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

Before I started this magazine my knowledge in Photoshop was very minimal. I knew some things that I had picked up in photography, but not much else. Before I even started making the magazine, I started experimenting  with the ways in which you can edit text. Using glows, bevel and emboss and different color adjustments I could edit the text so that it gives a more 3d fell or even a small outer glow.

After choosing to stick with a very simplistic standard text called "impact" I started to learn about aligning text so that it all look neat and tidy for the contents page. I think that I implemented this well and I managed to get a good looking contents page just by simply making sure the text was aligned and that the text was east and understandable.

I also learnt a little about studio photography. Although I am doing As Photography, I never really used the studio for my work preferring to work with natural light. For my double page spread and front page the images used were taken in the studio. I learnt about where exactly you place the light and how to get no shadows in a image.

A crucial part of the process was learning how to use this platform "Blogger". I had no experience with blogging before, but I found that using it has really helped me to present the work I have done in a more intuitive way. Now, I know how to post, embed and add images to posts with ease which is useful for when your trying to get your work across with aesthetics.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I attracted people to my magazine by using emotive words such as "Exclusive" and "Free". The reason this attracts people to the magazine is because people feel that they are getting something for free from the people who make the magazine. So the people feel like they could be rewarded just by buying the magazine. The second way I attract people to the magazine is by using very large and bold text accompanied by contrasting colors to make sure the headlines stand out.

I also attracted a very specific audience by naming some of the bands we will be looking at (Their fans) and in the same way giving people the opportunity to see a "Foo Fighters" and a "Kings of Leon" gig. Doing this will also get the magazine more consistent buyers because they will by it for the individual artist and then keep buying it if they liked what they read elsewhere in the magazine.

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

The kind of institution I would be looking for this kind of magazine is one with past experience with other magazines in this genre, but not specifically the same target audience. The benefits of this kind of institution backing your product and distributing it are massive. If the company has a good reputation in the industry a magazine has a much higher chance of getting put into big supermarkets and corner shops if the company is already known to of produced good profits for the retailers. 

If I were to be able to choose a company for the distribution of my magazine, it would be the "Bauer Media" group. This company has distributed many magazines, but the most notable ones are "Q" and "kerrang". Both these magazines are in the rock/indie music genre and the experience of distributing these magazines before would be priceless.

Another reason why the Bauer Media group would be helpful for my magazine is because they have good links to all sectors of the media (TV, radio,print), and these links could be very valuable to getting the magazine advertised.   

How does your media product represent particular social groups/Who would be the audience for your media product?

My magazine is aimed at people who are the age of 21 - 28 and who still love rock music. So the social group is kind of in a niche, because there are not really any rock magazine aimed at their age group.
My magazine represent's itself to the social groups by including older bands such as "Metallica" and "Iron Maiden". Adding these house hold rock names, greatly increases the number of readers from that age group, because they are the generation who grew up with them.

Another way my magazine appeals to the target social group is by including more "In depth" interviews. For instance a younger audience would not look for a magazine that talks about very alternative rock bands, who are known well in rock community, but not too the wilder world.

Also, adding puns to the pre-interview segment is something that only a older audience would understand. In a way, this reinforces the reader - writer relationship because it lets the audience know they are who the writer was aiming for.

All in all, the magazine rewards the certain age group for reading because it gives them information that only they would be able to pick up.

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

In What Ways Does Your Media Product Use

Double Page Spread

Contents Page

Front Cover

Looking at text

Whilst looking at the different texts for my magazine, I showed some fellow pupils the following image and asked them to decide what text the liked.

A majority of the people I asked said that they preferred "AutographS Bold". So I have decided that will be the main text for my magazine headings and sub-headings.

Planning a shoot

When planning the shoot for my front cover, I will take the following things into account:

• Lighting - The use of light is crucial to an images mood/feel
• Composition - How the image is composed e.g. Too the left looking at a guitar
• Props - What items should the subject be using (If any)
• Location - e.g. And old factory that doesn’t work anymore 
• Equipment - Camera, lights etc.
• Subject - Choosing a subject is important because he/she will be a large factor in which target audience will purchase the magazine.

Composition
Subject will be in the middle of the image looking at the camera, and his full body will be shown. His eyes looking directly into the camera will draw the viewers attention because its attention grabbing to see someone lookin at you.
Props
No props just to increase the focus on the subject and not draw your eye away from the main story.

Location
In the studio, or a place with a plain background.  This will make it easier for the subject to stand out and make him/her more in focus.

Equipment
Nikon D5000 dslr
Studio lights
Studio

Subject
The subject will have a "rock" look about them e.g. Long hair + Wearing a hoody/jacket.

