This is my preliminary (prem) tasks compared to my final product. As you can see these two magazines have been produced for different reasons. The one on the left is for a school magazine and the other is aimed to fit in the music magazine genre. Therefore some of the techniques used are different in order for it to be suitable for its aim.
Looking back at my prem I didn't really understand or looked at using different technology and editing softwares in order to produce my product, therefore I don't think I produced my best possible version. Also I only produced one draft and so I did look and analysis where about I could have improved.
Firstly I should have spent more time in researching what are the typical conventions of a school magazine. When it came to my music magazine I spent a long time researching lots of different genres of music magazines in order for me to gain ideas and inspirations and to essentially see what type of magazine I wanted to produce. I felt like a rushed things on my prem compared to my music mag. With my music mag I spent a lot longer trying to prefect the outcome and making sure it was the best it could possibly be. For my prem I did try to but now looking back I wasn't equipped with enough information to do so, to be able to see where I needed to change things.
Also when looking back I felt that asking for feedback from you peers and doing focus groups was vital in achieving a good replica of a music magazine. There opinions meant a lot, in the sense that it helped me to figure what needed to change in order to satisfy the customer. Without the common feedback I don't think my magazine that I produced would have been very good as their views guided me into making sure that my magazine was following the typical conventions but also what they liked and made my magazine stand out to the others. However in my prem I didn't really see seeking other opinions as a priority as I just wanted to produce a final product. I feel that if I had asked I would have ended up with a better result that would have engaged my readers.
When it came to editing both of the products, the main website I used was pixlr. I felt that when it came to my music magazine I had a lot more experience in the website and therefore knew how to use it which saved time in the production stage so that I had more time to basically worry about other problems. However I used much more complex and editing skills in my music mag as in the school magazine the front cover as you can see only has basic text and two pictures to overlay the main. But in my music mag I had explored and experimented with using different lighting effects by making it brighter and softer. Also I have thought about different techniques like a colour scheme in my final cover where it is white and purple. In my school cover I didn't think about how I was going to engage my target audience in the sense of colour schemes, the model and cover lines. Looking back I realised how I didn't take all the details into account and just produced a magazine cover and contents.
When it came to choosing my cover lines they are very different in both versions of the magazines. In the school magazine I had to base it around the school and what was important and interesting to mention on the front cover. Also the sell lines had to have a more positive outlook on them like "winner of eco school" as it had to set the school in a good way and support it. It had to essentially promote the school and make students want to join there. However for the music magazine I could present a variety of positive and negative cover lines as I my magazines purpose wasn't to promote my company it was to share opinions and findings on the music industry so I stated things like "top 10 albums" that had nothing to do with my company yet readers would still want to buy the magazine.
Overall I felt that by producing my preliminary task it help set me up for the real project. I made me gain experience and confidence in using different types of websites and technologies and helped me to spend time on other problems rather than figuring out how to use the softwares. Also it helped me to realise how you can't just go straight into the production section of the magazine, you must first take time to research other professional works and how they have used or challenged typical conventions. This then lead into discovering and planning what I actually wanted to do with the magazine. I now understand the vigorous process that magazine industries must under take. I think the most important thing in the whole production is to make sure that you are getting readers feedback and advice as these people are buying your magazine and are who you want to impress.
In the production of my magazine the technology that I decided to use were macs, macbook, laptop, iPhone and different editing websites such as pixlr and fotor.
Macs/Macbook - When editing my magazine I mostly used the macs to do so. These were located at school and I could gain access whenever I needed to. As I have a macbook at home I was very familiar with the software and how to work the mac which was an advantage as I could quickly figure what to do and get on with the production. I prefer using apple products like macs and MacBooks as they are fast an there are lots of different softwares already on the computer that I used to edit such as preview that helped me quickly crop out my image from the background it was taken in. However at school your work can only be stored onto one mac as the data storage can not be connected to all the macs. This became a disadvantage as if someone else is using that mac at school then you can't do any work for that lesson. Also if the macs do not automatically have Microsoft (like the school macs) I found it hard to find an alternative software to edit my double page spread on. Lastly another disadvantage is that when transferring your work from laptops to macs you must remember to go to the process of exporting your work into word as if you don't then you can't use that work on a normal laptop as it isn't compatible.
