5. “In what way does
your media product
use, develop or
challenge forms and
conventions of real
media products?”

6. I personally believe that my magazine conforms most of the typical codes and conventions of a music magazine, this is
clear through a top strip, I was meant to add a bottom strip however I felt that I wanted only a top strip as I thought it
looked more attractive, the most important barcode and price as well as the date and issue, there is also a very large and
eye catching central image on both the cover and contents which covers most of the A4 area I was given, most of the
models in each image all maintained eye contact except from the contents page, I did this to ensure that the reader or
audience felt welcomed and on a personal level with the model in the image, I also made sure that I included a third left
layout as this is an essential convention of a music magazine, if I had not included this it would have not been easily
identified as a music magazine.
By placing a central image on the cover, contents and double page spread it allowed
readers or audiences to easily identify the magazine being of music genre. The main genres
I was aiming my magazine to feature were Hip Hop, UK Grime and R&B etc. I included well
known artist names from all these genres to ensure that all audience could easily identify
the magazine as being a mixture of all these types of music.
I have tried challenging the typical format of a magazine by using mass variety of different fonts on my cover, some
audiences may say that they could find it confusing however I have used it in such a way that it adds to the attractiveness
and style that I was going for, I have used about 10 different fonts on my cover and contents to give it a more funky look.

7. “How does your media
product represent
particular social groups?
.....and also
attract/address your
audience?”

8. In the beginning I intended my magazine on having a
similar layout as a well known R&B and Hip Hop
magazine called “Vibe”. Looking at a recent audience
profile for Vibe magazine it stated that there target
audience for the magazine was predominantly “Young,
Urban followers of the Hip Hop culture”.
To support this reference I have listed the website
below for further research and proof.
Reference -
http://coolspotters.com/magazines/vibe-
magazine
For my central imaged I used a fellow classmate to
model as a new and upcoming artist called “Preeya
Kalidas” who previously played “Amira Shah” on
Eastenders, I found that it would be interesting and
As I intended on using Vibe as an example of what I wanted my conventional if I used her as she is a actress aspiring
finished magazine to look similar to. When handing out my singer/artist trying to make it big in the music
questionnaire I handed out my questionnaires to more female industry, as my magazine was based around the
than male audiences as I found that looking and observing many concept of loads of different sub genres of music
of the Vibe front covers that most of the artists that were featured bonded and mixed into one cost efficient magazine
on the cover were more female than male so I just assumed it was called “Original” and was targeted to mainly
common sense that I should hand it out to more female than male aspirers I found that it was only common sense and
audiences, however only a couple more as I wanted my audience meaningful that I used her as an example as many
to be wide spread and not biased or one sided. I only gave my audiences after looking at the cover could
questionnaires out to those audiences who were aged between 12 automatically relate to the image and aspire to be
to 25+ as I wanted to identify and see what my target audience like her. I believe that my audience would be ably to
wanted and then act upon it to create a magazine that was connect and relate to this , and I hoped they would
accurate from my results from the questionnaire as well as the key understand the new and fresh approach I was
objective which was being appealing to the audience. attempting to incorporate on my front cover.

9. “How does your media
product represent
particular social
groups? And also
attract/address your
audience?”

10. The genre I had chosen for my magazine was Urban which was made up of several
other sub genre’s such as Hip Hop, R&B, Reggae, UK Grime etc.
For my central image I have used a young and youthful model to play the part of a
upcoming, current Urban artist on the market at the moment, I have used a young
and youthful model to make the audience feel welcomed and comfortable and feel
like they could some how relate to the model on a personal level, also as Urban is a
fresh and new mixture of many other sub genres it was only logical that the models I
used were also as young and fresh similar to the genre.
Whilst researching and looking at existing and current magazines on the market
at the moment from a similar genre, I looked closely at the types and groups of
people that were featured on the cover and on majority of the magazines only one
artist or model featured on each cover, for example a magazine that
demonstrated this was Vibe magazine [Below] who only predominantly feature
one person and one person only on their covers, looking through the many
thousands of covers not one had featured more than one model on the cover, I
then decided to continue this trend of only featuring one model as well to ensure
By doing this it would ensure that if
my magazine was on a shelf or that I kept with the style and layout of a well known and realistic magazine to
stand, it would instantly catch the ensure mines looked similar and realistic looking too.
eye of audiences both young and audiences would possible feel attracted
even old along with my chosen to the bright and unusual colour and
target audience, this would result to elder audiences may be intrigued or
a wider target audience and would aware about the unusual colour scheme
come as an advantage as it would and then may purchase the magazine to
increase the popularity and read more, an elder audience may also
reputation. I also believe that the become attracted to it as the magazine
colour scheme I have included talks about very mature topics such as
would also catch the eye of “Celebrity relationships”, and an elder
audiences all ages as it is both audience could some what relate to
bright and unusual, younger this.

