Audience Feedback

Audience feedback is highly significant when creating a media product, this is as it enables the individual who has created the product to gain an objective, outside view of what could possibly improved or altered. It also offers a range of differing views and opinions meaning that it is easier as a collective to come to a conclusion as to how something could be improved.

During audience feedback the entire class sat down together to view and discuss everybody's media products. Aswell as this, we each discussed our construction processes and what we found particularly difficult or enjoyable about it, enabling me to see that everybody was in the same boat in terms of this being a significant learning curve.

In terms of my own media product, the class was particularly positive which made me feel much more confident about the quality of my magazine.

The feedback consisted of:

Positives:

• High quality, striking cover image
• Simplistic features make for a unique style
• 'Clean' feel of magazine is attractive
• Range of colours used well
• Contents page is of particularly high quality and draws the reader in
• Title font of double page spread works well
• Images are well edited
• Good quality of prose
• Realistic - complies to codes and conventions well

Negatives:

• Some of the font on the cover page is difficult to read
• The text is quite small in places

As a result, I made larger spaces between the letters of the text on the homepage, thus making the text easier to read. I also ensured that all text on every page was readable.

NOTE TO EXAMINER

See research and planning sections in February and March archives of blog.

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

From the initial stages of the preliminary task to the final stages of the main task, I feel as though I have been constantly learning new skills. These skills are not only technological, such as those previously mentioned in question six, but also general skills such as time management and planning.

With the initialisation of the preliminary task, the prospect of eventually developing my design skills to the extent that I may be able to create a high quality media product seemed extremely daunting, especially considering the fact that I did not possess any prior experience with the software, or designing in general. However, the construction of the preliminary task significantly aided my developmental skills and comprehension of what the task entails.

With the preliminary task, the construction of a school magazine, I intended to create something not entirely dissimilar to the basic structure of what I had in mind for the main task. This was in order to enable me to take what I had learned from the construction of the preliminary task and apply it to the main task. I was then able to gain a wider perspective on the creation process as a whole, and could consider exactly what I wished to achieve with the main task. The preliminary task also allowed me to learn to experiment with technology and to not be afraid to make mistakes in order to gain the skills necessary to create a successful final piece.

Throughout the construction process, it has been highly important to me to manage time in a manner which would allow me to meet all deadlines with the peace of mind that all needs of the task have been met (ie. meeting all conditions of the task, including the necessary forms and conventions of a music magazine, etc). These skills are particularly beneficial, as I feel that they are necessary not only in terms of education but throughout life and in all professions.

Overall, I feel as though this task has allowed me to gain a vast amount of confidence when using editing equipment such as Photoshop and InDesign. As well as this, the task has encouraged me to not be afraid when approaching unfamiliar tasks, and to do so with self-reliance.

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

The creation of the product has allowed me to significantly develop my media skills, not only in terms of design but also in terms of image manipulation.

Any images utilised within the magazine were taken with a Nikon

SLR camera; I was particularly grateful for the professional quality of images that such acamera could offer, and learnt how to enhance my photography skills from the task.

Initially, I manipulated images utilising Adobe Photoshop. With no prior experience of this software, it was necessary for me to learn the skills required in order to be able to alter chosen images to a satisfactory standard. After some experimentation, I was able to gain the necessary understanding of Photoshop and manipulate the images. It was also important to consider representations upon editing the images; the images must reflect what I intended to convey with the creation of the product. Thus, any selected images needed to be representative of the individualistic 'indie goth' image of the product.

Photoshop is an indispensable tool when creating a product such as a magazine, allowing images to be transformed from imperfect to stylistically pleasing. This is exemplified in the before and after images below, the latter being utilised within the double page spread of my magazine.

Moreover, all images were manipulated in a different manner in order to achieve a variety of effects. For example, the image featured on the first page of the double page spread was originally a generic black and image; I then learnt how to cut the figure from the background and alter the image to achieve an artistic feel which reflects and enhances the creative nature of the magazine itself (above). The two images featured on the second page of the double page spread were edited with the conscious intention of appeari

ng grungy and naturalistic in order to reflect the realm of indie music and the approachability which contrasts the cover star's beguiling stage persona. A drop shadow effect was thenadded to ensure that the images were striking, despite being less predominant and possessing a far more delicate feel than that of the facing page.

In order to achieve the striking appearance for the contents page, I selected an image taken at a musical event. The main feature of the image was that it correlated with the minimalist yet distinct aesthetic of the magazine. However, the image was in colour. I decided that in order to further the mysterious, powerful representation of the musician, the image should be black and white and the contrast edited in order to gain a darker, mystical feel; as is visible below with the completed page. The simplistic nature of the page allows the image to stand as the main focal point.

The cover image was manipulated in a manner which would enhance the striking colours and my intention was to achieve an ethereal, otherworldly aesthetic with the image, which is reflective of the artist and her music as well as the direction in which I wanted to steer the magazine.

