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

  My product follows traditional conventions of a music magazine as it has a Masthead which should be the biggest and most attractive font on the cover. I have used a suitable font that matches the rest of my fonts throughout the page so that it looks like a professional magazine. I have made the title suitable to the genre "Unplugged" is a semantic field of music this is to make it clear what kind of audience it is appealing to.

I have also included a selling line which is above my title so that is accompanies the title as if it was used in a sentence, "Your guid to music... Unplugged." This is like popular music magazines such as "Mojo, The Music Magazine" who has tag lines relating to and joining with the title. A selling line follows conventions of real media products as they show a sharp description of the magazines selling point. My selling line is therefore a short description of what i am including in my magazine in this case it is a "guid to music". By it being "Unplugged" demonstrates it being raw and unseen as it is just being "unplugged" therefore just discovered, and the audience feel as if they are getting something completely new and exclusive compared to everyone who does not read "Unplugged".


I have also used a puff/plug containing important information which is conventional to be in the shape of a star or circle. Usually found in the corner of the page i have located my puff on the bottom right hand corner so that it is still visible but not in the way of my main image. The information inside should stand out for example on "MOJO" the information is in a different font and size to draw your attention to it. In my version i have used all capitals and a different font again to enhance the exclusivity of the information inside therefore it should be highlighted.

Another traditional convention i have used is a model credit along the middle and on the front which i have placed traditionally next to the artists name to show the link, between the two texts. I have used a smaller font and different colour picked out from the band name to coordinate the two text despite there deferences so the audience can make a direct link to why its there. Also the text is made smaller as it is conventional and does not take your attention away from the artist which acts as a heading and the main focus where the model credit is a subheading to accompany it, and intrigue the reader to read more about the artist and want to buy it. By making the model credit extravagant it instantly stereotypes the artist and therefore the audience interested in this artist. I have also linked it to music, such as "Its not easy being a rockstar 24/7 believe me" this makes the artist seem likable as she is truthful yet fun appealing to my target audience.

I have made all my main sub-headings and the first part of my headline visible on the left third as this is vital for sales in some shops where the magazine as a whole isn't on show and only the left will be. Therefore all the key ideas, and my main content should be recognisable in display of other competition. This is similar to all magazines  not just of the music genre as the magazine industry is competitive therefore every magazine needs to highlight the main content giving a quick overall picture of what they have to offer inside.

I have used a date line and issue number to show the month and the year of the publication to show the audience are receiving something up to date. High gloss monthly magazines are usually published a month before the cover date says. I have used "February 2013" therefore it should be the issue for January again this makes the audience feel exclusive as they are receiving music information before everyone else.

I have also used a main image of my artist which takes up most of the page, this is conventional as it's the main attraction and catches your attention instantly. On music magazines it is usually an upcoming or of time artist that the audience will find inspirational therefore should be the main image. The artist is usually, weird and wacky therefore my main image was a model posing in strange way with the indie/rock characteristics and outfit. This mes-en-scene demonstrates who the target audience is as it will often be what they wear and how they act. My main image is taken against a plain background like professional images so that it doesn't draw your attention away from the centre model and the heading and subheadings.

I have used a variety of cover lines distributed around the whole page all having similar stories to appeal to the interests of my target audience to make them want to buy my magazine and read the articles. This is a convention of traditional music magazines as it is used to attract a certain audience and also gives an insight into some of the content, they are often the most interesting or exclusive cover lines to stand out among the competition. I have used cover lines such as "100 around the world gig blow out reviews" and "Top 10 festivals this year".

My main cover line is another convention as i have made it so that my feature artist name is the main line on the front cover. This is demonstrated on over various magazine covers i have presented, furthermore i have written it in a similar colour but with effects and larger font so it is noticeably different from the rest of my cover lines. I have aded extra conventional details to add to the overall magazine such as a bar code and sans serif font where extra flourishes has been added to the text. These minor details have made a difference as it adds a professional touch which you would see in everyday magazines.

Question 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups? 

Presentation media from daisyflood

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

Question 4 and 5: Who would be the audience for your media product and how did you attract/address your audience?

Questionnaire:
I created a questionnaire asking  10 of my target audience about interests, consumption of media and how they spend their time to confirm how my magazine has been created to appeal to this particular target audience.

