Evaluation 5

How did you attract/address your audience?

Front Cover

In order to attract my target audience I used a variety of different conventions. I believe the conventions I have used would also attract people outside of my specific target audience age specification as they are well known and used on a wide range of other magazines.

To begin, I have used direct address through my model as she is staring right down the camera lens (at the reader) and she is wearing appropriate clothing that would appeal to my target audience, despite the fact you are only able to see the top she is wearing as well as overall makeup and hair style. 

I have included a Buzzword, "Exclusive", which will attract my audience because it gives off a positive vibe in the sense that it will encourage them to purchase it because my magazine includes exclusive interviews. 

My magazines' slogan "Lower The Needle" will appeal to my audience as it is a clever play on words and will entice them to purchase it because it increases interest in discovering what's within the magazine.

The text I have used to give hints into what is contained within the magazine is easy to read and captures the attention of potential buyers and readers immediately. This is because if they spot the name of an artist they like or a particular type of music then they are likely to pick it up and read the specific article as well as the entire magazine. 

I have made the price very visible on the cover, located below the barcode in order for my target audience to know exactly what the price is and not be deceived in to believing it was more expensive than it is if it wasn't visible. This will draw the readers in due to the fact that the price is slightly less than a similar magazine such as "Rolling Stone" but also more than your average magazine which is around £2.00, and indicates to them that it is a high quality product.

Contents page

I have also used direct address on my contents page as my model is, again, giving an enticing look down the camera lens, focused on the reader. I have only used one photo on my contents page which is of my main feature, located on the left hand side of page. I decided to solely use this photo as it tells a lot about her character through her body language, style and facial expression. She is portraying a confident, focused and youthful look which will attract my target audience as she is clearly within the specified age range of the target audience.

Double Page Spread

The main photo I have used of my main feature on my double page spread portrays the artist, Megan Hulse, lying on her back looking down the camera lens showing she isn't shy and wants the readers feel as though they can connect with her because she isn't looking away from the camera, and also, because she is lying down, indicates she is also comfortable doing photo shoots and interviews. 

The caption of speech that has been said by Megan which is shown throughout the pages I have created, "My Business Here", is a strong statement which is intriguing to the reader as many people within my target audience age group, want people such as music artists to give them encouraging statements that inspire them to figure out what their business is in whatever life endeavours they are involved in and give them confidence to be themselves. 

I have also included three smaller medium close up images behind the text that reads "Megan Hulse" showing Megan in three different poses showing different dimensions of her look.

Evaluation 4

Who would be the audience for your media product?

I have stated my specific target audience in a number previous blogs I have posted including what style model I have chosen and why, as well as my target audience with specific reference to age.

My Audience

My target audience is both male and female, specifically between the ages 16-26 (Young professionals) however I do think people of older ages will be attracted and enjoy my magazine also. As my magazine is a mixed genre music magazine, they wouldn't have to possess a specific taste in one music genre or style because it will include a wide variety of musical genres and artists. Just as how my readers wouldn't need to have a specific interest in one music style, they wouldn't have to have a specific style, in relation to looks e.g clothing, hair, because no matter what your fashion may be, doesn't have to necessarily reflect your taste in music genre. I am someone who falls into my target audience so, when designing my magazine and reader profiles, I could involve personal interests of mine also.

Reader Profiles

• Gender- Female
• Age- 16
• Favourite Artists- Gabrielle Aplin, Pia Mia, The 1975, Chris Brown
• Hobbies- Singing, Piano, Drawing

• Gender- Male
• Age- 22
• Favourite Artists- Bryson Tiller, Birdy, Josh Groban, Hozier
• Hobbies- Reading, Gigs, Fashion

Fashion

Fashion and style choices don't, necessarily, determine music tastes but certain fashion choices do stem from the style of music someone listens to and also what their favourite artists wear.

Evaluation 3

For Evaluation 3, I decided to create a Slideshow.


Click here to view my Slideshow...

Evaluation 2

How does your media product represent a particular social group?

I believe that my magazine, "VINYL", represents social groups similar to those of magazines such as Rolling Stone. Because Rolling Stone was my main style mode, I began the process of making my magazine, with the mindset of basing my photos and layout on the popular, established magazine.

The photo I have inserted on the right is an image used for an issue of Rolling Stone and the image on the left is one I have taken myself that I have gone to use as my front cover image. As you can see, I was inspired by Debbie Harry's (Blondie's) aura that she brought to the photo and I really wanted to recreate that feeling in my photos that I was taking for my cover, contents page and double page spread. The aura of confidence, style and focus within an enticing photo is what I wanted to portray on my cover as I believe it would be very likely to attract my target audience, young professionals.
My photo shows my model, Megan, looking straight down the camera lens which is a development from the Rolling Stone cover however the makeup look and hair style are similar to each other as I wanted to mirror Debbie Harry's style with my model.

The kind of camera angle and shot is a Medium Close Up of my model, like the Debbie Harry photo, and the facial expression's from both Debbie and Megan give a clear indicator that these type of photos couldn't and wouldn't be used on a magazine such as "We Love Pop"or "Top of the Pops. This is because the magazines stated are solely pop magazines and show more of a glaring representation of euphoric pop stars, whereas, a magazine like Rolling Stone focus more on stylised photos that represent that kind of attitude and style the specific artist on the cover has, and like to retain more of an air of establishment surrounding their magazine and the artists included. These aspects of all magazines are used in order to attract their desired target audience perfectly.

