AS MEDIA COURSE WORK

EVALUATION

By Abbie Garland
 IN WHAT WAYS DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT USE, DEVELOP OR
CHALLENGE FORMS OR CONVENTIONS OF REAL MEDIA PRODUCTS?

 My music magazine was mostly inspired by

the layout; colour scheme and house style
of Q magazine, as well some parts of NME.
I found that NME magazine and Q
magazine were very similar in their
conventions such as layout and colour
scheme, although NME had a younger,
more laid back vibe whereas Q comes off as
more simplistic and classy. My Fonts were
inspired by Q because I have stuck to basic
styles, nothing too over the top, as well as
my colour scheme copying NME and Q- I
stuck to white, black, and a bit of red. I
think that my magazine will fit well into the
market, there’s always room for another
music magazine. Although it shares similar
odes and conventions to the magazines
previously mentioned, it is also unique in its
own way, having more diversity then the
others. It’s not a rock-concentrated as the
other two and concentrates on indie and
alternative music.
 HOW DOES YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT REPRESENT PARTICULAR SOCIAL
GROUPS?
`

 I want my magazine to represent young

aspiring musicians, aged 16-24. my
magazine concentrates on bands that
are not so well knows, making their
way up the scale, and bands that have
been in that position at some point in
their career.

 I can imagine my magazine attracting

both males and females, although the
majority of the audience may sway
more towards males, just because of
the stereotypical colours, genres and
language used.
 WHAT KIND OF MEDIA INSTITUTION MIGHT DISTRIBUTE
YOUR MEDIA PRODUCT AND WHY?

 Because I have used NME magazine

as strong guide lines for my own, I
would choose IPC media to distribute
my magazine . IPC media distributes a
whole range of different magazine
genres, and have diversity, so I am
confident that they would be would be
a good distributing company for ALT
magazine.

 There is also a company called

BAUER who distribute Q magazine,
another magazine that inspired my
own. Because the genre of my
magazine is similar to Q, I would
imagine them to be a company to
distribute my own magazine well.
 WHO WOULD BE THE AUDIENCE FOR YOUR MAGAZINE?

My audience would be in the age range

from 16-23. it is quite a small age range
because I think the music is quite
specialised and older people would be
less interested in the genre. I would
also say that although my magazine is
aimed at male and females, I can
imagine it to appeal more to males, just
because the colour scheme on the front
cover, as well as the fact the band
consists all of males. The font is also
quite masculine, which would reflect
this further. I imagine the people in my
audience to be laid back individuals
who just enjoy alternative rock/ indie
music and a good time. My audience is
quite specialised because its not too far
down on the rock music scale, but
would also not appeal to people you
listen to pop/ hip-hop music.
 DEMOGRAPHICS & PURPOSE
 I think the choices I have made
for the codes and conventions of
my magazine fit in with the
demographics of my chosen
audience. The music scene is
dominated by the younger
generation, they are the largest
consumers of the business. I also
think that over the past few
years, alternative style music
has slowly taken over the music
scene, being more popular then
pop, and seeming to be ‘cooler’.
This will attract my young
teenage audience.
The primary purpose of my
magazine, like it is for most, is to
entertain. However, I also want
my magazine to inform my
audience of all the different bands
and music there is out there for
them to choose from. I used
certain words and structured the
writing of my magazine so to
relate to my audience. I didn't
used terminology that was too
difficult to read or understand
because my audience is still at a
young age, but I still structured it
to seem professional.
 TYPICAL AUDIENCE PROFILE
My audience would consist of
independent individuals with a
serious interest in music. They want
to learn about the variety available
and about new and upcoming artists.
GENDER... Male/ female
AGE... 16-23
SEX... Male or female
WORK STATUS... student
COMMON INTERESTS...
Gigs,parties,friends,shopping,
MUSIC
MUSIC GENRE... Alternative
rock, indie
RADIO CHOSE... Radio one,
radio one extra, X FM
TV CHANNEL CHOSE...Music
channels such as name, mtv
music, kerrang perhaps. As well
as E4 for entertainment,
paramount comedy, Channel 4
FILMS... Comedy, dark comedy,
horror, action, maybe some
dramas.
 MASLOW’S HIERARCHY OF NEEDS
 On Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, I think my magazine would be
placed on the fifth layer-Esteem. It isn't a necessary item for living,
but is one that will make a person happy and build confidence. I also
this is could fit on the fourth layer-love/belonging, because our
audience will feel like they connect with the other individuals that
read the magazine, and also with the people who write it.

