Evaluation question 7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

When carrying out the preliminary task I already had a fairly good knowledge of Photoshop, I knew how to carry out basic tasks such as creating layers, adding effects, cutting and resizing. I do feel however after producing my final print task I have developed a much better understanding of the programme itself .I have done this through the experimentation of tools within the programme, some of which I did not need to use however it was helpful in knowing what exactly there effects were. I have also developed through research and planning a much better understanding of magazine conventions and what exactly is needed to create a professional looking magazine. I also feel as though my photography skills have improved as I have took into mind the different ways an image can be viewed and understood. Furthermore I feel as though I have developed a better knowledge of editing photos, I have learnt that the editing of a photo is of great importance as it really determines the overall professionalism of it. We can see from looking at my preliminary and final task my editing skills have improved considerably. With my preliminary I have used very little editing and this shows through the brightness and washed out kind of look. In my final task I have decreased the saturation completely to create a black and white photo; I have then increased the brightness and contrast. In terms of layout I have made use of the space on the page. If we look at my preliminary we can see a large amount of white gaps which makes the page look empty. Looking at my final task we can see very busy page avoiding any large empty spaces.

Evaluation question 6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Media evaluation

View more presentations from Lucyann Mortimore.

Evaluation question 5. How did you attract/address your audience?

Question 5How did you attract/address your audience? on Prezi

Evaluation question 4.Who would be the audience for your media product?

To show what sort of people would buy and read my magazine I have decided to write about a target audience member in detail. Lucy is white 17 year old girl. She is in her first year of sixth form at a college in the centre of her town and is studying photography, English literature/language, media and film studies at AS level. She hopes to pass her AS levels to continue studying to A level. She has hopes to attend a university to combine her passion for photography, media and English to study a music journalism course. One of Lucy’s main interests and hobbies include photography, her camera is something she will take most places as she enjoys capturing pictures of places she goes. Her other interests include blogging, socialising and travelling. A big part of Lucy’s life is music and the majority of her music taste is of an alternative rock genre, some of her favourite artists/bands include bloc party, the Courteeners, the strokes and Frank Turner. These are musical artists which tend to play at smaller venues rather than arenas which is something Lucy prefers attending “I feel that attending a venue such a rock city is so much better to see your favourite music artists. You can get so much closer to them and it feels more personal rather than being about a mile away sat in an arena seat” Another benefit of attending smaller venues is that the price is much cheaper which is useful as Lucy is a student and does not have a personal income.  Last year Lucy started attending local festivals such as summer sundae and strawberry fields; this developed her love for festivals and resulted in her purchasing a Leeds ticket for this year. Fashion is another element of Lucy’s life that is important to her, she does not consider herself to follow trends and therefore she tends to avoid the main high street shops such as river island, H&M, new look and Topshop. Instead Lucy likes to shop at smaller little ‘one off’ shops and enjoys finding the odd bargain on Ebay, in charity or vintage stores.  Overall Lucy would be scene as a member of an 'Alternative tribe' (according to uktribes.com). Members of this particular group tend to be wary of the mainstream and prefer to be different. The majority of the group is made up of white middle class people, they're passionate about music and the best way to reach out to this particular group is through niche magazines and social media.

I think Lucy is a good and realistic representation of an audience member who would buy my magazine. My magazine will feature bands of a specific musical genre, appealing to people of very specific taste. Bands/artists featured will also tend not to be mainstream, focusing away from what the majority is interested in. They will also influence and inspire the way in which my audience will dress as people such as Lucy prefer to dress in relation to their music interests. Not only will the music artists inspire the audience members but the content of the magazine will so too-for example photoshoots appeal and inspire the photographer reader. Furthermore the advertising included within my magazine will reach out to my audience members as it will include smaller more unique buisness's that again interest my readers.

Evaluation question 3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

The media institution I have chosen to distribute my magazine is IPC media (International publication corporation). I have chosen this company for a number of reasons. Firstly I discovered that NME's publisher is IPC, as my magazine is very much based around this magazine (in terms of look and target audience) I feel it would be logical to have the same publishing company too. Readers of NME may well recognise the similarity between the companies which could always lead them to trusting in my magazine and wanting to buy it.  Furthermore IPC media is very successful-publishing over 60 well known and respected magazines, reaching out to over two thirds of UK women and nearly half of UK men it seems having a magazine distributed by a successful company will result in successful sales.

