Evaluation- Question 7

Media 7

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Evaluation- Question 6

Media 6

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Evaluation- Question 4&5

4.&5 Who would be the audience for your media product? How did you attract/adress your audience?

The genre of my media product is Indie music , with a creative, earthy art feel behind. I aimed to make my magazine for ages 17-25 and both male and female readers. After making my magazine, I then realised that 25 was quite a difficult audience to appeal to, and perhaps my final piece was aimed at more 16-19.
My audience is still in education, however I said, they are aspiring to do something with it, however, they are also a little lazier, because they leave things until afterwards and also crave fun. I decided, on the jicnar scale my audience would be C2, C1 because I would like it to be a more upmarket magazine which doesn’t appear in large retail areas, so the audience is more likely to go and search for it. I think my audience would be:Middle class, Skilled working class and perhaps Lower middle class.

These items are stereotypical of indie music listeners. But this isn’t true in all cases, this is why I needed to keep frequently updated and in contact with my audience to see if I was reaching the correct ideas.

Audience feedback played a huge part in my production stages, it had to be done frequently so that i didn't go off track, and still attracted my niche audience. Although you might think something is good yourself, your audience may not think that too. I used facebook, questionarres and interviews as a way of getting feedback. I started off showing them the planning stages then gradually started showing them production stages. I then also got feedback at the end of my final peices to see what they thought.

Firstly, i posted my final cover, contents and double page spread on facebook.

I used these questions :-

What is good about it? Is there anything that could be improved? Which gender would you say it is aimed at? What do you think about the layouts? Would you buy this mag? Would you pay this much? And where do you expect to see it?

Rebecca Bonfield, aged 17, Said:-

"I like the colour scheme, the black and white really connotes professionalism and i think it makes the magazine stand out really well. I would say the magazing is aimed at males more, but i think both sexes would be interested in the magazine. Its different to most normal magazine forms and conventions, but i think it works well with the style of the magazine. Personally, i wouldn't buy this magazine, but thats just my opinion, i think it is aimed at people who like indie music, if i loved indie, i would buy it :)"

I recorded an interview with James gunter, aged 18, he said:-

To attract and address my audience I firstly had to research what other indie magazines looked like in order to capture the audience. I noted the fonts, layouts, styles, and photographs captured in these magazines.

To start, I wanted a Title that really captured my audience, something that was new and had meaning, that I knew they may search for. I used "Creo" which is Latin for "to make or create" which I think fitted beautifully with the art feel.

On my cover, I used a range of serif fonts to connote rebellion and creative style, although the magazines I researched used sans-serif fonts, I wanted to keep the art feel. My aim was to keep the magazine simple and free from a busy full page because I wanted my magazine to be something to READ, not just look at. I used a black and white theme to connote sophistication, rebellion and maturity. I wanted to make my models also connote these things, and so just let them be themselves, dressed in casual clothes, cardigans and jumpers, walking down a typical street, connoting every day life, with guitars on backs, connoting musical talent and interest. I got audience feedback on my photographs, which really helped me pick out the best ones, and how best to edit them.
Within the text areas of my magazine, I didn't use slang speech, or abbreviations like "OMG" , I kept the writing strong, using correct grammar, and tried not to use many exclamation marks because the audience are a little more sophisticated. I used "chatter" and "gigs" just to express a little more freedom and fun, but taboo language and abbreviated language wasn't the main feature. The interview in my magazine was very down to earth, and colloquial, which helps the readers feel involved with the band members and lets them see into their every day lives. The colloquialism of this interview really fits with the rest of the text areas in my magazine, because it creates a down to earth, chatty feel, without childish abbreviations and gesture.

I also wanted the photographs to show earthy rebellion, without the studio lights and posed style because that isn't what attracts my audience. I made sure there was an element of fun in my magazine too, with the funny picture of my band chasing after a bus, and the funny quote highlighted in the interview, because my audience like a bit of subtle humour and random behaviour.
I kept the same colour scheme all the way through, black, white, blue and green, connoting unisex readers and professionalism in my magazine, i kept this specific style throughout the cover, contents and double page.