11. [Continued]
Also after taking all the aspects that would have been expected and considered when
creating a realistic magazine, I personally believe that in general my magazine mainly
represents the youthfulness of our generation which is basically something new, fresh,
funky and different. Looking back at my audience demographics I had decided to aim my
magazine mainly towards 3 main social groups, these consisted of Aspirers, Constrained
and Creators. Looking back at my magazine I feel that maybe I have not appealed so
much to Constrained audiences as I put quiet a high price on my magazine which was
£2.95, as this group of people tend to be poor and sometimes struggling I feel that I
haven't appealed to them on a whole as £2.95 is quiet an expensive price to pay for a
normal magazine that in this case isn't even well known or branded.
However on the other hand looking at the remainder two social groups, I feel that
“Aspirers” would remain and continue to read my magazine as the magazine features
new upcoming artists who are people to look up to and as that what aspirers are all
about I think it would come as and advantage, and as for creators it would appeal to
them as they are basically viral distributers in the form of readers, as the magazine has
its own website, creators would find this interesting and appreciate the website which
they could then further distribute and spread the news about, this would come as an
advantage as creators would distribute and spread the word of the magazine in a cost
efficient manner.
If the popularity and reputation of the magazine increased as well as the funding for the
magazine increased slightly then the possibility of advertising clothes, shoes and latest
gadgets like headphones or designer clothing for example would increase massively.

12. The masthead is large, instantly visible and identifiable, it is almost the 2nd
[Front Cover] largest specimen on the page, this is to ensure that the audience can instantly
Like many magazines the central image is identify and tell the difference to the masthead to the rest of the text on the
the main thing that catches the readers cover.
eyes, this is simply because it sets a sort of The text going around the image of
atmosphere for the reader through many the model also adds to the feel of
elements within the central image such as the magazine, it adds a sort of
the quality of the image, mise – en – scene, “sexy” feel to the cover, I included
uses of colour, feelings and expressions on this as the sub genre R&B which is
the models faces, this enables to reader to included in Urban is mainly focused
instantly identify the genre of the magazine. around sex symbols and portraying
women and men is a sexual
The word “Preeya” is in bold and is the 2nd
manner, I thought I would add this
largest font on the cover, this is to ensure
to ensure that it had a bit of each
that audiences such as Aspirers easily see
genre contained within it.
this and become attracted and persuaded
by the word, they read this and feel an The model retains eye contact
instant urge to go on ahead and purchase with the audience making them
the magazine and read on to find out more feel welcomed and on a personal
about the gossip it briefly talks about on level with the model.
the cover. It also adds to the attractiveness
of the magazine as it would be the 2nd thing
that would catch the audiences eye and
would then trigger them into buying the
magazine and reading more.
I priced my magazine at £2.95 as most of the people that completed my questionnaire
were willing to pay anything between £2.50 and £4.00 (Left) and as I was aiming my
magazine towards a constrained social class I then decided to place it at the bottom
end of the price range to ensure all my audience were able to have access to the
magazine, I also did this to ensure that if the magazine was to actually be distributed
then the company should make a small profit out of it too this is another reason why I
increased the price a little.

13. The third left layout is large, bold and eye catching, the third left on my cover takes up The right side of my magazine
most of the A4 space I was given, I did this to ensure that all of my audience were able to contains lists the names of
see this and it would be the maybe the first or second thing that caught the audiences numerous well known urban
eye, on the third left I have included my own twist to the lyric of a song written by a well artists that are a similar age to
known urban group called the Pussycat my target audience who are on
Dolls, I have done this as audiences will see the market at the moment, this
this and automatically identify what it is makes my magazine, overall
about and find interest in it and then want content along with features all
to maybe purchase the magazine. the more reliable.
I have added a “Tip – on” or “Freebie” I decided to include the
consisting of a free iTunes download, magazines very own online
audiences would instantly become website where audience could
attracted to this as on iTunes a reader keep track of the latest gossip
would have to pay maybe a pound at the and movement in the urban
least to purchase this magazine, therefore music industry, I also included
by putting this freebie on audiences would this as one of my target social
instantly find it useful and “worth it”, this group the creators would see this
would trigger the audience into then and instantly become aware and
purchasing the magazine. appealed by it, as they tend to
I have included a puff that is over market the magazine across a
exaggerative and in most cases placed on mass audience it is a cheap and
the cover to catch the audiences eyes, by cost efficient for the institutions,
reading this puff it would trigger them into my looking at the audience the
thinking what is said is true and actually Creators in my target group will
just as good as it sounds, these are one of I have used a simple rhetorical questions then target my magazine across a
the very few conventions that institutions to show the audience that they have an mass audience using maybe
use to psychologically adjust audiences option, I did it to make the audience feel YouTube or social networking
minds into purchasing the magazine. like they are in control and have power. sites such as Facebook or Twitter,
For my cover I decided to include the date, issue and barcode as it is one of the this would come as an advantage
vital codes and conventions of a magazine, I also decided to include it as it as the news of my magazine
gives the cover a more realistic and believable look. would be advertised for free.

