Michael Kanyike Media

Main Task: Audience feedback

00:30 |

As this was my first time making a magazine product, i needed to know what people thought of my magazine and what could be done to improve it.

My magazine front cover

My contents page

After obtaining some constructive feedback i made some improvements to my magazine

feedback from my new improved magazine.

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Main Task: Evaluation question 7: Looking back what have you learnt since the college magazine task?

02:00 |

My preliminary Task was to firstly create a college magazine front cover and contents page. For this preliminary task I had to firstly research on what different college magazine front covers look like and the convention they employ to attract there individual target audience. I found this part of the task not at all difficult because I already from gcse media had substantial knowledge about certain conventions newspapers and magazine use to attract there respective target audience. With that finished I learnt how to use blogger to publish work via the internet. Since the preliminary task, my blogger skills have improved, I have learnt how to embed YouTube videos on to my blogger and how insert pictures on to each respective blog.

Fig 1 the research part of my preliminary task.

Fig 2 the front cover picture used in my college magazine

With photos done I began to use adobe Photoshop to edit my photos and make my front cover and contents page. I found this task to be very daunting because it was my first time using such an advanced editing software. However none the less I still was able to produce a magazine front cover and contents page.

Fig 3 my college magazine front cover.

With this part of my task finished I began to take photos using a Canon EOS 400D that was going to be on my college magazine front cover and contents page. I found this task to be difficult because of the quality of the camera. It’s a camera used by many professional photographers, so I had a lot to learn about how to obtain the best photos. A skill I learnt later on and mastered was pointing a red beam from the camera itself onto the models eye to frame a nice picture.

Since the start of my coursework task, I feel that my organization skills have greatly improved. I was able to complete all my planning and research tasks a week before my deadline. However I just missed my deadline with my college magazine front cover and contents page. Since that error, I made sure that with my main task I met all my deadlines and bulked up my planning and research.

At the start of my main task I once again research on different music magazine front covers and analysed them. This task was much easier than the preliminary one because this time I combined knowledge that I had from gcse with knowledge I learnt from my teacher in class. Thus this task met the respective deadline with no real challenge. Because I was not really happy with my Photoshop skills, I went on the internet and researched on the best ways to make a music magazine via YouTube. I then placed a couple videos on to my blogger to show as evidence that I was trying to improve the quality of my magazine making skills.

Fig 4 my music magazine front cover analysis

With most of my planning and research finished, I began to start drafting out how my front cover would look like, using my sketch skills. This also was not really a significant challenge. However my next task was. My next task was to develop my photographic skills by using the same canon camera but this time using a Bowens Gemini flash; a piece of equipment that synchronizes with the camera to achieve greater flash which leads to greater lighting effects. Also because this photo shoot was done in a studio I also used a 60cm soft box so that it could add a soft tone to the lighting of the photos and make sure they don’t appear to dark on the screen. Finally in the photo shoot someone from my class held up a Photographic Light Reflector Disc, so that it could reflect light on to the main object at any angle so that it could connote a hidden message from the object or the photographer themselves. For example low lighting reflected on to the model may very convey that the model has a sinister side to them. Ultimately this task was very difficult because this time taking my photos was very difficult. However the quality of my photos has greatly improved since the start of the preliminary task.

Fig 5 Evidence my photograph skills have improved.

With my photos taken I began to use adobe Photoshop to construct my music magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread. This time I edited my photos so that I would make my magazine look more realistic. Also I learnt how to use tools such as the spot healing brush to get rid of blemishes on the model’s face. I also learnt how to use horizontal boxes to create columns on my contents page and double page spread to make my magazine look much more realistic.

From my previous research, I used the same colour scheme throughout my magazine product to attract my target audience. The colour blue and white go well with each other and are very youthful colours.

The strengths of my coursework were that I was able to meet deadlines and the improvements made in my coursework showed immensely. I put my magazine front cover onto face book and many people said that they liked my magazine and gave me constructive feedback on ways to improve my magazine

The weakness of my coursework was that compared to others in my class, my Photoshop skills were below par. Although this was my first time using such an advanced editing software I feel that in the future I will be able to produce a much better coursework piece.

Fig 6 both of my magazine front covers. The difference in quality is Immense

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Main Task: Evaulation question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

01:30 |

Since the start of my AS coursework unit, I have had the chance to use many products of technology. Firstly for instance, after the instruction of my media teacher, I set up an online blog on blogger.com to store and present all the work that I did for my coursework. Having never previously used or set up a blog in my life, I found it a bit difficult in setting up the blog itself. Also I found it very tedious to set up the blog because of the website powering the blog, I had to set up a new email address, just so that I can verify the new blog and begin to use it. However with the set up of my blog finished, I found most of the concept of blogger to be plain sailing. One of the only problems with blogger was that the fact that when it came to uploading pieces of work, at times, Bloggers server would crash, leaving me the only option of having to upload bits of missing work at later time and sometimes at a later day. Also another problem with blogger was that, it would only let me upload one picture before having to log out and log in just to upload another picture. However I still was able to produce all my work on time, regardless of these problems. Ultimately I learned that blogger is a good way to store work in a nice and presentable way.

