How does your media product represent particular social
group?
The social group that is primarily featured in my music
magazine are young females that are either part of a band or a solo act.
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| Double page spread image |
On the front cover, there is a young female in her late
teens. She has a soft expression which makes her seem more approachable, which
is the feel I wanted the magazine to have, I didn’t want my target audience to
be intimidated by hard expressions and designer clothes. This also fits the
typically English stereotype of being well mannered and friendly.
Throughout the rest of the magazine females continue to be
featured, for example on the contents page there are three images of female
artists, and only two images of male artists. All of the artists are young and
British.
How did I represent this social group?
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| Contents Page Image |
I used images from real folk festivals that I have been to
in the past, I changed the names of the artists though to be more fitting for
my own magazine. So the mise-en-scene is perfect for my magazine, as they are
wearing clothes that fit their genre (e.g. bohemian/unique styles). The way I
edited the photographs also relate to the social group, as I added soft effects
to the images and made them look more feminine and vintage looking.
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| Front cover image |
For the image on the front cover, I thought a lot about
mise-en-scene, as this is the image that would in theory attract readers to buy
my magazine. So I lightly curled my hair, wore light make-up and pastel
clothing to create a soft friendly feel meanwhile retaining some folk aspect in
my look. I kept the lighting quite natural and organic, as I associate harsh
lighting effects with more edgy genres of music like rock.
For the model on the double page spread, I curled her hair,
and messed it up a little bit, so she didn’t look to put together and perfect.
I chose for her to wear a variety of pastel bohemian patterned tops that
enforced the folk aspect, and again made her seem more relatable to the
audience. I used light make-up to enhance her natural beauty, and keep with the
delicate feel of the magazine.
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| Contents/DPS image. |
The camera angles and poses I used reflected the amicable
feel of the artist. She is smiling in every picture, and makes eye contact with
the camera; this allows the reader to feel like they can connect with her. I
didn’t use any high or low angles, as I didn’t want the readers to feel
intimidated and I also didn’t want the artist to feel underappreciated and
vulnerable; so I used a neutral level angle.
Social groups recognised in absence –
In my magazine there is a lack of ethnic social groups, this
is because early on in the planning process I decided that the magazine was
going to only feature British artists, and British festivals and music events.
I did this because I think it would be good to have a magazine that solely focuses
on the success of British stars as we always hear a lot about international artists
(from America etc) that are maybe more well known, however sometimes this can
lead to the British being overlooked. So this magazine would give them a chance
to shine and become well established and recognised in the UK among their
target demographic.
There is also a lacking of older people, I did this because
magazine is aimed at young women, and even though they may enjoy older artist’s
music, I think they would relate more to younger musicians regarding: fashion, language, common interests etc.
What kind of media institutions might distribute your media
product and why?
I think my magazine could be circulated by either
independent or conglomerate magazine distributers.
In some ways I think it would be more suitable for the
magazine to be distributed by publishers that are part of a conglomerate, like
Bauer (that own magazines such as Q) and IPC (that own magazines like NME)
because even though the these magazines are quite different to the one I have
created, they will still feature some mainstream artists and music. Also the
magazine has quite a broad demographic as folk music has become more popular
over the last couple of years, with the rise of bands like Mumford and Sons.
However independent distributers like Future PLC (who own
magazines such as Classic Rock and Guitarist) might also work well regarding
distributing my magazine, as they tend to produce magazines that target niche
audiences. Also I decided because the magazine is only going to feature British
artists it’s not going to be distributed internationally so wouldn’t need as
much funding, which makes it more achievable for independent publishers to
produce; as they lack the major funds that conglomerate institutions have
access to.
To create funds for the magazine we would use the same
method as all other magazines, and run adverts for products and events that
would appeal to the target audience of the magazine. For example advertisements
regarding: Festival and concerts, new albums, music download sites (e.g.
iTunes) music shops (e.g. HMV), artist merchandise (fragrance, clothing lines,
etc.) (An example of pricing would be: for a company to run a two page
advertisement insert in Vogue would cost them around $130,380).
