It is evident that there are many different conventions and house styles present in media products that have already been created. Without these, a magazine would not as professional and would therefore create a smaller income.
During the creation of my front cover, I tried to stick to typical conventions that exist in real media products due to the fact that I know they are successful and allow for a magazine to look professional. This is shown through the fact that I have displayed mastheads in conventional areas, feature artists titles and cover lines in typical places, therefore making my magazine conventional yet well finished. Some of the other conventions are as follows:
- Masthead positioned at the top of the page
- Issue date
- Dominating background photograph with the feature artists body position clearly visible
- Cover lines positioned on the side of the page and at the bottom
- Different yet appropriate fonts and sizes
- Page numbers in bottom corners
I analysed magazines such as Billboard to gather inspiration for my cover page. This is because I admire the simplistic yet effective conventions and house styles that are utilised. This magazine also includes genre of music that are similar to that in my music magazine, therefore making these conventions, and perhaps the contents of the magazine itself more appropriate in my project.
It is also clear that conventions and house styles are also used in contents pages of magazines, also for the purpose of professionalism. A well designed contents page will entice the reader to the magazine whilst maintaining a style that is simplistic enough to allow for easy navigation.
During the creation process of my contents page, I decided to challenge the conventions created by Billboard magazine in their contents page, as I believed that they are over-complicated. Instead, I opted for a more simplistic style, with a large image in the background, complete with the contents themselves positioned down the left hand side of the page. This is different to a typical Billboard contents page as those are usually separated into blocks. This therefore proves that I have challenged conventions created by Billboard magazine.
Lastly, it is obvious that DPS's follow key conventions. These are as follows:
- Image dominated (feature artists) complete with a pull quote related to the image in question
- An article that will most likely be related to the image
I believe that I have developed these conventions as I have taken these aspects and arranged the DPS into sections. One of the sections is the artists name complete with a pull quote, another section was the article, and the final section was the image of the artist in question.
Overall
I made these decisions because I wanted final products that did not differentiate too far from the conventions that were created by magazines that I took inspiration from, whilst maintaining an enticing yet professional style. I have ensured that these aspects are consistent throughout the work that I have produced.
The final outcome and effect is a number of products that are unique, however it is evident that key conventions were followed. This has allowed for products that are enticing for potential readers whilst maintaining a good standard of professionalism.
I think the creation of my final products went well as I believe they are of good standard. In my, opinion I have improved since the start of this course and I now feel that I am more than capable of creating such products.
Q2: How does your media product represent social groups?
There are many different social groups present that media products are adapted to follow. Some of these include age, gender and potential occupation.
Throughout my front cover, contents page and DPS, I have attempted to target a late teen/young adult audience that can be male or female. Their potential occupation does not have a role in my products. I have targeted this audience through my house styles and page furniture, in the hope that this will entice the potential reader to my magazine. Therefore, over time, increasing sales and profit figures, which is good from a business perspective. I have chosen to do this because I fit into this audience myself. At the time of this evaluation, I am a 17 year old male, who listens to both Rap music and EDM music, which are the two genres in my magazine.
Most of the photography, lighting, mise-en-scene, location, body language, facial expressions, costume, hair and make-up etc. Is kept to a simplistic style, with most of the photos being taken on a white background, with typical clothes being worn and with no hair or make-up factors being out of the ordinary. This, along with the page furniture and house styles, allows for a serious yet effective style, which was my initial idea for my music magazine.
Q3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
I would use Lynne Segal to publish my product due to the fact that she publishes Billboard magazine, which is one that I have taken inspiration from during the creation of my products. She also publishes The Hollywood reporter, which proves that Lynne Segal is capable of publishing big names in this industry. This would help my magazine as this is obviously a well respected reporter that could perhaps boost the ratings and awareness of my magazine, which is also positive from a business perspective. I fit in with their institution because I have produced a magazine that is of the similar style as one that is currently being produced by this publisher, meaning that it fits in with the publisher’s readership and ideologies. Finally, I would produce my magazine on websites and on print to target two audiences at the same time, as this will result in as many people as possible reading my magazine.
Q4: Who would be the audience for my media product?
My magazine is appealing to people who listen to Rap and EDM music. This includes artists such as G-Eazy, The Weeknd, XYConstant and Sofi De La Torre. The people who interact with these artists may also take inspiration from the clothes that they wear and the products that they buy.
My magazine targets people who are in their late teens or early adulthood, which is for the most part, C2, D and E on the JINCAR scale. Both genders are being targeted equally, as many males like such music as do females. Such people are into similar clothing styles than those of the artists, which can sometimes be found in fashion magazines. There is also no specific class and status measurement as all levels are being equally targeted. Most of these people use a variety of social media, which could be an incentive to create a social media page for the business.
My questionnaire also identified this, with key questions being answered with the same results. This holds significance as it backs up my previous statement regarding the typical audience.
Q5:What did you do to attract/address your audience?
This will be uploaded in another post. This will follow this post.
Audience interviews
Person 1 views- I find these final products very attractive and I feel that they address the audience well. They are suited well to the types of music that are included in the magazine and are therefore of a high standard. To improve however, I would add more colour to the magazine as I feel that it is bland in the current state. This could also make the magazine more appealing, which would result in more sales.
Person 2 views- I personally do not find the characterists of this magazine appealing as I do not feel as if there is enough colour in the magazine and the features could be placed in better areas. I do however admire the fact that a model was used that takes a genuine interest in the music featured, as does the creator of the magazine. This has allowed for a product of higher quality as the creator can relate to the styles that are being seeked.
Person 3 views- I feel as if the contents of this magazine suit the audience and styles well and the asthetics of the magazine are well constructed, which has resulted in a series of high quality products. Despite this, I feel as if more colour could have been used across the products to make them more eye catching and better looking on an overall basis.