Fig 1 Blogger Logo

Fig 2 Google Logo

With my coursework blog set up, I used the internet to further enhance and develop my planning and research for my coursework. I used www.google.co.uk to obtain images of: college magazines front covers, Music magazine front covers, Music magazine content pages and music magazine double page spreads. Ultimately I didn’t really learn anything new because for this part of the coursework, it was simply just putting past internet skills into practice. With this done, I also used a website called Wikipedia, an online editable encyclopaedia to gain information on publishing houses such as Conde nast and future plc for my case study. Ultimately it was also just putting past skills into practice.

Fig 3 Microsoft word

For the college part of my coursework I used the Microsoft word to write up a suitable questionnaire to distribute to fellow students in college. With results taken in, I learned to create charts in Microsoft excel- a virtual spreadsheet software. Also I learned how to give them relevant titles; which helped when it came to uploading them onto my blog.

Also I used a product called screen muncher on my blackberry smart phone. This enabled me to gain audience research much quicker than using the questionnaire format. Ultimately I learned that by using screen muncher it was much quicker to obtain results than handing out questionnaires.

Fig 4 Screen muncher

I used a Canon EOS 400D camera to take my pictures for both magazine products. With 10.1 megapixel s, it was a classic camera product many professional photographers tend to use to take photos. This was my first time using such an advanced camera so I had a lot to learn about how to operate the camera properly. Firstly I learnt that to frame a good picture I needed to point a red dot from the camera itself onto the models eye to frame a nice picture. After a couple cock-ups at first, I feel that I mastered that skill and was able to produce some really nice photographs. I also learnt how to frame medium close up shots to use on both magazine front covers.

With planning and research covered I began to use Adobe Photoshop cs3, professional editing software to produce my respective magazines. First time round of using the software, I found it to be very difficult to use due to the advancement of the software. However, in the past I used a program which was very similar to Photoshop which was called Photo impact; a less advanced editing software program for relevant rookie photo editors. So with the basic skills I possessed at the time, I enhanced my ability in basic concepts such as cropping and framing pictures to convey suitable themes. While making my music magazine, I learnt about how to crop backgrounds out of pictures and spot healing brush- a tool which enabled me to remove the spots and blemishes on my models faces to ensure my magazine looked much more realistic. I also learnt about other tools such as horizontal box shapes which allowed me to create columns for my music magazine contents page and double page spread.

Thus to conclude, I have learnt about these technologies and feel that if I was to do this task again in the near future, I would be able to match and even improve the quality of my coursework.

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Main Task: Evaulation question 5: How did you attract/adress your audience?

02:13 |

My magazine front cover attracts a rap audience by having a large image of a rapper posing with a microphone close to his mouth. With the rapper being 17 years old, he relates very well to the target audience of 16 to 21 years of age. He is wearing a very modern style of clothing which attracts the audience even more because most of them will probably dress similar to the model in the front cover. I used the prop of an Microphone so that firstly it will be clear to readers that this is a rap magazine and secondly so that it will grab the attention of the part of the audience who have a vivid passion for hip-hop music.

Fig 1 the check shirt worn by model in my front cover

Fig 2 evidence that chequered shirts are fashionable

(Information obtained from http://www.topman.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/CatalogNavigationSearchResultCmd?storeId=12555&&parent_categoryId=207230&categoryId=207231&top=Y&catalogId=33056&langId=-1&beginIndex=1&pageSize=20&sort_field=Relevance )

Finally I used the prop of a chain hanging to attract the target audience because it’s an object which is commonly associated with the hip-hop scene. Having all these props on show help the audience recognise easier that this is a hip-hop magazine and attracts them because for instance, they may be aspiring rappers themselves and seeing someone there age carrying a microphone in there hand so confidently, may inspire to purse a career in hip-hop. Secondly the clothing worn by model attracts the audience, because probably most of the target audience wear the same kind of clothing and thus may feel more at ease with the rapper because the similarity of clothing may suggest that the rapper is a humble, down to earth person.

With the model’s hair being freshly trimmed, this may appeal to the female audience who would take a liking to a male looking clean. This may appeal to the male audience who too like to maintain there hair regularly.

Throughout my product the colour scheme has always been white and a particular shade of blue. This was done because both colours compliment each other and because there are my favourite colours. The use of a bright colour scheme connotes youthfulness and thus attracts the target audience because of there youthful age (16 to 21).