Evaluation- Question 3

Question 3

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Evaluation- Question 2

Media 2

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Evaluation- Question 1

Media 1

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Production Update- Final Double Page Spread

This is my final double page spread.

Production Update- Final Contents Page

This is my final contents page.

Planning Update- Final Cover

This is my final front cover.

Production Update

I was unhappy with the font used on the front over on my page, it was difficult to read and made the page look busy. I searched for more suitable fonts.

Production Update

I came across another problem whilst producing my double page spread, I can not fit my entire interview onto one A4 page, i will have to get rid of a question and answer.

Production Update

Through putting the interview into my double page spread, i came across a problem, if i want to use the same fonts as my front cover and contents page, the writing becomes illedgable because it is so small. I can not make it bigger because otherwise the interview will not fit. I will have to do a little more audience research with a couple of simple fonts too see which would appeal more.
I also then found, that when i printed out my front cover to have a look, the coverlines were also too detailed to be read easily.




I posted a small comment asking for ideas.



Here is a simple reply, i like the font, it's simple and crisp.

Production Update

My chosen editor has come back to me with his comment for the contents page. It is brilliant, i know have all the contents for my 4 pages.

So here it is, at last, ‘Creo’, the brand new, cut-of-the-edge magazine. And to start off we have an amazing treat, something I am personally extremely excited about. In this issue we are introducing an exclusive look at the fresh new band that’s bursting onto the Indie Scene. Windsor Avenue. They are topped to be something incredible in 2010, and we have the very first look at them.

Also in this weeks issue we’re showing you our favourite new places to go, whether its eating or shopping, they are the latest and best places to hang out. We have the incredible Scottish born Tommy Reilly having a chit chat with us, we have your artwork which was sent in (only the good ones), and also as a special launch extravaganza we are giving away a brand new Les Paul (yes the real thing) electric guitar to one lucky winner.

Throughout the next issues we will be delving into the world of Indie, uncovering some hot new acts, discovering some brand new talent, and going over the good old faces that have kept this music alive.

Production Update

I have recieved a reply from one of the members of Windsor Avenue to the interview questions via facebook. They are brilliant, I will now use them in my double page spread.


I have now recieved a responce to the interview from the second member via email, it is now complete.

Planning Update/ Audience research

During the production stage of my final contents page, i decided to make a small change to the contents of my double page spread. Originally i was going to place some reader artwork on the first page of my double page spread, but that has become an increasing issue because i can not get the drawings, and i wanted my magazine to be a first issue, so this means 'Creo' would not yet have readers inputing their own stuff. I have decided to do a little more research, and place some of 'Creo's' favourite small shops around worcester that are more for my target audience. At the weekend i asked my audience via facebook to give me a list of their favourite smaller places to shop or go where they live. I got alot of creative shops and instrument shops which is perfect. I will put the shop name, location and number into my magazine. These shops will be places that arent particularly popular, that not many people no about, therefore appealing to my target audience. The new content will be labelled 'Creo's favourite hideouts'.


Here is a screenshot of the comment i posted to my audience.




And here i have replys.

.

Production

I have started to play around with some images in photoshop, and seeing what kind of affects i can create, and how i can merge the images into my magazine without just placing them in boxes.

Audience Research 2

I have placed my two front covers onto facebook, so that i can gain opinions of my targetaudience as to which is more suiting and which is better. This will also tell me if i am heading in the right direction during production and sticking to my research strategies.

I was particularly fond of a comment made by a friend who lives in newzeland! It was perfect Feed back. Although this comment isnt made by my specific target audience, it is good to get comments from a wide range to see what they think. My friend here has really looked deep and the connotations of my tagline and proceeded to confirm my ideas.

.

Update

I have written the interview for my double page spread. I will ask my band 'Windso Avenue' these quetions and use it as content for my magazine. I will write down their answers, or i will record it, so that i can make a precise transcript for the magazine. The two members of the band are both using facebook, so i may upload these questions onto their pages and ask them to answer seperately, then ill put them in the magazine. However, if they are not together, the answers to the questions may not have the same fun atmosphere.

