This is my final article.

This is my final contents page

This is my final draft of my front cover.

I showed my product to some people and this is some of the feedback I got,

Steven 14- This piece looks really professional, especially the front cover.

Laura 17- I love this piece of work. I would definitely buy this magazine every week.

Alex 16- I can see this magazine on the shelves right next to the big sellers.

Marianne 17- This looks really good and professional.

Deb 36- This magazine is a bit too young for me but i definitely would have bought it when i was younger.

Evaluation

In what ways does the media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of a real media product?

I have made a magazine called DELERIUM which will be sold monthly. It is aimed at 16-25 year olds who listen to the Hard House genre of music. It is also aimed at both genders. I chose this because I myself listen to Hard House and when I looked at the other magazines on the market I could not find one aimed at this genre of music.

My media product challenges the conventions of real media products in that my magazine is the music genre hard house. There is only one other magazine of a similar genre on the market, this is MixMag. On my front cover I have used a young attractive female model, which is a typical convention of magazines. Theses are some examples of music magazines, which use a female model.

All of the magazines I have analysed have a large, catchy title. I chose the title DELERIUM because my target audience thought this was the best title to have. Delerium has connotations of euphoria and trance, which links in with the target audience as the music, hard house is euphoric. This helps to attract my target audience. These magazines have a large title for the most important story in the magazine, as does mine. This will help to promote the mag as any fans of the DJ my story is based on will want to read it. All of these magazines have bar codes, dates, issue number and catchy hooks for stories. The MixMag magazine has a free gift when you buy the magazine; I also have this on my magazine. I have used a medium shot on my front cover because it immediately draws the reader in and is conventional of most magazines. These have colour schemes, which they use throughout; I have the colour scheme black, blue and white.

On my contents page I have used justified text and my hooks for stories have been placed under a specific title, which is typical of magazines, such as MixMag, Q and NME.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My media product represents working class people aged 16-25 who enjoy listening to hard house music. It is inspirational in that the main story on the front cover is about a young female DJ called Lexi Gage who has had trouble making it in the music industry, which is dominated by males. However after a long time she has finally made it and she has went on to be one of the best up and coming DJs on the scene. This inspires young people who want to pursue their dreams because it is showing them that if Lexi can do it then so can they. This portrays females in a positive light.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product?

I think that the best distributor for my music magazine would be the distributors of MixMag, Development Hell Ltd. I chose this because my product DELERIUM is already similar to MixMag therefore I feel that I would be increasing their profit by broadening their audience. My product is aimed at both genders so this will help in promoting their products, it will also help to promote my magazine as anyone interested in MixMag will see mine as being similar. One of my target audience called my magazine ‘ the twin brother of MixMag’.
http://www.mixmag.net/

Who would be the audience for your media product?

My magazine is aimed at people 16-25 who enjoy listening to hard house. It is aimed at both genders and any class as this broadens the audience. My ideal audience is someone who enjoys listening to hard house music and spends money on going out to hard house nights at least twice a month, who earns enough money to buy downloads and goes out, and can buy my magazine every month. Jennifer Slack is 20 years old; she works in a restaurant and earns an average wage. She enjoys Hard house and Trance. She goes out to various nights including Vice and Gatecrasher roughly twice a month. This is my ideal audience.

How did you attract/ address your audience?

I researched successful magazines so I could learn about their conventions. To attract my audience I gave out a questionnaire to find out what kind of things my audience were looking for in a magazine. After receiving the results I then applied this to my magazine. I based my hooks for stories on the findings of my research and analysis. On my front cover I have used an attractive female model this links to the theory of Marjorie Ferguson (1980’s). She identified four types of facial expression on the front of British women’s magazines. My magazine fits into the invitational category.

· Invitational- Emphasis on the eyes- Mouth shut with hint of smile- Head to one side or looking back to the camera

Effects- suggestive of mischief or mystery.

Also this has connotations of inviting the audience to buy and read the magazine.

