Question 7 - Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the main task?

Prelim - Front cover and Contents page

My final product The Beat music magazine

Its easy to see I have developed my skills since making my prelim magazine. When making my final product I learnt to do things differently from when I created my prelim magazine.

Research and planning

•  When completing research for my prelim magazine all I did was take two real front covers and contents pages and said what I liked about them. I then went on to create a flat plan for my product. Not having done that much research this could have affected the quality of my product particularly when it came to creating the magazine there was lots of blank spaces.

• For my final product I did a lot more research and planning. I began by making a Prezi and researching into similar products and analysing real magazine front covers, contents pages and double page spreads. This research took a while to complete because of the depth of analysis but was really useful when it came to creating my magazine. It helped my to find out more about different genres and what the audience like to see from a pop magazine. It also helped my to create my flat plans and final product.

• I then did some secondary research where I looked at the reader profiles of Billboard and mix mag magazine this was to find out what appeals to the audience that read pop magazines. I then decided to do my own audience research and interviewed some of my target audience to see what they liked about Billboard and We Love Pop magazine pages. This was helpful when it came to making decisions for my own magazine.

After this I then went onto  create flat plans, photography research and test shots.

• I think doing research and planning has helped to make my product look better and more professional than my first prelim. Doing research and planning has also helped me to keep organised in order to meet deadlines it also made it easier to make my final product. I even changed my front cover but because of planning I did before hand meant I could do this.  

Construction

Image composition

• When I did my photography for my prelim everything was kept very simple. I only used one model the costume, makeup and poses were very basic. I also didn't take a lot of photos which meant I was limited for choice when it came to creating the prelim magazine.                                                                        
• This compares to my final product I took all of my photos in the studio I made sure I had a lot of variety and poses to choose from. I also used four models to make sure there was a range of images all with interesting makeup, costumes and poses. This made a lot of difference when making my first draft there was a lot more choice of images. I also made sure all my models fitted the genre and represented pop. Also when creating my magazine compared to my prelim I organised my costumes, hair, makeup and props before the photo shoot to make sure I prepared my time well.

Page Layout

• On my prelim the layout was very spacious with lots of blank spaces and large sell lines to fill the page. This meant my product wasn't very professional there also wasn't a lot of sell lines. The font and the size of the font didn't match up to the magazine and the colours were to bright. I also didn't include any banners or shapes which could have improved my product.  It was the same for my contents page it looks boring and the font is to big for the page and the page isn't set out very well. But with creating my prelim this meant I knew exactly what I needed to do to make my final product better and more professional.                                                                                                                                                                                                          
•  On my final product the front cover has lots of sell lines and I have tried to make the page look full and interesting which is what I have learnt from making my prelim. I used suitable fonts and font sizes to match the magazine. I also used banners and a house style of 3 colours carried out throughout the magazine. I took everything I learnt from making my prelim into consideration to make sure my final product was a big improvement. For my contents page I tried to make it totally different from my prelim. I used a a totally different layout including headings , columns and lots of images. I also included a The Charts column to make it different and standout, I also added information on subscription to make it professional. I also made sure I had a lot of pages to my magazine by choosing page numbers carefully. for my prelim task I didn't create a double page spread which means no improvements can be made. But I made sure my double page spread looks professional and to the same standard as my other pages by using the techniques I have learnt. I made sure I used the correct ratio of images to text.

In conclusion I am happy with my final product and feel I have improved since making my prelim. I have learnt new skills from making my prelim to the final product. I have learnt how to use different software's such as Photoshop and InDesign and different websites such as Prezi. Another thing I have learnt is how to use an Apple Imac computer. By completing my magazines I have learnt a lot about real media products.

Question 6 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

• This is a Nikon camera I used for the photography for my magazine. Using this camera meant I could take good quality photos. It helped make the pictures look professional as it can be connected to the lights in the studio. I also learnt about the different settings on the camera. 

• This is an Apple Imac this is what I have used during making my product. Using an Imac has allowed me to see my product clearly and access all the software I need. I have learnt how to use an apple Imac as it is slightly different from normal computers.

• This is a screen shot of my product in Photoshop. I have learnt how to use the stroke tool which outlines of frames text or images, this benefited my production because it allowed me to make certain parts of my product standout. Also having every part of my product in a layer allowed me to arrange my product easily. Using Photoshop has also benefited my product because it allows you to produce a product easily and to get it to look the way you want.   

• This piece of software is called InDesign it has helped my product my product as all the pages can be stored on there. I have used the place tool to insert all my images onto the page I have done this so I can move the images easily to place them where I want. I have also used the shape tool to create banners I have done this because it makes the titles standout. The software benefited my production because it allowed me to make all the pages on one document.

This is a screen shot of my Prezi. This has benefited my production because it has allowed me to store any information or research I need to make my product. It has benefited my production because it ca be accessed easily over the Internet.

I have also used Blogger to upload all of my research and my magazine into a blog.

Question 5 - How did you attract/address your audience?

On my front cover I have used three colours of black, white and red these colours a carried on throughout my magazine like real media products. I have used a close up image on my front cover to show the daring makeup and to make it striking, this is similar to Billboard magazine I have used the same shot distance and title in the same place. My fonts are simpler that Billboard, but this is because my target audience want a clear look which is easy to read but still makes a statement.  I addressed my audience by using someone of their age as my model and using bold makeup and confident pose and facial expression. I have created a 'GOSSIP FROM THE BRIT AWARDS 2012' icon this is to sell the magazine to my target audience. My target audience are mainstream female teenagers and Trendies they are both interested in the latest music releases and gossip this is a way I have attracted my audience.

From my primary research I found that they associate a pop magazine with the latest artists and bands I have used this throughout my magazine. I have also tried to show this by putting 'THE CHARTS' column into my magazine this shows the latest tracks for that week. The research also showed me that girl models are usually seen in pop magazines I have used this throughout my front cover, contents and double page spread.  The models represent fun and girly. There is also a house style for my magazine of black, white and red.

I have kept the house style throughout my magazine to keep it simple and recognisable I found this from primary audience research. I have chosen images that represent fun , fashion and pop. I have used a small simple text to keep it easy to read and to make it full of content to attract my audience. I have tried to make it look as professional as possible to relate to real media products.

  

Because of my audience feedback I have re-aligned by sell lines so the are all to the left which makes them easy to read and like other pop magazines. I have also met my target audiences needs by making sure the main image isn't over crowded with sell lines, I have tried to shorten them or rearrange them.

To address my target audience I totally rearranged my contents page to make it look more professional and like a pop magazine. I have also included an image of the front cover in my contents page to relate to the genre and to make the page look more realistic. 

The main image stands out

Genre shown by colour

Looks professional

Improve by filling in any gaps

Front cover and colour scheme standout

Images represent pop

Strength The Charts column make my magazine different

Represents young females

Models makeup on front cover standout

Genre shown by sell lines

Colour scheme attracts audience

Good layout

Improve by adding information underneath images

Question 4 - Who would be the audience for your media product?

Above is a mood board of what my audience would be for my magazine. It includes what their tastes are, what they do in their spare time and what their music tastes are.

Following secondary research in the initial stages of my project, I found the audience of Billboard was mainly students aged 16-21. I then conducted primary research which suggested that my audience were will be mainly female teenagers aged 15-21. Therefore the audience for my media product will be young adults interested in pop.  My target audience would have interests such as fashion, socialising and listening to the latest music.

Question3:What kind of media institution might distribute my product and why?

Evaluation on Prezi

In this Prezi I have included my evaluation to questions 1 and 3.