The name of the model is Kwik-E-Mart, which is catchy and original. This attracts the target audience because many of them may have grown up watching the Simpsons and may be aware of the Kwik-E-Mart store in the show. Thus this may leave them with a nostalgic feeling and lead them to purchase the magazine.

Fig 3 the shade of blue used throughout my magazine.

I addressed my audience by using a catchy cover line which grabs there attention. “Life’s quick when you’re Kwik-E-Mart” is a clever pun which grabs the reader’s attentions because it leaves them thinking about what this exactly means and are intrigued about his life.

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Main Task: Evaulation question 4: Who would be the audience for your media product?

02:09 |

The takeover targets people of lower to middle class status with firstly an urban cultural background and secondly a passion or love for the hip-hop culture. However unlike most hip-hop magazines which features only American hip-hop artists, my magazine features mostly British artists and people who have had an impact on the British hip hop scene. For example, Tim Westwood, a very popular UK DJ. However I also included US artists such as Diggy Simmons because of the huge popularity, these particular artists possess.

Fig 1: Example of a American hip hop magazine which seem to feature only American hip-hop artists.

I decided to make the magazine target people from 16 to 21 years of age because of the fact, that the main artists that feature on my magazine will be hip-hop artists who are young and quite popular with people of this age group. Also although, the artists that feature in my magazine may very well appeal to people that is younger or older than the target group, the content of the interviews/reviews may not. People younger than the target group may not relate to the artists lifestyle but will aspire to be lie them and people older than the target group may very well no longer relate to that lifestyle because of obligations such as work and careers. Examples of stereotypical 16-21 lifestyles could be: party lifestyles, carefree lifestyles and many others. Thus, people older than the target group, may be put of by the lifestyle that certain artists are associated with.

Fig 2 Diggy Simmons an artist featured on my magazine who may not relate to people older than the target audience

The magazine does not really target any particular ethnicity group because of the fact hip-hop music reaches out to many people of different ethnicity groups. Hip-Hop music just like pop and rock is enjoyed worldwide. Therefore the audience are mostly only in to hip-hop music.

As stated in my target consumer research, the person most likely to purchase my magazine is people who have up to date media products and have knowledge on modern technology. For example, people who read my magazine may own a smart phone such as a blackberry or an I phone.

Fig 3 example of technology, my target audience would be fond of.

Also, my ideal consumer would own a modern games console such as a Xbox or a ps3

Fig 3 an Xbox 360

They would also be aware of using the internet as a way or form of entertainment and socialising with friends and meeting new people.

Fig 4 websites on the internet, my ideal consumer would strongly be aware of

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Main Task: Evaluation question 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

02:00 |

With reference to my publishing house case study later in this question, I believe future plc would best benefit from distributing my music magazine. Here is a link to there website:

http://www.futureplc.com/

Fig 1. Future Plc

Founded in 1985 by Chris Anderson in Bath, England, Futureplc produces a wide range of magazines from the film genre such as Odeon magazine and Total Film to game magazines such as Ngamer and Playstation: Official Magazine. However it also publishes music magazines such as:

Fig 2. Classic Rock

Classic rock is a music magazine dedicated to the nostalgic feel of old school rock. It has a monthly readership of 71,242 (information correct in December 2009). Its target audience are people who enjoy old school rock, most likely of the Caucasian race.

Fig 3 Rhythm magazine

Rhythm is a music magazine based around the drum and percussion instruments. With a monthly readership of 8700, its target audience are those who with a love for these kind of instruments and once again, most likely they appeal to a Caucasian race.

So, to wrap things up, it seems that future plc targets mostly a Caucasian audience when they publish there respective music magazines. My magazine itself, has no real ethnicity target audience but however targets much more different races than the music magazines, future plc publishes today. It would be beneficially for Future plc to publish my magazine because of the popularity of the hip-hop genre. In the modern world, hip hop can be entwined or fused with other genres such as rock and dance music. For example, in 1986, Run DMC collaborated with Aerosmith to produce the tune “walk this way”, which became the first rap song to chart in the top 5 in the billboard top 100 and peaked at number 8 in the UK charts.

Fig 4, Rev Run (one half of Run DMC) and Steven Tyler (member of Aerosmith) singing “walk this way” a song which rocketed Hip-Hop music into the charts and not only gave Run DMC global followers, but changed peoples views on fusing genres to produce songs.

So with the popularity of hip-hop, Futureplc could benefit from expanding there business into a new market because of the fact the popularity of the genre could wield a higher profit margin which will increase profits and allow future plc to invest more on there problem child magazines. Problem children, a business term, are products which need a huge quantity of market research and promotion in order to be a success. All this costs money. Higher profits will allow for much more development and higher success of these magazines.