iPhone - When it came to taking practice pictures I used my iPhone to take test shots and to see what kind mise en scene I liked to use. I also used it to record my target audience feedback. It is quick and easy to upload my work to either a laptop or mac from my phone. Also I could take a video and photo and I would always have access to it as it is my phone so I wouldn't have to wait or ask permission to use unlike the macs and school and the canon camera. I was familiar to my iPhone and therefore I knew how to work the technology so I could quickly scan through photos taken and delete unnecessary photos. However when uploading the photos from my iPhone it is only compatible with one device so it is hard to make lots of copies or as my laptop would be at home if I did need to upload it to a computer at school I wouldn't be able to without erasing everything from the device.
Blogger - The curriculum asks students to use blogger to upload their research and production as a way of showcasing their work. Blogger allows you to quickly look through different blogpost and also see when they were published and the labels down the side indicate what the each blogposts are about. However a disadvantage that I found that it was hard to upload photos and videos as sometimes take a long time to do. Also blogger relays on the internet so if it isn't working then you can't post which sometimes happened. Overall I didn't like using blogger as I just found it difficult to use and work and it took a lot of my time to figure out how to function things on the website.
Pixlr Express - When it came to editing my magazine I used pixlr express most of the time. We got recommended to use this website by school as all the editing tools needed where on there and it was very easy to access and figure out how to work it and use them edit or pictures. I thought that pixlr express did have a variety of tools and even though I only used a few, the ones I did use were helpful and everything was there what I needed. However a major problem I did find when using Pixlr Express is that once you had done/edited something with your picture you weren't able to undo it. This was very annoying as say if you added in text that you wanted to change or move around you couldn't so you would have to either keep it there or start all over again. This took up time to redo all the editing, especially if you had nearly finished or you wouldn't get the final result that you wanted. I think that the website should change this, to allow you to undo any fixtures set onto your picture as editing is all about experimenting and it vital that your able to see what works and not and that you are allowed to change it when needed to without starting from scratch.
PicMonkey - This is why for my double page spread I decided to change website from a recommendation from my peer who also had the same problem with pixlr express. I changed to PicMonkey which was another editing website and also very quick and easy to use. With PicMonkey I was able to change the size of the canvas so I made it larger in size to make it look like a double page spread and so that you could see the difference in size. I was also available to all of the same tools that Pixlr Express offered but another advantage was that I was able to undo any wrong editing on my spread so I could keep on experimenting and going back. Overall I think I was more pleased with PicMonkey's website as it was so much easier to control. But the only problem I did experience with it was that sometimes it would freeze for a long time and I was unable to press on anything but then it would eventually return back.
Internet - During this course the internet was a crucially software that was needed. I was able to access google which I also used a lot of when researching different magazines finding their different issues. I also used it when it came to blogger and uploading my work, and the two editing websites as well. If it wasn't for the internet I wouldn't have been able to do most of the researching and the production side to this course. I didn't have any problems with the internet or search engines as I always was able to go on it.
Prezi - I really found using prezi very useful in presenting my work and information. I liked how there was a variety of designs that I could chose from and it was very easy to function. Also you could keep saving your work as you went along without having to save it and it closed down (like PicMonkey and Pixlr Express). However when it came to uploading my work to blogger it wasn't at all easy to understand. I had to google how to do it as it was a complex process. But once you knew how to upload it, it became quick to do
SlideShare - Another way I uploaded my information on my music magazine is by using slideshare. I preferred to use this website as you were able to make a powerpoint separately, then upload it to slideshare and then upload to blogger. It does sound like a long process, however it is quick to do. However, because I used my macbook to do the powerpoint I had to export it into word in order for it to be compatible with slideshare website which can become again confusing if you don't know how to do it but it is very clear after a few times. Besides that there was no other problems with slideshare.
Firstly to address and attract my audience I have tried to involve my reader in the sense that I asked my model when taking the photos to look directly into the reader and give a lot of eye contact. This would hopefully attract my audience into purchasing as makes them almost fascinated by my artist, how they feel entice to know more about her. They would want to find out more. Furthermore due to my target audience being between 15 - 25 I have choose my artist age to appear between that age, around 18 years. This is so that none of my target audience feels like they can't connect to the artist due to age reasons and so that both sides of ages can appeal to them.