14. One mistake that I had made in my magazine was the fact that on the contents page the
[Contents model does not retain eye contact, this mistake would have made the difference between
Page] whether a reader purchased the magazine or not as my the model maintaining eye contact it
give the reader a weird sense of comfort and connectivity as they feel that they are on a sort
of personal level with the model as the image looks more inviting and welcoming, by my
model not maintaining eye contact it could put certain readers off buying the magazine and
could also make some audience feel uncomfortable and out of place when there reading the
magazine. My masthead is large and bold, it is
positions in an unusual and attractive way,
I did this to make sure it is the second thing
that catches the readers eye, it is
something new and not something you
would typically see in any other magazine.
Looking back at the feedback I had
The position of the word is what makes it
received form my questionnaire I tried so attractive and appealing.
including all the things that most people I included quotes with extra large
chose, the most popular features that quotations marks, I did this so
people wanted were exclusive interviews, readers can easily see the quote and
events or gigs and latest artist gossip, find some sort of interest and
these are the three main things I included attractive towards it triggering them
to ensure that all my audiences were to some how become attracted and
happy. lured into purchasing the magazine,
I have put both the features and regulars this would appeal to a lot of Aspirers
in two separate columns to avoid my as they would see this and would
audience becoming confused, I also did want to then purchase the magazine
this to appeal to the needs of my and find out more about what the
audience as it helps them as it makes it particular artist is up to, they would
easier for them to access what type of want to purchase it to read the article
news and gossip they want easily. and some how find comfort and
I have included large and clear page numbers that are in a simple and bold fonts, I interest out of it as they are the social
included page number to help my audience to navigate around my magazine easily, group that tend to want to find
this would make the audience feel slightly less confused and almost feel like they belonging in a social group above
are in control of what they can read. themselves.

15. I put the word “exclusive” I have used a brick wall as my main background image, I did this as I believe it represents the
in bold and italics, I then youthfulness and originality (similarly to the name of the magazine) of the magazine, as brick
put a white glow around walls in art tend to get associated with the word Urban, I only felt that it was appropriate to use
it to make it eye catching this, I also felt it gave the magazine a more rough and edgy feel, it also added to the
easily caught by the attractiveness of the contents on a whole as well. I also used this as a background as it represents
audiences eye, the reason “the streets” and instead of using something more modern and sophisticated I have instead
why I chose to put a glow manipulated that and used something more simple yet meaningful and effective, it symbolises all
around it was because the young audiences of today's society.
it is the main thing that most audiences By incorporating the “urban
look at first thing, it is something the language” on my contents page
audience desire and look forward to along with my cover and double page
reading, as exclusive in media means spread, by doing this I have made the
something new and something no body audience feel more comfortable
has read or even seen before this whilst reading it as they can relate to
triggers audience into thinking that they it and also understand it better
are one of the very few that after whereas if it was in formal English
reading the article will know more about some audience could find great
the specific subject or artist, by reading difficulty understanding what the text
the exclusive article audience somehow is trying to say. I have done this to
feel more important than other people make sure my magazine is relatable
as they believe they are the only person to the relatively young target
that knows something that very few audience.
others know, it makes the audience feel I have use individual thin square like
special and wanted, it puts them in such boxes to separate each article to
a position that they just cant resist the avoid the audiences becoming
temptation and result to finally confused about what’s what, I put a
purchasing the magazine. Institutions white outline around it to make it
use these so called technique to stand out and easily seen.
psychologically make audiences feel as
though they are important and actually I have made use of personal pronouns such as “your” within my
worth something. I included a competition to make the audience feel as though contents page and front cover , to further interact with my target
they can gain something out of purchasing the magazine. audience or reader on a more comfortable and personal level.

