Francesca.MusicMag.

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

My music magazine uses the typical conventions of other R&B music magazines. I used the music magazine Vibe as a model of how I wished my own magazine to look like.

Front cover

The typical conventions of Vibes front cover consists of a bold masthead, a few cover lines, and a large main image. Basic colours are usually used yet the magazine manages to attract the readers’ attention with the use of natural/high key lighting on the main image; which also happens to be an image of recognisable artist. The artist sometimes wears plain clothing but appears urban because they wear chains. I developed the typical conventions used in the Vibe magazine by using basic colours- white and goldish yellow. My model is also in plain clothing yet has an urban look because of her 'tough' facial expression and her leather jacket. I also used a bold masthead and few cover lines and placed the price and issue number above the barcode, similar to what Vibe has done. I have also used a plain background with a gradient.

I have also challenged the typical conventions of Vibe magazine. I used different typography and added effects to the words- outer glow, bevel and emboss- which Vibe does not do. My main image also has some effects to make it stand out. I lightened the image yet the model maintains a natural look.

Contents Page

The contents page of Vibe magazine again has a plain background and uses a large main image, with little text. Each subheading has a synopsis to inform the reader what is on each page. There is roughly the same amount of text in my contents page as you would find in Vibe. I have used their convention of including a synopsis for every page number.
I have challenged 'Vibes' traditional form of using a large image by using more than one and slightly smaller images. I have made the font slightly larger.

Double page spread

On one page of ‘Vibe’s double page spread, there is a large main image and a floating quote. I also have a similar layout for my own double page spread.
I have challenged this form by also including a box with text, in order to make it appear more attractive. This box contains an introductory paragraph. On the other page is an additional image which the ‘Vibe’ magazine does not have. The typography for the questions and the typography for the answers differs in the ‘Vibe’ magazine and for my double page, I have made the colours different for the questions and answers. The ‘Vibe’ double page spread has the page number at the top, whereas I have challenged this form and put the page number at the bottom corner.

Another R&B magazine that I could compare my own with is Rap-up. Rap-up often uses one model for the front cover but the background is made colourful, not to outshine the artist, but to make them more appealing. The masthead is partially covered by the main image to highlight the significance of the artist. The magazine seems to emphasise the artist rather than the cover lines. There is very little writing on the front cover.

In comparison to my magazine I have paid more attention to the cover lines, adding effects to them and making them stand out against the background. Although I have also made the main image noticeable by adding effects, just as Rap-up does. I have used some of the conventions of Rap-up and Vibe. But I have also challenged both of their forms because I have focused more on the cover lines rather than image whereas they have don’t.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine represents a young, urban culture because this is the common audience that listens to R&B music. The models used are of a similar age group and wear similar clothing- hoodies, caps, jewellery- the typical attire for this social group. Most of the models are expressionless or have serious faces, depicting this particular social group as ‘unaffected’- the common stereotype of young teenagers. In the double page spread, the artist in the interview speaks with a casual illustrating the speech used by young urban people- a stereotypical representation. Although basic colours for the words are used, the effects (glow, bevel and emboss) make them noticeable. The colourful clothes the models wear in the contents page make them stand out. The effects and clothes suggest that this social group like to be noticed.

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

Conder Nast would distribute my magazine because most of the magazines they already publish are glamorous and I think my magazine presents the models in an urban yet glamorous way. My main image is one of the highlights on the front cover and the same applies to Conde Nast. The conventions used in most of their magazines are similar to my own so my magazine would be suitable for publishing by this company. IPC would also distribute my magazine because after going through their selection I have found that they lack urban magazines so the inclusion of my magazine could widen their audience. They would willingly distribute my magazine because they already publish NME which is also a music magazine.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The target audience for my magazine would be teenagers from the age of 13-19. This is because the genre of music is most popular with this age range. The audience may come from an urban culture or would have an interest in urban music. My magazine would be for both males and females and all social classes but more likely to be middle or lower class. In the target audience there is no racial preference. They would be aspirers because most R&B artists wear ‘bling’ and therefore encourage their audience to purchase chains and other jewellery. They would also be mainstreamers as they would wear the typical urban attire; going along with the expected uniform. They would have an interest in the R&B music itself, attending concerts. The gratifications for taking interest in the magazine would be for diversion, as the readers may want to distract themselves by endorsing in the lives of the rich and famous and ignoring their own troubles. Or the reader may personally identify and imitate the artists out of pure aspiration to become them.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I have used a puff to make the magazine appear successful. Within the puff itself, the genre is written, therefore attracting an audience which favours this genre. The price is a reasonable cost for my target audience. The cover lines contain information that would interest the reader e.g. 'The Latest Tunes'. The main image stands out, attracting any reader. There is direct address as the model faces the reader, further encouraging them to purchase the magazine and read on. The contents page informs the reader that not only music is included, but also fashion and interviews, both of which would interest the target audience. The colour scheme is basic yet attractive. I have used young models roughly the same age as the target audience so that the readers can relate. In my double page spread I refer to well known artists so the reader knows who is being discussed. The interviewed artist has a casual tone of voice; the same of which is used by the target audience.

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

I have learnt how to use Adobe Photoshop as I did not know how to before. I can cut out a picture using the lasso tool. I discovered why it is easier to cut out a picture with a white background; so with the use of the magic wand, the white sections can be selected easily. I know how to move a picture onto the new A4 page. I know how to make the image blend with or stand out from the background with the use of 'blur' effect around the edges or an outer glow. I can now use filters to change the appearance of the image and background. I know that if i wish to undo an action I can go back using the history menu. I can make a layer visible and not visible. I know how to put layers on top of each other. I have discovered the several types of font how to change their appearance with the use of effects such as stroke and inner shadow. I know how to use the gradient tool to improve the appearance of the background. I know how to use the spot healing tool to make the models face appear smoother. I know how to lighten the image if it is too dark. I know how to increase and decrease the size of the image. I know how to present text as like an article - as done so on my double page spread. I have learnt how to make a blog, which i didn't know before and how to create posts. I have learnt how to post a presentation onto a blog using slideshare.net to store the presentation and then past the embed onto a new post. I learnt how to upload images and videos onto the blog.

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

The practice of using Adobe Photoshop has taught me how to use it efficiently. I have learnt the importance of using mid-shot, clear images with suitable lighting. I have learnt the importance and usefulness of using original images instead of images from the internet. I understand the significance of keeping typography and colours consistent. I know that it is not essential for the content page to include an editorial. I understand the importance and effect of subheadings and synopsis. I have learnt how to organise the additional images more sufficiently. I have learnt the typical conventions used in music magazines, which I took no notice of before. I have learnt how to attract my target audience by using specific models, effects and language. I know the importance of using a large, colourful masthead in order to attract attention. I have discovered the large contribution that the main image makes in the attraction of the reader. I have learnt how to make the image more attractive by lightening it and adding effects and filters. I realise the importance of the layout of the front cover because in my preliminary work, the cover lines were not positioned orderly. I have used more effects on the text and discovered that different filters can be used to create a sketchy effect or water effect. I have learnt how to use basic colours yet make them noticeable to the reader. I have learnt to space put the images on the contents page and the effectof using more than one image. I have included synopsis and now know how to position the subheadings correctly. I have also used corresponding colours to make the contents page more attractive and consistent with the front page. I have learnt how to communicate with my target audience by using informal language and models of their age. My communication with the audience has improved as they can now relate to the images and text. I have learnt the typical conventions which include floating quotes, puffs, synopsis and how they effect the reader's interest. I understand the importance of research and using questionnaires to find out what my audience wants to see in the magazine and what must be included.