Magazine Evaluation
In media studies we have looked at different magazine covers and analyzed each of them to gain an understanding of what audience they aim to sell their magazine to, what they do to attract their audience and how they design their covers. After we each designed our own magazine cover in groups featuring the music of our choosing. Then once we had finished our magazine covers, we had to write up an evaluation of the work we had done over the past few weeks.
First we got introduced to the programs we would be using and the different tools that would be at our command. This one lesson gave each of us ideas on how to finally make our magazine covers. First of I chose my colours to be blue and purple simply because along with the pictures and items I was going to use, I believed that they would all work well together. Also I added a separate background to some objects on the cover so that they would stand out more then the rest to catch peoples eye and get them interested. After I had all the pictures and information on the page, I would crop and move pictures about to get the best effects for the page. Then after I was happy I had to print out a copy in black and white to test the cover and see if anything had to be altered in any way. After I made some changes and was certain I was happy with the product, I looked at the work of the other group members and compared their covers to my own, this let me make sure that we all had the same information on our covers. Furthermore when I saw that everything checked out I printed out a version in colour, to be used as my final product.
My magazine cover has been designed to use the forms and conventions of real music magazines to appeal to our target audience by using appealing pictures of celebrities and advertising exclusive features to my magazine.
My music cover represents the social group of ‘teenagers’ as it is also the target audience of my magazine. I appeal to this particular social group by using certain techniques to attract and address my audience. The techniques I used represent and appeal to the vast majority of the teenage social group today.
I believe that the music institution along with the media will distribute my music cover on the magazines through stores because it will attract the important generation of teenagers. The magazine will also sell a lot of copies at the small price of £2.75 each issue, which is really small, compared to the magazines that sell a lot more in stores, after all they would be the magazines that we would be competing against in the music and magazine industries.
The audience for my magazine cover will be for the teenagers of today, also people who are a bit older or younger then the target audience will buy the magazine. I attracted and addressed my audience by using certain techniques and items that would appeal to me if I were looking for a magazine to buy, these include big pictures of famous celebrities that I would want to read and learn about. Lastly I added things that a typical teenager would like, such as a low price, a free CD and information on upcoming games or celebrity events.
I also learnt a lot about technologies from the process of constructing the magazine front cover for my work. I learnt how to easily use an advanced version of Photoshop and how to edit particular sections of any picture I wanted to and combine it with others. I also learnt how big sellers would do this sort of work on their own front covers, that to us seem genuine and real but in fact are just edited in Photoshop. Also knowing these facts were a help in producing the cover, because I knew that it wouldn’t be too difficult to create some of the great front covers that are seen on today’s shelves with Photo shopping techniques made very easy with the technology we were using.
By Michael Crowther
Saturday, 18 October 2008
Friday, 17 October 2008
Evaluation
My music magazine was not stating the obvious, music and charts. The editors decide to take the magazine to another level and felt that we should approach are target audience ‘heart-to-heart’. Therefore, I decided to make the magazine a bit of a personal approach, I decided to take it to the ‘hood’, and have that balanced understanding. It should use similar features like activities around different areas but at the same time, I had considered that it should be linked to music in some way, as after all it is a music magazine. I believe this would encourage readers to understand music can be thought of and considered in many ways. I have also included a promotional offer on the banner of the page. This offers readers free CD demo- this is constructive way of reaching to first time reader on how well the magazine is sold. This is a great strategy used to get readers hook into buying magazines in routine.My magazine cover is a hip-hop/ R ‘n’ b based music magazine. My magazine has used the typical convention of a hip-hop magazine. This is evident because my magazine has features of different aspect of r ‘n’ b and hip-hop magazine. This was done by different uses of colour coordination, the layout and font. On my front cover ‘Gus’ is featured wearing a stripy jumper with matching grey jeans and a ‘new era’ hat which is symbolic of a the genre. The picture was taken behind a while background so it was easy to cut out. Social groups are represented in so many different ways and my magazine would be suitable magazine for people who take a respectable interest for Hip Hop & RnB.
I think that will community workers or those who work with young people distribute my music magazine cover as it is different to your the typical Hip Hop and RnB style magazines. They would probably try to encourage or show the young audience that these genres are not about image or a specific social group. This maybe a scheme they would use to keep young people off the streets and have somthing they enjoy doing to do. This would probably keep them off the streets.