The females in my audience will identify with the lifestyle my magazine promotes. They will aspire to be the model on the front cover not only for beauty but also for success. The males in my audience will be drawn in to buy my magazine, as they will see the beautiful model on the front cover and immediately think of the sex appeal. I have also used a model of a similar age to my target audience in order to add to this appeal. Here I am looking at uses and gratifications.

The price of £2.00 represents the social group and how much they can afford to spend each month on my magazine. Also I found on my questionnaire that this was how much people were willing to spend. I added a free gift which would appeal to my target audience to help attract the reader.

After completing my cover, contents page and article I handed them out to the public to get some feedback. These are some of the comments I got back.

'Your magazine looks professional and could definitely sit on the shelf next to MixMag'

'I really like the story because it is inspirational'

'This magazine could easily compete with existing products. I might actually buy this now instead of my current monthly magazine'

'I love the colour scheme, it is very eye catching'

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

I have learnt a lot more on Adobe Photoshop. I have also learnt how to use digital photography and tripod properly. I have learnt how to add effects to titles or to particular words in order to make them stand out. For example on the first word magazine I have left it untouched with the font Ariel. The second word is also Ariel however I have used Drop Shadow and Bevel and Emboss to make it stand out.

I have also learnt how to use a digital camera properly and my general skills on Photoshop such as cutting and adjusting colours have improved too. I have developed my photography skills and image manipulation and I have become more confident. I am also more confident with technical aspects of image manipulation.

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

Looking back on my preliminary task I have instantly identified things, which could be improved. My images were blurred because I didn’t know how to correctly use the camera and the cutting out of my images isn’t accurate. I have taken all of the things I have learnt and applied this to my media product. I have researched my audience to see what the public really want to see in a magazine. I have analysed existing magazines to see what they had used to make a successful product. Because I am reaching out to a larger niche audience than before, I have carried out detailed research and analysis in an attempt to make my magazine a success.

Finished Article

Lexi Gage is one of the best up and coming DJs in the music industry. At 22 she already has loads of tunes out in the public domain, starring along side some of the best disk jockeys in the world. Even recently Tiesto commented on her performance at Global Gathering saying ‘Watch out for that girl she has some real talent’. She’s gone from doing sets in small pubs and clubs to sets at some of the main festivals in the country including Glastonbury 2009. Here she tells Lauren Cole all about what she calls going from rags to riches in the dj-ing world.

Are you excited for the coming Global Gathering Festival?

I can’t wait; last years line up was amazing. I’m really looking forward to it. More and more DJs are improving, so as well as the likes of Lashes, Pin Up, Whitby there’ll be some great sets.

And how does it feel being one of the main headliners?

I’m excited but nervous at the same time. Last years line up was excellent, I feel like I have to be top notch to impress people. I’ve never been a main headliner at music festivals. I mean I am on little nights around and about the country, but never at a festival as big as Global well, as a headliner I mean. Although saying that I did Cream Fields in August as well.

Which other DJs are you looking forward to watching?

Erm… well Andy Whitby of course, he’s always been the best at what he does. And Lisa Lashes is really good as well. I dunno they’re all good to watch.

Who do you take inspiration from?

Again I would say Lisa Lashes or Lisa Pin Up. They started out like me hopefully I’ll be as good as them some day.

This year has been a busy one for you, with all your gigs and stuff.

(Laughing). Yeah it has been. I’ve been touring all over the country. I had Global Gathering in July but of course I wasn’t one of the headliners. I had Cream Fields in August. I do a lot of small nights, tonight I’m travelling to Newcastle to do a set at Vice which is a Hard House night. And soon I’m doing a Trance set at Gate Crasher and God’s Kitchen.

Yeah I’ve noticed most of your sets are Hard House. Is that because it’s your favourite or because that’s what the fans want?

Well Hard House is my all time favourite but I used to do a lot of Trance. I still love Trance but the fans prefer Hard House. Although Gate Crasher and God’s Kitchen are two really popular Trance nights, so I suppose the real fans like a bit of both.

Which is your favourite city to tour at?

