Research and Planning: Pitch Feedback

I will present my pitch to a small target group- although there are parts of the magazine which will be targeted to unisex teenagers, most of it will be targeted to girls . I will then ask them a range of questions to do with the pitch. 5-6 questions. I will present my pitch to a small target group. The target group will mostly consist of girls as my music magazine will mostly be target girls, between the ages of 16-22. However, some parts of the magazine will be unisex and I will do this by using unisex colours and incorporating male images. After I have presented my pitch I will ask the target group a range of questions, consisting of around 5-6.

1) What name do you think you be most appropriate for my pop magazine?

POP
Mix
Mix It Up
Starburst
Spin
The Edge of Pop

2) What sort of content should I include in my magazine?

3) Do you think my magazine should have a range of single and double page spreads?

4) What sort of images should I include and should they be unisex?

5) What colours should I incorporate into my colour scheme?

6) What should the mode of address in my magazine be like?

The feedback for my video overall was sucessful and very helpful. The majority of the feedback decided that Mix It Up would be a suitable name for my magazine; however, one person said Spin as it is different and unique. The focus group said that my content should include chart music as it is relatable to more people and is interesting. Also they said that I should have a mix of single and double page spreads so that it would break up the magazine. All of them agreed that my magazine should have unisex colours, however, they should be bright. One person said to stay away from blue and pink as they're stereotypical. Lastly, they mode of address should be chatty and informal due to the chosen choice of my genre.

Research and Planning:Pitch

Pitch presentation from Cfrazer101

Analysis of Kerrang! Magazine (Front, Contents and Double Page)

Analysis of Music Magazine (Front, Contents and Double Page)

Analysis of Q Music Magazine on Prezi

Initial Ideas

Initial Ideas for my Music Magazine 

For my music magazine, I want to be able to make it relate to an audience between the ages of 16-25, this is because I can relate to this audience easily as I'm in that age bracket. The sub-genre for my music magazine would need to relate to that audience bracket as well. For example, classical music and folk music may appeal more to an older and sophisticated audience. Whereas the younger generation relate more to R&B, rap and pop. Therefore I think I will choose pop genre as it holds a larger variety of artists; including, Jessie J, One Direction, Nicole Scherzinger, Ellie Goulding, Carly Rae Jepson, and Justin Bieber to name a few. This could also come across as more mainstream, rather than niche. I will also use unisex colours and incorporate both male and female images into my magazine so that my magazine will appeal to both genders.

Introduction to the Main Task

Now that I have completed the preliminary task I must now move onto the main task, which involves me creating a music magazine with a certain target genre. The music magazine must consist of a front cover, contents page and a double page spread. All images must be primarily sourced.

Week 1:

Complete and post initial ideas and develop and create a pitch to present. Analysis of music magazines that we did for homework must be posted. Post research on institution.

Week 2:

Post pitch and audience feedback and gain audience research. Begin to take photos and create a mock up.

Week 3:

Develop a front cover and a photo shoot on ideas.

Week 4:

Develop front cover design and gain audience feedback, make adjustments and complete a draft for my double page spread.

Week 5:

Begin designing a contents page and gain audience feedback.

Week 6:

Begin designing a double page spread and gain audience feedback.

Week 7: 

Finalise my magazine design and start an evaluation.

Week 8:

Develop evaluation

Week 9: 

Complete evaluation and check through my blog.

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.