1. Evaluation

2. In what ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and conventions of
real media products?
When making my front cover, contents page and double page spread I used conventions and forms that are specific to
magazines as well as the rock genera. I did this as they are techniques that have evidence that they work well I trying to
appeal to a certain target market. As well it presenting my magazine in a way that the consumer would be familiar with. In
order to do this I looked at existing rock magazines that are popular with their intended audience and that are also doing
well in the current market. Their were three main magazines that I looked at through out the process of making my
magazine. These were Kerrang!, NME and Q.
On all three of the main magazines I have
After the collection of primary research I researched a plus banner was used on some
decided to name my magazine Elegant of their magazine issues. This is a advantage
Crimes. Which when I came to designing my to the reader as it gives them a insight into
masthead I decided not to look at Q and NME the other articles featured in the magazine.
due to the difference in length. Instead I look The bold plus! Catches the readers eye and
at Kerrang! Who use a strip of colour under draws their attention to it. It also gives the
the masthead to create a strong contrast audience a impression that they are getting
which is bold and striking making the a lot for their money as the magazine is jam
masthead eye-catching. I then decided that I packed with information on different bands.
would take a similar approach though I
decided on a traditional cinema-style
billboard lettering with a distressed effect. I
believe that this makes my masthead eye-
catching and appealing to my target market.
As well as following genera conventions.

3. In my final magazine cover I incorporated many genera conventions and professional techniques that enable my magazine
to compete in the existing market as well as being familiar techniques that the audience will be accustomed to. I have also
adapted some of these conventions and added my own style to the magazine to add character and individuality whilst also
hopefully developing the professional techniques to make them more efficient.
I have included a plug to
capture the readers
attention. As well as give
the magazine a edge over
its competitors’ as it shows
I have included a banner cross the top of my
magazine which is also included on Kerrang
the audience that elegant NME and Q magazines. The banners I looked at
crimes is the only magazine in my research showed extra information
with the information in. either about the magazine or about artists. i
then decided I would put ‘new acts released
I have also learnt for Reading and Leeds’ which is purposefully
from my research that suppose to intrigue the reader as it doesn’t say
what acts have been released. Working as a
magazines don’t always
reason for them to buy the magazine.
include a image with the
text they sometimes just
put information on a
cover to inform them
about other articles. The
reason images aren't
included is to stop the
page from being to
cluttered whilst still
informing the
reader about other
articles in the magazine.

4. This is a collection of some of the most influential magazines that I used to create my own
magazine cover. All of the 3 different magazines are of a similar genera to my magazine and
so use the same genera conventions that I would need to use on my magazine. As fashion
magazines or pop magazines would have different conventions and so would not be very
helpful when trying to make a magazine that appeals to the audience of a rock magazine.
I used these magazines to decide on many aspects of my magazine when it came to layout,
images colour scheme and text. One of the major aspects of my cover was the main image.
Most of the magazines I looked at had a centrally positioned image or a image slightly to
the right hand side as the size of the image alone is enough to draw the readers attention
to it. After consideration I decided that my image would look better like some of the
magazines I looked at positioned slightly to the right. I decided this due to the singers
stance and the angle he is facing.
I also realised from my research that the tagline is important in catching the readers
attention. I then decided to add more features to my tag line such as the white background
with the scribble effect to make it standout more as well as the use of a different font to
make it more interesting.
Over all my research helped me use genera conventions and professional techniques to
enhance my cover and make it more professional and appealing to its target market.

5. Who would be the audience for
media product?
During my research I brought 3 different rock/metal magazines Kerrang! NME and Q. The genera of the
magazines was easy to identify due to the over all look of the magazine and the content of the magazine. For
example NME used black yellow orange and red as there colour scheme which is typical of a rock magazine.
The black suggests to the audience it’s a heavier and darker music though the vibrant reds and yellows show
the energy and fun which is in rock music compared which metal music.
My research showed me how to style a magazine in order for it to portray a certain type of music. Kerrang
inspired me most as it is closer to the genera of music that I have chosen. I looked at how they used there
photos to there advantage (position colours layout ect) there colour scheme (to attract attention to the most
important information ect) and layout (the order which the audience looks at things on the page). I then
adapted what I had taken from other magazines and applied It to my own magazine. This enables my magazine
to fit in with current magazine trends and to appeal to my target market.
Rock magazines are aimed at a niche market with the audience being of both genders who listen to rock music
and are interested in the lives of the artists. The use of informal language and slang shows that teenagers are
the main audience of my rock magazine.