Definitely Newcastle. The fans are excellent. I always get excited when I get asked to do sets at Newcastle. The nightlife is amazing! It’s got some of the best pubs and clubs in the country. I’m really looking forward to tonight now actually.

What is your favourite tune of all time?

That’s a tough one. Erm… well my favourite Hard House tune would have to be either Bits and Pieces by Artmeisa or What Ya Got For Me by Signum. My favourite Trance tune is Find Yourself by John O’Callaghan and Sarah Howells. There’s so many to choose from its hard!

And your favourite album?

Haven’t got a clue to be honest. They all have a lot of the same tunes on really. But I suppose an album with all of the classics on it is what you need.

What should the fans do to prepare for your gigs and festival?

Definitely, definitely buy a pair of earplugs! My ears ring for days after my gigs, I can’t even begin to imagine how loud it is on the dance floor next to the huge speakers! They must be practically deaf! (Laughs) And deodorant! It gets so hot in the clubs by the end of the night you’re always literally dripping with sweat. Its not pretty.

Do you ever get worried that the fans might not like the tunes you are playing?

No! The fans are always so supportive. Last time I did a gig I was quite nervous about playing but when I got up there it was brill. I don’t know what I was worried about! No but the fans are great, I always have loads of comments, on my Facebook and Blog and stuff like that, with fans telling me how much they like my sets and gigs. They kept asking me to do Global but I wasn’t sure I was good enough. But when I was eventually asked I thought well if the fans think I’m all right that’s good enough for me!

Have you ever had any embarrassing moments while you’ve been on?

Not majorly embarrassing, but I remember one time when I was doing a set and a man jumped up on to the DJ box and started trying to dance with me. It was a laugh but I probably went slightly red.

What about the best moments?

Every set is the best set. I always have such a good time. But if I had to choose I would say the best moment would have to be at the end of my set when I can see my fans have enjoyed themselves and they all start chanting ‘Lexi, Lexi’. It’s an amazing feeling: a euphoric feeling.

I love your new look. Out with the old, in with the new?

Yes, it’s a whole new me really. I was sick of my old look so I thought I would dye my hair from blonde to black. I’ve also had my tongue pierced (sticking her tongue out and revealing a silver tongue bar) It hurt! But yeah it is a new me. I’ve got a new look and went from ‘rags to riches’ in the dj-ing world. I feel like I’ve started all over again.

This is a flat plan of my contents page which I decided against as I felt that the other idea looked more professional.

This is a flat plan of what my front cover was going to look like. It has the typical conventions of a front cover:

1. - A main title
2. - A main picture

This is what I had originally planned my article would look like. After trying out other ideas I decided on another more appropriate layout.

Two A4 Pages

This is my finished article. I had originally planned on having a two page spread, one page with the interview and the other with a picture however I decided that the story would be too short if I was to do this. I have used the same Myriad Pro font throughout the article as this is easy to read. I have used a funny quote from the article as the title. My text is justified which helps the article to look clean and professional. On the second page I have a box with some extra information about Lexi for the reader this is just something extra to keep the reader interested and it is a typical convention of magazines. I have two smaller pictures of Lexi at the bottom of the page which show her before and after her make-over this is also helping to keep the audience interested.

This is my finished contents page. After deciding on my hooks for stories I finally decided on which pictures to use.

Then I decided on catchy hooks for stories to draw the reader in. I used Roxwell Extra Bold font size 12. I justified the text on the left. I stayed within my colour scheme and made the text black. I had originally planned on having the text on the right and pictures on the left but I decided against this later on.

Then I added the headers and the title of the page. I have used the same font for the CONTENTS as I have for the text on the front cover. I added an editors note which describes some of the things which is included in this magazine. This is a typical convention of a music magazine.

First I decided on the layout and colour scheme. I have used black and blue, this links with the colours on my front cover. I have a white background so that the writing and colours will stand out against it. I have coloured boxes on the left for sub headings: Gig guide, Reviews and Features. This immediatly helps them to stand out. It draws the attention of the reader. I also have coloured boxes to place my images onto. I have a coloured bar across the top of the page to put the contents page header on.