1.

) In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms
and conventions of real media products?
My front cover uses the forms and conventions of a real media product as it sticks to
a colour scheme that is expected of a rock music magazine (red/black colours). The
contents page features an editorial which is something that is regularly seen in real
media products. I have also kept the contents into a column and used page numbers
which most magazines do. On my contents page some of the pictures overlap each
other and cover parts of other photos, this can be seen to connote the rebellious side
of rock music.
On my magazine cover I used a young male for my main image as this is my target
market. He is also holding a guitar which shows that this is a music magazine about
rock; direct address is also being used.
2.) How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My media product represents particular social groups as the photos used are all
young white males. These people have been used for my magazine as they are
my target audience and people they would be familiar with. I feature bands and
artists in my cover lines and contents page that my target audience are most
likely to enjoy such as Linkin Park. I used a young white male for my main image
who is wearing clothes which niche audience will most likely wear. I did consider
using both genders for the photos in my magazine however I feel that would not
really be suited to my niche market.
3.) What kind of media institution may distribute your media product and
why?
The kind of media institution to distribute my media product would be a company
such as Bauer media. Bauer media would be appropriate as they already
distribute Kerrang which is an already well known and popular rock music
magazine. Synergy could be created between my magazine and Kerrang as
they are targeting the same audience. Bauer also have a history of taking on
new projects so there would be a higher chance that they would distribute my
magazine.
4.) Who would be the audience for your media product?
The target audience for my media product is white males aged between 16-30
years old. Because my readers would most likely be students I set a low price for
the magazine as these readers are likely to have very little disposable income. I
incorporated the rock culture into my magazine through different ways (dark
colours, pictures of instruments associated with rock music, rock bands) I did
this as these are the type of things my audience will want to see in a rock music
magazine. I used direct address to draw my audience into the magazine and
because it is someone they are similar to they are most likely to connect with the
magazine. From research I found out that the main age demographic for rock
music is 16-30 and that is why I decided to keep this age range in mind when
constructing the magazine.
5.) How did you attract/address your audience?

My target audience is white males aged between 16-30 years old who are most
likely to come from middle/lower social class backgrounds and their hobbies and
interests would be things such as going to gigs, listening to music and keeping
up to date with news about their favourite bands.
I attracted my audience through the use of my front cover in different ways. First
of all I used direct address in my main image this means I am addressing the
audience by having the artist in the photo stare directly into the camera. I also
used strokes and bright red text for my main cover line. This cover line stood out
from the rest as I felt it was the most important and the one which would most
likely grab the readers attention. My masthead is also bright red and features
the word rock in it so people who are interest in rock music are immediately
drawn into it. I also showed the price in a white font that stood out and was in a
key area of the magazine. I did this as I purposely put the magazine at a low
price so more people would be interested in it.
6.) What have you learnt about technologies?
I have learnt how to alter the background of an image by using the lasso tool. By
using this tool I was able to change the background of my front cover and make
it darker. I was also able to edit out the background for the image on my DPS. I
also used the sharpen tool to bring out parts of the image, I used this tool for the
eyes on my front cover to create better direct address. I have also learnt how to
use in-design. In this software I have learnt how to include text, form the layout
of the pages, add a picture and add a title. I also learnt how to use the brush tool
to lose to sharp edges around the person in my picture after I had edited the
background out.
7.) Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in
the progression from it to the full product?
Looking back at my preliminary task I believe I am now more able to edit a photo
effectively. I am now able to give a photo a very professional look and alter the
background whilst still keeping the quality of the image. I have also learnt how to
use programs such as in-design. I am now able to create a double page spread
using in-design and am confident with all the different tools. I have also learnt
research techniques such as focus groups. I now know how to appeal to cultures
and sub-cultures through the use of colours, mise en scene and language which
help establish the theme of a magazine. I have also learnt common conventions
of a music magazine such as using the masthead on both the front cover and
the contents page.