TWANG! that was the name of the magazine title the group decided to choose. We just form a group of four to producer four magazine covers. TWANG! magazine is a music and entertainment magazine and will mainly consist of is RnB and Hip-hop. The audience for my music magazine cover are young boys/men aged 13-25. Although the age gap is quiet wide us editors decides to take this project on board. Thirteen year olds and twenty-five year olds may not share the same thoughts and opinions as each other. But the editors of TWANG! Believe and take into account that RnB and Hip Hop fans are only into the same music, This was looked as a my group had asked people in between the two age group about what artists they are into.The name that had repeated quiet frequently were artists such as JayZ, Beyonce ,lil-wayne and Ciara, which are the older type of artists from this genre. The magazine is to help the younger audience encourage them to understand the conventions of the genre. Lil Wayne was one of our great attractions as he is now probably the world’s biggest RnB artist now!With an exclusive interview, we hope to have many music fans very pleased. Exclusive was a more that was used a lot in the magazine. This was mainly to do with image. As RnB listens were images with having an edge and to have the latest things which I feel has something to do with their social status.The structure of this front cover was created using Photoshop. My media class let me use facilities that had enabled me to do various things with the new equipment used and latest technologically was introduced to me. However, I think that not putting a real image and replacing it with a computer changes the image can seem rather deceiving. This was done with the picture of ‘Gus’. With Gus’s picture I used Photoshop to clear blemishes and give him a celebrity look.If I were to make another music magazine front cover for the same company “TWANG!”.
I would try to show more of its feminine side as it seem as the if it’s a male dominated music magazine. when I mentioned it being male dominated I meant that way it was mainly pictures of male artist such as lil wayne and 'Gus'. this would probably not attract the attention of the female readers as much.I also want to see what age group are actually buying the magazine whether older teenagers (16+) would still by the Hip Hop/ RnB magazine if younger age category would still by it as well. It would be helpful to see if there were any differences but also take note of comparisons, if there were to be any to make changes and evaluate the situation.
I think that will community workers or those who work with young people distribute my music magazine cover as it is different to your the typical Hip Hop and RnB style magazines. They would probably try to encourage or show the young audience that these genres are not about image or a specific social group. This maybe a scheme they would use to keep young people off the streets and have somthing they enjoy doing to do. This would probably keep them off the streets.
TWANG! that was the name of the magazine title the group decided to choose. We just form a group of four to producer four magazine covers. TWANG! magazine is a music and entertainment magazine and will mainly consist of is RnB and Hip-hop. The audience for my music magazine cover are young boys/men aged 13-25. Although the age gap is quiet wide us editors decides to take this project on board. Thirteen year olds and twenty-five year olds may not share the same thoughts and opinions as each other. But the editors of TWANG! Believe and take into account that RnB and Hip Hop fans are only into the same music, This was looked as a my group had asked people in between the two age group about what artists they are into.The name that had repeated quiet frequently were artists such as JayZ, Beyonce ,lil-wayne and Ciara, which are the older type of artists from this genre. The magazine is to help the younger audience encourage them to understand the conventions of the genre. Lil Wayne was one of our great attractions as he is now probably the world’s biggest RnB artist now!With an exclusive interview, we hope to have many music fans very pleased. Exclusive was a more that was used a lot in the magazine. This was mainly to do with image. As RnB listens were images with having an edge and to have the latest things which I feel has something to do with their social status.The structure of this front cover was created using Photoshop. My media class let me use facilities that had enabled me to do various things with the new equipment used and latest technologically was introduced to me. However, I think that not putting a real image and replacing it with a computer changes the image can seem rather deceiving. This was done with the picture of ‘Gus’. With Gus’s picture I used Photoshop to clear blemishes and give him a celebrity look.If I were to make another music magazine front cover for the same company “TWANG!”.
I would try to show more of its feminine side as it seem as the if it’s a male dominated music magazine. when I mentioned it being male dominated I meant that way it was mainly pictures of male artist such as lil wayne and 'Gus'. this would probably not attract the attention of the female readers as much.I also want to see what age group are actually buying the magazine whether older teenagers (16+) would still by the Hip Hop/ RnB magazine if younger age category would still by it as well. It would be helpful to see if there were any differences but also take note of comparisons, if there were to be any to make changes and evaluate the situation.
