Evaluation; Question 07

I have been asked the question, "Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?". To answer this question I have produced a video which can be seen below;

Evaluation; Question 06

I have been asked the question, "What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing your product?". To answer this question I have written a report which can be read below;

Before answering this question I felt it was best to investigate how technologies are used throughout the magazine industry, some of my research I found to be quite surprising. A lot of magazine producers use off-the-shelf software such as Adobe Photoshop and Adobe InDesign. This surprised me as I felt as the industry is so big it would have specially designed software for the production of magazines. The fact that the software used by real magazine producers is readily available to the public gave me a starting point in the production of my magazine, I used the following technology in the production of my magazine; Adobe Photoshop, Adobe InDesign, Adobe Illustrator and a Still camera.

I used these technologies for different elements of my magazine production, I had used a camera to go out and take pictures which were to be included in my magazine. I ensured the camera was of a high pixel rate as to maintain quality throughout my images. I used Adobe Photoshop to edit the photographs that I had taken. I chose to use Adobe Illustrator to create text and banners to place on my magazine and used Adobe InDesign to structure and create my magazine. Before starting the production task I decided that I would only use Adobe software packages as to maintain the compatibility between file types.

So, what have I learnt, before starting this project I had only a limited knowledge of Adobe software packages and had only used them on occasion (for previous college assignments). Once I had begun this task it became clear that I would have to learn a lot about the software packages. I did this with help from my tutor and many online tutorials. Now that I have completed the production of my magazine I have learnt the following skills with each technology;

Using Adobe Photoshop I have learnt to;

• Create and use image masks

• To edit, improve and adjust photographs with various tools (burn, crop and export tool ect.)

• To cut a person from a photo and place them onto a new background       

• To adjust colour and saturation to give an image a different look

• To perform adjustments on a specific part of an image without adjusting the entire image

• To generally improve my quality of photographs 

• Create graphic elements (caution tape ect.)

Using Adobe InDesign I have learnt to;

• Create different font stylesTo use drop caps and bend text around objects

• To create columns of text that mimic that of a magazine article

• To produce a magazine using different elements from different software packages

• To create a well structured magazine and to print this magazine in high quality

• To export the magazine to PDF and upload it online

Using Adobe Illustrator I have learnt to;

• Create adds and banners

• Create custom text and titles

• To edit pre-existing graphics

• To create custom graphics

Using a still camera I have learnt to;

• Consider the position of the people in a photograph in relation to what they’ll be used for

• Consider the background of a model to make photo editing easier (white background ect.)

• Use the rule of 3rds when taking a photo to properly draw attention to a photograph

• Use the use of lines to help show the vocal point of an image

• Generalized better photography

After completing the production stage of my project I feel I have a much broader knowledge of photo editing, magazine creation and photography. If I was to do the task again I feel id complete it a lot faster and with a more advanced collection of tools now that I know exactly how those tools can be put to a good use.

Evaluation; Question 04 & 05

I have been asked the questions, "Who would be the audience for your media product?" and "How do you attract/address your audience?". To answer these question I have produced a video which can be seen below;



The representation of the rock genre.

Evaluation; Question 03

I have been asked the question, "What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?". To answer this question I have written a report which can be read below;

After researching various different distribution companies I feel that IPC media would be happy to distribute my magazine. I have many reasons for deciding this, some of which will be covered in this report. The main reason I feel that IPC media would distribute my magazine is that even though they already distribute a music magazine “NME”, the magazine is a generalized music magazine that only touches lightly on each music genre. But this is not a bad thing, in my research I have found that NME has been losing sales year on year. It is speculated that this is because magazines are becoming less popular with the introduction of internet based exhibition methods and music channels but also because the content of NME magazine can be read in almost any other music magazine. NME has become a very general music magazine over recent years and only touches lightly on each genre. I feel that my magazine “NOISE!” is a fresh breathe to the industry, as it reports on more detailed, up-to-date and targeted news. Even though my magazine targets a more niche market, it offers readers news that can’t be found in most music magazines, giving it a unique selling point (USP) and marketing edge.

Another reason that I feel IPC media would distribute my magazine is that that my magazine is mostly male oriented, IPC media focuses on three core audiences, one of those audiences being men. My magazine also offers advertisement space which could be used free of charge by IPC media if they were to distribute the magazine, they already have an advertising branch to their company (IPC Advertising) so this advertisement space would be put to good use. (The fact that IPC have various different business sectors is an example of vertical integration)

One last reason that I feel IPC media would distribute my magazine is that as I have already mentioned, the only music magazine they distribute is NME. And even though this is a general music magazine its popularity has been dropping and does not offer many readers what they’re looking for, detailed specific news on their genre. My magazine is specifically tailored to the rock world and with NOISE! Magazine in its arsenal, IPC media would have access to a whole new market/customer base.

In conclusion I feel that the distribution of NOISE! Magazine via IPC media would be both a benefit to the company and the magazine. The company would gain access to advertisement space and an entire new audience, where as the magazine would benefit by having the support of a pre-established well known and successful distribution company.

Sources

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2009/aug/13/magazine-abcs-nme

http://www.ipcmedia.com/about/

http://www.ipcmedia.com/brands/brands.php

Evaluation; Question 02

I have been asked the question, "How does your media product represent particular social groups". To answer this question I have produced a slide show which can be seen below.

 

Evaluation; Question 01

I have been asked the question, "In what way does your product use, develop or challenge the forms and conventions of real media products?". To answer this question I have produced a slide show which can be seen below.

Evaluation; Music Magazine Assignment

Now that I have created my final music magazine I have been set a various number of evaluation questions. These questions are to test my ability to communicate, and my skills in the use of ICT. To achieve a higher grade I will be using various videos, slide-shows and photographs (as well as simple essays) in my evaluation. Below are a list of the evaluation questions that I plan to answer over the next couple of weeks;

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

2) How does your media product represent particular social groups? 

3) What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

4) Who would be the audience for your media product? 

5) How do you attract/address your audience? 

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

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

Magazine Progress; Completed

It has been around a month since I began documenting my magazine progress online. I have now completed my cover, content page and double spread. I have included the final designs for these pages below;

Magazine Cover - NOISE!

Magazine Content - NOISE!

Magazine Double Spread (1) - NOISE!

Magazine Double Spread (2) - NOISE!

Magazine Progress; Week 04

As outlined in my media diary it has been bought to attention that there is a teacher/student observational element to my final grade. Because of this I have begun to post weekly screen dumps of my work at home so that my tutor may assess this work. These screen dumps can be found below;

NOTE: I was not happy with the final design of my content page so I have created a new one which does not follow the plans I had previously set out for the assignment. Every other page conforms to my flat plan designs.

Magazine Progress; Week 03

As outlined in my media diary it has been bought to attention that there is a teacher/student observational element to my final grade. Because of this I have begun to post weekly screen dumps of my work at home so that my tutor may assess this work. These screen dumps can be found below;