Question.7- How have I improved since my prelim task?

PROGRAMMES:

For my preliminary task I didn’t have any prior knowledge of how to use photo shop, because of this I used Microsoft Publisher as I had previous knowledge of using this programme. Publisher enables you to paste images, shapes and text on top of one another, which led to my final product.

However, as I was not impressed by my

preliminary task as I knew I could produce a higher standard of work. I decided to teach myself how to use photo shop. Photo shop was hard to come to terms with but once I learnt how to use it I was able to do everything I was able to do on Publisher, plus edit the photos as well. On Photo Shop, I found it easier to move photos and text around as you can edit each layer individually.

FONTSWith my preliminary task I didn't use a range of fonts. This is because I had no knowledge about magazines and didn’t know how important it is to add some verity into the magazine. I also didn’t use many different font sizes which was a bad idea as it makes it unclear to the reader what the important text is. In my final product I used a range of text sizes, colours and types. This added some variety into my work and made it look more realistic and appealing. This also helped to make my magazine look more professional.

ColoursSomething else which I have learnt is the use of colour. Colour can help establish; genre, target audience and much more! In my preliminary task I used dark, dull colours which were not eye catching so would not be very appealing to a target market. In contrast my final product features a theme where there are a range of colours included. This helps to attract more people to the magazine which makes it more successful.

ResearchingFor my first task I did not complete the research which would have helped me to gain a better understanding of how to complete it. However, for my final product I completed a range of in-depth research to help me to enhance my knowledge of the magazine industry and the products already available to the market. This helped me to produce a product which stands out from any of the other products out there, yet includes certain conventions which make my magazine still look professional.

Photographs

Taking Photographs: The difference between the qualities of my photos, have come a long way. I have now put a lot more into the mise-en-scene' of my photos and I have also got the angles right now.

In my first task I mainly focused on the costume of my photos, not considering where the photographs should be taken and whether any props should be used in the shots. This all changed during my final task as I ensured I paid attention to every detail. For example when looking into mise-en-scene I used a guitar to represent music and a rose to represent love which is what most songs in my genre are about. This helped to make my photographs look more realistic.

Extras In my final product I included more cover stories in order to make my magazine more appealing to the target audience. I also included more pictures of different artist in my contents page as I felt this showed the audience that there was more than once story in the magazine so it was worth the

money I was charging, instead of relying on the readers to assume that the magazine has more to offer. I also included more; competitions, evens and interviews as I felt this also meant my magazine would be more successful.

Use of Communicating With My Target Market:

During the production of my final product I used my target audience to create the best possible product I could. I achieved this by doing things such as; posting questionnaires onto my blog. This was useful as I was able to use my target audience’s opinion to reach even more readers for my magazine as they were providing the previous knowledge that I needed in order to make my magazine appeal to the market as much as possible.

I wouldn’t have previously considered doing this as I had no idea on the industry and ways to research. This is another way in which I have come to terms

with the media industry through making my final product. My target audience was important and extremely useful to me throughout my task as they were able to not only help me produce my final product but also help me to improve it.I believe that my target audience’s opinion of me would be that I have taken all their ideas into consideration and used most of them. For this I believe that they would respect me.The target audience were important to my whole product as they not only helped me to prepare for my product before producing it but also helped me to reach a level with my product that would not have been possible without them as I used their feedback throughout the task.

Establishing a Brand For my final product I finally came to the conclusion that I would probably have to create my own production company as I know that my magazine has been produced in a way where it is very individual. Due to this I know that if my magazine was included in a major company, I

don’t think it would be able to maintain what makes my magazine stand out among other products available.

I have made a brand which includes bright colours which stand out among any other products out there so this means that more people will be attracted to it. Another thing which my brand includes is stories and competitions which are able to reach all types of women no matter what their musical preferences are. This is to show women’s individuality and to represent the fact that not all women like the stereotypical ‘pop love song’ genre.

In my prelim task I did not have enough knowledge of the media industry to enable myself to be able to create a brand identity which stood out among the other industries out

there. This has helped me to realise the potential I have to help me to get a good grade in this subject.

Conclusion:

Overall I believe that throughout the course of this year I have improved massively due to my new gained skills including; using new technology, the use of communicating with your target audience, understanding the different dimensions available in media products, the importance of brand identity and so much more. Looking back on my task there isn’t much that I would improve on, but only to listen to my target audience more and to communicate with them while recording it in a more personal way in order to demonstrate that I have a clearer understanding of what they are expecting of my final product.