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

For my preliminary (prelim) task I had to produce the front page of a new school magazine, featuring a photograph of a student in a mid shot with appropriate text and masthead. As well as this I had produce a contents page to go with the front cover.  

I had originally planned to set my preliminary front cover in a science lab and have a student use the equipment, unfortunately, all of the science labs were unavailable; therefore, I chose to take my picture outside. I decided to feature a student doing school work as this was relevant to the purpose of my magazine. By taking the picture outside I made my magazine appear positively and therefore make the issue more appealing.  (see figure 1)

Editing

Figure 1 - Original Prelim image 

Figure 2 - Edited Prelim image 

Due to the natural light and setting I chose to edit the image by enhancing the colour and removing any imperfections from the surroundings. (see figure 2). I also did this in my final task. For my music magazine I used artificial light (a skill that I had learnt throughout the process) therefore, the picture appeared more professional than my prelim task. Additionally, my final magazine image had imperfections that I removed in order to make the magazine more aesthetically pleasing (see figures 3 and 4). Similarly, I enhanced the colour of my final magazine, this was not to make the magazine appear in a more positive way but was to exaggerate the use of the colour red throughout my magazine. I feel that the editing for my music magazine is more natural than my preliminary task and therefore more successful.

Figure 3 - Original image 

Figure 4 - Edited image 

                                                                                         

Image

My music magazine image is more successful than my prelim image for different reasons. Firstly, my preliminary image was landscape; this was unsuccessful as all magazines are portrait. However, my final magazine image was portrait therefore making it more conventional and more successful. By having a portrait image, I was able to position the cover lines more effectively in order to make the magazine look and feel professional.

Furthermore, my prelim image did not engage with the audience as the model was looking down, although this was to show her doing her work, it is ineffective in evoking emotional connections with the audience. Consequently, my music magazine image is more effective as the model uses eye contact to engage with the audience and connote the personal aspect of the issue. Throughout the process I learnt about the importance of images and their positioning, therefore I knew that eye contact would be more effective in enticing my audience’s attention.

Photography

For my prelim task I used an iPod 5, this provided a reasonable picture quality, however, for my final product I used a Nikon 1 J2 camera. This improved my final image as it had a better pixel quality than the iPod 5 and provided me with more flexible options. For example, the Nikon had a 30 mm zoom, which allowed me to prevent my shadow being in the shot while still getting a close up shot. As well as this, the Nikon had a range of built in editing options such as Selective Colour and Backlighting which helped to enhance my image. Furthermore, the use of a tripod allowed me to get a stable image using the Nikon which could not have been achieved through the iPod. The iPod was good as it was easy to access and was quick in transferring the images, however, the Nikon provided a better quality and a wider range of photography techniques.

Conventions

Figure 5 - Final Preliminary Cover 

When constructing the prelim task I was unware of some magazine conventions, this resulted in a cover that had very little conventions featured. For example, ‘study break’ has no barcode, although this is not a feature exclusive to magazines, a barcode is essential in order to sell the magazine. Without a barcode ‘study break’ would not be able to be sold. As well as this, my preliminary task does not have a sell line. A sell line is a convention of a magazine that informs the audience of the purpose of the magazine; without a sell line ‘study break’ would be unsuccessful as it would not inform the audience of its function and therefore would be less likely to attract its target audience.

My music magazine contrast this as it includes these conventions. Between finalising my prelim task and composing my final piece, I researched into the conventions of a music magazine and found that a barcode in the left third of the magazine and a sell line within the masthead were both typical and important conventions of a music magazine. As a result, to make my magazine look professional, I chose to include these two conventions in my final magazine.

By including these conventions, my final piece was an improvement on my preliminary task as it accurately imitated successful music magazines and more effectively informed my target audience of the function of the magazine.

Contents page

Figure 6 - Final Prelim contents page

From researching into magazine contents pages my final product has developed dramatically from my preliminary task. My prelim contents page was unsuccessful and did not follow the appropriate conventions (see figure 5). By positioning the title ‘contents’ at the bottom of the page my prelim does not clearly indicate the function of the page; this would make it difficult for busy people to understand the purpose of the page and therefore deter them from reading the magazine.

Furthermore, there is very little colour used on the contents page to attract the reader’s attention to specific information. This consequently makes the contents page seem boring and unappealing.

Figure 7 - Final Music magazine
contents page

Finally, the prelim contents page does not include other images, which is a convention of magazines. This also makes the page boring and unappealing resulting in the magazine being unsuccessful.

