Name: Abbie HigginbothamCandidate number:2478

Centre:33435AS Media Studies

OCR G321: Foundation PortfolioBrief from OCR syllabus

“Who would be the audience for your media product?”

I aimed my magazine at..

Teenage girls

15-21 year olds

Influenced by…

Who spend money on…

Who goes to gigs Who like

music

Live in the city

Who is the audience for your media product?

The target audience for my media product is for teenage girls between the ages of around 15-19 who read magazines similar to my product for example mix mag and top of the pops etc. I feel there is a gap in the market for dance/chart magazines with a hybrid genre of fashion so my unique selling point would be to producing one of these with my chosen target audience.

Sub- genres and hybrid publications

Based on my audience research I found there was a gap in the market for a hybrid genre of dance combined with chart music and also including fashion aimed at a primary audience of middle class, teenage females.

The audience for my media productThe front cover of my magazine uses a range of feminine colours showing my main target audience. For the front cover of my magazine I used a range of media conventions to attract my target audience in buying my magazine. For example the variety of features, images and various fonts shown on the page. The genre of music I chose was pop music, although my magazine was a hybrid genre which means it is combined with fashion. I used the hybrid genre by advertising “50% of top shop” within the front cover of the magazine to aware the audience that is didn’t contain only music. Along with the fashion that I went on to include within my magazine. This is all aimed towards my main target audience in order to attract them to my magazine and persuade them to buy it.

WHO WOULD BE THE AUDIENCE FOR YOUR PRODUCT?

Primary Audience

• The primary audience for my product would be mostly females as my magazine is of a hybrid genre which includes fashion. This will be combined with the genre of pop music, and although this may appeal to males, I would class them as being more of a secondary audience, as I think that the majority of the features I would include within my magazine would be more female related. The age range for my primary audience will be older teenagers to adults because I think my genre of music makes up a large percentage of young adults in their early twenties who may also listen to this.

Secondary Audience

My secondary audience would be people that would not necessarily buy my magazine, but would read it when partners, friends or family members had purchased it. I would aim my magazine at around 15-19 year olds however this may not be the only age ranges which read it as my genre of music is very popular for many young adults in their young twenties who like this music. I would aim my magazine at a demographic who are very interested in popular music, and celebrities that are in the charts. However, these may not be the only people that would be reading my product as some people may just read it because it is available to them (friends, partners etc.).

Demographic The demographic for my product would basically be people who are interested in dance/chart music genres and who are interested in going to gigs and festivals. Also who enjoy keeping up to date with the celebrity a listers and who enjoy shopping at places like…

Similar ProductsAn example of similar products to my own on the market at the moment would be magazines like Billboard, mix mag , cosmopolitan, grazia etc. as each of these magazines contain a genre of either dance or chart with also a hybrid of fashion and show interests in the celebrity lifestyle as it shows a regular update of what the main stars are up to which also shares the same main target audience to my product.

Audience IdolsWithin my research, I have been looking at the biggest stars in the genre of chart and dance music that I can re-create within my own product. These are huge names such as Calvin Harris, Beyoncé, Rihanna, Nikki Minaj, Disclosure, Rudimental etc. I also looked at fashion icons and the way various magazines show celebrity's wearing clothing of specific brands to advertise various high street stores etc. This helped me to design how I would include the hybrid genre within my magazine such as the names listed above to attract the fashion to the audience. This is the reason I thought that a hybrid genre of chart/dance and fashion would work well because more or less the same celebrities relate to both. For example; Beyoncé is one of the biggest pop stars of this generation, but is also a huge fashion icon. Thus the same audience would be interested, and would be interested in my product. However I would not include people like The Stone Roses, Arctic Monkeys or Jake Bugg in my product as these are not artists that appeal to my target audience.

Ideal ReadersThe ideal reader for my product is someone who aspires to be like Beyoncé, Rihanna, Calvin Harris, Jessie J etc. Someone who is interested in mainly chart and dance music and enjoys finding out what the celebrity lifestyles are like from the artists above. These are people who model themselves on these celebrities and will copy their hairstyles, fashion and style because they want to be like them. The ideal reader for my magazine are people who are very up to date with their music taste and constantly are aware of what is in the charts and who are the biggest celebrities of the time. As my product is based around up to date music and the latest fashion the celebs are wearing, which attracts my main target audience.