Furthermore I have also used the price of my magazine to attract my audience as I didn't want to exclude any of my audience that might be in the CD2E category and might not be able to afford my magazine, therefore I have set the price below average price at £2.50 as I felt like it was hopefully a realistic price where I could still keep selling my magazine each month but also not pricey where it would be the extent of limiting my readers into buying my magazine.
Next I wanted to showcase all areas of the social group that I was representing by not just talking about music but also what separates them from others. That is why I decided to incorporate a “look book” into particular artists like Lily Allen and Lana Del Rey that my social media group would listen to. In these look books I would include things like fashion, insight into their most recognisable songs and up to date information about them. This would attract my audience further as if they didn't like the main feature in that particular issue then there are also smaller features that would attract them and be further reasons into purchasing the magazine. Again it would hopefully limit the risk in excluding any readers.
In my contents page I then re-emphasised this feature by placing pictures of the artist to make them recognisable straight away to the reader. When researching other magazines such as Q and NME they had placed the pages numbers onto the pictures which I particularly liked and wanted to incorporate that effect into mine. I though it would attract the reader as it seemed very clear, simple and easy to read and quickly scan through. Also because other professional musk magazine had done it and worked for them, then it should hopefully work for my magazine.
Another sell line I have included follows from my main feature, being Lelia Ray and how “she is back”. This intrigues the audience as it would be that she has been of the music scene for a while and all of he sudden "she is back" and Relic (my magazine) is the first to have an “exclusive interview”, another sell line I have placed on my front cover. I have made Lelia Ray's name bigger then the rest of the text (besides my master head), as I wanted my audience to know that it is the main feature and what the issue is based on. I placed and exclamation mark after "she is back" to show the enthusiasm and excitement the reader should feel when reading the news. It makes it seem like it is very important and that they feel special to read the first interview after her going solo. They are the first. I have done this as it would attract them even more as they want to read on and see what she is going to do next. The audience feels important and privileged they will be the first know. Its "exclusive".
The colour scheme I have used in my magazine was inspired my a previous billboard issue where it was grey, purple and white. However in my magazine it is just white and purple. I feel like it is vital that you have colour scheme set throughout your magazine as it helps to set you apart from other magazines in the shop. Also if your magazine lacks a colour scheme then it can overwhelm your reader, especially if you have lots of different colours that clash together. I have chosen purple and white as I felt that it contained the right balance of youth and fun to help represent my social group, but I also wanted to convey that sense of maturity in my magazine as well. I also placed a light pink leather jacket onto my model also which I felt linked my colour scheme together well. Therefore it resulted in me deciding to use pink in my contents page and double page spread. So my colour shame continued throughout the issue. But the pink also helped to relate back to the pop genre as that is the colour that is typically used so again the colour helps to emphasis on the youth and fun aspect of my magazine. I think that the colour scheme does attract my audience as they aren't harsh colours to look at, they are quite warm and soft which reflects my audience were they are quite layer back and not out there.
However I still think that my magazine does stand out even if the colours don't as I have made the text quite big in font size and have also presented them in capital letters to help almost make up for the subtle colours. This is also something that magazines like billboard have done whereas Q have used bolder colours such as reds in their logo which is quite symbolic and noticeable to their magazine which makes them recognisable to their readers. Yet my magazine would be noticed by something different being the overlay of colours for my title and it being larger than the rest of the text.
Lastly I have used advertisement by selling free "concert tickets" to see my artist in that issue. This addresses and attracts the audience as it stops the separation of the social groups as if people are classed into the CD2E groups then they might not be able to afford to go to these concerts and gigs that their favourite audience are performing at. It attracts them as they would want to be in chance of winning these tickets therefore they will buy the magazine to do so. I further broadens my target audience and more people will gain an interest.
When reviewing my product I think that the best media institution to use is Bauer. I decided to use this publisher over companies IPC and ....... as I felt like Bauer manages lots of different types of magazine and a variety of music magazines such as Q and Kerrang!. I think that my that Bauer does actually publish a magazine like mine. Being in the pop genre, so there is almost a 'gap' where my magazine can fill.
Bauer is a German company that has been around since 1953, publishing over 300 magazines along with supporting TV, radio and websites. It publishes now over 80 different brands and sells (internationally) around 700,000 copies each month.
