Evaluation of my work

Evaluation of main task

The 7 Questions

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

During my research I found (to my knowledge) that there are no reggae magazines in the UK, and the only magazines I did find were online versions. So initial there were no forms or conventions for my magazine genre. This gave me a lot of freedom to create a magazine which would be a first for its genre. I did however look at the forms and conventions of online reggae music magazines and then apply them to my magazine. The websites I looked at received several hundreds of hits a day so they are popular, and because I am was designing a first time for the genre magazine, it was helpful to have some idea of what the target audience (for e.g. online reggae magazine readers) look for.

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine is aimed at and represent at Caribbean music fans, specifically reggae. My magazine is about reggae which is a key/ well known element of Caribbean music. I have also taken care to use language that the majority of people who will read the magazine will be familiar with and enjoy reading it. The articles in my magazine have a Caribbean style to them.

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

Although I would like my magazine to be distributed by small business (local stores) and big name brand companies it would be unlikely. Realistically it would most likely only be sold by big name brands such as WHSmiths, Boarders or a supermarket such as Tesco or ASDA. The genre for my magazine is currently nonexistent. As a result small businesses are unlikely to invest in a product that there is no sales data on. After a year or two of circulation (so long as sales go up) small institutions may sale my product.

4. Who would be the audience for your media product?

My reggae magazine is targeted at the following:
People who like or are interested in reggae or Caribbean music and most likely have a Caribbean background (although it is not limited or specifically targeted at them).

-Both males and females between the reading and age range of 16 to 45 years old.

5. How did you attract/ address your audience?

I used my front cover, like all magazines, to attract my audience. At stores magazine are put in racks and in most cases the only part of a magazine you see while standing back and browsing is the top part. So I designed and used an eye catching title that first, catches the reader’s attention and then lets them know that this is a reggae magazine. Once the reader has picked up the magazine they will then look at the three kicker lines in the bottom left third of the page and consider reading on. Once they turn over to the contents page they will be greeted with a colourful and artistic computer generated graphic. This image will most likely stay with them and may possibly lead them to buy the magazine again. As for addressing the audience I used very personal language, to give the impression that I' am talking to and addressing the reader personally. I used simple and easy to understand language that has a Caribbean ring to it make the articles more appealing for the target audience.


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

The main thing I have learnt from this task in relation to technologies is the importance of digital technology over the old style analogue technology.

Digital technology allows for quick editing, a task which would have taken a long time using analogue technology. Digital technology allows photos and photo manipulation easier for amateur to learn the trade. It allows you to create graphics designs, page layouts, effects and photo editing/manipulation that would simply not be possible on old analogue technology.


7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

The preliminary task was a simple and brief exercise but it gave me my first hand look at the elements of design that are in magazine designing specifically the front cover. In class we also watched a video about creating a monthly Vogue catalogue issue by Anna Wintour. It gave me a look at how the professional magazine business is run and how the design process leads up to the final product and how everything goes together.

When I started to plan my own magazine I also got the chance to sit down and come up with my own ideas. I found that you should always come up with more than one idea and then choose the best one. You should also confer with other colleagues as to what their opinions on your choices are; two or more minds are always greater than one. You have to pick your target audience and then tailor you magazine to fit their requirements and expectations. You have to think carefully about the layout of your pages, how you address them, the language and style you use, and the reading age of your articles. You have to create a front cover that is eye catching and has appropriate images that will attract the audience’s attention. The same is true for the contents page which must encourage the reader to read on. I have also learnt about marketing and how some products will only be sold by big name brand institutions and other can be sold by small local institutions.

I also learned some advanced photoshop and Indesigns skills that will serve me well for future product development.