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

“REPRESENTATION”My product is filtered towards my main target audience in a variety of ways for example I have used effective images from gigs and concerts as well as role models like Jessie J to attract my aimed target audience into reading my product. The layout and the way I have designed my magazine give off the message that the magazine is aimed at mainly a female target audience due to the colour scheme I have used and the features shown to the audience. I have also made it clear my product is aimed at the kind of social groups who enjoy chart and dance music as well as keeping up to date with the celebrity lifestyle, for example my product would not be ideal for people who enjoy heavy metal music as it is made very clear on the target audience it is aiming for. I have filtered my main cover star “Danielle Fussy” to reflect my ideal reader as she is shown in fashionable trendy clothes and looks happy and the type of person I would expect to read my product. I Have included information on her career to reflect on the personality of my product and state what genres of music and target audience my magazine is appealing to.

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

MODE OF ADDRESS:The use of language and text on my publication addresses my target audience in a way they understand and enjoy to be presented.

IDEAL READER:My star represents the ideal reader, with the use of mise en scene. Her costume and performance connote a happy, laidback feel to the product promoting the idea of a traditional female star. Therefore my target audience would aspire to be like her.

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

To appeal to the correct target audience, my star would have to represent an idealised version of the reader. In order to appeal to as many consumers as possible, the star must appear mainstream and non- threatening. Also a role model my target audience would follow in terms of their fashion sense and lifestyle they lead.On the following slides I will show images of firstly Rihanna and secondly Calvin Harris, Rihanna represents the ideal female role model for my target audience and Calvin Harris is shown as the typical fantasy male that females look up to. Who also could be seen as a role model for the few male readers of my product.

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

Rihanna: Mainstream representation

Direct eye contact with audience.

Ideal female body image.

Portrays a sexual, fantasy image.

Relaxed body image

Appeals to a male and female audience.

Targets people who are interested in the celebrity lifestyle.

Smiling and welcoming the audience.

Calvin Harris: Niche representationSunglasses create an enigma and keep the audience at arm’s length

Not smiling, so not welcoming the audience

Body language shown very open.

Dressed smart and casual targeting a niche audience with a relaxed feel.

Appeals to both male and female target audience.

Targets fans of the dance music genre.

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

COSTUME:

Both outfits represent a different ideal image. One for a male and the other a female. The dress Rihanna is wearing connotes feminism and almost a sexual image. It promotes the ideal of an “ideal body shape” and what most women aspire. However Calvin Harris is shown dressed quite discreet as you cannot see his eyes which create an enigma towards the audience as well as a mysterious look less welcoming to Rihanna which shows to be aimed at a niche audience.

This image would not be shown in an “heavy metal” based genre of magazine as it promotes is aimed towards a different type of target audience.

This image is aimed towards a specific target audience and wouldn’t be used in for example a “acoustic” based product.

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

COVER STAR: In all the photographs of my star, I tried to make sure she would be aspirational for the readers. She is the same age and gender as my ideal reader for my product, therefore would attract the Target audience . The mise en scene of my cover star represents a happy laid back female targeting my audience through her fashion sense and the way she is portrayed.

Q3: What kind of media institution might distribute your product?

DISTRIBUTION:

I would choose development hell to be the institution to sell my magazine as it published “mix mag” which is a similar genre of magazine to my product although features more of the dance genre. If I was to choose a sister product it would be mix mag as development hell would publish both products with mix mag being more dance focused and my product “MOVE” being a combination of dance and chart music. Although this could also be seen as a rival product and both mine and mix mag are of similar genres promoting the same style of music, however my unique selling point would be the hybrid genre I have used in my magazine including fashion where as mix mag does not do this so I would steal the competitors audience. My magazine will be published once a month, with the issue dates for on coming issues on the last page of the product. This is to ensure my readers are up to date monthly on the upcoming tour dates/ gigs/ festivals they need to be buying tickets for. Due to the exclusive information included in my magazine the cost will be £2.99 in which I believe is a reasonable price for the quality of product.

