object or posters inside but, by having that 'addition'; it may encourage them to buy the magazine more often to be part of the free offers.

Inside my magazine appropriate language is used but it is not too informal that older members of the public wouldn't want to buy it. It has a laid back attitude, it doesn't want to force opinions onto the reader, it’s just to help them keep options open and express different opinions.  The colours inside link to the front cover but, it does include more images to keep the reader interested in what is going to be in the feature article. The feature article does have a slightly different look to the rest of the magazine but this is to give it its own characteristics and highlight the individuality of the bad being interviewed. The attitude is appropriate for my target audience as it is casual and laid back which may make the magazine more enjoyable to read and for people to relate to.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

I see my magazine being brought by people aged 15-20 but most of them are expected to be male because according to the media, ‘only men listen to rock music’. The stereotypical teenager is seen as a drug taking, smoking young youth who like to cause trouble. My magazine challenges that stereotype but doesn't avoid the other ones that are pushed upon teenagers, for example, I have backed up the ones that say; they listen to music, watch movies, are deep in technology and go to gigs. But I don’t see these having any negative impact on the audience so I have chosen to highlight them and present them to my target audience. I see my typical teenage reader being male and being a 'skater', the media believe that these types of teenagers would by a rock magazine such at mine. To the left is an example of the type of person that would be expected to buy my magazine.

As well as the things that are featured in my magazine I would also have advertising that would appeal to my target audience. The main advertisements would, of course, be music based but it would also include a lot of new technology, this would include; Beats by Dr. Dre (headphones), IPod's  Guitar Hero, New phones, things that a typical teenager would be interested in. But it would also include other products such as food, skateboards and clothes as well s a few television adverts, because all teenagers do is listen to music and watch TV.My magazine is quite modern, so it essential that it keeps up to date with everything that

is selling big in the music market. Because of the genre of music it would be expected to have gig dates and posters within it, this may attract a wider range buyers.

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

As the largest consumer is Bauer media with 25% share of the market. Closely followed by IPC media with a 20% share of the market, they both take up a very large share of the magazine industry so it could be a good idea to present my magazine to the institutes that don’t consume so much of the market. If I was to introduce my magazine to a company that would normally sell this type of product, it may increase sales but if it was a lesser known name then this may cause my magazine to take longer to be discovered or even be recognised as a worth product to sell.

Since Wireless is very similar to magazines such as Kerrang! and NME I would expect them to be distributed by institutions such as Bauer or IPC media as they already sell products similar to these. Although I may expect to not see my magazine being distributed but a company such as IPC Media. This would be for the main reason that I just mentioned, they already distribute magazines similar to mine, this may make it harder to be recognised and since magazines such as Kerrang! are already very popular the competition would be very high. This, giving me a smaller chance in the market leaves me to find another magazine distributor.

However, Bauer Media does distribute music magazines somewhat similar to mine, I feel like mine has some certain qualities that would make it stand and not blend in too much with the original music magazines. By choosing Bauer to distribute my magazine can boost profits as they already have many popular magazines and they know how to advertise and sell the product.

If I was to sell my magazine in individual retailers, it may bring the number of people buying it down but I may gain more money from the fact that I am don’t have to pay out extra money to big corporate businesses. This would also help with advertising as the money from that would go straight to me instead of through the bigger corporations.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine is not of the conventional type, you would expect to see it in newsagents but not as commonly as celebrity and gossip magazines as it is more of a niche product. Therefore the market for my magazine is smaller than usual as it doesn't apply to the mainstream ‘hipster’ or ‘girly’ themes so its design needs to stand out from the rest of the niche products. My magazine is based on, punk rockers who want a magazine that they can relate to.  I have chosen colours and themes that relate to this genre of music as I will enhance its purpose and will appeal more to the niche market. I have kept the language a particular way so that it will appeal to a younger/teenage audience; this is reflected in the choice of products that I am displaying inside. These products link closely to my target audience of males ages 14-20 as they are very technological and this reinforces the stereotype that the media has places on men.

To keep with the individuality I have decided to take my pictures in a similar way to those that are already on the market, but because this market is much smaller than mainstream magazines I feel that it gives me more freedom to experiment with the images and how they should be displayed.

