GRACE FLAVIN

MEDIA
MUSIC MAGAZINE
EVALUATION
 Foundation Portfolio Evaluation
With my front cover, contents page and article finished, I am going to evaluate
each, taking the following into consideration:
• Forms and conventions
• Representation
• institutions
• Audience
• Addressing the audience
• Technologies
• Overall outlook
 Forms and Conventions
Front Cover
Before creating my magazine cover, I studied other professional covers to

gather an idea of how to present my front cover.

Title: I spent a large amount of time researching
Image: I deliberately used a very simple image
various different fonts for the title. I felt it was
of a great friend of mine. The image is not
important that the title stood out represented the
meant to represent an artist or any particular
audience I wished to attract. My title is in a fixed
famous person, but the audience and how the
location and demonstrates an edgy and
audience reacts to the music displayed in
underground feel whilst the colour is vibrant and
MAISON. I have also deliberately used black
fresh. The title has been placed at the top left
and white to add a minimalist approach to the
corner which follows the conventions of most
graphology of the page. I find I have not
magazines and will be used as the magazines
followed typical media conventions within this
brand identity as it is a recognisable element of
choice. You can only see half of the image as
the cover.
the other half bleeds off the side of the page.
Column inch: The column inch follows normal This has been used to make a bold statement,
magazine conventions. In terms of graphology, again, representing the music.
the layout of the column inch is divided by
pictures connected to their captions.

Hooks: I have used various hooks to draw in the

buyers attention. For example, the heading
Font: The font for the column inch follows a regular
“prizes” informs the reader of what more they
colour scheme. These colours contrast well
can get out of the magazine.
demonstrating again, a fresh vibe whilst the style of
the font consistently remains the same.
 Forms and Conventions
Contents Page
After studying contents pages as I did with the front cover, I was able to
produce a contents page which followed a professional layout.
Image: I have used the same image of my friend
as on the front cover, however I have reversed it so
it appears on the opposite side and faded it so I
can place text and images over the top without the
layout becoming too busy.
Title: the title used the same font as the front
cover to follow a theme. Like the picture, the
contents title has been placed on the opposite
side. This will remain a fixed location.
I have placed the editorial in the bottom right
corner. this will become a fixed location. The font is
a lot smaller allowing more to be said. I have
included my signature at the bottom conforming to
normal magazine editorial conventions and adding
effect.
The font is regular and I have used 3 simple
colours of pink, grey and black. These colours
contrast and again, represent and attract my
target audience.
I have used a mixture of contents text and
pictures followed by contents captions. I have
used the theme of Polaroid photographs to
show the pictures in a unique and original way.
This theme resembles a reminiscent and “good
times” feel. The photographs also stand out and
the presentation is interesting and eye catching.
I have deliberately used a variety of close up
shots, long shots, black and white photographs
and logos. To create variety and contrast,
visually and literally.
 Forms and Conventions
Above the fold: on the first page of my
article I have included the article title and
the main picture above the fold. This I
have done to include an organised layout
making the most attractive parts of the
article what the reader will see and read
first as when reading an article, and
reader will start at the top right part first.
Hook: the hook here has been
written at the beginning of the
article, copying conventions of
other articles I have looked at
and revised. The hook consists
of an intriguing sentence
instantly making the reader think
and want to know more. The
hook has been presented in the
same font used as the rest of
the article, but appears larger
and bolder. This separates it
from the rest of the article and
allows the reader to notice it
immediately.
Other elements of the page include information and pictures on other articles, the articles aren’t connected
with Justice directly but readers interested in Justice are likely to be interested in the articles shown.
Article
I have included a picture
of a cross which bleeds of
the bottom of the page.
This I have used to
represent justice. The
image bleeds of the page
to emphasise how
powerful justice are, they
cannot actually fit on the
page!
Within the article, I have included callouts. The callouts are
there for a reader who wishes to skim read the article before
deciding whether to read the rest of it. The callouts I have
chosen to use demonstrate the more interesting and well
written parts of the article. The callouts have been presented
in a garish pink colour. This adds visually appealing
elements to the article and encourages the reader to read
the callouts first to gather a feel of what the article will
include.
Font: the font is standard, times new
roman which I feel is accessible to
read and allows the page to not
become to overwhelming and busy.
For the title, I have used the same
font as I have for the front cover and
magazine, this make the article look
appealing to the reader and follow a
pattern of using the same font. The
colours I have used are simply to
conform to the already established
colour scheme.
 Representation of Social Groups
To attract a specific audience, there must be elements of my magazine which
deliberately represent a certain social group.

Colour!
The colours I have used have played an important role.
I have considered genre.
Firstly, the genre of my magazine is electro house, dance. The music is generally lively, energetic and listened to at wild parties or raves. This is far from
something I would associate with as being dull therefore I am choosing bright, energetic and garish colours to dominate.
I have chosen colours which clash in a good way and form contrasts. I feel this represents the music through the way electro often merges different genres of
music together, but also, the audience and the freedom of its audience. All different people, who contrast listen to music, but when coming together, the
experience becomes enlightened.

Pictures!
Pictures are a really important way of representing a certain social group.
My pictures are supposed to represent famous people and therefore, people can realate and share the same tastes. I have pictures of competitions to do
with clothes, this represents certain style groups.

Font!
The font of the titles represent the edginess and less mainstream element of electro music. It allows people to remember a place they might go to listen to
electro or the way people dress when watching electro.
 Distribution
Large magazine companies have to think about how they will
distribute magazine there product.

