Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
When designing my school magazine, the whole concept of using photoshop was very new. Most things I did were experimental whilst I was figuring out what photoshop was capable of and forming an understanding of how everything operates. This of course was a benefit when designing my music magazine. At the same time I was looking at other magazines and identifying what I liked and didn't like about each of those, and then attempting to use the tools of photoshop to get the results I wanted. Occasionally I would be trying to achieve a desired result when due to my inexperience with the technology I would get a result that I had not intended, but that I liked. But mistakes like this are all part of the learning process. I think from my preliminary task I managed to target my audience better, as instead of merely asking my media studies peers I branched out and asked a wider variety of my friends. I asked people whom I knew weren't particularly interested in Dubstep to see if the magazine would even appeal to them, and my feedback was positive.
What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
There is far more than meets the eye in designing a successful magazine: layout, font, research into readerships and overall look. This has been something I have really enjoyed about the project. I feel I have gained confidence with the tools used in photoshop. This meant that towards the later parts of forming my magazine, I was able to move a lot quicker with the knowledge that I acquired. Working on this project introduced me to different aspects of design that I had not thought about before, such as making a page layout look interesting and appealing, contrasting photographs and where text would look most accessible. All of these skills are important in today's modern world in which a knowledge of computer technology is very important in many professions. Through this process I also learnt the importance of development. By improving and developing a design it allowed me to make comparisons between the original idea and the end result. When comparing these two I was able to clearly see and evaluate the choices I made from start to finish. During the process of creating this magazine I have also learnt about 'Blogger', and how to diary all of the research I have been doing in a more diverse way and to write in a formal yet friendly way to indulge my readers. I have been interested in photography for a while now, but doing this magazine helped me to broaden my skills. For example the front cover image, I used a digital camera and the 'enhance' theme on the camera helped to bring out the bright colous. Also when I was taking the photo at 'Ministry of Sound' I moved the camera whilst taking the photo, to result in a slightly blurred image- really portraying the movement and energy in the rave to attract my readers. However when I was taking the photo's for my contents page and for my feature, I merely used the black and white scene setting on the camera, to make it more enigmatic and to coinside with the theme of my magazine (which is predominantly black and white.)
How did you attract/address your audience?
The chief aim of the magazine is to focus on music. Music is an essential and important part of young peoples lives. Therefore the magazine should appeal immediately to the youth demographic. Placing a musician (or in my case, a DJ) on the front cover is designed to appeal to that target market. The colour scheme I chose is dark and mysterious and modern- helping to appeal to both male and female customers.
To ensure that my magazine is suited to my target audience I have used language and terminology that the readership can immediately identify with. For example: 'bangin bass' and 'ya gemme', steriotypical language for 16-20 yr old language that they will understand and interpret in a positive way. Including lots of information on the latest music scene will attract all people with an interest in music.
To make the magazine more edgy I decided not to have an image of a famous artist on the front cover, but instead an anonymous DJ, in order to make everyone feel comfortable picking it up and reading it, so that they don't have to feel pressured to know the artist on the front cover.
I think in this genre in music there is a gap in the market, therefore I feel confident in saying that I have a lack of competitors, or if I do have any their magazines are not well known, and are therefore not a major threat.
My audience feedback was mixed. The majority felt that it was a whacky and yet up to date with the modern music scene. Many liked the layout and the colours and fonts used (predominantly black and white with a bright front cover, and Impact font), however some said the actual content does no interest them.
Who would be the audience for your media product?
DUB LDN is a magazine dedicated to serious young ravers and lovers of Dubstep. However, instead of making my magazine glamorous or glossy it doesn't focus on the image of the artist, just the music they produce. This means that the articles inside are mainly music based, therefore DUB LDN includes many reviews of albums and live concerts. It contains information on the latest music based news, and has some stories on artists and how young people can get involved in the Dubstep music scene.
My audience would be formed of both young male and female readers, aged 16- 24 yrs. The disposable income of my targeted demography is generally modest. (approximately the amount of the weekly EMA allowance as my magazine targets mainly students.) Music fans in any career could be interested in my magazine, but most likely they will have a high interest within the rave scene.
What kind of media institution might distribute you media product and why?
To determine which kind of institution would be a main distributor of my magazine I did had to research different companies of magazine distribution.Emap is an online and offline distribution of retail, built environmental, media, health, government and education. After further research I discovered that the magazines they distribute fall mainly under business genres, therefore not suited for my magazine. The only media related magazines I was able to find were all linked in with the business industry. After deciding that my magazine does not fit in with any magazines of this institution I continued with my research. IPC would be an institution that would districute DUB LDN. IPC is a huge media brand that distributes other music magazines such as 'Uncut' and 'NME'. I think this institution would be suited to my music magazine because both these magazines are similarly devoted to music; these distributors are therefore clearly appropriate as they have experience in this area.
As I want the readers of my magazine to be aged roughly between 16-24 yrs, I would also distribute my magazine from school as many 6th formers would be interested in buying. I would advertise for it in the 6th form magazine 'Sixth Sense', quoting the price and a few coverlines to attract prospecting buyers. I would also give a free batch of my magazine at the door of raves that I have named in my magazine, such as: Ministry of Sound, SeOne and the Waterloo Arches. This would be ideal as the people there would be my perfect audience and would without fail be interested in my magazine and what it stands for.
How does your media product represent particular social groups?
From the front cover, you can immediately tell that the genre is heavy base Dubstep, as the image is taken from a rave scene at Ministry of Sound. I enhanced this, maing the image more digital and eye catching.
The use of black and white as my colour theme throughout my magazine presents it as being more serious in comparison to a magazine using more striking colours such as pink, yellow and lime green as there font colours etc. I decided to use these colours to indicate the magazines main focus point, the music the artists play, not the latest gossip on each of them.
The age of serious music fans can vary, but I have specifically aimed mine at young adults aged 16-24.
The image on the front cover is of a rave scene, which immediately implies that my magazine will have information about raves and the Dubstep genre of music. The colours are bright to show that my magazine is interesting, indulging and also fun. The mise en scene represents the age group that I am intending to attract, as it shows teenagers dancing in a club in front of a DJ. Teenagers are normally presented as trouble makers and riotous, however this front cover image presents them as just having a good time, which at the end of the day that is all they are ever doing as they are young.. and they can.
The images in the feature show a teenage boy sitting in a hoody with big headphones on. This does not connote him to be troublesome, but to just enjoy music and to have a sense of fashion that is typical of a teenage boy. I am therefore challenging the typical characterisation of teens.
The images in the feature show a teenage boy sitting in a hoody with big headphones on. This does not connote him to be troublesome, but to just enjoy music and to have a sense of fashion that is typical of a teenage boy. I am therefore challenging the typical characterisation of teens.
