Preliminary Task Ideas
Audience Reception Theory
Media products are created to suit a particular audience where the industry can adopt different ways, which the audience views their product. This includes three different theories: hypodermic theory, uses and gratifications and two step flow process. The hypodermic theory was the first theory in the media industry this includes that audiences receive information passively meaning that they accept all information that they've received. This contrast to the uses and gratifications theory, this theory allows audiences to be individuals and decide what they watch and read. Such example is audiences are able to decide whether they want to see a film at the cinema this allows them to decide therefore becoming an individual. Another example is diversion; this allows audiences to escape their daily lives such as through television and soap operas, personal relationship is also another example where audiences are able to gain relationships with others based on their interests through media. The final theory is two step flow theory, this theory includes three stages. Typically, information such as text or product is received directly by the audience yet this theory is when there is a stage included before audiences receiving the information. This means that information is adopted and changed. Such examples are news when information is gathered by a news department and adopted and changed to suit the audience making it understandable and clear. Another example is film editing where the film is edited and then released to the audiences.
Mood Board
For the mood board I decided to explore my own sixth form and to take photos of students studying and the study room. I noticed most colours throughout the sixth form were simple blue and white this links with the school’s colours and the students in the lower year’s uniform. I also explored the internet, collecting images and colours of schools and what links with education. I collected some images of fonts which tell me there are different styles which can be used. I saw that my school’s report system uses simple white font style and Waterstones which sells educationally books also has simple fonts. Yet with the school magazines front covers I collected I noticed that mastheads aren't in a simple font making the magazine seem interesting. This tells me that even though schools use simple fonts that sixth form magazine needs to have an interesting font. The school logo should be used in the school magazine this is because it links with what the sixth form magazine is for and allows students know it’s a school magazine. The colours from the mood board are quite dark and very simple including: red, navy blue and white. This tells me that those colours should be used in the school magazine as they link with the school logo and uniform. From the images of content pages form school magazines, I've noticed images of students are used which clearly shows that they’re targeting student’s. I collected and explored different shapes of boxes which could be used for the school magazine, I noticed that simple rectangle and squared are best used as they’re simple.
Front Cover
Mock Up of Content Page
Preliminary Task Notes
In what ways does you magazine use, develop, or challenge forms and conventions of media products you have studied so far?
The front cover of my school magazine use forms and conventions of media products which I have studied, for example the masthead style which is in front of the main cover image is a typical use which most magazine use either in front or behind the image therefore this fits into the typical style. Also, the main cover image is a mid-shot of a student; this style of front cover image is commonly used in magazines, which supposedly should attract and appeal to the target audience and link with the viewer/reader. However, my front cover also challenges forms and conventions of media products, firstly, there are no coverlines but instead a box with a list of contents but typically magazines have coverlines spread around the sides of the magazine therefore my magazine challenges the typical layout. Secondly, the image of school name board is placed at a random place, which doesn’t look appealing. Which challenges the typically view because front cover images will be placed where they are suited and reflects on the magazine making it look professional. Finally, what it also challenged is the use of dark colours that are not appealing especially as the yellow is bright and gives a boring and non-effective vibe towards the front cover and therefore won’t attract the target audience.
How does your product represent a particular social group?
My product represents students and teenagers social group; this is because the front cover image is of a student therefore reflecting on students. This also represents teenagers as hard working but also wanting to get an education especially as the front cover image is of a student playing the piano representing students as talented. But also those teenagers are the next generation of achieving something good. The content page represents students, as motived and hard working as one image will be of a student studying showing that teenagers want an education and to achieve something great.
Who would be the audience for your product?
The audience of my product would be sixth formers therefore teenagers. This is because most sixth formers would need university advice and tips how to achieve their target grades because places at universities are very limited therefore sixth formers will need to achieve everything they can to gain a place. The audience is clear by the main front cover image which is of a sixth form student therefore reflects on the sixth formers and shows a clear target audience. Also, the contents of the magazine would only appeal to sixth formers as it includes: university advice, studying, events and more. This all links with sixth formers and their levels therefore will only appeal to them.
How do you attract/address your audience?
The audience is attracted to the front cover this is because the image of the student is well known by many of the sixth formers therefore will attract sixth formers to purchase the magazine. Also, the price is cheap which will attract students because the magazine will be affordable so sixth formers are able to purchase the magazine. Contents of the magazine also attracts the audience, this is because the magazine includes topics based around university and advice but also interviews about university places and volunteer work. This means that the contents will appeal to the audience who are teenagers and sixth formers as they’ll be more likely to gain a place in their chosen university. The images included in the magazine, which are of the study room, sixth only entrance and students studying this will attract the audience because it will link with them and how they view the sixth form. The magazine doesn’t directly address the audience this is because it’s simple and doesn’t have any questions for the reader to answer.
What have you learned about technologies in constructing this product?
By using Photoshop to construct the front cover and the mock-up of the content page, I’ve learnt that Photoshop is a lengthy progress and it takes a great deal of time to construct a professional looking magazine. One problem, which occurred, was editing the main cover image; because I didn’t use layers therefore I couldn’t edit the background of the main cover image, which meant I had to leave the background as it is. Improvements which I could be done is the layout of the front cover such as the image of the school board could be placed at the bottom or more on the side so it could stand out more. I could also make it stand out more by editing the background of the main cover image and making it either plain blue or white. I could also chose different colours, as the blue and yellow made the front cover seem boring and therefore wouldn’t attract my audience. The masthead could also be styled differently making it seem interesting and creative this could appeal to my audience and them being interested. Finally, the coverlines instead of being placed in a list style and in a box, they could be spread to the sides so that the magazine look as if it contains many interesting information and makes the audience/viewer want to buy the magazine as it will seem to be worth the money.