1. What would you prefer to do in your spare time? 
    a) Listen to music or go to a gig   4
    b) Read  2
    c) Do a sporting activity 2
    d) Shopping 2

2. Which other media products do you consume? 
    a) Film and TV 2 
    b) Music and radio 3
    c) Magazines and newspapers 2
    d) Social networking including blogs 3

3. Which would most interest you if you had the choice? 
    a) Going to a festival or gig 6
    b) Visiting a football match or any other competitive game 1
    c) Vintage shopping 1
    d) A lazy day in doors 2

4. What would you most like to read in a music magazine?
    a) Gig reviews 2
    b) Interviews from the latest indie/rock stars 4
    c) Pop or rap music reviews and stars 1
    d) Top dance festivals to visit 3

5. With a low income as a student would you still spend over £2 on a music magazine?
     YES 8
      NO 2

6. What would you do to 'escape' from stress? 
    a) Reading a magazine 2
    b) Listen to music 3
    c) Shopping 3
    d) Visit family and friends 2

7. What is your preferred choice of music to listen to? 
    a) Pop 1
    b) Indie/Rock 6
    c) Rap 2
    d) Dance 1

8. Would music reviews be useful to read about?
    YES 7
    NO 3

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

 STRENGTHS:

• New technology has introduced new ways for the magazine industry to progress and take advantage of this to construct a magazine that offers a variety of articles that have been improved and made more interesting through other peoples blogging or written articles that can feature in the magazine. 
• I have interpreted "100 around the world gig blow outs " therefore social media has allowed me to get reviews across the globe. This new technology has allowed the magazine to develop and improve due to communications from the other side of the planet. The locations where my magazine will be published will be in one place therefore they cant get information on gigs in different areas across the globe and without this article are restricted to local reviews. 
• I used the programme 'InDesign' to create my magazine so that it makes the magazine look professional and has allowed me to create a magazine that looks similar to those in the industry already. The program also allowed me to make improvements to the front cover, contents page and double page spread so that they look more professional.
• Since constructing my student magazine i have learnt how to create a music magazine that further addresses magazine conventions through examinations of music magazines on the market. I have also improved from this by enhancing my knowledge on how to use 'InDesign'. This meant I was able to construct an appropriate product after learning how to correctly use the program 'InDesign'. 

WEAKNESSES: 

• New mergence of technology such as "blogger" means it is easy to access gig reviews online. Many students can find these on an iPod, smart phone, laptop, or iPad. This would mean that students are less inclined to purchase a magazine to read about something that is easily accessible online. Because of this I have not only included tag lines about gig reviews on the front I have also included that the content contains a variety of interviews and competitions as this is exclusive to the magazine and cant be found online. 
• The price could be seen as a problem to students due to their low income as my magazine is just over £2. However I have made it a monthly magazine as a weekly would mean spending more a month. I have also made a questionnaire asking my target audience whether they would be prepared to pay this a month and the majority said they would. 
• The majority of music magazines are known as 'glossy' just as mine is, however technology has aloud me to make a glossy magazine that stands out from the rest of them as it doesn't over crowd the page or look to busy. It also allowed me to confirm my target audience due to conventions and the elements I incorporated to appeal to my target audience and the 'mode of address'. Technology is very important to the publishing sector as it allows you to differentiate the difference between the genre of the magazine what target audience it appeals to and what reading age would be most suitable for the particular magazine. 

OPPORTUNITIES: 

• Due to new mergence of new technology, it has given me the opportunity to create a magazine that looks like a high class glossy magazine that follow all natural conventions of a high end magazine. InDesign also allows me to ounce again make my magazine as professional as i could. 
• By creating a new indie/rock magazine I have been allowed to change customers tastes and find a new target audience. I have made it to appeal solely to a younger generation, due to the connotations, sub titles and images especially to appeal to my target audience. 
• This was an opportunity to add sub headings and content that provides what the target audience specifically want. My sub heading of "100 gigs around the world" this allows technology to give around the world feedback. This means we can co-operate with people around the world, and use technology to interact. 
• With the mergence of new technology advances I can create other media aspects to coincide with my magazine. This could be a website or app for smartphones, iPods or iPads, furthermore I have included the website link on my front cover to show i have already been thinking about new media and how my magazine will adapt to the transformation in this industry leading to new opportunities for the magazine. 

THREATS:

• Not all of my target audience might take to my new magazine as it is high glossy and you don't receive anything from it other than the enjoyment of the magazine. This could be a put off as they like to have more for their money. 
• Another threat could be as new technologies begin to emerge many people can find things in a magazine for free online. Also they offer more and can be accessed more easy if it is on a smart phone, iPad or iPhone product compared to a magazine which is more inconvenient. Even though this can be seen as an opportunity if this does not relate to my magazine and the company it will become a competitive threat. 
• There is a large number of music magazines on the scene at the minuet, therefore it might be hard to choose mine over the others it must be even better. I have created something that should stand out of the crowd however it can still be seen as a similarity to other magazines due to the high glossy magazines following the connotations. 

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

Front Cover