Also future plc would benefit from publishing my music magazine because if the product was advertised properly, the success of the magazine will enhance Future Plc reputation. Future Plc at the moment is the sixth largest media company in the United Kingdom (Information found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Future_plc). T he success of the magazine will push the company forward because of the fact it targets more than just one race. Hip-Hop itself appeals to more than just one race. It’s a global music phenomenon which almost appeals to people of all ages. With my magazine targeting ages of 16 – 21 year olds, it will appeal to people of all races with a love for hip-hop unlike the other magazines, Future plc publishes. So to conclude, with a wider audience gained from the publishing of a rap magazine, this will enhance Future plc’s reputation and maybe allow them to take a leap of faith and make magazines which will also appeal to an American audience.

In my publishing house case study, I analysed Conde Nast and I feel that they would be the worst publishing house to publish my magazine. Founded in 1907, Conde Nast produces a wide range of magazines from cultural magazines such as Vanity Fair to fashion magazines such as Vogue. However its principal focus is on its fashion magazines because they are there most established magazines they publish. Also it seems the company main target audience is women which is completely different to my target audience

Firstly, with Conde Nast targeting mostly a female audience, they may completely change the way I publish my own magazine to target a female audience. Also with Conde Nast investing heavily on there fashion magazines, I feel that magazine will not succeed because of the fact the magazine doesn’t really appeal to there main target audience. Finally, with Conde nast having a principal focus on there fashion magazines, my magazine may not be effectively promoted and thus may be neglected.

Distributed?

I believe my magazine would best be distributed in mostly music stores such as Hmv and other small music stores because of the fact that many small music stores are located in many urban areas across England. Also by distributing my magazine in an urban area, it will grab potential readers much quicker than distributing the magazine elsewhere.

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Main Task: Evaluation question 2: How does your music magazine represent particular social groups?

01:45 |

My magazine was designed to represent an urban audience of the ages 16 to 21. From my earlier audience research, the people that gave me feedback seemed to be dedicated to many different cultural music. In particular, Hip-Hop. Thus my front cover features a man with a very serious posture, an attribute associated with many hip hop artists. With only one person used in my front cover it becomes more recognisable to a consumer who is looking to purchase a hip-hop magazine. I stated earlier in my target consumer profile, that ethnicity is not really issue, thus my social representation has no particular race associated with it.

Fig 1 Example of 50 cent with a pose that conveys seriousness

The social group has no real sub cultural identity but I would refer to mine as ‘deep thinking’ because of the type of rap artists that would feature in my magazine. For example, artists such as Common and Nas would feature more frequently on my magazine than artists such as Flo-rida. Artists such as Common would feature on my magazine more because these particular artists are known for there kind of hip-hop which entices people and leaves them thinking about issues in society

Fig 2 examples of the kind of artists that would feature heavily in my magazine

Lupe Fiasco

Common

The artist in my magazine front cover is dressed in a very modern British urban style. The use of a chequered shirt is something which is associated with the young inner-city urban audience just like that of the west coast rap scene in the early 90s. With this, its hint out to the audience that this

could either be a house, grime, hip-hop or maybe even a afrobeat music magazine.

Fig 3 the chequered shirt used in my magazine front cover

However the use of a microphone clenched in the artists fist quickly narrows it down. The microphone clenched in the fist is something heavily associated with the hip-hop scene; from underground rap battles to Grammy performances.

Fig 4 The microphone used in my magazine front cover

I placed a chain on the artist on my front cover because just like the microphone, it’s an item associated with the hip-hop scene. Also this kind of chain is very popular with many hip-hop artists. So its helps make the magazine much more recognisable as a modern hip hop magazine. The model in my picture is black. The reason I placed a black model on my front cover is because evidence shows that many people attributed and renowned with helping to form hip-hop and to help make hip-hop what is today, were people of black origin.

Fig 5 the chain used by model in my magazine.

Fig 6 Kanye West sporting a similar chain to the one my model is wearing; Shows the popularity of the kind of chain because many revere Kanye west as modern day fashion icon.

Fig 7 DJ Kool Herc, a Jamaican born DJ, accredited for making Hip-hop what it is today.

The model is sporting a ‘High Top’ hairstyle which represents a revived rap subculture from the 90s. However with the trim being very fresh, it’s very stereotypical in the view that many rappers always have fresh trims. The use of a high top connotes a sense of immaturity and youthfulness on the models behalf

Fig 8 the high top hairstyle; a representation of an revived 90s carefree subculture

Fig 9 the ‘High top’ hairstyle sported by Will Smith and DJ Jazzy Jeff back in the 90s.

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Michael Kanyike Media

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Main Task: Audience feedback

Main Task: Evaluation question 7: Looking back what have you learnt since the college magazine task?

Main Task: Evaulation question 6: What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Main Task: Evaulation question 5: How did you attract/adress your audience?

Main Task: Evaulation question 4: Who would be the audience for your media product?

Main Task: Evaluation question 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Main Task: Evaluation question 2: How does your music magazine represent particular social groups?