Question 2

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

With my magazine, I have chosen the target audience of teenagers and young adults. I have used conventions on my magazine to represent the target audience. I have done this with the cover of the magazine by giving it headlines with artists that could appeal to them. For example, I have used people like Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and Paramore to capture the target audience.

With the conventions used, I have given my magazine a colour scheme of red, white and black. These are all bright and noticeable colours that could attract teenagers and young adults. 

The main image I have chosen is suitable for the target audience because it shows direct address. The model has been picked to represent teenagers by clothing, make-up and the posing. The clothing on the model is something a teenager could relate to. She is also young which could attract the target audience as it is relatable. The make-up is darkened to suit the music theme of rock and pop, which are usually the type of music teenagers and young adults would go for. 

With the contents page and the double page spread, the theme has been kept consistent. The colours relate back to the main cover image. The style of the double page spread is meant to relate to the audience by capturing a teenage mind in the industry. The contents page is used to give the reader an insight of what is included in the magazine which could relate to the reader and interest the teenage and young adult audience. 

This is also used by the image. The image is of the person looking towards the contents suggesting that is readable by the age group and that even someone that age likes it. The red running down the page is edgy and used to attract the target audience by this.

Question 1

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




I have ensured that my media product has included as many conventions from a real media product as I have listed. Due to previous research of the magazine industry, I have given my magazine the conventions of magazines that are frequent with every issue. However, I have also addressed conventions that may only be familiar in singular issues or differentiate from other magazine issues. For example, in one of my presentations, I have shown the conventions of the music magazine 'Q'. Q had included many typical music magazine conventions but also has it's perks of showing originality.

 

For my magazine, I wanted to incorporate originality by using Q as a style model. From the magazines I have analysed, my magazine was going to be based with certain aspects that have made the magazine stand out more than others. To do this, I had included the idea of giving the magazine a music feel. Usually, most music magazines are only told by the artist. If a well known artist is used as the cover image, the reader will assume it is a music magazine. For my magazine, I had decided to show this in a different way. Instead of having a well known artist, I have used an artist that is non-existent and upcoming as stated in the double page spread. I have shown that it is a music magazine by making the actual conventions include an understanding of how it is a music magazine. The title 'CRUSHED' has been shown with an image of a guitar that has been put in the title.

For the main image on the front cover I have based it on a fashion magazine but have decided to use the pose for my magazine for the rock/ pop vibe I want to give off from the model.

From this I have taken the pose and decided to recreate it. In this image the model is looking directly into the camera which creates an effect of them looking right at the reader and wanting them to buy it. This is relatable to every other magazine because each one has its own way of attracting its audience. 

For the colour scheme I have used the red, black and white to show the rock genre. Because if this, I have based the costume on the colour scheme to help the model stand out from the page. I have used the black shirt and the red lipstick to shadow the red on the background.

For my contents page, I wanted to carry on the theme by keeping the colour scheme and genre of rock/ pop. I did not have an image to recreate because this was an image taken originally. For the image I used a blue dress that would separate the model from the colour scheme. The model is not facing the camera this time because it is not on the cover. However, her eyes are directed towards the contents, suggesting that it is worth reading.

I used the image in my contents page with red running down. This contrasts the colour scheme and for the main image to stand out. It also suggests the genre of rock/ pop by making it look edgy.














With my double page spread I also used an original image and edited it to fit the genre and theme of the page. I did this by taking other shots of the dress used and cropping them and blending them to create the effect of the dress floating across the page.

 

I first composed my double page spread with a grey theme. I did this to create a different background for the model.

However I them realised that it wasn't constant with my colour scheme of black, red and white. I then changed the colour scheme to show that it is apart of the magazine.

Audience research

For my audience research, I stuck to my main target audience of being teens and mainly female. I asked 20 people a few questions on my magazine to get feedback and suggestions for improvements. As my magazine is mainly for female, I asked 15 girls and 5 boys to answer the questions so I can get answers from both but extra answers from my target audience.

The main questions I asked were;
1. What target audience do you think the magazine has?
2. What genre do you think the magazine is and how?
3.What improvements could be made?

For the first question I was given a mixed response. 25% of the 20 had said that the magazine would attract a young adult target audience. However, 50% had said that it attract a teenage audience. The twenty five percent included 5 people, two of which where boys. The other 25% said that they just though it was a younger audience.


For the second question, the response was all the same which was that the genre of the magazine was music. I was told how they could tell and 10% said that it was because of the guitar that is included within the mathead. The other 90% said that it was the artists used for the subheadings as they themselves attract a younger audience and are related to music.

The third question was mainly minor things that I have since improved on. The main one was the text size on the double page spread, in which it was too big. Since then I have made the text smaller and added the rest of the text onto the page as it could fit then.

double page spread improvements

Double Page spread Improvements

For my double page spread, I have decided to add some improvements with it. Due to feedback on not keeping the colour scheme throughout, I have changed the colours so that they are apart of the magazine issue and the theme is constant throughout. I have also included a banner across the top that advertises the Crushed! interview more so that it is directed towards my magazine. The image above is the improved double page spread.

Contents page improvements

With my contents page, I had decided to add improvements to it. I have added a small bar at the bottom which shows online options and how to get to the page. I have also included an editors note that will tell the reader about the issue and what to expect. The image above is the contents page that I have improved.