Magazine evaluation Beckie Carter

Masthead

Main imageLead article

Left third rule

Plain, black, nothing fancy. Quite elegant looking. Which suits my house style throughout the magazine.

Gets right to the point of what the magazine holds. Not overcrowded. Goes with my minimalistic theme.

Connects with my lead article. The pose is in keeping with the tone of my article by showing an attitude

So stands out when on the shelf, all the best bits on this side.

Blue backgroundGoes with my theme to attract male readers. I used a deep block blue as block colours give a modern look.

My magazine challenges a real media magazine with my minimalistic theme for my front cover as I haven't included a skyline or a pullout quote…

Masthead and page heading

Features

Same font used from front cover to keep the housestyle.

Here these small images create a picture of what mood surrounds the magazine. It shows a young model on a relaxed, fun fashion shoot. None of the pretentiousness that follows the high up fashion magazines for an older audience. As Acapella is for the younger generation I wanted to show it as more fun, while still selling the clothes. Links with what's on Page 30.

I did the numbers escalating in size as the numbers increased, to just create a different look from normal straight forward contents pages.

Lead image

Drop cap and standfirst

Columns.. Two columns, flush rightTaken to match the tone of the article. The ‘I

don’t care’ attitude. I used a large image, covering one whole page, to make him look as if he’s dominating the page, just like he is in the music industry.

All on the right, as the main image is all one page. And I find the right hand page is easier to read, especially if you fold the magazine in half.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine represents the new age of young people who have the “I don’t care” attitude. A view where they want to let the everyone know that they don’t follow rules, or a general laid back view on the world. I’ve done this through my artist Jamie Hardy, the images and the overall look of my magazine.My artist Jamie Hardy is portrayed having an edgy attitude. In his pictures I got him to look like the new coming phrase of young people, “and what?”, like the answering back effect, which relates to the values of my social group. In his interview he answers blunt and straight to the point, no trying to come across as a nice guy or anything like that. He’s like the many rappers of today's music, he’s arrogant and that’s his style, that’s what his music is about. I portrayed him like this because that’s what many young people like today in their artists. Men don’t want to read about a “nice guy” they want to read about their favourite artist, who gets to the point and tells them about the ladies, the famous world that they dream about. It works with girls as well because they like a bad boy. He’s arrogant, but not in love with himself.

Who would be the audience for you media product?

These pictures come from a survey I took to see what the readers of a magazine like mine are interested in. From these I can determine that its definitely the younger generation, even for my category, it seems to relate a lot more to teenagers. Teenagers who are very up to date in fashion, but also socially as well, suggesting they follow trends and care about their appearance. Which is why I wanted to combine my magazine with fashion.

They like their music fresh and modern, loud and also are very fond of their festivals and gigs. Many said they wished to attend more live music, and that music was a big part of their lives.

Also it shows what these young stars have achieved so early in life, and as my audience is only just getting out into the world (young students) they will aspire to be like them and read about their success.

What kind of media institution would distribute your media product?

I think Bauer Media would distribute my magazine because they also sell magazines, like Heat, Closer and More.. Magazines that like gossip with their music. Bauer also has radio stations such as Kiss, which is very modern music, just like my magazine includes.

They might want to publish my magazine because my magazine promotes the now and up to date music of 2011. But will also provide the gossip that everyone is attracted to when it comes to celebrities. Whereas in Heat, I just offers “Cheryl's big secret” Acapella could offer the same story yet feature directly with her music, promoting both.

My magazine could feature under the Men's Entertainment, as its got a manly appearance and features artists males would like, yet it could also appeal to Women's Entertainment as it features the gossip and also very attractive men.

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

I've learnt that technology is quickly evolving in this modern age, so the distribution of my magazine would have to be a lot different to a few years ago.

I can offer my magazine for an online download. With the days of internet, receiving everything so quickly, many people perhaps don’t want to walk down to the shop and purchase a genuine copy, many like theirs there and then. Also some online downloads are cheaper, which is what many people desire in this time of recession and money saving. Especially as many of my readers will be students, money saving in very important. Also can offer an Online subscription, meaning they can order it to their door, but doing so online.

-Also in just doing this coursework I learnt a lot about new technologies. All the coursework being done on a computer, I found displaying all out work on a blog was easier because I could upload it as soon as I was done with less fear of loosing it and it looked a lot more presentable. As well as using Photoshop, with which id have very little experience with, I found very difficult at first (especially the layers) but soon became better at and enjoyed. It was perfect for designing a magazine because of all the effect you could use to make certain headlines stand out.

- I also learnt how to use brushes on Photoshop through YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAeSMvSNihw) which also links in with participatory cultures.

Here shows some techniques I learnt through using Photoshop, I can adjust colours, lighting, contrast etc.. I also learnt how to do things like make the paint splat on the right hand picture.

Feedback Here is the feedback I got after I created a

survey and posted it to my target audience on Facebook, including my magzine.

Here shows that my audience have seen and recognised that I tried to get the colour to stand out to them

Here someone reinforced the fact that I needed to feature some more people which I wanted to do if I had some more time.

My minimalistic theme makes things less overcrowded and easier to see.

Here shows I successfully managed to get across the genre of my music to my audience

Exactly what I wanted the reader to interpretate.

Something I can change