How do you make your brand easy for the audience to access?

On the front cover of my product I used things like the barcode scan and app for my magazine to allow the audience different ways to access my magazine other than the print version, this appeals to my audience and encourages the readers to get involved in my magazine. my aim is to encourage the audience to make it a habit to come to you for all their information and lifestyle choices. On the contents page I presented an easy read layout and information on where to access the main features like tour dates/ festivals etc. Which makes it a habit to the audience on where to find there information each year and the easiest way to get tickets etc. through using my product. I have encouraged brand loyalty by advertising for example a range of social networking sites, high street stores and festivals an gigs which will persuade the advertisers to continue investing money into my product.

Ways the audience can find my product.

Instagram for readers to uploaduser generated content

Facebook and twitter

AppsQR code

Music channels on TV

Gigs, tours, festival stageswebsite

Although this could also be seen as a rival product and both mine and mix mag are of similar genres promoting the same style of music, however my unique selling point would be the hybrid genre I have used in my magazine including fashion where as mix mag does not do this so I would steal the competitors audience.

M VE Move would be a monthly magazine priced at £2.99 an issue, which is a similar price to Mix Mag which is issued monthly, but cheaper than AnOther magazine which is published quarterly.There will be advertisement for gigs/ tour dates and festivals also high street stores and social networking with in the product.

Mix mag website

In what ways does your media

product use, develop or

challenge forms and conventions of

real media products?

F

For the front cover of my magazine I used a range of media conventions to attract my target audience in buying my magazine. For example the variety of features, images and various fonts shown on the page. The genre of music I chose was pop music, although my magazine was a hybrid genre which means it is combined with fashion. I used the hybrid genre by advertising “50% of top shop” within the front cover of the magazine to aware the audience that is didn’t contain only music. Along with the fashion that I went on to include within my magazine. The features I used for example; exclusive interviews , competitions and chances to get involved show the way my magazine is aimed at a younger target audience of maybe girls in their late teens. The main image I used within the front cover was also the cover star of the magazine which I also went on to show an interview with etc. My main image is effective as it awares the reader the genre of magazine they are reading and the types of features etc. that are expected within this. Towards the top of the page Is my masthead. To make my masthead more effective i used a cd vinyl to replace the letter O, this shows use of connotation within the magazine and a form of real media product as I linked the genre of the magazine to the style of the masthead. I also used various other wise to attract my target audience and aim to give the reader a chance to get involved, for example towards the bottom of the page was a scanner and a given website address and name of the app which awares the reader exactly how they can get involved. This shows another prime example on the way my product develops forms and conventions of real media product through linking other types of social media and technology to involve the reader. The pull quote I used within my cover is shown towards the bottom of the page and stands out due to the variety of fonts I used. For example the speech marks and slanted font make the pull quote look as if it was spoken and is almost revealed exactly how it was said. The way I did this presents an un formal feel to the magazine and attracts the readers attention. The “cosmopolitan” front cover I have showed on the bottom right of my page is a magazine which links to the genre of my magazine and was one of my inspirations when creating my product. Both covers are clearly shown as a “hybrid genre” due to the music side shown on the magazine but also linking in with the idea of promoting fashion. Both products also are presented with a similar layout as both present similar colours and a range of exciting fonts which stand out within the page , this reveals the target audience is both clearly aimed at young girls in around there late teens. Along with the similar features which are shown within both products that allow the audience more of a chance to get involved and use conventions of a real media product.