16. [Double Page Spread]
I included key maybe influential quotes from the interview and placed them on the opposite page on
top of the large central image, I did this as audiences will instantly see this and maybe find attraction
to this and by reading what is quoted they might find that it is something interesting and then may
find that they then want to purchase the magazine to find out more, the large quotes on the opposite
page also add to the style I was aiming my magazine for as well as adding to the attractiveness of the
double page, it also compliments the central image as well, I made sure that I did not overlap the
central image too much as I did not want to take the audiences eye and focus away from my main
“”
image. I made sure that my
central image was large
and took up most of my
I made sure that I laid my main article in
right side page to ensure
columns, however in the beginning I started
that it caught my
by placing the individual questions and
audiences eyes, as it is the
answers in carious different sizes, however
central image it is meant
my teacher than told me that I was unable
to be the dominant
to do this as she said it was not a code and
feature of the page so I
convention of a music magazine so if I did do
ensured I followed the
this I would loose marks as it does not meet
convention correctly my
the requirements that were asked for for the
making the image extra
magazine, another problem that it would
large, when I started I
cause was that if it was actually published
than the audiences would find great decided to put a couple of smaller images underneath however once I placed
difficulty finding their way around which them where I wanted I found that it made the page look slightly to
order the magazine was meant to be in, it overcrowded and crammed, I found that it took away the focus from the
would cause a great deal of confusion for main image so I then decided to remove them as I felt that it could put some
many audiences and this may then put some of my audiences of buying the magazine, after removing the images I found
audiences of buying the magazine as well as that the page looked better however I wanted something to fill in the empty
taking the attraction and appeal away from space so I decided to place a star that was also featured on my front cover to
the audience and the look of the double show a link between both the cover and double page spread showing the
page spread. audience that both pages belong to the same magazine.

17. Looking back at my final media product now I can clearly see the continuous “house colour” that runs through the magazine where it begins with the colour
purple on the cover and then the contents being both purple and blue which then leads to the double page spread which is blue, the contents page is basically
a mixture of both the font cover and double page spread colour scheme, I did this as I personally felt that it worked well. I did this simply as it makes all the
pages seem as though they are meant to go together as well as allowing the reader to identify what he/she is reading all belongs to the same magazine.
My magazine generally uses a lot of bright colours purely because the target audience were young and youthful and “bright colours” are stereotypically know
to attract a younger audience, i have used some dark colours like black for example however this is purely because I wanted specific words to stand out more
compared to others. Looking at my colour scheme overall it is easy to identify that my magazine is not aimed at an older audience. Another way that you can
tell that it may not be aimed at an elder audience is the use of “new” urban words and language used throughout the magazine. The use of colours not only
makes the magazine stand out but also makes it look unusual and in some cases maybe slightly unrealistic.
The simple yet effective structure of the cover, contents and double page spread adds to the clarity of my product which in this case was actually requested
and chosen by my chosen target audience [who were aged between 12 and 25] within the feedback of my questionnaires, and by meeting my audiences needs
it would have hopefully made my magazine slightly more attractive and appealing.
The simple yet effective structure and the continual use of house colours and clarity has added to the realism and professionalism of my magazine. The image I
have used for my magazine to generally represent the genre Urban are images that are in some cases appealing, original and different, all the images in my
magazine are different in one way or another for example my cover features an image of a model who has a reflection , the contents an image of a model who
has been airbrushed and the double page spread a model who is in black and white, all the images I have used some what go against some of the typical codes
and conventions however this just adds to the whole idea of it being original and different , the images also represent youth and fun, something funky and
fresh and I believe all my images represent this one way or another.

18. “What kind of
media institution
might distribute
your media product
and why?”

19. The media institution that would distribute my music magazine would
be the InterMedia and IPC Media (International Publishing Company),
however the main institution that would distribute my magazine would
have to be IPC Media. This is purely based around the fact that this well
known institution distribute and produce over 60 different iconic media
brands which include nearly 26 million adult readers. I personally
believe that they would distribute my magazine simply because my
magazine is aimed towards a target audience aged anywhere between
12 and 25 however I want any audience to find attraction to my magazine regardless what age. I also
found that InterMedia was an ideal institution to distribute my magazine as I researched the different
types of magazines they actually distributed and I had found that they distributed a wide range of different
well known music magazines that are on the market at the moment, I had discovered that they distributed
the magazines Vibe which is a well known urban magazine on the market at the moment, I found that it
would be reasonable for me to want this institution to distribute my magazine as the chosen genre for my
magazine was also Urban so I found that my magazine fitted well with the genres of magazine that the
institution distributed. The type of retail shop I would like my magazine to be sold at would be book stores
such as Waterstones and WHSmith as these are well known stores which distribute a
wide range of different magazines including a variety of music magazines as well as
the fact that thousands of audiences will visit stores everyday and will see the
magazine and then will hopefully purchase it.
[Reference] :
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/InterMedia_Partners
http://www.intermediaadvisors.com/

20. “What have you learnt
about the technologies
from the process of
constructing this
product?”