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A digital edition would be released of my magazine,
that would be available for kindles,
tablets and smart phones. |
A lot of money can be raised through offering
advertisements, because it allows companies to directly target their
demographic through the magazine, and it works well because usually the
companies and their products share the same target audience as the magazine. (An
example of this method would be during the day time ITV show adverts for
cleaning products, baby products, and female related products as the majority
of the viewing audience are female, and maybe stay at home mums or house
wives.)
Acapella would be sold in many different places
including: Supermarkets (Asda, Sainsburys), Newsagents (W H Smiths) and Corner
Shops (Tesco Express).
There would also be a subscription option for
dedicated readers, in which they could apply for a yearly service and save
money per issue.
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The magazine would have its own app, that readers could download
for a fee, to have access to extra content (like this one
from NME). |
Also, because my magazine is aimed at the younger
generation it makes sense to release a digital version which would be available
through smart phones, tablets, and kindles.
To further advertise Acapella, they could have a
website and a dedicated app, so that readers can find out extra information;
and find out more about the magazine itself.
Social networking would also play a massive part in
the advertisement of the magazine, as nearly every young person in the UK has
access to a social network account (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Youtube) so
this would be the primary way to grab their attention and promote the magazine.
These sites also have options to share content, so the readers could share
information regarding the magazine, to further promote it to their friends,
whom might not be readers of Acapella, therefore reaching out to a bigger
audience.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
The primary audience for my magazine is females between the
ages of 16-26 (approx), they would have a keen interest for festival going and
folk music; and be of the working/middle class category (not excessively
wealthy or poor). I chose to aim my magazine towards the female gender, because
while I was doing my research I noticed that magazines tended to either be
dedicated towards males or a unisex audience.
Profile of a member of the target audience -
The model I used on the double page spread of my magazine is
a prime example of the kind of person that I imagine reading my magazine. Her
name is Angie and she is 27 years old (she is slightly out of the target age
group however younger females may also read the magazine, it just depends on
personal preference, but generally it would be 16-26 year olds). Angie is a
very creative individual, and works for the IT department at Dyson. She has a
passion for folk music, and has attended a lot of folk music festival in the
past (e.g. End of the Road, and Pump Festival), some of her favourite bands
include: First Aid Kit, Mumford and Sons, and Francios and the Atlas Mountains.
She lives in Corsham, in a house with her fiancé, and enjoys the relaxing
atmosphere that Corsham has to offer.
Her personal interests include: gardening (growing
vegetables, fruits, and flowers), running (she has fun 5 half marathons) socialising
and attending events and finally scouring carboot sales and antique fairs in
search of quirky house decor.
She is also very passionate about the environment and
strives to be as eco friendly as possible.
How did you address/attract your audience?
I addressed the audience of the magazine by fulfilling the
general codes and conventions of magazines, including: images, colour schemes,
language, fonts, and articles.
Front Cover -
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| Cover lines. |
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| Masthead. |
First of all I chose to use a pink colour for the masthead,
as this is a very feminine colour and will grab the attention of the audience
when the magazine is displayed on the shelf. I chose this font as it’s very
reminiscent of the fonts used in vintage publications, which is the style I was
trying to modernise in the creation of my magazine.
I used teasers for the coverlines on the front cover, to
entice the readers to buy the magazine. The coverlines also reference artists
that will be featured in the articles, so readers can indentify if one of their
favourite musician appears in the magazine, as this would be another incentive
for them to purchase the magazine.
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| Badge. |
The front cover image depicts a warm approachable person
(“folk singer: Eliza”), this attracts potential readers, as they feel they can
relate to the “artist”. Having a recognisable figure also draws readers in, as
it’s more likely for them to recognise a face than a name.
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Sell Line.
I have also used a positive sell line: “The UK’S best
selling folk magazine”. This firmly cements in the readers head, and reassures
them that if they’re interested in folk music, this definitely the magazine for
them.
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I also included a badge which advertises a competition, this
attracts younger audiences as they tend not to have excessive amounts of money
to buy tickets to musical events or to buy the latest iPod, so including a
competition will make them want to buy the magazine in order to find out how to
enter the competition, therefore be in with a chance to win the prize.
