2. In what ways does your media product use, develop or
challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
For a student magazine to look professional it has to include valid
information, for example, Sport fixtures, tips on exams, and from the
feedback from my questionnaire most students feel that news on music is
also important. It should also contain a mid close-up which is not covered by
text. Also I found out that discounts on fashion are important to students as
they are not as financially stable.
A typical contents page should be easy to understand, e.g. to know what is on
what pages and where. It should include relevant pictures and the font size
shouldn’t be too big, as the more information the better. I have included
these as I realized in my first draft that the font size was too big however I
adjusted it so that it is not and then was able to add two new stories and
pieces of information. I used relevant pictures, e.g. for ‘how to to get fit
before the summer term’ I added a picture of a teenage girl going for a run. I
decided that for the offers and exclusive prizes I would change the colour of
the text so it stood out for marketing purposes.
3. How does your media product represent
particular social groups?
I have represented teenage students in my magazine. I have talked about ‘exam tips’, ‘coping with stress and
pressure of grades’, ‘sport fixtures’ and also offers on fashion.
The images I used were of teenagers and I also used an image of someone revising which is relevant to the
students as of exams. I used colloquial language as I think it is important for teenagers as it is more appealing
to them, e.g. ‘Want to get fit now?’
I used a total of 3 pictures on the contents page to give it an equal balance between the text and images. On
the front cover I only used one mid close-up shot as it is important not to overcrowd the page. I also used a
qwerky font, so teenagers can relate to this, as it is not boring.
I think the presentation of my magazine cover is quite stereotypical, as it has the typical shot of a student on
the front cover, however I believe that it is necessary to do this as it is a ‘safe’ option to the students to want
to read.
4. What kind of media institution might
distribute your media product and why?
My school ‘St Edmunds College’ publish a relatively similar magazine to
mine, it has a simple layout, not cluttered, clean font and varied images on
the contents page.
My magazine is very relevant for this age group and has a lot to offer. As I am
in this age group, for me myself I would consider this to be a good mag. It
has study skills, special offers, techniques to cope with stress, the sport
fixtures that are going on as well as results. The data is all valid. Everything
that I would find useful, as well as having a fitness regime for the summer. It
is not a magazine which only talks about work, revision etc… however it talks
about music, fashion deals, prizes and its own ‘how to get fit guide’ and ‘how
to cope with stress’. I think it would be very hard to find someone that found
this magazine had nothing to offer them.
5. Who would be the audience for your
media product?
The audience for my media product would be A-level students (16-18 year
olds).
It is a multi-gender magazine, which is why the colours are relatively neutral
and simple. I also used a boy for the front cover but a girl on the contents
page. I talked about ‘Ed Sheeran’ in my mag, he is a pop star liked by both
genders. Most of the people who did my questionnaire stated that a both
gender mag would be more successful, and they would prefer it as they may
be interested in some of the stories but be too paranoid of others opinions
to buy one.
This was the main colour for my student mag.
6. How did you attract your audience?
I included information about Passenger and Ed Sheeran joining together to perform
their new song, this is a big deal for this age group according to feedback.
The font of the mag is fun, funky yet simple and clean, it would therefore attract a
wide variety of students. I used a little logo in the headline which was a smiley face in
the ‘O’ of ‘EXPRESS YOURSELF’ this allows it to have a trade mark so people remember
it easily.
The stories I have included are what I was given from feedback so it will appeal to their
age group. The majority of feedback also stated that bold, bright and more striking
front covers were not necessary whereas simple yet effective were, I have adapted to
this by using calm cool colours.
I asked a lot of rhetorical questions as it makes the reader engage with the magazine
more freely. I included offers and an exclusive prize to win VIP tickets to see Ed and
Passenger live.
7. What have you learnt about technologies from
the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt a great deal about technology during my media project to create a
student magazine.
Before doing this project I had never used Photoshop before, it was interesting and
useful to understand about it as now I can use it to a good extent. I now know how
to upload an image I have taken onto Photoshop using the magic wand to select it
and then getting rid of any background space that was not needed. However at first
I found it quite tricky to use as there are so many steps, as you have to consider the
‘layers’ you are adjusting. I was also new to blogger so that was interesting to use
and I could now confidently create a whole new blog without any issues. I found it
useful to copy and paste into publisher and then save my work as a ‘JPEG file’ and
then upload onto my blog as a picture rather then doing it on my blogger or
Photoshop.