Even though in my research I have mainly focused on Billboard magazine I decided not to chose the company that published the magazine, being "Prometheus Global Media" as firstly it is an American based company and felt like I should chose a European company to represent my magazine. This is because most other European music magazines like Q and NME have all got European companies as well. Bauer would be represent my magazine positively as it still enters into the American market meaning that I am not limiting myself to readers and I can still achieve access to a wider audience base.
Another company I am interested in pursuing is Time INC with their secondary company IPC Media. The company was also founded in the 1950s and their headquarters are set in London. IPC Media publishes around 60 brands. It publishes NME magazine (which in previous blog posts) researched about. I chose not to use this company as I when looking back at the music brands they published they only have NME. Even though this could be seen as a benefit because there would be less competition and NME isn't the same genre so they would show good focus on my magazine. However it is also a disadvantage as they show a lack of experience working in the music industry and therefore they might not know how to improve the sales of my magazine and focus on the other entertainment magazines. As the lifestyle magazines are the majority of IPC Media brand, most if their readers wont fit my target audience and therefore I don't think I would chose IPC Media.
As I think that Bauer Media would be the best suited institution and the one I would chose to represent my magazine I think that it should be published to the main branded shops. These being supermarkets such as Tesco's, Sainsbury's, Asda and many more. I will also sell into to recognisable places like WHSmiths and Co-Op. Corner shops will also be able to sell my magazine. With this many places selling my magazine, hopefully I will be able to reach all of my target audience and they will have plenty of opportunity to purchase my music magazine.
A social group is essentially a group of people that have surrounded each other due to similar interests or characteristics, they may also share the same goals and aims for the future and are even in the same social ranking at school, work of just in everyday society.
When doing making my magazine I wanted to represent the social group my product was aimed at in a positive way as I felt that they could be offended or stereotyped if I hadn't done. My genre is pop but aimed towards the more mature side of it and therefore I needed to portray that idea.
My social group is aimed at students who are aged between 15 - 25 and mainly female (but some of my issues could appeal to males as well). They enjoy the new music the magazine introduces to them and always up for going to gigs, concerts and festivals. To show this I have used marketing techniques, when in my double page spread I have placed an ad to win free Leliah Ray tickets. Also I think that music that my social group would listen to is something they would put on when getting ready to go out as it is can be upbeat and 'cool'. However what I do like about my genre that it is can be very versatile in the sense that they would also listen to it when walking to school or doing work.
My magazine does represent a social group that want to be out so that means that I have excluded certain social groups like younger children, as firstly they wouldn't be able to go out to the concerts that I would be advertising and also they would just be too young. However I have also excluded the older generation as they might not have time, they could have too many commitments and couldn't just spontaneously decide that they wanted to go out that night to a gig if invited. Thats why I think I have chosen to aim my target audience at 15 -25 as the majority won't have that many responsibilities Also they would mostly have jobs and be able to afford to go to places. But if they don't earn their own money I think still my magazine would conform to people mainly in ABC1 and even C2. But I have also placed solutions to people who might not be able to afford it by placing in 'free concert tickets' so that my magazine could offer support to the social group CD2E as well. Furthermore I have made my magazine majoritively cheaper then magazines currently on the market as the average price for a music magazine is between £3 - £4 which I think is generally very high as it does exclude people who don't earn as much money. Thats why I have priced mine below average £2.50. This is much cheaper but it still quite low.
In comparison to others magazine, I think that I have addressed my social group as I have used a female artist on my front cover and so females are also commonly used on Billboard (which was the magazine I used as guidance). The female artist is portrayed as mature yet still got her youth and looks like she is having fun, which I think defiantly represent my social group. This is a technique I have taken off from Billlboard front cover as their artist give strong eye contact to the reader which I think shows a close connection with the artist to the reader and therefore wanted to incorporate that into my magazine. Also the colours I have used are white and purple which again shows (with the purple) this fun and energetic colour but at the same times, when matched with the white, shows this sophistication about the magazine. Again this is an idea that I conveyed from Billboard. Lastly I have used the phrase "she is back" implying this enthuastuatic sense of hard work ethic and dedication, that my artist is committed in fighting for her career and dream as a singer. This is something that I want to pre mote to my social group and hope reflect and inspire them.