6. How does your media product
represent particular social groups?
From looking at my research most rock/indie/metal magazines tend to be aimed at older teens. This is because
during your teens you are gaining your own individuality and developing your style, whether through the type
of music you listen to or the clothes you wear ect. This means they are an ideal target market to niche music
genera's as they have the interest and desire to learn about their favourite artists and to follow fashion trends
of that specific music genera.
Firstly my magazine is aimed to attract both genders as rock music generally appeals to both males and
females. Though usually the more indie/pop a rock band is the more female fans It has and the more metal the
band is the more male fans it has. Therefore I have decided to feature a slightly heavier band that will appeal
more to boys. This is because the market I am aiming my magazine at is at a age where they become attracted
to the opposite sex so by having the lead singer featured on the cover the magazine will also appeal to girls.
Meaning that the magazine should appeal to both sexes.
The colour scheme I have used also represents the social group of older teen ‘rockers’. This is because it shows
the type of colours they prefer and wear and gives it their style. Furthermore the language and register also
represents older teens as its written in the same way that they speak and uses slang that is current to the
trends that they follow.

7. How did you attract/address your
audience?
The colour scheme has one of the biggest visual impacts on customers, it’s the first thing the audience will notice. Therefore it
needs to represent the genera and attract its audience whilst still being eye-catching. Through looking at my research I noticed
that rock magazine backgrounds are usually dark with one bright colour that represents the featured artist. This one bright colour
makes the page eye-catching to the customer and also highlights important information. There are usually then 2/3 other duller
colours that compliment the key colour. Following this technique I used red as my main colour with grey/blue as my
complimentary colours and a deep grey/black background. I also used the colour red as it has connotations of danger and passion
which fit well with the ideals/image of rock music.
The main image also attracts the audience as it takes up a large portion of the front cover and is positioned in the centre of the
page therefore you immediately see it. The main image also addresses the audience in some respects. Usually the artists are
looking directly at the camera so on the cover it looks like they are looking at the audience.
Another way my media product addresses its audience is by using informal language and slang. The use of slang and
informal language helps the audience relate to the magazine as it is written how they would speak on a daily basis. My
magazine also uses slang words that specifically relate to rock ie mosh pit and the audience will relate to it.

8. What type of media institutions might
distribute your media product and why?
Conde nest are a very successful magazine publisher
who strive to create the very best magazines available.
This is proved by their many awards including The
National Magazine Awards, Condé Nast has won more
National Magazine Awards over the past 10 years than
all of its competitors combined.
Conde nest has a variety of magazine genera's though
there could be a potential for my magazine as conde
nest have not yet got a music magazine. This means
there could be potential for them to infiltrate the
market and create more income.
However Conde Nast specialises in providing high end
sophisticated magazines for high income earners aged
about 25+ . Because of this it could prove difficult to
incorporate my magazine as my target market is totally
different and conde nast’s elegant style is would not
suite the rock and roll genera.
Although there might be a gap in the market for a more
stylish rock magazine that really captures ‘rock star’
style of excess quality and disregard for the rules. This
could be a good change from the conventional rock
magazines that my research says ‘are all the same’ and
where little varies in each issue.

9. A good potential distributor of my magazine could be music mags which distributes a vast variety
of different genera's of music magazines. Meaning they have a experience marketing and
distributing magazines similar to mine so might me more willing to distribute my magazine. Also
as they have more experience in similar magazines they will already have a good idea where
would be the best places to stock my magazine to maximise profits.
Although because they
already have a wide
variety of music magazines
they might already have a
magazine that covers the
rock genera. However I
believe that my magazine
does have potential and
could gain a portion of
market share if developed
further and marketed.

10. What have you learnt about technologies from
the process of constructing this product?
I have used a wide variety of software and technologies during the creation of my magazine. Firstly the magazine its
self was created on macromedias fireworks. A program I have had some experience with before. By using fireworks I
was able to add text and images to my magazine, as well as shapes lines ect. I was also able to change the texture
and colour of the shapes/ lines which I thought was very useful so that the page clearly had a rough rock look and to
add personality.
I also used Photoshop to enhance my images. I did this by adjusting the hue and saturation of the images. This
helped the colours of my images standout more and be more eye-catching to the audience. It also made the
photos more clear by adjusting the contrast and brightness.

11. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel
you have learnt in the progression from it to the full
product?
The main thing that I learnt from my preliminary task and applied to my music magazine
was to use my research to my full advantage. Looking back at my preliminary work it was
rough and lacked professional techniques. Whereas during the creation of my music
magazine I have used my research more. I also looked at a wider array of music
magazines in order to find the layouts, text, images and puffs that are the most effective.
I believe that by doing this my magazine has a more professional edge and that most of
the elements work to help entice the reader to buy my magazine.
I also learnt from my preliminary task that the images on a magazine have a huge effect
on the readers perception of the magazine. This motivated me to try and get some take
some professional and interesting images. Therefore I went to gigs of the featured artists
in order to take photos of them playing during a concert which are commonly used in
music magazines.
Overall I believe that by doing my preliminary task I gained a better knowledge and
understanding of how to create a successful magazine and what things need to be
considered during its construction. I also believe that by doing my preliminary task it
enabled me to have a better understanding of how to adapt magazine conventions
depending on the magazines target audience.