When creating the contents page for my media product I also used a variety of media conventions to form the product and allow it to look professional by using forms and conventions of real media product. I used the same colour scheme throughout my magazine to present clearly my main target audience and reveal the genre of my product. The layout of my contents was shown in a numbered list which allowed it easy for the audience to access. The main image and secondary images I used within the page show real life pictures taken from concerts which are featured within the magazine to attract the target audience and make them want to read on about the features they can get involved with within the magazine. The hybrid genre of my magazine is clearly revealed as I created two separate sections each for “music” and “Fashion”. The music sections shows a range of interviews with my main cover star, tour release dates aimed at my target audience, chances to get involved, tickets to win and upcoming launches etc. Each of these show an effective way of getting my audience involved with my product and unique selling points by the way It is offering a chance to win and also by tickets for their favourite artists allowing a lot of convenience and ease on how they purchase the tickets through buying the product. the main feature pages shown within the product for each section. The magazines I have presented on the right are both of similar genres to my product and contain a “hybrid genre”. The way I have created the layout of my product and placed the images look very similar to the way both other products do this. I included a variety of conventions which represent forms of real media product within my page, for example the features included and the layout used within my contents show representation of a real media product. I could say my contents page uses forms and conventions of real media product as it is presented in a professional form and has similar ideology to the various “pop” genre contents products.

How did you attract/address your audience?

How did you attract/address your audience?Codes and conventions that allow my magazine to stand out.

- Bold masthead - Features- Apps- QR CODE- Exclusive interview- Win competitions- Website- 50% of Top shop- Concert/ tour dates - Move mag launch - WIN VIP tickets

Attracting the audience

My product speaks to the audience in an informal way to attract my target audience and allow the reader to feel involved through audience participation. The colours I use are a mix of mostly white black and pink linking to the music genre of my product as a mix of dance and chart music. This links to my main target audience as being mainly females interested in this genre and appeals to them through the layout I have chosen. When designing the overall mise en scene of my product the overall layout was particularly important in catching the attention of my aimed audience. I did this with the bold fonts I used and almost loud colours to represent the personality of my magazine to attract readers of the same interest. I aimed to aware the reader of the value of my cover star through the fashion sense and personality that comes across and the show a ideal role model for the personality of my target readers as someone who is similar to them. My double page spread is particularly designed in grabbing my ideal readers attention through the informal language I used within the page to fit the audience’s personality. I also included an easy read layout as I structured my article in line form allowing easier access to the reader.

How do you attract/address the audience?Masthead

Features

Main Image

Strapline

Unique Selling Point

Free Giveaway

Repetitive Feature

Anchored Text

Cover Star

Extra Image

Gender, Age and ArtistGender:

My magazine is aimed at primarily teenage females but could also target males and older readers if fitting to their preferred genre of music. The cover star looks laidback and fashionably up to date with the latest fashion which is what my target audience generally prefers.

Age:

The Age range for my product is around 15-19, however many older readers may also enjoy reading my magazine as it is a dance and chart based genre which many young adults enjoy. Also the hybrid genre of fashion allowing a wider interest of audience.

Genre: The genre is a mix of dance and chart based music. This is portrayed through the cover stars clothes and where she is. It is also portrayed through the other stars included in the magazine and through the stars name.

A repetitive colour scheme of White, Black and pink. The colour pink is quite feminine so it connotes to my target audience which is why I kept it consistent throughout. The black and white contrast nicely within the page and link to my chosen genre of music.

“WIN” shows use of audience participation and awares the audience of ways they can get involved.

“Exclusive interview”Creates the impression It can not be found any-where else but my product.

Anchors the target audience of people who are interested in music and this particular genre.

The vinyl shows synergy to the genre of the product.

What have you learnt about technologies

from the process of

constructing this product?

Technologies that I usedPhotoshopMac roomChanging the lighting Digital SRL camerasPower pointMy own images

I used the stroke tool in order to allow the name of my cover star to stand out in bold.

I used the layers in the photo shop document to merge my masthead behind my main cover star and allow it to look more effective.

I used the “smudge tool” to make my main image look more professional and delete the jagged edges. I cropped my main image within my cover story and to make the image look better within the layout of my product. I set out my writing in blocked paragraphs to allow it to look professional. All this was done within the Photoshop process.

I created blocked boxes to show where and who my image was taken by. I did this by using the photo shop blending option tool and blending the box within my page. This allowed my image to look more professional. I also did this with the writing across the main image to allow the writing to be above my cover star. Using this tool became very helpful within creating my product as it was also used within my contents and double