Contents Page –
I used article titles on the contents page, so that readers
can easily find out what the current weeks magazine is featuring, and decide
whether or not they want to buy it. I also highlighted artists/bands names in a
different colour, so then you pick them out easily.
I used relevant images that relate to the articles in the
magazine, the majority of the images contain female musicians, as this is a
magazine aimed at females, therefore it seemed fitting to primarily use
females.
I also used a variety of different feminine fonts, which
looked decorative and appealing in the magazine. Using different fonts allowed
me to break the page up, and create a consistent house style (which I used
throughout the front cover, contents page, and double page spread).
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| Feminine Font example 1 |
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| Feminine Font example 2 |
I added a “Connect with us” section, in which links to
Acapella’s social networking sites are provided. Almost every young person in
the UK has a social networking account, so this is a good way to attract the
younger audience as they feel like they can join in on the action by having
access to extra content via social networking.
I decided to write an article in the form of a Q and A
interview. I found this to be a popular style of article, that readers tend to
enjoy, because the questions tend to be
quite open this allows for the star to answer how they see fit and give away
information that they are comfortable with. This makes the reader feel like
they’re almost having a conversation with the musician themselves, almost as if
they know them on a somewhat personal level; this complies with the need for
personal relationship and identification seen in The Uses and Gratifications
Theory.
Throughout the 3 pieces –
Throughout the magazine I used images that contain
“musicians” that are making eye contact with the camera, therefore connecting
with the reader, making the reader feel a sense of belonging as seen in
Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs.
The body language used by the models is quite open and warm,
this further entices the reader as they feel welcomed as they work they way
through the magazine.
I created an informal and engaging tone using the personal
pronoun, “you”, to create a connection with the reader so they feel like they
are being directly spoken to, creating an almost conversation like effect. I
also used contractions, like “us” (e.g. “Connect with us”) This appeal’s to the
younger audience as nowadays we are a lot friendlier in conversation, even with
strangers, so using these techniques enforces the sense of belonging.
What
have you learnt about technologies from the process and constructing of your
product?
Research
+ Planning –
- Internet:
The internet helped me greatly in doing the research into music magazines. I
found it incredible quick and easy to find the information I needed regarding
codes and conventions of magazines, and also finding out specific information,
like character profiles and reader statistics. Also having access to the
official music magazine websites allowed me to ensure that the data I was using
was valid and correct.
- Blog:
Using the blog as a way to display my work was a big change to the conventional
way of writing or printing it all out and displaying it in a work book. Using a
blog enabled me to include images and links to create a sense of interactivity
within my work.
- Mobile
Phones: These were essential in the creation of my final product, as it allowed
me to contact my model and arrange a suitable time for us both, so we could
conduct the shoot. I also found it vital for taking pictures of my sketches
during the planning phase of my project. I also occasionally used it to access
the internet and find out information, when I didn’t have access to a computer.
- Social
Networking: I used social networking to also connect with my model after we had
done the shoot as she wanted to see the images. I also used Facebook as a
research tool, by looking at the Facebook pages of some well established music
magazines (e.g. NME) to see if I could find out any further information.
Construction –
- Camera:
The camera I used was a Canon EOS 600D, which I use to take photographs for my
A Level Photography course, so I was very confident in using this camera as I
pretty much use it every day. This camera allowed me to take high quality
images, which were needed to create a professional clean feel within the
magazine. I used the white balance option to optimise colour control. I also
used an external flash and studio lighting to create a good light source and
make sure the images were lit well.
- Computer
Software: I used Photoshop CS6 to manipulate my images, as this is standard
industry software therefore I knew I could create the effect I wanted and make
the images look as professional as possible; I use Photoshop a lot, so I was
comfortable editing the images and achieved the results I wanted. Then to
actually construct the magazine I used InDesign; I have used InDesign briefly
in the past and during my preliminary task, however I’m not fully competent in
using the software, but I feel through completing this task I now know a lot
more about the software and feel a lot more comfortable using it.