I learnt from these mistakes when making my final piece and so included colour and images in my contents page (see figure 6). By including colour I was able to draw attention to different information, I enhanced this effect by also using different sizes in order to make the page more interesting.

As well as this, my final contents page included smaller images to further inform the audience of other artist and therefore appeal to a wider range of people and tastes. By applying this convention to my final piece I created a more successful contents page than that of my preliminary task and therefore improved in the progression from my prelim task to my final         piece.

Conclusion

Due to further research and planning following my prelim task I learnt about the features needed to make a successful magazine. Because of this I was able to produce a better piece that included successful aspects and conventions, therefore producing a more professional and appealing final piece.

What Kind of Media Institution might Distribute your Media Product and Why?

http://www.slideshare.net/CharlotteAS209/what-kind-of-media-institution-might-distribute-your-magazine-product-and-why-57404545

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

Magazines typically follow conventions in order to ensure a successful magazine; these conventions consist of a masthead, a dominant and sticking cover image and an attractive colour scheme that consist of no more than 3 colours; all of which create the format of the magazine. Additionally, typical magazines include a memorable sell line, which is the function of the magazine, and cover lines, which construct the formula.

I chose to follow the main conventions throughout my magazine in order to attract my audience as the conventions would create familiarity.

Masthead

The masthead of a magazine is located in the top few inches of the cover; this allows it to be easily seen when on a crowded news-stand. I chose to use a bold black masthead as this would allow the masthead to remain identical throughout every issue therefore making my magazine easily recognisable to readers (see figure 1).

Figure 1 - Resonance Masthead

I chose to use a sans serif front for my masthead as this made the title bolder, additionally sans serif fonts create a modern feel that was necessary for my magazine genre as I focused on following modern trends. By choosing a black, sans serif masthead I created a bold and recognizable brand for my magazine that would attract my target audience of 16 to 21 year olds.

At first my masthead was very different. Originally, the name of my magazine was ‘Fix’, however I changed this to ‘Resonance’ (meaning “a quality of richness or variety” and “the quality of a sound that stays loud, clear, and deep for a long time”; therefore, portraying the genre of my magazine) as when asking my target audience, I found that they felt that the word ‘Fix’ connoted drugs and therefore appeared to suggest an indie genre. Additionally, the word ‘Fix’ did not fill the cover (see figure 2) and so I chose a longer word that was more aesthetically pleasing.

Figure 2 - Original Masthead

Cover Image

Figure 3 - Original Cover Image 

The cover image is an important feature of the magazine as it is the first thing that the audience sees, therefore it gives the first indication of the format of the magazine. Consequently, the image must be striking and attractive to the audience to grasp their attention in a short space of time.

Figure 4 - Edited Cover Image 

A typically convention of music magazines is to use eye contact on the cover image, I chose to stick with this convention. Eye contact from the featured artist evokes an attachment with the audience, as a result the audience are more likely to purchase the magazine. In addition, it was important for me to include an image that had eye contact (see figure 3) because my issue focused on one artist with the main feature article being an interview. Because of this my image is successful as it connotes a feeling of vulnerability and truthfulness that the audience would expect from the interview.

In order to make my magazine image striking I used the colour red on the models lips and nails. The colour red is a bright colour and so would attract attention, additionally, red connotes love and allure and so signifies to my audience that this artist is love and popular within the music industry. When editing my image, I chose to enhance the colour red (see figure 4) to create an interesting and striking image. 

  

Colour Scheme

Figure 5 - an example of a '3'
colour scheme used in a
music magazine.

Figure 6 - Final Contents Page

Because of the use of red in my cover image I chose to use red throughout my colour scheme, by using the same colour as seen on the model I created continuity and allowed me to establish my houses style clearly for the audience. A convention of magazines is to use 3 colours as to not over crowed the page (an example of this is seen in figure 5). Because my target audience of aspirers wanted a minimalistic cover (due to their orientation around the attractive appearance of products) I chose to include this convention in my music magazine therefore, I only used red, black and white on my cover and throughout my magazine. Because the colour red was the boldest colour, I used it to draw the readers’ attention to certain articles and information. For example, in my double page spread (figure 6) I chose to make the article title and the pull quite red in order to create a more interesting layout and draw attention to these two features.

Sell Line

A sell line, or selling line, is a short description of the main marketing point or philosophy of the magazine. The sell line gives the audience an indication into the function of the magazine and can be used to attract the reader. I chose the sell line “Intune with the music of today” as it indicted the purpose of my magazine, which is to feature the changing trends of music. By using “music of today” I ensured that my sell line could be used throughout every issue as it didn’t specify one genre; this was important for my magazine as it showed popular music of the time, therefore allowing the genre of my magazine to change along with popular culture.