Magazine check list
this are the following things i had checked the magazine had:
-price tage
-logo
-website
-bar code
-major headline (gus's comeback)
-spelling check up (im not that good of a spelling so its good to check once in a while)
-price tage
-logo
-website
-bar code
-major headline (gus's comeback)
-spelling check up (im not that good of a spelling so its good to check once in a while)
magazine update
magazine cover is soon close to completion (yeah!). final touches are being made and were almost good to go...i think.
celeb gives feedback
'Gus'who was featured in this weeks edition of TWANG! had asked to see the magazine. all is good as gus himself congratulated a member of staff on this weeks edition!!woohooo...lol
Thursday, 16 October 2008
Magazine Evaluation (EH)
Media Front Cover Evaluation: ELIF HUSEYIN
My front cover uses the general conventions of a music magazine. However it challenges the typical conventions of a Hip Hop & RnB magazine i.e. by not sticking to a typical image or use of vocabulary. This could also help make competition for the music magazine world as Hip Hop & RnB magazines are quite masculine. It would help or maybe bring out a positive sign to people’s views on music magazines as Hip Hop is appreciated by the feminine audience too. Music magazines shouldn’t just be about music and charts in general. It should use similar features like non music magazines- however considering that it should be linked to music in some way. I have added a ‘real life’ situation on the front cover- which is to do with music. I believe this would encourage readers to understand music can be thought of and considered in many ways. I have also included a promotional offer on the banner of the page. This offers readers free ringtone downloads- this is a positive effect on how well the magazine can be sold.
Social groups are represented in so many different ways that is difficult to be able to differentiate your cover. My magazine would be suitable magazine for people who take a respectable interest for Hip Hop & RnB. By the look of the cover it is clear that there aren’t the usual conventions of the genre featured on it which is the particular image or body language. Instead, I have shown the individuality of the person and also made it clear to others that different people share an interest in genres such as RnB & Hip-Hop. This can challenge other genre magazines to not be so stereotypical.
I think an independent publisher will distribute my music magazine cover as it is so different than the typical Hip Hop and RnB style magazines. They would encourage or show people that these genres aren’t about danger or a specific social group. It is about individual thoughts and people who enjoy different taste of music. This will help society to stop being so stereotypical about music and how it is categorised. Music is for everybody- people shouldn’t feel isolated about certain genres.
The audience for my music magazine cover will be young women aged 13-25. Although 25 year olds may not share the same thoughts and opinions as younger RnB and Hip Hop fans, I have still taken into the consideration the older fans of the genre. I have taken this idea by looking at artists such as Jay Z, Beyonce and 50 Cent, which are the older type of artists from this genre. The magazine is to help the younger audience encourage them to understand the conventions of the genre- but not only that it is to help them understand and respect other genres.
I used a range of images on my front cover. There is a picture of myself and my group member (close up) which dominates the page. This will help indicate that my magazine is aimed for a female audience. The colours also represent this as I used, purple, red and pink. I made the title an exclamatory phrase. This helps drag attention because it hints something interesting and is easy to understand. In a formal magazine these kinds of conventions will not be used as the editors will think that the audience will not take the magazine seriously. I believe that magazines are meant to be part of the mass media which provide entertainment for the audience and therefore, informal and easy to understand language should be used in magazines- whatever they are. As a feminine magazine- using bold fonts will make it look too masculine and deprive the female audience’s attention. A caption on the cover uses quite bold font to emphasise its importance. “YOU VOTED...Elif and Eman to interview Chris Brown!” This is printed in bold font using two different colours. Again, I have included exclamatory vocabulary to connote the excitement of it. The main thing that I believe will attract the attention of the audience is the editors’ picture on the front page. This will allow the audience to feel and be able to share or oppose views with them- it also helps with not making the reader feel alienated as they can see who the editors are. I also used an offer as a banner on the cover- this will encourage readers to buy the magazine. So it is a positive point for the financial side of things.
The construction of this front cover has given me a better insight of Photoshop. It can enable me to do various things technologically. However, I think that not putting a real image and replacing it with a computer manipulated image can seem a bit deceiving. If magazine companies try to get attention of the readers then they should put real pictures rather than computer edited. In some cases it may be effective and can possibly drag attention- but it must be edited up to a certain point and that it isn’t to the extent of false advertising.
If I were to make another music magazine front cover, I would try and do a male music magazine. I would like to see how different the conventions can become just by gender difference. I also want to see whether men attract the Hip Hop/ RnB magazine more than women. It would be helpful to see these differences but also take note of comparisons, if there were to be any. I would also consider people I choose to feature in my cover who represent Hip Hop and RnB. Finally, I will consider putting the price of my magazine lower as it is currently £2.75. I must take into consideration the younger audience and whether the price is suitable for them.