I sent both members of the band, the questions via facebook. Now im just waiting for replys.

Update

During this week, i have completed my photoshoot, chosen and edited the pictures and used them during production. I completed the mock ups of my front cover, contents page and double page spread using photoshop and quark express, it took a long time because my knowledge of quark express is still at a minimum but i am gradually finding it easier to work with. My next production plan, is to bulk out the contents of the double page spread, i need to write the interview and ask my band the questions, i also need to gather the pictures from readers. Also, i need to gather the comment written by my chosen editor to put on the contents page. I then need to make the final pages.
Throughout the mock ups and audience research i have made a few changes every now and again to suit the audience better and to make my magazine as good as i can.

Production- Double Page Spread Mock Up

This is my double page spread for the magazine, using quark express and adobe photoshop. It is a simple version of my double page, the photographs will not just be square, in sections.

Production- Contents Page Mock Up

This is a mock up of my contents page using Quark Express, i found it difficult to stop the page from being choppy and full of too many sections, i wanted it to fit together nicely so that your eyes flow across the page easily. It took me a while to figure out the skills needed to do this, because i am not particularly confident with Quark Express, but i managed to do it eventually.

Production- Front Cover Mock Up

This is a mock up of my front cover, i have included one of my photos, title and sub-title. Through doing this mock up in photoshop, i came across some difficulties, i realised that when using a photo that completely covers the background, which is also black and white, the title became impossible to read over a few of the photos i would have liked. Thankfully i searched through my photos and found more that i was particularly proud of, that made it easier to see the title. I had to move text around and experiment to see which went better together and what worked.

Production- Photograph Edits

I have edited the photographs that i took using Photoshop, and cleaned them up so that they are suitable for the magazine.

I have de-saturated this image, because i felt it gave more depth.

I raised the saturation on this one, to give it a more urban feel, and also adjusted the brightness and contrast.

I also did the same for this one, and adjusted the brightness and contrast. I quite like this one for my front cover.

Production- Photo Shoots

I have completed the photo shoot for my magazine shots and will now edit and choose the ones i want to feature in the magazine. Overall i took 57 photographs. Here are some examples of the photos i took, which match my shot list.

This particular band is called "Windsor Avenue" which was chosen after they saw a street name. For the photoshoot, i went to this particular street with them and photographed the street sign, which i will put into the magazine somewhere.

Update

Shortly after i took this shoot, Windsor Avenue got themselves a band page which i can now include the web adress to in my magazine.

Planning Update

During my research and planning, i forgot to mention where i got the ideas for my titles, featured in the mood board. First of all i wanted a very interesting eye-catching title, that would make someone pick it up, and also one that was a little more creative. I decided to research latin words for certain meanings, because through my research, the titles of the magazines meant something. I chose EXAUDIO, which means to Listen, CLARO, which means to clear the mind, LIBERIUM, which means independant, and CREO, which means to make or create. All these words relate to my target audience, with music and art involved.

Fonts

Shot Lists

My shot lists are the photographs i will need for my magazine. I have found a band, that will be the base of these photos, they are personal friends of mine, and play the genre of music that is suited to my magazine.

These Photo's will take place on Sunday 17th January 2010

Actors/Models- Guy Watkins and Sam Ryan

Shot Type- Full Body Shots

Location- Guy's home/ Outside in street

Props/Costume- guitars/ musical instruments. There own smart/casual clothes

Technology- Nikon D60/ Photoshop/ Quark Express
Connoting relaxation, creativity, maturity and maybe an urban vintage background.


Actors/Models- Guy Watkins and Sam Ryan

Shot Type- Medium Close Ups

Location-Guy's home/ Outside in street

Props/Costume- There own smart/casual clothes / Hats?

Technology- Nikon D60/ Photoshop/ Quark Express
Connoting confidence and care-free. featuring in the contents spread, Perhaps outside against a tree.