Cover lines

Figure 7 - An example of
cover lines used in a
music magazine.

The cover of a magazine features cover lines, inform the audience of the formula of the magazine.

Figure 8 - My magazine cover 

Typically, a music magazine has a lot of cover lines on the cover (see figure 7) as this allows them to inform the reader and therefore attract the reader’s attention resulting in the purchase of their magazine.

I chose not to include a lot of cover lines in my magazine as my target audience wanted a minimalist cover. Therefore, I chose to challenge conventions and have less cover lines. In order to make my cover attractive I chose to replace multiple cover lines with a large main cover line (seen in figure 8) which clearly indicated the main focus of the issue. I feel that by doing so I made my cover simple and effective in quickly informing my target audience of the contents of the magazine.

Conclusion 

Overall, I feel that my magazine is successful. By following conventions, such as using a sell line and including a striking image, I have created a professional looking music magazine that will attract audiences in a effective way. By challenging conventions, much like RayGun does, I would be limiting myself to a niche audience and consequently making my magazine less successful as I aim target a mass audience. Therefore, by following conventions I have created a distinguishable magazine.

Final Magazine

Front cover

Contents Page 

Double Page Spread

Mock ups

I chose to draw my mock up covers rather than do them digitally. I decided to do this because it allowed me to change my ideas easily and enabled me to accumulate a wide range of ideas within a small space of time.

Front cover 

Contents 

Double page spread 

Intertextuality

What is it?
"Intertextuality is the shaping of a text's meaning by another text. Intertextual figures include: allusion, quotation, calque, plagiarism, translation, pastiche and parody."
Intertextuality can take 3 forms;
Explicit - this is when the intertextuality is obvious. It is often a homage to a character, actor, or another text. 
Implicit - this is when it is subtle. It has the ability to be missed but is normally picked up by regular fans. It often makes the audience feel 'superior' if they spot the intertextuality. 
Accidental - sometimes intertextuality is by accident, this can often be pointed out afterwards and the creators can either choose to acknowledge it or ignore it. 


This can be explicitly seen in the Simpsons. The Simpsons, and similar programs such as Family Guy, use intertextuality throughout each episode to create humour in a recognisable way.


Intertextuality can often make the audience feel clever if they pick up the reference. This creates a feeling of achievement and makes the audience more interested in the text.

 

I have made a conscious decision to not use intertextuality in my magazine. This is because, although intertextuality is important, my young demographic may not understand some references; for example, generally a young audience would not understand the Abbey Road (Beatles) reference used in the Simpsons, therefore the intertextuality would be lost. Additionally, I feel that using intertextuality in everything leads it to become ineffective and mundane.

Publishers

In order for magazines to be on our shelves they need to be published. Some magazines are published by large publishing companies such as 'Bauer' and 'Time Ink UK' (previously known as 'ICP Media'),
while others are independently published.

Institutions(Large groups)

 Bauer

Bauer is one of the largest publishers in Europe. It originated in Hamburg, Germany in 1875. It manages over 600 magazines, 400 digital products and 50 radio and TV stations around the world, including Kerrang!, Q and Mojo. Bauer refers to the 'brands' it has, this is because many of its publications are on multiple forms of media. Kerrang, for example, is a magazine, a radio channel and a music channel.



Time Ink UK

Time Ink UK, formally the 'international publishing corporation (IPC)'  is a magazine and digital publisher in the UK, selling over 320 million copies each year. NME and Uncut are just two of the  magazines that are published by Time Ink UK.

Independent

Shindig

Shindig is a magazine that is independently publish by Volcano Publishing.  Shindig, much like Kaleidoscope, is a magazine that focuses on a niche audience. Shindig focus on 60's/70's music, as well as art, fashion, film and architecture.   82% of Shindig's readers are in the ABC1 category, 83% of these are male while the remaining 17% are women.  Worldwide it achieves a circulation of 26,000.

For my magazine

Typically, independently published magazines are targeted towards niche audiences and so have a lower total readership when compared with institutionally published magazines. Therefore, since my magazine is of a popular, charts based genre, it would benefit more from being published by a large publication company, such as 'Bauer'. This will allow my magazine to be successfully sold to my target audience of aspirers and therefore will (hopefully) allow my magazine to generate a reasonable profit.