AS Media Evaluation

For AS Media we had to complete two units of work, this consisted of creating a college based magazine consisting of a front cover and contents page; the

magazine had to also include four photos taken by ourselves. For our second piece of work we had to create a music based magazine which we could create a genre of our choice, which also had to include four photos which were taken by ourselves. In the process of creating our magazine designs we recorded our

process using an online blog in which we would present our work.

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

• My music magazine uses conventions of real media products, for instance both mine and other magazines feature a masthead with a featured logo like that of other magazines such as ‘Q’ this gives the magazine much more appeal and makes it appear more professional. The magazine I created has a colour scheme which includes red, black and white, this is similar to many magazine that also have signature colours this gives the magazine its own identify and separates it from other music magazine. I have also used other conventions in my magazine including teasers and quotes to encourage the reader to continue to read the articles, these types of conventions would be used within a professional musical magazine.

• The college magazine is also effective in using conventions of that of a real college based magazine, I have included the logo to the magazine to give it a professional design, it is also effective in targeting the target audience with use of imagery for instance using pictures of students who attend the college and using images taken around the college ground, this would be used to advertise the college and make it appeal to those wishing to visit or join the college.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

• The college magazine would represent social groups such as students, as that is the target audience, it also represents students as the images used feature them throughout the issue.

• My music magazine would represent an

age group rather than a particular social group usually that of 16 – 25, it would represent anyone interested in the ‘indie’ genre and style of music. That could be any social class or even social group.

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

• Institutions that may distribute my media would include the print industry as it is a magazine which main focus is highlighting the ‘indie’ genre through articles and features, however as many may find the prices of magazines expensive or may not have access to buy a magazine, the magazine may have its own website to make viewing articles and information easier for some and also cheaper, this would encourage many more to view the magazine creating a larger audience. It also would decrease negative economical effects.

• The college magazine could be distributed in the local college shop,

which would be in sight of students which may encourage the sales; it could also be advertised around the college with use of posters or event advertised on newsletter or issued at the reception which will also increase the amount of readers for the college magazine.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

• For the college based magazine the audience would be designed to appeal to students, with the age group of 16 – 25, it will be based on informing students on courses, event s and life at the college. Therefore it is only necessary to base the magazine on this type of audience as they will be the only people willing to read it.

• For the music magazine the audience would be designed to appeal to 16 – 25 as it is based on that of the ‘indie genre’ as the magazine features new ‘indie’ bands it will appeal to those of the younger generation rather than an older age group, as it does not aim to feature older bands dating from the 80’s or 90’s for instance, like that of magazine such as ‘Q’ or ‘Mojo’.

How did you attract/address your audience?

• The college magazine I designed attracted my audience as it featured articles and information which are relevant to students, it features information that they may need to know or be interested in, and for instance they may take interest in articles featuring events and activities taking place at the college if they are planning to attend. I also used my images to attract the audience, it features an image of a student and taken within the college this itself addresses the audience and features areas of the college they may be attending or seek to attend.

• The music magazine attracts my audience as it also features articles that are related to the ‘indie’

music and the genre in the music industry, and if someone reading the magazine is interested in this genre then they are likely to continue to read the features and articles. The images used also complement the magazine and may also attract a reader, for instance the images that feature a guitar may immediately grab the attention of someone interested in playing the guitar and the ‘indie’ genre. The masthead of the magazine features the word ‘indie’ in the title ‘The Indiependent’; this simply would focus the attention of any audience interested in ‘indie’ music. I have also created a logo for my magazine and included in throughout the front cover, contents and double page spread; the use of a logo would give the magazine a recognizable symbol in which will encourage a reader like that of ‘Q’ magazine which logo simply features ‘Q’ which is instantly grabs the attention of the audience.

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

• I have learnt that there are many available software in creating magazines, for instance programmes such as Quark Express offer many essential tools to complement the design of the magazine. I am able to layer up imagery for the front cover, contents and double page spread and edit these so they are appropriate in means of placement on page and size and scale. The programme Quark Express was simple to use when creating my music magazine, it gave me all the text and fonts suitable for a magazine; also by using the text link tool I was able to link text between text boxes making the typing of text much easier when placing it upon the double page spread, it also gave the ability to use drop caps giving it a more professional feel for when writing articles in my music magazine. I could also create lines to create borders between text and underlining for the masthead for the magazine.

• The college magazine design consisted of using Microsoft Publisher, it included many of the same tools that Quark Express used however did not contain the text link tool or the use of drop caps for writing articles. However it did offer the appropriate tools for creating a front cover and contents page, I was able to include a front cover image, resize it scale and also include text and a list of available fonts.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in

the progression from it to the full product?

• I feel I have learnt a lot since our preliminary task, I have researched into many types of genres and styles of magazines, I have learnt how to use software more efficiently such as Quark Express and its variety of tools including text linking and use of drop caps and text alignment. I have also learned to use Photoshop and manipulating imagery effectively with use of effects and changing of colours. I have also learned about magazine conventions and what encourages readers to purchase a particular e.g. using coverlines and teasers to encourage readers.