My front cover uses the general conventions of a music magazine. However it challenges the typical conventions of a Hip Hop & RnB magazine i.e. by not sticking to a typical image or use of vocabulary. This could also help make competition for the music magazine world as Hip Hop & RnB magazines are quite masculine. It would help or maybe bring out a positive sign to people’s views on music magazines as Hip Hop is appreciated by the feminine audience too. Music magazines shouldn’t just be about music and charts in general. It should use similar features like non music magazines- however considering that it should be linked to music in some way. I have added a ‘real life’ situation on the front cover- which is to do with music. I believe this would encourage readers to understand music can be thought of and considered in many ways. I have also included a promotional offer on the banner of the page. This offers readers free ringtone downloads- this is a positive effect on how well the magazine can be sold.
Social groups are represented in so many different ways that is difficult to be able to differentiate your cover. My magazine would be suitable magazine for people who take a respectable interest for Hip Hop & RnB. By the look of the cover it is clear that there aren’t the usual conventions of the genre featured on it which is the particular image or body language. Instead, I have shown the individuality of the person and also made it clear to others that different people share an interest in genres such as RnB & Hip-Hop. This can challenge other genre magazines to not be so stereotypical.
I think an independent publisher will distribute my music magazine cover as it is so different than the typical Hip Hop and RnB style magazines. They would encourage or show people that these genres aren’t about danger or a specific social group. It is about individual thoughts and people who enjoy different taste of music. This will help society to stop being so stereotypical about music and how it is categorised. Music is for everybody- people shouldn’t feel isolated about certain genres.
The audience for my music magazine cover will be young women aged 13-25. Although 25 year olds may not share the same thoughts and opinions as younger RnB and Hip Hop fans, I have still taken into the consideration the older fans of the genre. I have taken this idea by looking at artists such as Jay Z, Beyonce and 50 Cent, which are the older type of artists from this genre. The magazine is to help the younger audience encourage them to understand the conventions of the genre- but not only that it is to help them understand and respect other genres.
I used a range of images on my front cover. There is a picture of myself and my group member (close up) which dominates the page. This will help indicate that my magazine is aimed for a female audience. The colours also represent this as I used, purple, red and pink. I made the title an exclamatory phrase. This helps drag attention because it hints something interesting and is easy to understand. In a formal magazine these kinds of conventions will not be used as the editors will think that the audience will not take the magazine seriously. I believe that magazines are meant to be part of the mass media which provide entertainment for the audience and therefore, informal and easy to understand language should be used in magazines- whatever they are. As a feminine magazine- using bold fonts will make it look too masculine and deprive the female audience’s attention. A caption on the cover uses quite bold font to emphasise its importance. “YOU VOTED...Elif and Eman to interview Chris Brown!” This is printed in bold font using two different colours. Again, I have included exclamatory vocabulary to connote the excitement of it. The main thing that I believe will attract the attention of the audience is the editors’ picture on the front page. This will allow the audience to feel and be able to share or oppose views with them- it also helps with not making the reader feel alienated as they can see who the editors are. I also used an offer as a banner on the cover- this will encourage readers to buy the magazine. So it is a positive point for the financial side of things.
The construction of this front cover has given me a better insight of Photoshop. It can enable me to do various things technologically. However, I think that not putting a real image and replacing it with a computer manipulated image can seem a bit deceiving. If magazine companies try to get attention of the readers then they should put real pictures rather than computer edited. In some cases it may be effective and can possibly drag attention- but it must be edited up to a certain point and that it isn’t to the extent of false advertising.
If I were to make another music magazine front cover, I would try and do a male music magazine. I would like to see how different the conventions can become just by gender difference. I also want to see whether men attract the Hip Hop/ RnB magazine more than women. It would be helpful to see these differences but also take note of comparisons, if there were to be any. I would also consider people I choose to feature in my cover who represent Hip Hop and RnB. Finally, I will consider putting the price of my magazine lower as it is currently £2.75. I must take into consideration the younger audience and whether the price is suitable for them.
Monday, 13 October 2008
TWANG COVER IMPROVEMENT...
I (Elif) have decided that my cover needs a few adjustments! I'm thinking of adding a banner on the top of the page with a free promo. This is a positive sign for attracting the audience and attention of buyers to BUY the magazine. A few colour adjustments and font size of specific features on the page will be done too...
FINAL VERSION OF TWANG! IS COMING SOON!!!
FINAL VERSION OF TWANG! IS COMING SOON!!!
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