Magazine Analysis

Analyzing a front cover 

This cover by "NME" grabs the attention of the viewer by:

• Using multiple images
• Using a big bold text that stands out from the background
• The subject of the background image is looking down the lens
• They have used different colors in their text to add emphasis to bands and important quotes
• Used emotive words like "revealed" and "Inside"

I think that the target audience is boys around the age of 14 - 18 because:
The publisher has decided to use colors that are connoted with boys e.g. blue, yellow and white. They have played on the stereotype that young people like to get drunk, by using the text "When in Rome, Get drunk with...". Also its trying to appeal to a indie style market, which is predominantly men.

Analyzing a contents page

One of the first things you notice about this page is the big, bold text saying "contents" in the top right hand corner. This is added to inform the reader of what they are looking at. Also the style of the contents box is the same as all the writing inside a "kerrang" magazine. By doing this the editor is reinforcing the house-style of magazine so the readers become familiar with it and relate those colors to the magazine. The images on this page make up a majority of the space available because they catch the eye of the reader better than text. Although, the readers are required to read the text on/underneath the images because it will give them some information on what the article is about and what page its on. Another thing that has been added to this contents page is an editors snippet. The magazine company's like to do this, because it makes the reader feel more involved in the magazine. This makes the reader think they have some inside knowledge that no-one else has. By seeing this the reader is encouraged to come back because it feels more personal.

Analyzing a double-page spread

  This double page spread is very much a two sided affair. On the left hand side you have a attention grabbing full page picture and on the right you have some articles which are mainly oriented towards the image on the left. On the left hand side you have a small amount of text that gives you some quick information on the band. The color scheme used here is also used through out the double page spread (Blue, black and white). Another interesting feature is the title that goes across the spread. This draws your eye along to each side of the magazine. The title fonts are big and bold, with a contrasting background to help the information stand out.

Choosing a Title

Titles for the music magazine normally use a pun in the title or have some correlation with their subject genre e.g. "Kerrang", "Vibe", "Off - Beat" etc. The title is crucial for a magazine because it becomes a brand and represents the magazine as a whole.

Because the genre I have chosen is rock, I came up with some titles that are related to my genre.

1. "Twang!"
2. "Heavy Beat"
3. "Base-Line"

After asking a few of my fellow pupils we concurred that "Base-Line" was the best Title, mainly because in incorporates a pun, but also because it rolls off the tounge.

Time Management

Using my planner I can keep too a plan, set myself goals and stick to any of my deadlines.

Target Audience Research

Who?
The people who will by a rock music magazine are people from the age range of 14 - 18 and a majority of the purchases will be by boys.

Why?
The people who will by the magazine will usually buy it because it covers there musical taste. The people who enjoy rock/indie music are usually in the bracket of 14 - 18 year old boys.

Pricing
I asked 10 people their thoughts on pricing of the magazine.
How much money would you spend on a music magazine?

• 1p - 99p
• £1 - £1.99**
• £2 - £2.99******
• £3 - £3.99**
• £4 - £4.99*
• £5 +

Result
As a result of the test I have decided to price my magazine at £2.49. I chose the price because most magazines are at around £2.99 so they buyer would feel like they got a good deal.

Magazine Institutions

Who are the big Institutions?
One of the biggest institutions in the music magazine business is the Bauer Media Group. They publish both Q and Kerrang magazine. According to "wikipedia" the Bauer Media Group sells "38 million magazine's a week" worldwide from around 282 different magazine titles. Its safe to say that the Bauer Group dominates the global market for magazines.

Choosing a Style

Genre
For my music magazine I have chosen to do my magazine in the genre of rock. I have chosen to do rock because it's a very effective and eye catching style whilst still retaining a sense of intellect in the themes being discussed. The magazines that relate to this style are NME, Q and rolling stone. All of these magazines are held in high regard and sell in vast quantities.

Magazine Style
As a result of the questionnaire I handed out to students, the magazine style should be as follows.
White background with black and red text
Small amounts of text and priority on the image.
Large + Bold text
A individual artist
A up and coming band (Picture)
Large prizes with lots of winners

Rock Magazine Questionnaire

For my questionnaire I asked 5 people some questions on the layout and design of a music magazine front cover. The questions were asked to people who regularly purchase music magazines and who listen to rock music. When asked all of them said they had read to "kerrang" magazine, or/and NME.

Which of the following colour schemes to you prefer:

• Black with white text **
• White with black & red text **
• White with black text*
• White with blue text
• None of the above

Would you prefer too see a well known band or a up-coming band on the front cover?

• Well known band**
• Up-coming band***

Which of the following layouts do you prefer?

• Small amounts of text - Priority on the image ****
• Large Amounts of text - Priority on the stories*

Which of the following text styles would you prefer?

• Large, bold text * * *                                               
• Large, normal text
• Medium, bold text*
• Medium, normal text*
• Small, bold text
• Small, normal text

Do you prefer to see a full band or an individual artist?

• Full band**
• Individual artist***

Which of these competition types do you prefer?

• Large Prizes, with one winner****
• Small Prizes, with lots of winners*

* = Selected answer