Evaluation of My Preliminary Task

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

The front cover of my media magazine features a masthead, which is large and bold. I used the colours red and white to address to the audience that my magazine is unisex. The colour white connotes unity, purity and calmness, whereas red creates a contrast by signifying blood, passion and danger. I also used the same font style and colours for the masthead in my contents page. Another main convention that my front cover features are cover lines. The cover lines on the front cover, feature main stories of my magazine to try and entice the reader into buying the magazine. I chose to use the colours yellow and blue to appeal to both genders. Blue connotes freshness, summer and daylight, whereas yellow connotes happiness. I have shown continuity by using the same colours in my contents page. The central image of my media magazine is of a female student in Autumn-which is the month in which we made the magazine. The autumn colours connote a warmness hopefully appealing to the audience. The young student connotes a happiness with a smile, making audiences feel welcome. The colour of the clothing also reinforces the warmth of the front cover. The house style shows continuity with the contents page as the same font style and colour scheme has been used, as well as a black banner.

How does your media product represent different social groups?

I have chosen to use a unisex colour palette in order to appeal to both male and female genders. My choice of colour palette, includes: red, white, blue and yellow. I have also featured images of both male and females in order to appeal to both genders. I have chosen topics that will appeal to both a male and female interest. Fashion will be able to appeal to both genders, perhaps stereotypically more towards the female interest; however, sports and music can also aim towards both interests. The overall representation of my magazine is aimed towards a student social group; therefore I have included student-related topics.

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

Ludlow College is the main form of institution for my magazine as the magazine is aimed at the students of Ludlow College, which makes the distribution of the magazine easier. The cost of the magazine is 75p and could be purchased in the library or refectory as they are popular student areas.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The audience for my student magazine will be the students of Ludlow College; between the ages of around 16-19. The magazine will also be aimed at both a male and female gender audience; making sure that all students are targeted.

How did you attract/ address your audience?

I have used bold and vibrant colours to attract the audience's eye. I have used blue, white and yellow for the coverlines to contrast the background and red/white for the masthead to make it stand out. I have used a large central image of a student in Autumn-which is relevant to the current season, in the woods as Ludlow College is surrounded by woods and countryside. The front cover is featured with a variety of coverline to entice the audience into buying the magazine. The contents page features more images of students and new and exciting stories.

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

I have learnt a variety of new skills from the process of creating my own student magazine. By researching a different variety of student magazines, I have learnt a great deal about them and how they can successfully appeal to a young audience. I have also gained new skills on the conventions of magazines; learning about coverlines, mastheads, puffs and taglines etc. We were also introduced to a new software called 'In Design'. By using this software, I have learnt how to create a student magazine which shows continuity and a form of professionalism. I found this very effective in constructing my magazine as I had to learn how to place images, construct a consistent house style and use colour to draw focus to my magazine.

My Student Magazine Front Cover & Contents Page

Finished Front Cover

Finished Contents Page 

Mock Up of Front Cover and Contents Page

Mock Up of My Front Cover

Mock Up of Contents Page

Answers to my Focus Group Questions

What kind of content would you want to find in a student magazine? What would appeal to you? 

The focus group came up with numerous ideas, including: fashion articles, charts for film and music, sports and sport fixtures and life advice. 

What type of colour scheme would you want in a student magazine and why?                              (unisex palette or not?)

The focus group decided on the colours being unisex, so that the magazine would appeal to everybody as well as focusing on equality and unity. The colour palette could consist of reds, blacks, white, yellows and purple as they are bold colours and can contrast one another. 

Are there any particular images you would expect or want to find in a student magazine? 

The focus group said they wanted students to be featured on the front cover, mainly being the central/main image. They suggested that the student should either be doing an activity, whether it's a hobby or college related or showing signs of them learning. (perhaps having the college in the background). 

Would you want the magazine to show continuity or if not, why?

 The group preferred the magazine to show continuity as it adds professionalism and slight formality which adds sophistication. The magazine would look more fluent and marketable if it showed continuity. 

How much would you be willing to pay for the student magazine and why? 

