Evaluation

AS Level Media studies: Magazine Evaluation

We had the task of completing a new music magazine in which, we had to use my knowledge of codes and conventions of real music magazines, audience profiling, and ideology we had created. The assignment was carried out in groups, but, the magazine making had to be completed in pairs. Once our group started, we had to brainstorm our ideas. The objective was to be able to demonstrate an understanding of the codes and the conventions of music magazines pages, by incorporating into a magazine, using Photoshop. The computer software program (Photoshop) was intended to manipulate digital images (that were taken on digital still cameras) and restore them with conventions of real music magazine. We overall were asked to produce a music magazine front page, as the main media text, and an inside page (contents).

In the company of our own ideology of what we wanted the magazine to look like, our music magazine challenged forms straight away as it was an Urban Classical media magazine. The music genre was a collaboration between two genres of today’s world. It is new style of classical music with modernised revolutionised version of being urban.

“Diverse” did not have insert images on the front cover, as we decided it was best. Insert images may attract readers, yet also take away the concentration from the main image. We in addition added a tagline, which normally may not be used in magazines rather promotional posters. “No strings attached” could also be considered as a pun, and would humour potential readers. Our magazine “Diverse” also incorporates many of the codes and conventions of real music magazines. Our group created strap lines, giving readers an idea of what is inside. We used a banner to promote ourselves, and introduce the magazine to people who would be unfamiliar with it. Promotions were added in form to graphics to excite readers. The magazine has a main cover line, exploring the bright idea of the biggest story for the magazine. Sell lines were produced on the left hand side, to excite readers about the artists inside.

Our music magazine cover represents younger social groups in many ways through our magazine. The typography restores the urban younger feel to the magazine. The magazine’s main cover image is of a young person, like themselves. She is playing the violin dressed casually, yet is playing a classical instrument. The main cover image represents the change in music, she may be dressed casually, but is enduring herself in classical music. The magazine represents music of today, and bridges the gap between old values, and new suggestions.

EMAP (East Midland Allied Press) could distribute our magazine “Diverse”, as it is a large institution. The institution has a series of magazines that target various niche markets. It has successfully distributed magazines with the likes of, FHM, Mojo, Q, Empire, Kerrang and Smash hits. It has a specialised division called EMAP Metro that works with the sub genre lifestyle and music magazines based in London. Our magazine is a modernised version of classical music, which would be great for the distributers. In the case of them willing to distribute music of all genres, to attract readers, they would be ideal for our magazine. The institution has a great reputation for the publishing of magazines, and “Diverse” would be a great new edition.

Our media magazine is aimed at a mainstream audience of pre- adults to adults (16- late 20 year olds). We have chosen this as we want our magazine to be able to reach a various types of people; it is not aimed at women or men specifically. Our preferred audience ranges from 16 (pre-adults) to late 20 year olds as the genre of music is a new form. This is because, the musical genre is a mix of classical, and urban style- that would attract the younger audience.

We addressed our target audience, by creating a niche market of music already-attracting our preferred audience. The magazine uses bold urban street looking typography, which straight away catches the eye of younger readers. The typography also gives away the genre of music, and style of the magazine. The black and white colours used for the style of typography are universal, straight away telling readers the magazine is not gender specific. The main cover image stands out from the brick wall background, straight away attracting the reader.

During the course of completing the music magazine, I have learnt a great amount of ways to use technology to produce an end product. I have learnt a whole lot more from using Photoshop, gaining new skills and experiences from the software. My capabilities have improved, and experiences have taught me much more. Photoshop is not that easy to use, as you need to be aware of all around you and piece them together properly. I have learnt technologies can have faults, and always relying on them can be a problem.

If I was able to make another front cover, I would make sure I did an easier genre. Choosing more common genre would have helped make the production process easier, and narrative overall. The genre picked was quite tricky, and a large amount of thought had to be put into it. But, that could also be used as a positive, as it helped me challenge myself. Also, maybe targeting a specific gender audience may have been better. Another thing that I would do differently was the planning stage. Not enough planning was done on behalf of everyone in our group, we could have devised more time for planning. That way, when we started creating the magazine, it would have definitely been less complicated. Lastly, the images taken could have been of much better quality. We had complications when taking images, as we did not have much time and the camera was faulty. With that we did not have many images to choose form, and there weren’t many taken. All of the improvements could have definitely produced a better magazine, but the one produced already is of great standard.

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