Actors/Models- Guy Watkins and Sam Ryan

Shot Type- Medium Close Ups (Fun Candid shots)

Location- Guy's home/ Outside in street

Props/Costume- Funny Clothing/Own clothing/Instruments

Technology-Nikon D60/Photoshop/ Quark Express Connoting fun, humour, Hedonism

Editor Shot- this will take place on the 14th January 2010

Actors/Models- James Gunter

Shot Type- Medium Close Up

Location- College Studio

Props/Costume- Own clothing

Technology- Nikon D60/Photoshop

Other images- will include doodles and artwork done by Guy Watkins, Sam Ryan and my target audience, that i will place around the contents and double page spread. I will take every shot with my Nikon D60 and perhaps edit them using photoshop or another technology.

First Drafts

I would like my magazine to challenge the typical media conventions when it comes to humour and sophistication. Through my research i noticed that 2 out of 3 of the magazines, were very minimal, very much for an older audience with alot of reading material, and the other was a little more busy with brighter more going on, i intend to keep to the minimal sophisticated look, but id like to add abit more humour to the magazine, like including more audience input, for example: sending in pictures they have drawn. The magazines i researched didnt include much audience interaction because it was for an older audience. Older audiences dont really get the chance to be included in almost childish activitys any more when it comes to their age range magazines, so i would like to challenge this but staying within the limits of my age range and upmarket ideas.

These are some quick drafts of my 3 magazine components, they will change throughout my production process, but these are my very first initial ideas.

The colours beside the drafts are ideas of what i intend to use throughout these pages, i have kept the black and white all the way through, with just switching between different colours to try and see which will appeal to both male and female readers, but keeping to the black and white base.

Front Cover:-

I intend to keep my front cover very minimal, very sophisticated with only one large photograph covering the entire page. A couple of coverlines to explain the photograph, the title and a smaller picture.

Contents Page :-

The contents will be similar, continuing the house style, keeping it quite minimal and sophisticated with one large image of an artist, and two smaller pictures of something art related. The contents will be alphabetical and easy to understand.

Double Page Spread:-


Again, the double page spread will continue the house style, but perhaps be a little busier with more going on in the pages, but not to the extent where its hard to read and understand. There will be a long interview and editors comment with a couple of pictures.

Detailed Audience Profile

After my initial research and detailed analysis into my audience, i have come to a final decision.

The target audience for my magazine, is both male and females because after looking at simliar magazines, i noticed that they tended to swerve into a more male style, so i will make sure females are included aswell. My audience will be Aspirers, Hedonists and Post Materialists on the physcographic scale because my target age is 17-25 year olds, they are still going through education and are aspiring to do something with it, however, they are also a little lazier, because they leave things until afterwards and also crave fun. My age range isnt really challenging the normal conventions of an Indie magazine, if any, its a slightly younger audience but im hoping to challenge the market when it comes to making it for male and female readers. On the Jicnar scale my audience would be C2, C1 because i would like it to be a more upmarket magazine which doesnt appear in very many places, so the audience is more likely to go and search for it. Because of this, i think my audience would be:
Middle class, Skilled working class and perhaps Lower middle class
Although my audience would probably know about the latest technologies and modern updates, they wouldn't be bothered about having it or using it. Facebook or maybe myspace might be popular among my audience but other than that, they would have old mobile phones, maybe a few casset tapes and be interested in vintage items.

The lifestyles of my target audience would be a little more work based, being an older audience, they are likely to have part time jobs or maybe not, with a iregular or small income, but will buy expensive things if they want them.

My audience is more artistic, and loves abit of creativity. The indie scene magazines are usually more grungy and down market than i would like my magazine to be, this i where i also challenge the market again to make an upmarket magazine for indie/art lovers.

Audience- MoodBoard

My moodboard consists of all the things i think could feature in my magazine, and what it would relate to. To gain a good audience view of my moodboard, i made a questionarre for people to fill in, and i also posted it on the popular social networking site facebook to get comments on it because i new my target audience would be using this particular site and feel able to use it.