- Connectivity:
Through creating this media product I used a lot of storage devices. I used an
SD Card, Memory Stick, and an external hard drive. Using all of these external
storage devices made the process a lot easier as I could transfer information
from either camera to computer – or – computer to computer, quickly and
efficiently; which meant that I could move my work around so that I could work
in different places.
Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you
have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Personal Skills –
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Directing and managing others: This is a skill
which I have never been very good at, as I am quite shy and lack leadership
skills. However I had to direct two photoshoots (preliminary and main task)
over the course of the task. The first photoshoot was quite casual, as I was
just photographing friends around school, and I just used my camera, I didn’t
use any technical equipment (e.g. tripod, lighting etc.) so I didn’t really
feel the need to direct this shoot, I just asked them to act naturally. However
during the main task, the shoot was a lot more technical, and I had to direct
the model on how I wanted her to pose, and I also had technical help (from my
mum) holding reflectors and tweaking the backdrop, so I had to also direct her
on how to hold the reflector to maximise light on the models face. So from this
aspect I think I improved massively from the preliminary task.
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Working to deadlines: I finished both tasks to
the deadlines, so I feel not much improvement was involved. However I have
always coped well with working to deadlines, and find it good to have a
structured working routine to make sure work is complete by the time it needs
to be.
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Accepting Feedback: During the preliminary task,
it was quite hard to hear criticism regarding my magazine, as I felt like I
hadn’t created a very good product. But as soon as I worked on the critique I
was given, I realised my product looked a lot better than it did when it was
just myself judging it. So in the creation of my main product I accepted as
much criticism as possible, to make sure that my final product was created to
the best of my ability and complied with the criteria. Talking with Phil was a
big help in creating the magazine, as he was able to give me a lot of tips on
how to make it look overall a more polished and professional product.
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Dealing with Problems: I encountered a lot of
problems during the creation of my main task, as I had to change the front
cover image of my magazine as it didn’t fit the genre; however I ended up
changing the image and the genre itself and totally rebranded the magazine.
This involved a lot of rewriting and editing of my essays, which set me back in
the production stage. However I made sure I updated all of my work and handed
it in on time. I’m glad I pushed myself, as I did get a bit stressed during
this particular bit of the process, however I powered through, and now I’m
really happy with the finished result.
Technical Skills –
-
Camera Skills: As I said, I take A Level
photography and am very passionate about the topic, so I don’t think my skills
improved too much over the course of the two tasks. However I did learn a lot
about editing techniques which make images look a lot more like industry
approved images (e.g. colour correction).
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Software Skills: I don’t think my Photoshop
skills improved as I am quite comfortable with using the software; however I
think I massively improved my InDesign skills, as I wasn’t very confident in
using the software at the start of the preliminary task, however as I’ve worked
through the process I have learnt a lot about the software, how it works, and
how to create different techniques.
Analytical Skills –
-
Decision Making: Both tasks involved a lot of
decision making, if anything I think my decision skills got worse as the
process went on. When creating the school magazine I had a clear idea of how I
wanted it to look, so I found it easy to make quick decisions regarding colour
schemes and fonts etc. However when making the music magazine I kept coming up
with new ideas and chopping and changing between ideas, which I think held me
back slightly. IT also took me a lot more time choosing colour schemes and
fonts because it was a lot more flexible in this task, and I had a lot more
choice.
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Reflective Skills: I think my reflective skills have
improved greatly, as I’ve never been very good at reflecting on decisions I’ve
made, and justifying why I had chosen what I’d chosen. However this process was
based a lot around being reflective, so I became a bit more knowledgeable in
regards to how to write reflectively (For example this evaluation is a lot more
in depth and detailed than my preliminary evaluation).
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Analysing in relation to industry products:
During the preliminary task I found it quite difficult to find examples of
school magazines, so it was difficult to judge whether or not I was doing a
good job as I had nothing to compare my product against. However when creating
the music magazine there were 1000’s of examples I could look at and analyse
and compare to my product. This helped a lot as I could establish codes and
conventions and apply them to my own work. So I believe I improved massively in
regards to this skill.
