By Manisha Dhuna

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products? I think my magazine conforms and challenges other real Media products. My magazine can be compared to other popular Hip-Hop/R&B magazines such as ‘VIBE’ and ‘The Source’ because of the predominant colours used which is red, white and black, these colours appeal to the target audience and are mainly used for music covers. I have used images of girls to portray the Hip Hop/R&B image across my magazine. By the models wearing big chunky accessories and sunglasses this indicates to the target audience that it is a Hip-Hop/R&B magazine. I chose bright colours to catch the audiences eyes and colour co-organised my models, with the use of tights, jewellery, sunglasses as well as other props. For my magazine I have used a variety of conventions, I used a masthead, different colours, and a vast amount of teasers and plugs. As I have set them out in a professional manor and made it look like a real music magazine it can relate to one itself.

How does your media product represent particular social groups? My magazine creates a representation to a younger generation who idolises celebrities in the 21 st century. The font I have chosen is easy to read, plain and simple. This shows that Hip-Hop/R&B can be clean and simple and isn't confusing as the media makes it sounds, which is effective to the younger generation. The colours show that Hip-Hop/R&B isn’t just about one colour, it has a vast amount of colours. In my magazine I used a selection of colours to attract the audience as colours are a significant role in younger generation. In conclusion my magazine is representing the younger generation who idolises older celebrities. My images I chose shows a new image of Hip-Hop/R&B as it’s multi coloured and still has the stereotypical view of hip-hop but portrayed in a different manor. The image shows that the models have power as they are in front of the masthead and the plugs are fitted around the models.

What kind of media institutions might distribute your media product and why? Local institutions such as WHSmith and HMV would be most suitable to promote my magazine. I believe that as this magazine targets many audiences it would be best to promote it in a institution which is always busy and is local to all ages, as it would make a reasonable profit as well. Also, online magazine stores would be interested to sell my magazine as it relates to younger generations and more younger generation spend time online the computer day after day. My magazine contains the conventions of a Hip-Hop/R&B magazine and this genre is the most common genre to the younger generation. The standard conventions are used for the magazine, as well as the use of Photoshop, this was used to make my magazine. Also, to change the font and image size so it can appeal to the audience as its the key feature and to make sure it’s clear, and to change the colours of my production.

Who would be the audience for your media product? I believe my target audience would be teenagers and young adults of the ages 16-24, but is aimed slightly at older ages. After my questionnaire findings, I knew that my magazine would target teenagers more then any other age group, so I knew that I had to make sure it attracted teenagers more then adults. This is shown by the colours I chose and the language used. Words like ‘BEEF’ is common for the younger generation then the older, and in the article the answers were in slang and the language is common to teenagers and appeal to them as they can read it like the magazine relates to them. My magazine had a simple and effective look to it, as well as it being professional and easy to read. I kept to the traditional layout of a magazine, which was big masthead and eye catching image as well as teasers, plugs, hooks and free gifts. My choice of colours were primary colours which the audience automatically relate to and they’re powerful colours, this related to the magazine as Hip-Hop/R&B is a powerful genre. Also, the clothing used influences the genre so the audience know that its related to Hip-Hop.

How did you attract/address your audience? I addressed my audience by using a questionnaire which I designed to find out what attracts my target audience and what doesn't. Majority of the answers from my questionnaire would like to read stories about real celebrities, but I believed that a group re-appearing after a long time would be more suitable as it would show the differences between old school music and new school music. Also, black white and red were the common answers for my magazine to choose as my predominant colours, but as it was the spring season and my article was about a new group re-appearing I thought it was best to choose bright colours so it could attract the target audience as well as emphasise the season, and the colours go well together as they are primary colours. Through out my magazine my font is simple but professional, only key headings were in graffiti. By creating a market research questionnaire it allowed me and didn't let me use certain elements for my magazine.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process on constructing this product? I feel that I have learnt a large quantity of knowledge about Photoshop CS4. without Photoshop I could not have made my magazine to the standard it is now, this shows that the technology I had to use to create my magazine plays a major role for my final production. I learnt how to design and create a wide range of productions, which is noticeable in my constructions. Eventually, after getting the hang of using Photoshop, I was able to create products I wasn't able to create before. Also, the internet helped me to gather information for my research and planning, and helped me with my radial analysis as I needed original magazine covers. I also learnt that I was able to manipulate and put effects on one singular picture as well as text.

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product? I feel I have learnt a lot more then I was capable of, and have progressed quickly as I was able to create and design my own media magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread in a professional manor. I was able to develop an understanding of how to use new programmes such as Photoshop. Without using Photoshop in my preliminary task I grasped the concept of the software within a matter of weeks as it was a necessity to understand the functions of the software, I managed to edit pictures and texts as well as to be able to change colours so it all links together and make it look professional. I feel that now if I have to make a magazine I have enough capability to make one on my own without any help, and creating one would be easier as I have a wider imagination and have explored a wide range of music genres, and now know what targets my audience a lot more. Looking back at my preliminary task I feel that I could have done better in that task as I now have the ability to do better. But now it has made me able to create my magazine more professional and attractive to the target audience and now know where I need to improve on. Overall I have learnt that I can produce good quality of work if I have the right technology and this whole process has taught me how I can achieve it.