I gained a large amount of comments, some similiar, some different and this will help me create my magazine, to the standards that my audience want.

Some comments included:-
"Its really great, i really love it, it might just be the size of the picture but the second line is a teeny bit unclear. But all the fonts and pictures are just great and really fit together well. it looks fabulous"

• "Reminds me of a magazine if that helps and I love the colours!"
  

I also got a very impressive responce from the questionairres that i did, and it helped me to find out what the majority wanted and didnt like. Not only did i create paper versions, i also sent it to friends online using MSN to get their responces.

My questions included :-

Which colours go together nicely? Would you suggest any colours?Which fonts do you prefer?Which title do you prefer out of the four words at the top?What do all these images and texts suggest to you?Are there any areas you don’t like?Are there any areas you do?Are there any areas that stand out?

Most said that they liked the same fonts, and said that it connoted freedom, music and something creative and different, which is exactly what i was aiming for. I think it was very sucessful.

Distribution

The difference between major and independent distribution strategies is mainly the scale they do it on, major distribution strategies distribute in as many shops as they can. Frontline are the biggest distributors in the UK and use big mainstream companies such as BBC, WHS, and Tescos. They partner with Baur who publish magazines such as Heat, Bella and Take a Break who are very popular magazines. They publish magazines that target a vast audience, not a specific niche, therefore distribute in vast places. As for an Independent Distributor such as VICE and it is completely different. They distribute there magazines in smaller areas but they do appear in 1,000 retail distributors across the UK which suggests PSEUDO individuality because they want to appear individual but need the money. You can access their magazines in shops such as “urban outfitters” which isn’t a very well known shop, because they know their audience is more likely to go out and find their magazines rather than just run into the closest shop and grab it. Magazines such as Bella and Take a Break which are published by Baur, appeal to an older target audience of perhaps 30+ so this affects distribution strategies because they need to put them in places where this age range is likely to travel to. Whereas Independent appeal to more of a younger audience who are more likely to stretch far and wide to reach one specific place to gain what they want. Major Distribution strategies saturate the market by getting everywhere and appear on more of a Global scale but independent still need the money, however earn it in smaller ways because the distribution of the magazine is more important- they know where their audience will go.

After research i have decided to distribute my magazine using a smaller, independant stratedgy because i think my audience would seek it. I will target my magazine at both male and female readers, and because my particular genre is individual and independant, it does not need to be distributed using a multi platform strategies or throughout major mainstream companies like "Frontline". I will follow after "Vice" and only appear in smaller shops that arent as well known. My target audience is likely to travel places and be adventerous which could lead to the discovery of my magazine.

Detailed Research Into Forms and Conventions

I looked at 3 key magazines which were all related to my specific chose genre of Indie, with a deffinate ART link, very much like 'ArtRocker' which i looked at in my initial research. When comparing all 3 magazines, i noticed a lot of similarities which shows them targeting their specific audience.
To start, the audience of these magazines is around C1-B in the demographic scale, and in the physcographic i would say, Hedonists, Post materialists and aspirers. Each title- "ArtRocker", "NME", "LosingToday" have something to do with the contents of the magazine and all connote freedom and expression. I would say that NME is slightly different, because i think it is more of a PSUEDO individual magazine, rather than just indie, but it still gives me and idea of what to do and what not to do.

Titles

Losing Today- Is quite a Far fetched title but i think it links reasonably well with its target audience, i think it may be meant more literally. As the audience is post materialists, they would rather waste the day reading this magazines and do something else later.

NME- (New Musical Express) This name is very appropriate for this music genre because, firstly, it is well known as the abbreviation NME, suggesting that the readers are likely to seek it's full name, just like they seek their favourite music. Also, Musical Express suggests the typical independant strategies when it comes to creating music, they are not overly bothered about the profits, just getting their music out there and 'expressing' their 'musical' talent to a niche audience.

ArtRocker- I really love this title for the magazine, and it has inspired me to do something simliar to this. The magazine combines two things, Art and Music, so this is simply literal.

