Evaluation of collage magazine

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

My magazine has some of the same features of a real magazine. It has things such as the cover model, a tag line, cover lines, a barcode, price and also the use of colour. I have used the same colours and kept the name throughout my magazine. It challenges real magazines because they would have had more choices with technology and skill to make a really good magazine. I think that my front cover looks like a real front cover rather than a poster. So that will make my magazine look more authentic.

How does the media product represent particular social groups?

My collage magazine represents 6^th form and collage students’ because in it, it has lots of things that will be useful for students such as a survival guide and offers for help with homework.

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

My magazine will be sold in a collage or 6^th Form school. This is because this magazine is for students and it should be sold where it will be easy to get to rather than going to a shop to get it. 

Who would be the audience for your media product? How did you address/attract your audience?

My target audience would be student in a 6^th form. For my collage magazine I used my cover model to catch the audience’s attention and draw them to my magazine. I also used quite bright colours so that they stand out against the white background, I think that the colours are quite contrasting colours so that people will notice them.

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

I have used Photoshop to develop my design from my initial drawing. I have learnt that you need a good quality photo for your front cover. This is because if you don’t then when you try to change the shape the picture will become fuzzy or distorted. Also you need lots of layers on your front cover because of all the different cover lines. This can make it more complicated when trying to move other parts of your cover if you are not on the right layer. 

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

I have learnt that everything that goes onto the front cover of a magazine must be planned and decided before can be used. I have learnt that you have to plan everything that you are going to do. Even small things like colour and font style because they all mean and represent something different. All things on the front cover must fit and also flow with each over when they are read by the audience. Creators of magazine front covers relay on different things to lure the audience in, from different stories, interviews, free gifts and competitions.

Finished Collage Magazine

This is the Front Cover of my collage magazine.

This is the Content page of my collage magazine.

This is my compleated collage magazine, i am happy with the way it come out. I have developed my design in Photoshop from my initial design.

Anchorage

This term refers to how images are referred to. In a magazine, images will be anchored by a caption (directly explaining the picture), by cover lines, or by articles and headlines. Anchoring helps give the image meaning and helps the reader understand the significance of the image.

Secondary Images

This is used on the front cover to help promote other features in the magazines; this is usually anchored by a coverline.

They are often used in magazines where the readers need to be excited by the picture rather than the coverline text.

Coverlines

These are located at different points on the front cover, they tell the reader about the content of the magazine,

Front covers usually have about 6-12 coverlines, this is to try and lure in the reader.

 Mode of address

This is the way that the magazine communicates with the reader. Some magazines will use a direct mode of address, communicating with individual readers.

This could be through the cover model (looking at the camera) or the use of the 2^nd person.

Puff

As in ‘Puff of air’, this helps draw in the attention and promote certain elements of the magazines. 

This could be a star shape or another graphic design, used to make it stand out. Usually has contrasting colours.

Pugg

Is in the corner of the magazine and usually has the price in or some other information.

Barcode, price and edition

Features that need to be placed strategically across the cover. The barcode should not distort any of the images.

Edition is there for when they need to store the magazine, and then people will be able to find it easier.