Kerrie Spooner's AS Media Blog

Tuesday, 30 March 2010

Questions About My Music Magazine- Early Planning

Originally uploaded by Kerrie Spooner

Sunday, 7 March 2010

Ideas For My Music Magazine.

I want my music magazine to have a Indie/Rock style to it. I want to use red, black and white as the three main colours because i think these colours you can associate with the rock genre.

I want the front page to have and edgy look to it and an interesting background. I want the image on the front cover to be central because i think this engages the audience more and gives more focus on the chosen celebrity.

The contents page I want to keep simple so it is easy to read. But I also want to include fashion in my magazine because my target audience would want to copy the styles of their favorite artists.

I want my double page spread to look exciting from the moment the target audience see it. I want to used interesting pull quotes which will lure the readers in and want to find out more. The style of interview I want to use is a question and answer type interview, because I think that this is a more personal style and you feel as if you are part of the celebrity's life.

Double Page Spread Analysis

Double Page Spread
Originally uploaded by Kerrie Spooner

Click on image for my Flickr annotation.

Contents Page Analysis

Click on image for my Flickr annotation.

Contents Page
Originally uploaded by Kerrie Spooner

Q Music Magazine

Q Music Magazine
Originally uploaded by Kerrie Spooner

Click on image for my Flickr annotation.

Friday, 5 March 2010

What I Have Learnt About Technologies.

The main Programme I used through-out my work was Photoshop. I found this a really good programme because i could edit text and pictures in many ways to make my magazine look really proffessional. I found this an easy and interesting programme to use and I will certainly be using it again with other work.

I used Microsoft word to write up my articles, this was a helpful programme to used because it would correct any grammar and spelling mistakes before I transfered it into Photoshop.

I have used programmes such as Flickr and Blogger to annotate and organise my work and I used my Sony Cyber-shot 12.1mp camera to take photos.

Tuesday, 2 March 2010

NME Music Magazine

NME Music Magazine
Originally uploaded by Kerrie Spooner

Click on Image for my Flickr annotation.

Comparison Between My Preliminary Task And My Music Magazine.

On my magazine's front pages, both the photographs would stand out to my particular target audience (16+, both gender, working class, aspirers and individualists) because they have an interesting look.

On my preliminary task (right) I think that the layout is too bland and would make the magazine seem a little boring to my target audience. However, on my Music magazine, I have used the spacing in a better way by not leaving too much of a gap, but also not making it hard to read or too cluttered. I think that it looks better with less spacing because it will make my target audience excited that there is so much going on in my magazine. The space that i have used is filled with black and white wallpaper which i think gives my magazine a unique look because most magazines have a plain or coloured background, where as mine has that bit more edge to it.

On my college magazine cover, I think that the writing looks too cluttered and bland compared to my music magazine. This is mainly because I didn't know how to use Photoshop at this point. On the other hand, on the cover of my music magazine, I think that the font stands out more and looks proffessional. I used the "bevel and emboss" tool on Photoshop to make the writing seem as if it has a 3D effect which would instantly catch my target audience's attention.

The title of my music magazine looks a lot more eye catching than my college magazine's title. I used a website (www.dafont.com) to find a fun and bold font to appeal to my target audience. I think that the word "FRESH" is a good title because it relates to what my magazine is trying to imply, fresh new music. Its also not too long, so that my target audience will remember it easily. I used the dissolve tool to give the effect of base and static from the music. This also gives the title an interesting look.The title of my college magazine looks too plain and simple which doesn't help attract my target audience. I think that it is also too formal looking, which isn't the impression i wanted to give. I wanted it too look informal and appealing to my target audience.

Overall, I think that my Music magazine appeals a lot more to my target audience than my college magazine does. I am happy with the result of my music magazine and feel I have worked hard to acheive it.

The Audience For My Media Product.

My target audience would be males and females (mainly females) 16-24, middle class and targeting mainstreamers, aspirers and individualists. I want them to aspire to look like the celebrities in the magazine but also take fashion styles from the magazine and make them into their own and create their own style.

My target audience...

would shop in places like Topshop, H&M and Primark (affordable and you can create your own style)
they would listen to music such as Pixie Lott, Scouting For Girls, Oasis and Razorlight
they would watch Tv programmes like Skins and The Inbetweeners because they can relate their lives to the programmes because they deal with students.
their hobbies would be socialising, shopping and going to music festivals and gigs.
they would eat at places like McDonalds, KFC and Burger King because it is quick and cheap, ideal for on-the-go students.

I think that my target audience would buy my magazine because the cover is attractive and individual and i think this would interest my target auidence and they would want to buy it. Also, the main feature about "Emily Skuse" has an interesting sounding coverline and my audience would be attractd to but my magazine so that they could read more. My magazine not only includes music but also fashion tips and styles, this would attract my audience because they feel as if they are getting 2 for the price of one and they could also copy styles. I have also included information about music festivals because I think that my target audience would be interested in going to them and socialising with their friends there. The colours on my magazine are bold and I have used a patterned wallpaper background, which I think makes the magazine look unique because you dont really see many music magazines with a patterned background.

Monday, 1 March 2010

What Kind Of Media Institution Might Distribute My Media Product And Why.

The media institution that I have decided might publish my magazine is IPC Media. They publish similar magazines to mine like NME. They also publish newspapers and Loaded, which is a man magazine. It also does women's magazines such as Now magazine and Look.

"It is one of the United Kingdom's leading consumer magazine and digital publishers, with a large portfolio selling over 350 million copies each year." - Wikipedia.

My magazine would be distributed in mainstream shops such as WHSmiths and in supermarkets such as Tesco and Morrisons because these are the kind of places my target audience would go to. It would also be avaliable on subscription.

I feel as if there is a gap in the market for my genre of magazine because most music magazines just focus on music and not other topics relating to music such as fashion which my magazine does.

How My Media Product Represents Social Groups.

The picture on the left is my front cover image and the picture on the right is the image I based my ideas and style on.

I think that my model looks like Pixie Lott anyway, which was an advantage. I chose my model to wear black and white like Pixie Lott because I think that these colours are used alot relating to rock music.

I think that these images relate to my target audience (16+) because they both make the model look sexy and glamorous, but not with really expensive clothes.

I gave my picture an extra edge because my model is smoking a cigarette, which gives the magazine an rebellious feel an links to the rock genre because it is all about being individual and mostly doing what you feel. I also wanted my model to be looking right into the camera rather than away because I feel that my model is connecting more with the readers and making more of a statement rather than not looking at the camera which gives the feel of weakness.

The psychographics.

I think that this picture would suit the mainstreamers because they like to copy styles, however it could also suit the individuals because they could copy ideas and trun them into something different.