Evaluation

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?
I have kept with the standard use of a main image as shown in all my style models. TOTP tended to use group shots in the hope to attract a wider audience but I went for a head shot similar to Smash hits with surrounding teasers fitting around it.
Another equally obvious convention i followed is the use of a limited colour palette which is not only easy on the eye but economically better as less colours means less money. I opted for bright yet soft colours of my cover and contents but used a more striking colour to my double page spread as a magazine should have variety throughout.
A big selling point for most music magazines is either an organized chaos impression or a minimalist approach. I chose to go for the first as through feedback from my target audience, i found they look for a cover packed with variety and eye catching shapes. The TOTP cover I looked at used a range of shapes to contain teasers using circles and squares. I too also used this convention as I thing it makes the page look my dynamic and vibrant.
I think my double page spread in particular, challenges forms and conventions or other products. Which a girly pop singer such as ‘Nina South,’ the norm would be to use soft colours such as pale pink but I chose a stronger coral colour that almost connotes rock. This juxtaposition is effect to the audience as it emphasises her new found confidence (as reflected in the interview.)
Although with a new found gap in the market comes brand new conventions. The overall impression of my contents page is rather different to any contents pages I have seen. I show’s femininity and youth whilst retaining sophistication. The style model I looked, dated a few years ago gave a good insight into how things have changed. I took some timeless conventions such as using a weaving column effect to leave squares and add depth.

How does your media products represent particular social groups?
This product represents teenage girls at the lower end of the range, the cover image shows Chloe at eye level which is nice and direct towards the audience, for instance, if she was looking up it may be seen as provocative which is too sexually for my target age group. Her open mouthed smile is innocent looking. Alot of my audience may require parental approval to buy the magazine and I believe they would approve of the appropriate content.

What kind of media institution might distribute your product and why?
Emap might distribute this as they have a gap in the company since the cancellation of smash hits, I believe this magazine wouldn’t have the same troubles as it contains more variety for the teens. Although smash hit's is strictly a music magazine, I feel the readers wanted more.

Who would be the audience for your media product?
I'm aiming my product and 13-15 year old girls as they are at an age where alot of existing magazines contains too much older content yet they don't want to be patronised. My magazine addresses issue relevant to them in an appropriate light hearted way.

How did you attract/address your audience?
It is mainly down to the cover to attract the audience due to most magazines being in plastic packaging these days. Firstly I used a female model to help my audience identify with her, and find my magazine inviting. The direct stare into the camera and eye level shot. Additionally I have included big names on my cover such as ‘Girl’s Aloud’ and I have included exclusive ‘scoops’ to make the audience feel the need to find out the gossip they wont find anywhere else. The competition feature at the top of the cover also grabs the attention as £8,500 is fairly substantial. My target audience will also appreciate the love interests on my cover from boy bands and male solo artists.

What have you learned about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt through trial and error how to add depth to a page and stop it looking so bland and flat. The drop shadow tool has help with most of this as well as overlapping and outlining images.
Taking full advantage of blogspot, I have also gained a better understanding of HTML as demonstrated in the embedding of inspiring youtube videos and slide shows.
I have also grown to be very competent with studio lighting equipment and professional cameras. I frequently used to the focus lock feature when the shoot was fast moving.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learned in progression from it to the full product?
I have learned how to attract an audience better whilst keeping it professional looking. My preliminary piece looks slightly bland in comparison with the pastel colours.