BLUMLER AND KATZ

Entertainment
Personal identity
With Blumler and Katz uses and -finding reinforcement for
- escaping, or being
diverted, from
gratifications theory, the options my personal values problems
- finding models of
magazine would fit in to are: behaviour
- relaxing
- getting intrinsic
- identifying with valued cultural or aesthetic
other enjoyment
-gaining insight into one's - filling time
self
 PREPARATION/PROPOSAL
 The first thing I decided about my magazine was the name. I chose ALT, short for
alternative. This reflect the genre of the magazine, and the shortened version is similar
to NME and Q, short and snappy and easy to say.
 Another important concept I had to consider was the price of my magazine. Most
magazine prices range from £2 up to £4.90, being the most high end magazines. I
decided to go with a comfortable middle price of £2.90. this fits in the middle of the
two magazines I was inspired by, Q magazine, being £3.99 and NME costing £2.30
 I propose to produce a music magazine that specialised in the style of indie/ indie
rock music. My magazine will be aimed at an audience of male and females in the age
group of 17-23. I imagine them to still be in some sort of education such as sixth
form, college, with a small disposable income from a job or parents. ALT will attract
quite a niche, individual audience who are active consumer.
 My magazine will be sold nationally and not globally. I think it is important to stick to
just a British audience, because most of the bands featured at true to British music. I
think it is a important to keep a strong sense of what nation this magazine is all about.
I would sell my magazine in news agents, super markets, books stores such as ‘Wh
smiths’, and perhaps in indie style clothing stores also, being specific to the audience.
 HOW MY FRONT COVER ATTRACTED MY AUDIENCE
Unique selling point The font of my
to draw in the reader masterhead is bold and
further. unique. It will interest
and draw in the reader.

The red is used to catch

the readers eye. Its a
I have given this bright colour but
lettering a black edge compliments the white
so to make it stand and black by adding in
out, and pop out of the that something extra
page a little more, so
that it doesn't blend
and get ignored

The central image is the

main focal point. The angle
the shot was taken from fills
the page well, so doesn't
need to be filled with text to
make it interesting. Each
character is making eye
contact with the camera,
which is important for a
Red is used again
front cover- its draws in the
to highlight that is
reader and creates a
a focal subheading
connection.
and mean feature
ANALYSIS OF DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
 ANALYSIS OF DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD
For my double page spread, I closely emulated one from NME magazine. I liked the
layout and colour scheme as well as the extra add ons.

Reference to the magazine.

Reassures the reader the band is Entices the reader to
recommended by the read on
professionals
I like how I have added
in the faded photo to
the side of the page. It
adds in that something
Bright image to extra without having to
light up the page put in extra,
and stand out unnecessary text. The
against the jagged edge roughs it
contrasting up without it seeming
colours to clean cut,

The pull quote gives a hint to

what the interview includes.

Need to know, gives some background

information on the band. The notepad Red used to catch
gives it an old school feel. the eye.
ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS PAGE
 ANALYSIS OF CONTENTS PAGE
Name of the magazine,
which will be running
throughout, on every page
dateline, which is a vital
feature to include.

Red used to emphasise the

significant articles in the
magazine

Focal image of the main

feature on this issue

‘Every Month’
section includes
typical features
of a magazine
such as
competitions.
 WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNT ABOUT TECHNOLOGIES FROM THE
PROCESS OF CONSTRUCTING THIS PRODUCT?

The main thing I have come to learn about the process of producing a
magazine, is just how much focused, hard work goes into it. Every single
little detail needs to be perfect, and the imagination behind it needs to be
good enough, and interesting enough to draw in the right kind of of
audience. I also really considered the amount of competition that is out on
the market. I never though it would be easy to construct a front cover,
contents page and double page spread. After analysing plenty of other
magazine examples, I knew mine had to be up to a certain professional
standard. I used mainly Photoshop to design and create all my pieces but it
wasn't easy. It took a lot of time and effort to get my work up to a good
standard. I also learnt about the importance of a good camera. If the final
quality of the photo isn't good enough it makes the whole thing look
unprofessional.
I didn't think it would be an easy task, however a lot of hard work needed to be
put in, and if it wasn't it will show straight away with the finished work.