Audience

ArtRocker-I think the audience for this magazine is C1- B.
People who doodle over everything, people who never take their headphones out, people who do strange things because they feel like it.
The brand identity is upmarket for students, the pages are stylish yet sophisticated and they include many interviews with indie artists and bands, its more for reading- NOT just looking at the big bright pages. This is deffinately for an older audience because its something to READ and because of the mix of art and fashion it becomes inspiration for art students. I would say the age range is around 17-28 and it is aimed at both males and females.

Losing Today- The audience for this magazine is again C1. Aspirers, Post Materialists and hedonists. People who like to smoke and have grungy nights out, people who wear ties with everything, people who button their collars all the way up, people who like to party. Its a magazine again for reading, its very simple and safe, it doesnt appear to challenge any particular areas of media. This magazine is mixed sex, aimed at both male and female readers.

NME- The audience for NME is C2, apsirers, post materialists and also hedonists. People who like to have nights out, people who like to buy designer outfits that don't look it, people who go out at 1' o clock in the morning to buy a pint of milk because they were thirsty and people who grab a bowl of cereal in the middle of the day. This magazine is a tiny bit more downmarket but it very well known. I see this magazine as PSUEDO individual because it includes alot of indie artists but appears in many major stores and advertises itself well and so i imagine the target audience could range from young teens who want to appear individual but want to find out about the latest music, but also to older students who just grab this mag because they like the look of it and want to see their favourite artists inside.

All of these magazines are similar because they are all at the same end of the market, and are all aimed at older studentsand young adults. They all contain pages that are more for reading not just looking at, with a some large pictures of artists dotted around. To me, these magazines slightly edge toward the more male market but i know that they are unisex, so with my magazine i will try and incorperate some more female features.

Style

NME-There is a specific housestyle to NME. It consists of black, white and red, and this continues throughtout the contents and first double page spread, connoting maturity, adolescence and sophistication. On the cover, the band 'Babyshambles' is printed in front of the title suggesting a well known magazine. It isnt a particularly busy page, with only 5 main areas of text and 2 smaller pictures (excluding the background shot). The fonts are bold and simple, with no intricacy to them, like IMPACT or ARIAL BLACK. The contents page is quite dependant on the audience knowing what they are writing about, you must know the titles listed in the contents page, such as- "3OH" " A grave with no name" and "Father murphy". The contents are also written in alphabetical order, making it easier for the audience to immediately find out what they want. The contents runs down the left hand side in a small column and then there is a huge snapshot placed over the rest of two indie artists, with a small article about it at the bottom. Lastly, the double page spread is called "whats on the NME stereo" which is also being covered by an indie band, suggesting a regular thing. It is a page covered with indie artists labelled 1-10 with reviews on each and a picture of them- still continuing the house style.

Losing Today- Again here is a specific house style to Losing Today. It consists of mainly black, white and orange, connoting maturity, sophistication and perhaps fun. On the cover, popular artists are printed always behind the title, suggesting that it isnt a very well known magazine, maybe quite new. The covers are never jam packed, they are sparse, with a few areas of text and one main (usually head and shoulders shot) of an artist covering the entire page. The fonts are bold and simple, like BODONI MT BLACK or ARIAL BLACK. As i have noticed previously, the cover page also relys on the readers to know whats going on. I can not see the contents page and double page spread because i researched this magazine using the internet and cannot buy it, but i imagine they carry the same simplistic style all the way through.

ArtRocker- This magazine is very fresh and sophisticated, but looking back through previous issues, i saw alot more colour on the pages but still with black and white involved. They used alot of green too. This particular house style continues through to the contents page and double page spread. As for fonts, it becomes a little more experiemental and creative because it is an Art magazine aswell, so it becomes funkier, but they still manage to keep to the sophisticated yet fun connotations. They use fonts like CHILLER and BELL GOTHIC STD.

All these have very similar conventions and colours such and black and white. They are all simple and sophisticated with bold non intricate fonts. Because i would like to create a magazine that also involves art like "ArtRocker" i will combine both sans and sans serif fonts.