Similarities between You Me At six’ photo and mine:

Posture: The boy’s photo is loose and relaxed, giving off a clam, easy-going atmosphere. Essential when presenting the magazine as it encourages the readers to relate more to the models. Therefore my model shall hold himself in a calm relaxed position to make the reader feel the same.

Gesture: In this photo there is an obvious hand gesture from the model closest to the camera, he holds his hands as if he is framing something that the other models may be looking at. But the rest of the group seem to just be looking straight into the camera, this could represent how direct the image is, but it also gives the image a welcoming atmosphere. To me this stance seems a bit too common to be seen on my genre of magazine, so my model shall be looking away from the camera in a dismissive manner, to show the distance he will have from the readers. This may help the teenagers connect to the feeling of being different.

Angle/ shot type:

Lighting: The lighting in this image is quite unclear as the image is in black and white, but I can see all of the faces of all of the models. The lights on the boys hair shows how lights were also on either side of them, this would be to highlight their facial expressions. The models are set on a plain white background, giving us more of a reason to look at the models. My photo is also set on a white background but is not as bring at this image, the brightness has been turned down because there is not much need to focus on the models face because not much of it is seen. It also creates a much darker atmosphere, which highlights the way people see teenagers.

Expression: The expression that most of the boys are holding is a very blank one. They don’t appear to be posing for a flashy pretty magazine, and I think this shows well how down to earth they are. Many rock magazines don’t represent people as big show off's  it just shows them for who they are. That not everybody is constantly trying to look perfect or pretty. This creates a sense of equality that everybody is the same no matter how you look at it. I have tried to mimic this with my model, even though he is not looking at the camera; he still has a quirky, down to earth image.

Hair: You would expect to see people on rock magazines with slightly untamed hair shows off their rebellion. All of the models have the same hairstyle to show equality. It hasn't been styled much but it doesn't cover any of their faces. I have chosen a model that has this same style of hair; the media would expect people who have this kind of image to read a rock magazine with similar images to these on them.

Costume: This is seen as a vital element on any magazine, the costume of all of the boys seems like something that they would wear every day; they have a casual look which, in the magazine industry, allows us to connect more with the models. I have recreated this with my model, he wears casual clothes that we would expect the reader to wear, by doing this I have instantly mad a connection with the reader.

Stereotypes: I feel, like this image, the image on my front cover supports many of the stereotypes linked with rock music. It supports the fact that most people who like rock music are: male, teenagers and have a messy casual look, and aren't bothered with mainstream styles and brands.

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

All magazines follow the same basic front cover, a flashy title, and eye catching image, interesting cover lines and maybe a tempting offer included inside the magazine. I have taken all of these ideas and taken theses into consideration when producing my magazine.

As you can see on the cover of Rolling Stones it has less writing than you would see on a normal music magazine but it still has the vital elements needed to make to magazine appealing for example; a flashy title, a famous singer/rapper and minimal writing, to keep the reader interested in what is going on, on the front page. All of the cover lines have been placed to one side so that the image can be seen easily. This cover has a plain background which I have used on my magazine; this may have been for the same reason, to make to singer on the front cover stand out clearly. The image on the front of the cover stereotypes towards the type of person who may read this magazine, for example, teenagers who are seen as moody and misunderstood.

The colour scheme of the magazine is very basic as only two colours are used, this is quite uncommon to use so little colour and this gives the magazine and even simpler look, this could be again to keep the attention on the singer. There may not be many colours on the front cover but this may also be because there will be much more colour on the inside of the magazine. I have gone against this rule as I have used much more colour in the whole of my magazine, this is to mirror the nature of a rock magazine and show how crazy it is. This product would not be seen as mainstream but it still draws in enough readers to keep its contaversial look.

Many magazines have strap lines at the top and bottom of the page to advertise things inside the magazine but this magazine chooses against it as it would ruin the structure of the magazine. The magazine industry takes into consideration how people view this magazine, this type of magazine is seen as minimalistic which could draw in people who don’t want to be bothered with lots of writing.

I have decided to crate my magazine based on a few trends of this magazine but not many of them because I would like to create a completely new look for my magazine.  I have decided to go against the clean cut look and give my magazine a more ‘rough’ look to resemble to music and products inside it. The image of my magazine will represent those people who like to break convention and go against the rules; in the society that we live in, individuality is become more and more popular, so this may help people to relate to my magazine.

Feature article

Contents page

Front cover