Despite the fact both Rolling Stone and other multi genre magazines such as Billboard target the same kind of audience, they are subtly for different social groups. This is due to the difference in physical quality of the similar magazines. For example, Rolling Stone is printed on thick, good quality, glossy paper whereas Billboard or other multi genre magazines are printed on thinner, cheaper magazine paper which effects the price drastically. Rolling Stone is around £5 whereas Billboard is £2.50-£3. Therefore the target audiences differ in relation to how much disposable income the consumer has e.g. teenagers compared to young professionals/adults.

My Complete Cover

Rolling Stone Cover

Evaluation 1

Evaluation 1

Click Here To View My Slideshow...

Double Page Spread: First Draft Analysis

The first step I made was removing the background from my initial photograph I had chosen for my double page spread by using the magic eraser tool and the normal eraser tool to neaten up the edges around my model.


I then moved the photo down so that it was at the bottom of the page. I did this to create more overall space for my text and Q&A sections and also I believe it makes the layout look more professional and structured.

I then added the Main Heading as well as the page                                                                                   number, date and name of the magazine. These are                                                                                 very commonly used conventions seen in famous,                                                                                   well known magazines.




I decided to include a small section of text (Similarly to my contents page) indicating who the photographer was for this issue.


I decided to then include a brief introduction as to who the main feature was and a kind of narrative of how the interview started off before the Q&A began with the main feature. This is commonly seen being used in my style models, "Rolling Stone", double page spreads.



I then began typing up my Q&A, that filled both pages, using red text for the questions and black for the answers to make it easy for the reader to recognise which sections were said by the interviewer and the sections that are answered by the Main Feature Megan Hulse.

Contents Page: First Draft Analysis

I have decided to use this blog to show a selection of features I have decided to use for my contents page and what edits I have made to make a professional looking magazine page. 

Here I have filled in the blank background using the paint bucket tool, in plain white. I have done this so that the writing and images I use on the page stand out and can be read easily. I also decided to use white as my style model, Rolling Stone, also uses white in many examples of their magazine and it works very well. 

In the left hand top corner I have included the magazines slogan and also the name of what page it is in my magazine.

I have added the title of my magazine to the top of my contents page as well as the number of the issue and what year it has been made.


I have included a "Feature' text sign above my listed contents in burgundy red (Which is one of my main colours used throughout my magazine). I decided to use this as "Rolling Stone", my style model, has used it on a number of their issues.


I have listed my contents on the right hand side and used numbers to indicate what page the stories will be featured on. I have used black and grey which are two of the main colours.


In the bottom left hand corner I have included a small written indication as to who has been the photographer for this specific issue.

On the right hand side of my main feature photo on the contents page, I have included a section of text stating who the photo was (Main Feature: Megan Hulse) and what page her double page spread special story would be on.


In the bottom right hand corner I have put a page number, date as well as the title of the magazine "VINYL". I have done this because it is a similar technique my style model uses, "Rolling Stone".


My Finished First Draft: Contents Page

Front Cover: First Draft Analysis

Here is my finished first draft of my front cover for my music magazine VINYL. Unfortunately I wasn't able to blog my progress and how and where I wanted to place the conventions I have included on the cover consistently throughout the process. However, in this blog, I will be giving an overview of why I decided to design my front cover the way I have and exactly why I have chosen specific qualities of my style models to replicate in my magazine.

Within in my first draft of my front cover I have included a Masthead, Slogan, Main Headline, Text, Main feature photo, Barcode, Price, Date and Issue number.

Masthead: For my Masthead I decided to use the font "Bank Gothic" in black, as well as adding a pale blue Outer Glow to help emphasise and highlight the name of my magazine, "VINYL". I wanted to use a simple, easily read font in a plain colour to keep a minimalistic yet stylish themed cover.

Main Headline: I have used the same font for my Main headline as I have for my front cover text. This gives my magazine cover a look of continuity and a professional layout similar to real magazines, including my style model "Rolling Stone".

Slogan: My slogan is located just underneath my Masthead and I have made it central and in a smaller font compared to my Masthead so that it does not take up too much of my page and does not overwhelm the cover either. The font is the same style as the Masthead "Bank Gothic".

Text: I have used the same font for my Main Headline as I have for my extra text I have used on the cover, I have placed it on the left hand side and I have made it central on the left hand side. The colours I have used are black and pale, turquoise blue. The blue I have used matches the blue drop shadow I have used on my Masthead.

Main Feature Photo: My main feature photo is a medium close up of Megan Hulse looking right at the camera (To the audience). I chose to put the photo right in the middle as this is how my style model, "Rolling Stone", regularly style it's front cover, with the main feature photo in the middle of the cover.

Barcode, Price and Issue number: I inserted an image of a barcode and have placed it on the right hand side of my cover and just below the "L" in "VINYL". The issue number, date and price are listed underneath of the barcode and have been centred for neatness.   

Coursework Level: Personal Assessment

Level 3 Example

My Front Cover

I believe this piece of Level three work is most similar to mine. I have mostly based my decision on the similar primary visuals such as colour scheme and text layout. Despite this, I also believe my work is slightly more structured in relation to my working from the style model "Rolling Stone".