All of the people in the focus group agreed that the magazine should be no more than 75p due to their being struggles with finance and not all students would want to spend their money on just a magazine.

Out of these selected mastheads which would you choose and why? 

(The Student Factor or Stand Up)

The focus group all preferred Stand Up as it represents unity and belief. They said it was bold and simple which was more effective. Also they said that it shows that students should stand up for what they want and who they are. 

Do you think a direct mode of address would be suitable or not and explain why?

The focus group all agreed that there should be a direct mode of address as it makes the audience feel connected with what they are reading. 

Questions for my Focus Group

What kind of content would you want to find in a student magazine? What would appeal to you? 

What type of colour scheme would you want in a student magazine and why?                              (unisex palette or not?)

Are there any particular images you would expect or want to find in a student magazine? 

Would you want the magazine to show continuity or if not, why?

How much would you be willing to pay for the student magazine and why?

Out of these selected mastheads which would you choose and why? 
(The Student Factor or Stand Up)


Do you think a direct mode of address would be suitable or not and explain why?

Annotated Front Cover and Contents Page of a Different Student Magazine

Annotated Front Cover

Annotated Contents Page

Initial Ideas

Name and Connotations for my Student Magazine:

• The Student Factor - connotes power and success, prosperity relating to 'The X Factor.' 
• Students on the Rise- Rise connotes happiness, fresh, calmness, tranquility as well as a new beginning and a chance of a new start. 
• Student Trendsetter - fashion, individuality and a chance to stand out.
• Student Swag - Individualism, air of confidence. 
• Swag It Up - living to the full, power.
• Stand UP - believing, confidence, prosper, stand up for what you believe in, make a difference.

Content: 

 

My magazine will consist of all things student related, including images which will mostly be of students. Content will include tips to help students, new information, ideas on education, fashion for college and new opportunities which will occur, therefore this makes the magazine quite informative. The magazine will be formal, with only a few informal aspects which could be as little as a small image or caption. I will also add in some chart information on books, music, films to keep the students entertained.

House Style: 

 

The house style will include consistency and continuity. I plan to use the same colour scheme throughout and use colours which relate to students, which could be a dark colour palette of purples, greys, blacks or a light colour pallette of yellows, blues and greens. I'll also incorporate colours which appeal to both male and female genders. I will use a minimum variety of different fonts for my magazine to keep it formal and to add more sophistication. I will use the same font style for headings but a different, yet consistent font style for main texts. The Masthead will feature the unique font and will stand out from all others.

Mode of Address:

I will include some adveritisments in my magazine in order to communicate with my audience and they will be also be student related. I'll add a variety of images throughout aswell as using language pronouns such as 'You' to make the audience feel connected.

Images/Pictures:

The centrail image on my front cover will cover most of the page in order to catch the audiences' eye. I will use a fellow student as the images must be from a primary source. The image will also relate to the Masthead of the magazine. The images will all be of a primary source and student related.

Price:

The price of my magazine wouldn't be very much-only around £1.00 due to it being aimed towards students who may struggle with finances and would not want to pay very much for a magazine. It also wouldn't cost much to make as our resources and materials are limited.


 

Annotated Front Cover and Contents Page of a Student Magazine

Annotated Front Cover

Annotated Contents Page

Generic Conventions of a Student Magazine

The Generic Conventions

Preliminary Task Action Plan:

Week One: 1st October 

Explore generic conventions of a student/college magazine by producing an A3 mind map featuring our findings. Then we must analyse a front cover and contents page of a student magazine that we have researched. Finally, we must conduct a focus group to establish what student audiences want from this type of magazine. 

Week Two: 8th October

We must use findings from our research and produce a mock-up. Then we begin designing our front cover. 

Week Three: 15th October

Continuing the design of our magazine. 

Introduction To Brief

Preliminary Exercise:

For our first task, we must produce the front cover and the contents page of a student magazine; using DTP and an image manipulation program. The main image must be of a medium-close up and must be from a primary source. 

Main Task:

To create a front page of a student magazine, contents and a double page spread of a new music magazine.