Process of construction on Photoshop

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product?

Looking back at your preliminary task (the college magazine task), what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

How did you attract/address your audience?

Who would be the audience for your media product?

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

Contents page analysis

vogue contents, a photo by PixieLottXXX on Flickr.

Contents page analysis

vibe_contents, a photo by PixieLottXXX on Flickr.

Original photos of my products (unedited)

Contents page

Double page spread

Front cover

The music magazine industry

The main magazine publishers in the British industry are Bauer – publishing Grazia,, Heat and Q and IPC publishing NME, Country Life, and Nuts. When certain companies dominate the majority of an industry, like Bauer, IPC and BBC magazines do in the magazine industry with owning over 60% it is called an oligopoly, Bauer owns the most (25%) of the sale revenue in England. Secondly, IPC (20%) and thirdly BBC (7.8%). Due to the development of new technology it is now accessible to reach online versions of magazines via the internet which is known as digital convergence.

Locations, props and models

Location: I decided that I wanted my photo shoots to located in a studio environment, which included a white sheet in the background to connote professionalism and is also conventional in the industry. A blank canvas used as the background keeps the focus on the model. Props: The props I used in my photograph were a red cloak, which fitted in with my colour scheme and is seen as conventional when relating to poses and clothes used in the industry. Also I used a guitar which is seen as in the corner of the band picture featured on my contents page, which is a central instrument used in the music industry, therefore portrays my magazine as musical and represents the band in the photograph as being rock/indie genre based. Models: The style and gender of the models used in my products are diverse, this represents the diversity of British music genres in my magazine, portrays my magazine does not follow the same genre throughout the magazine.

My media kit

Key stats Male: 50% Female: 50% Median age: 17.5 Student: 92% ABC1/2: 88% Mobiles: My target audience are influentials, and are likely to convince their family members and peers into choosing mobile phones. Music: My target audience are big music fans, and are always eager to know the latest updates in the industry, therefore will always be ahead of their peers. Films: My target audience enjoy the latest blockbusters, and visit the cinema on a regular basis.

Alternate version of my front cover (Rejected version)

First draft of my double page spread article

The new girl on the block known for her: singing, song writing, kooky fashion sense and her infamous party antics, Jessica Wynter. We discuss how it all started, inspirations and what really happened on tour INT: Wassup Jess? And thanks for dealing with us at the fine hour *yawn* J: I’m afraid it’s all part of the job, early mornings with 101 questions; it’s a good job I like you guys. INT: oh we feel privileged, our readers have been begging in their thousands to feature you in our next issue, now here we are. An undying question that we need to know is how did you get started in the industry? J: well I was brought up in a council estate where there’s not much apart to do apart from cause nuisance, where people didn’t get very far in life, and dreams and aspirations were non-existent. As you know I’m not the usual teen and I chose not to conform to the community. I knew what I wanted better. My music teacher at school spotted I had talent and from there used her connections to get me in touch with an independent record label called ‘LDN Productions’. From there I was broadcasted on City Shark radio. Yeah I’d never heard of it either… but I gave it a try and a scout from sbtv magically happened to be listening and I was called to meet at their HQ. After liaising I recorded one of my own tracks which they distributed for me online. And that was it really I then became a ‘viral phenomenon’ I think I’ve been described as… INT: Wow, as easy as that! J: I think it was just pure luck, in the industry it’s generally about who you know, not how good or talented you are. All I have to say is thank you Miss B! And thank god for YouTube. INT: We heard you have refused to record any song which you haven’t participated in writing, is this true? J: As a matter of fact this is true, unless the right song come about which I agree resembles me. My dream when I was younger was to become a song writer, I didn’t think I had the ‘look’ to perform or be in front of a camera. I just always hoped I’d hear others singing my lyrics which some star would make millions out of. But now I’m a star and I want to represent myself as honestly as possible, and the only way I think I can do so is by writing my own lyrics. INT: Ideally, who would you like to collaborate with? J: I would love to collab with Jessie J because I know she has a profound persona which is attention grabbing and just outright crazy. And the other starlet I would have said is Rihanna, but guess whose already done that *laughs* INT: Yes we know, and we love that track! How did you find performing with Rihanna at her 777 tour? J: words can’t describe, honestly… we co-wrote the track around a month before and we were both like that is the one! We called Guetta up and he mixed us up a banging track. Bingo. The feeling was amazing performing in sell out arenas with every single person singing back to you, it was like an out of body experience.

Audience Research

Audience research from carlyhacon

double page spread analysis

dpsla1, a photo by PixieLottXXX on Flickr.

double page spread analysis

dps2, a photo by PixieLottXXX on Flickr.

Font mood board for my music magazine

Paper drafts of my music magazine

Initial ideas for my music magazine

The title for my magazine is underground because of the British heritage of  the magazine; the content focusing on British culture and British music, and underground refers to London underground. The magazine is for both genders and underground doesn't fit to either gender, it is kind of neutral. The demographics for my for the target audience are females and males around the age of 15-25, abc1/c2 . The psychographics for the target audience are music enthusiasts,trendsetters,mainstreamers, attracting middle-high class. The price will be £2.99 as it is a high quality magazine and is sold on a monthly basis. It will include interviews by all favourite british artist, gig information and discount, fashion, competitions and the latest news about all genres of british music. It will be a glossy magazine that is to show it is profressional, therefore, the more professional it looks the more the audience will trust it. Informative and fun, updating the audience and letting them have fun at the same time. The USP of this music magazine is it solely focuses on British musicians and bands, which are already famous,up and coming stars and local tatlent.

Mood board

Music magazine cover analysis

Music magazine cover analysis

Music magazine cover analysis

My finshed college magazine contents page

My original college magazine photograph

my finished college magazine cover

Audience research for my college magazine

In order to create a college magazine for my preliminary task I undertook some simple audience research which formed questionnaire. I constructed ten simple questions which the answers of would elaborate on people's interests and hobbies. The ideology behind this was if I found out what they were interested in, I would know what would make them purchase my college magazines. I tried to vary the gender of the people I practised my questionnaire on, but unfortuanately most of the males were reluctant to cooperate. Fortunately I did achieve atleast a few of each genders results.

The type of questions i asked gave me an insight into people's behaviour and lifestyle. The first question I asked was 'what is the maximum price you would pay for a magzine?' The answers varied a lot, ranging from absolutely nothing to £3.00. The most common price used was £1.00, which i find appropriate.

My following questions related to interests and hobbies and the majority of the answer came out with fashion and gossip, stereotypically these were from the female questionees. The male answers turned out to be more sport related, but the genders united with a common interest of music and college updates.

Every person I interviewed all wanted featured quizzes in a college magazine, and also lifestyle tips to stay healthy even with all the college stress. The popular reasons to buy magazines in general were to read if they were bored, keep updated on celebrity gossip, the latest fashion trends, and sporting news.

analysis of a college magazine cover

CUE, a photo by PixieLottXXX on Flickr.

click the image to read my flickr analysis