21. Once again I was required to use both Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign when creating the
components I needed for my music magazine and similarly to before I also once again used the
Nikon D19 to take my images for the magazine.
During the time I was slowly building my magazine I had further developed a better
understanding and knowledge since the production of the school magazine on how to use both
InDesign and Photshop better, and more efficiently, unlike the time when I first began using
InDesign when I began putting my school magazine together this time round when putting my
music magazine together I felt more confident using the programme by my self and I personally
felt that I came across fewer problems and issues, I felt I had made lesser mistakes than when I
first began and as for Photoshop I felt more confident using the programme
independently and I had found that this time round I had experimented
more with tools I might not have even looked at twice before, as a result
of experimenting I discovered new tools and applications that I could use to make my images slightly more
attracting and appealing, I felt that as I used the more tools the outcome of my images were greater.
As a result I believe that my knowledge, understanding and ability on how to use these programmes
independently and with confidence has strengthened, this is purely based around the fact that I was
prepared to experiment and take a risk and as a result them risks were rewarding.
As I was constantly looking at existing magazines I learnt that the codes and conventions played a significant
part in the magazine as the codes and conventions are what gives the magazine its identity, it is what helps
audiences become attracted to them and it also helps during the planning process and basically helping a
magazine become as successful and profitable as it possibly can.
For my magazine I had to do quiet a bit of editing in regards to my images which consisted of my central
images for my cover, contents and double page spread, my back ground image for my contents page and also
the small image that was on the left hand side of the title of my article on the double page spread. Whilst
editing these images I specifically learnt the importance of layering a certain image if a effect needs to be
added ( from personal experiences), looking at both my preliminary task and my final product I can honestly
say that the power of technology has a massive impact during the productions steps of the final product.

22. “Looking back at you
preliminary task, what
do you feel you have
learnt in the progression
from it to the full
production ”

23. hool Magazine.Music Magazine.School Magazine.Music Magazine.School Magazine.Music Magazine.School Magazine.Music Magazine.School Ma
chool Magazine.Music Magazine.School Magazine.Music Magazine.School Magazine.Music Magazine.School Magazine.Music Magazine.School M

24. [Looking back at both my school and music magazine I can
identify to significant differences between the two.]
It is very clear that there has been improvements from when I began creating my school magazine to the end of finishing my
music magazine, I personally believe that it wasn't simply down to my improved knowledge on the typical codes and
conventions of magazine but my improved knowledge, understanding and familiarisation on using professional software's
that are used by real media institutions.
By correcting and analysing the mistakes I had made on my preliminary task, it helped me better my current knowledge and
I also learnt about what a significant and crucial role the typical codes and conventions of a magazine played when
attracting a specific target audience and also whilst portraying the objective of the magazine clearly to the target audience.
After completing my research for my preliminary task, I observed and noticed that school magazines tend to bend to rules
and usually didn't really abide by the typical codes and conventions of a magazine this was simply down to the mere fact
that school magazines tend to be published and distributed within the school and within the school only except parents,
carers or guardians, school magazines tend to have to commercial pressure, as in the actual world of magazines everything
tends to have a specific image or subject that is then usually manufactured and finally presented as reality to the audience
or readers.
The improvement and development in technology also plays a BIG part in helping magazine institutions create a “fake”
image and lifestyle and portray it as something realistic, the power of technology place a massive part in this process of
selling a very unrealistic image and then manipulating it to create a so called realistic and “plastic” image that is then
ultimately sold to the audience under false pretences.
This can sometimes lead to certain audiences becoming some what “mislead”, the image that magazines sometimes sell can
project a certain way of thinking and believing into some specific audience for example Aspirers who tend to be people that
want to be in the social class above them, there are certain elements of the magazine that can be incredibly influential in the
way they can manipulate the choices and actions audiences take when in certain situations. Another key thing is that
sometimes style choices can also affect audiences behaviour towards society for example, a social class that are the most
vulnerable to this are followers.