Evaluation question 2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

    

Originally I was to base my artist around a rocky style such as Taylor Monsen, my ideas were going to be based around the dark colours, big hair, leather and studs. However after much research I discovered 1) If I was going to dress my artist like this they would perhaps not be featured in my style of magazine 2) The rocky style could perhaps limit my audience as I personally I feel it appeals more to females and finally 3) I feel the rock style would not have gone with the personality I wished to portray for my artist. Taking this into mind I altered the way my artist was to be dressed however I did still include elements of the rock style such as the black lipstick, darkened eye makeup and fairly big dark hair. After researching female solo artists I realised there were very few of an indie/alternative genre. Female solo artists tend to be categorised into the pop genre of music. I did find however that Ellie Goulding was a similar artist to Erica. Similar to  Erica, Ellie is from London, is a white female and is around the same age. Taken straight from an interview, asking about her dress sense Ellie says..."I like the androgynous look, I like to wear skinny jeans and brogues, bow ties, tee shirts with rolled up sleeves... But I still love to dress glamorously when I go out and perform- I'm a total magpie when it comes to shiny, sequiny glittery things! I'm a bit of a tomboy with an elegant side" The way she has described her dress sense can be related to the way I have dressed my artist. With my double page shoot I have dressed Erica in skinny high waisted jeans, a shirt and a quilted coat-very simple and not your stereotypical outfit for a female.  Overall I think the way I have dressed my artist represents an alternative group of people whose interests are mainly music however fashion is too important in showing off originality. Using an artist whose look is realistically achievable to re-create appeals to readers of my magazine as it inspires them with new ideas with ways to dress. Readers perhaps even dress similarly to Erica which creates an artist that can be related to.

The cover artist appeals and represents an alternative social group. Members of this particular group tend to be wary of the mainstream and prefer to be different. The majority of the group is made up of white middle class people, they're passionate about music and the best way to reach out to this particular group is through niche magazines and social media.  With my choice of cover artist I have followed what would be considered a member of this group (white, middle class) My choice of pose is according to Majorie Ferguson an invitational pose which can achieve a sense of mystery, creating an image that makes my audience want to find out more about this artist. My artist is not represented in Laura Mulveys theory of the male gaze, despite the fact my target audience is made up by some males,  I wanted to avoid a bias view of the photo. Furthermore I would like my audience to see Erica as someone to listen to rather than to look at. Putting forward the use of the male gaze could have resulted in some of my target audience being put off or my artist being displayed in the wrong way.

Evaluation question 1-In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

MEDIA EVALUATION-QUESTION 1- In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conve...

Final double page spread

Final contents page

Final front cover

Peer Assessment

PEER ASSESMENT-SARAS MAGAZINE PDF

Magazine Publisher logo

Through researching of publishing companies I have found IPC media appear to be a company that would most likely distribute a magazine of my kind. My reasons in believing this are because of the following: IPC media distribute NME magazine which is a magazine very similar to my style of magazine. IPC are a British company and tend to stick to distributing magazines within the UK for the British consumer. Finally, IPC media's audience reaches out to both men and women which is something I wish for my magazine to do so also. In addition IPC media are very successful and are known to currently publishing at least 60 well known and respected magazines. There audiences reach out to a staggering two thirds of UK women and nearly half of UK men. Overall if IPC media were to distribute my magazine I feel it would give my magazine a great chance of successful sales because of its recognisable connection with a leading distribution company.
                                                                            

Researching distributional companies has inspired me to create my own company logo and name. I have come up with the name of 'New publishing industry' I like the idea that it comes across as being modern and up to date with the use of 'new'. This can be related to my target audience as they are younger and would like to be receiving up to date material, not only does it relate to my target audience but to my genre of music too. My target audience especially like to discover new and upcoming bands-ones which are not yet mainstream so the idea of 'new' again reinforces that information being provided is to an up to date standard. Obviously my inspiration for the logo has come from IPC media's logo, I have chosen to display my company in initials as it is aesthetically pleasing and also more appealing to pronounce. Creating a logo consisting of smooth edged shapes, plain colours and simplicity works around modern conventions of design. 

Artist's CD cover (to be featured in DPS)

I decided that after receiving feedback for my double page spread I would add something to my article to make it more visually appealing. I was going to enlarge a quote however, I felt after emphasizing two quotes already (on the contents page and the front cover) I would struggle to find another interesting/appropriate quote. As my article ends with the promotion of Erica Emm's CD, I thought it would be a good idea to include a picture of it too.

I produced this CD cover using Photoshop. I have used a photo from my final photo shoot. As these photos are featured in my magazine I felt I should edit the image in order to make it less obvious it was the same photo shoot. I think I can get away with using images from the shoot as the guitar can be seen as a kind of Erica Emm trademark.  To edit the image I used a filter (poster edges) which kind of gave it its cartoon-y effect. Using a elliptical marquee tool I selected the part of the image I wanted. After which I inverted it and deleted. This left a circle image. I then changed the background color and added text around the image.