Q7. Looking back at the preliminary task what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to a full product?

My preliminary task was to create a front cover and contents page for a college magazine. For that task, I had to take the pictures that I was going to feature on the magazine myself using a Canon EOS 400D I was relativity new with using this camera and so did not take the best of pictures, my lighting was very bad in most and the orientation was wrong in all of them but I done well in keeping my photographs in focus which was a plus. I was also very new to Photoshop so editing my images and putting together my Magazine was a problem I used a few simple tools such the healing tool and stroke, but not many. My final pieces came out pretty bad but it was a good stepping stone to learn how to use this software and equipment.

Since this I have learnt so much more about the different equipment and using Photoshop correctly, in which I’ve created a much more professional looking magazine.

With regards to other things I have was quite efficient in getting my models but just timing and weather was sometimes a problem but I gave enough time to get around that obstacle and get my pictures done. My time management was better on some things than others but I still think I could improve on that as I always could but always met the deadlines, which is the main thing. From learning from my mistakes from my preliminary task I took many pictures so I different ones to choose from. I of course also learnt about the different equipment to improve my pictures.

Font size could always be a problem so in my main task I would print of my work to make sure that it all looked ok. I had some problems with editing images but with the time I had I learnt about new tools to help me. I put much more thought, imagination and work into my main work and it shows in how much more aesthetically pleasing it is

My work giving a positive reception by my teacher and fellow peers which I was very happy about I was very happy with my layout and theme and think I have made a vast improvement from my preliminary.

I think I could of done even more audience research, also I wasn’t happy with some of pictures afterwards and wish I could of taken even more. But overall I am happy with work I have produced.

Audience Feedback:

It was very important to find out what people thought of my work people around generally liked it but to get a wider judgment I posted it on Facebook to see what other people thought about it. I allowed them comment their opinions freely without a questionnaire.

The feedback was overall positive and most people seemed to like it, they commented on the theme and the colours used and said how it was inviting to read.

The only thing that was brought up was the text positioning could be better in some places in particular my double page spread which I would totally agree with. 

Q6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Q5. How did you attract/address your audience?

My contents page focuses a lot on pictures and colours in a more powerful sense but still keeps part of the theme. It works well as you don’t get bored of the same thing and it looks very attractive. The band members/models in two of the three pictures don’t really notice the camera and just look like they’re doing their thing without a care. They are wearing fashionable clothes which attract to the age group.

Q4.Who would be the audience for your media product?

Shred is targeting an international audience; however, focuses mostly on the British and American civilisations due to the fact that they are the musical pioneers and that most of the bands included on my magazine would originate from these two countries.

I have mainly targeted my magazine to a younger audience of 16 -20 but have thought about my older audience as well with no just new modern bands but also older bands such as Slipknot and Metallica which of course widens my audience resulting in possibly more sales. But its main target audience is of a younger audience which is why I have a wider range of modern rock bands and my pictures are of teenage bands and artists which helps make this clear

It is open to all ethnicities but stereotypically Caucasians who are more likely to be interested in rock music, the magazine equally targets males and females as well as all religions because all can have an interest in the music.

This is a picture made up of other pictures of what I think my typical reader would look like in ethnicity, the way they dress and their hair style.

I could see my audience using apple’s I pod classics to store album and albums of music as they have a passion for listening to music and not to just listen to the odd song they like.

 I would expect them to play their own instruments such as guitar, drums and base and maybe be in bands themselves as a hobby.

The teenagers would be into watching TV; with rebellious, funny shows like family guy or South Park, playing games consoles and music games such as Sony Playstation 3’s Singstar or most likely guitar hero.

I would expect my audience to most defiantly be going to concerts and to enjoy going to smaller venues such as round house, Brixton academy and Sheppard’s bush arena as apposed to bigger venues such as the o2 arena but would still go if a band was there that they wanted to see.

Q3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Looking back to my case study I would try and work with the publishing company Bauer.

Reason 1 - I feel even though they already have ‘KERRANG’ which is quite similar type of magazine. I feel I target the much younger audience and so Bauer could cover all age ranges of a genre resulting in total competition wipe-out.

Reason 2- Bauer to not cover a lot of magazines for the younger generations and so I think I would cover the teen genre well because looking at their magazine they don’t have much.

Reason 3- I Would like to go with Bauer as I feel they would be very beneficial in producing my Magazine and I would be able to bring in more advertising from places such as topman who support the dress sense in my magazine.

I think subscription would be a good idea and people seem to prefer it as long as they have got the money in their bank, because it is no hassle, magazine straight to your door and the magazine is guarantee paid for.

I would try and sell my magazine in as many shops as I can WHSmith would be a good place to sell as people go there to buy magazine as it is profound on having books and magazines. But of course any corner shop or music magazine would be just as good.

  

I’m selling it at quite a cheap price of £2.99 which is very inviting to students who don’t have much money on them. it also is a good price to introduce yourself to the magazine world.

Q2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Q1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?