The magazine could be produced by publishers such as Bauer media

group, publishers of Q magazine, or ICP media, who produces NME.
My magazine will not be a global success, therefore it will be distributed
nationally.
Other European countries, particularly France and Belgium will most likely
learn of and love MAISON as types of electro music originated from these
countries.
(hence why I chose the name MAISON as it means ‘house’ in France –
‘Electro house’.

My magazine will be advertised in other magazines such as previous

electro magazines, but also magazines such as NME or Q where the genre
these magazines are into attract audiences which could easily be into
electro as well.

The magazine could produce spin off products such as CD’s, downloads,
events held and organized by the magazine institution, and t-shirts, so
people can become recognised as fans of electro or MAISON.
 Audience
Knowing who a magazines audience are is perhaps the most important thing.
Without an audience, a magazine fails.
Anyone can listen to electro. But its who you are when you listen to it. Created in the 1970’s, electro is still quite a new genre of
music. Many if not most dedicated electro fans are between the ages of 16 – late twenties. However, many older adults where
there when electro was in its prime, having just been established. It was the reason for partying and a lot of those adults want to
relive those days 40 years on.
Electro is about feeling young, enjoying the music and having a good time and I try to represent this in the magazine.
MAISON’s audience are music lovers, they like having a brilliant time and enjoy the individual and merging together of techno
beats and sounds.
Creating electro can be done just as easily in the home as it can be in a studio. Many of MAISON’s fans don’t just listen and dance
to electro, they create their own too. And it is important for them to keep up with what is new and old to create something original.
My general audience feedback on completing my magazine was positive. People liked the colours used and the article. The fashion
and style elements attracted other people to my magazine and people were interested in the competitions.
 Audience Feedback
My general audience feedback on completing my magazine was positive.
People liked the colours used and the articles. The fashion and style
elements attracted other people to my magazine and people were interested
in the competitions.

As this is the first edition of my magazine its really important I get it right so
people will buy my magazine again.
I needed to have a variety of things in my contents so a large audience of all
interests could be entertained.
The pictures were liked and approved of and they suited the articles.

Other people were interested in the events listed, electro music makes an
amazing social life as well as good listening in your own home.
People liked the fact that there was a magazine purely dedicated to electro as
other magazines included genres people weren’t interested in.
 Attracting the audience
To attract my intended audience, I have thought about the following:
•Colours
•Taglines
•Column inch and other front page information
•Pictures
Colour:
The colours represent
the new and fresh genre
of electro and the fresh
age and sense of living
people desire when
listening to electro. It is
important to represent
vibrant colours as this
could be a reminiscent
indication of electro
posters, theme colours
at electro parties or it
could resemble electro
fashion throughout time.
Tag lines
People prefer to skim
read an article or the
magazines main features
before diving into detailed
reading. With the right
phrasing and words,
people can instantly like
the article or what is to
follow in the magazine
without reading it.
Taglines on the front
page are really important
and use of persuasive
language, or facts that
you know people will
like, are vital, often.,
people wont read
something if their initial
impression is not a good
one.
Front cover
Judge a book by its
cover.
The front page is really
important as it gives
away the initial
impression of what is
inside. The column inch
includes a variety of
information that attracts
lots of people for different
reasons.
Some audiences are
interested by the main
articles involving electro
celebrities. Information
on events attracts
audiences interested in
the lifestyle. Competition
details attract audiences
that see a chance to win
something.
Pictures
Pictures area visual way
of attracting an audience.
With the right pictures
presented in the right
way, audiences are
attracted to then take
things further and read
the article linked to the
picture.
Other audiences find it
hard to visualise what a
text is saying and a
magazine is not
supposed to be a
difficult read. Pictures
set the mood and
develop peoples insight
into what is being said.
 T ec hnologies
During the process of creating my magazine, I was introduced to computer programs
such as Photoshop, Publisher, Paint and Blogger.

I had used Photoshop before the task but not in so much detail. I found Photoshop
tricky at first and after a lot of practice I roughly got the hang of it.
Tools such as the magnetic lasso, the brightness/contrast settings, and the
cropping tools enabled me to achieve the look I wanted.
I used Paint a lot to alter colours of texts and crop images then copy and past them. I
found paint easy to use and a successful way of completing something simply but
effectively.
Whilst writing the double spread article I was introduced to Publisher, a program
which has readily set up structures and guidelines for articles. I found using publisher
similar to Microsoft word, and therefore I was comfortable in using it.
Blogger was a completely new experience to me. I liked the lay out and found it
accessible to either write on my Blog or look up previous work I had done in an
organised structured way. I enjoyed the element of being able to personalise my
Blog.
 Improvements
The first magazine cover I created was not very
commendable at all. I found Photoshop hard to get used to
and there was barely anything which followed any media
conventions.
The second time I used Photoshop I was a little more
accustomed to the way it worked and I tried a lot harder to
make my magazine cover visually attractive.
Throughout the process of making the final magazine cover,
article an contents page, I made several changes and
improvements. Mostly visual improvements instead of text
improvements. This included things such as the font size,
colour and design. Also, adjustments were made as to
where and how I placed things on the page. For example,
the picture of friend on the front cover appeared in the
same position in the contents page. I thought by reversing
the image so it appeared on the opposite side would make
more of a statement to I adjusted the positioning of
everything on the contents page.
I also made adjustments to the colour and brightness of this
photo. My removing the colour, the photo became ironically
more powerful and dominating as it caught people eye.