To create the magazine, Adobe InDesign was utilised. Primarily, I found it somewhat difficult to achieve the feel which I was seeking to attain due to a lack of experience with the software. After some experimentation, however, my skills advanced slightly and this became a less strenuous process; I then began to enjoy experimenting with the programme to create different stylistic features. The minimalist feel of the magazine was achieved by paying strict attention to detail when choosing elements such as fonts, colours and the placing of images and text. Once mastered, the high standard of InDesign aided the process of the construction of the magazine and allowed me to achieve a high quality final product.

5- How did you attract/address your audience?

In order to attract a particular target audience, it was indispensable for me as the creator of the product to gain a wide understanding of what it is exactly that this demographic of individuals seek in a music magazine. In order to gain this knowledge, I approached numerous people who fall within the category of the target audience (see question four) and made notes on key features that these individuals were unanimously seeking.

It appeared to me that what the audience were seeking was a high quality: in terms of writing, information, and musicians, rather than to be bombarded with unnecessary facts. The individuals questioned were also extremely enthusiastic about gaining the opportunity to discover and to learn more about bands and musicians who do not necessarily gain a wide amount of exposure from existing music media products.

With this knowledge at the forefront of my intentions, I set out to create a product which would address these features and appeal to an intellectual audience who value quality over quantity.

In order to attract potential readers, the layout of the front cover needed to be striking, whilst also being definitively separate from every other magazine on current news stands. The distinctive qualities of the minimal design scheme, solid white background, striking colours (emerald green, darkened pink) and bold, brazen fonts when addressing certain features such as the name of the cover star, are all conscious attempts to create a salient front cover which appeals to an audience seeking an alternative from the majority of magazines currently on sale.

The badge, a popular convention of music magazines, aims to attract potential readers as it 'jumps out' of the page, the text, imperative sentence '10 new bands you must hear', implies that the magazine offers necessary information and thus is worth purchasing simply for this.

The list of bands on the left hand side of the page also attracts attention as, upon viewing that a favourite band is featured within, an individual may purchase the magazine.

The striking appearance of the cover star (black make up, green dip-dyed hair, black clothing) also capture the attention of individuals. However, upon viewing the double-page spread, it is immediately apparent that the artist is not wearing the same bold make up, nor does she adopt the same expression of fearlessness. This was a conscious decision to create a character to whom readers can relate; an individual who exhibits paradoxical qualities. On the one hand, a bold, brazen musician, and on the other, an approachable young person who is passionate about her creative interests. The aesthetic of the artist encourages people to not be afraid of exploring different aspects of their persona, and this is reflective of the target audience.

4- Who would be the audience for your media product?

The exemplary reader of Space magazine is nineteen year old student living close to central London and studying Art/Literature at Goldsmiths University/UCL. The individual listens to alternative music and is constantly seeking to discover new bands/artists, reading music websites such as pitchfork.com on a daily basis and purchasing CDs/Vinyl on amonthly basis at locations such as that featured within the main article of the magazine (Rough Trade), and listens to alternative rock bands such as The Kills and Deerhunter, as well as electronic based music .

The reader attends live music events as well as art galleries, the cinema, etcetera. and works in a record shop during the weekends in order to fund these activities. The reader has a strong interest in fashion but also takes pride in originality, choosing to shop at independent and vintage stores aswell as popular high street locations. Other magazines which the reader may purchase are 'Clash', 'NME' and 'Dazed & Confused'.

The style of language within the magazine reflects the intellectualism of the readers, and I wished to focus on maintaining a high quality of writing throughout, as I feel that it is unnecessary and at times insulting to assume that the standard of writing should be compromised when dealing with a young target audience (16 to 25 years).

Another important element I wished to avoid was that of targeting the publication at one particular gender; Space magazine is aimed to appeal to both males and females in equal measures, and thus products such as razors/sportswear would not be advertised within, and instead only music and fashion-oriented advertisements targeted at both men and women would appear, as well as the habitual live event adverts found within this genre of magazine.

The advertisements within a magazine must reflect its audience to some extent, and so this was something that I considered at length. In a sense, the audience and content of the magazine are interconnected, with each acting as a reflection of the other.

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

Initially, I considered the most appropriate distributors of 'Space' magazine to be an independent company (such as the Dazed Group), simply due to the fact that, with it, I focus solely on independent and alternative music; distancing the musical content far that released by international media conglomerates such as Sony and Warner and opting instead for music released on independent record labels such as Rough Trade and Domino.

However, after greater consideration I decided that if the magazine were to be released by a powerful, expansive distribution company, it would gain the ability to reach a wider audience and thus possibly introduce many people to a new array of musical interests which do not necessarily receive enough interest from the media.

This positive aspect of joining forces with a mainstream distributor greatly outweighed the main reason why I wished to release the magazine with an independent company, which was to maintain a D.I.Y aesthetic throughout. I felt that the magazine did not have to compromise this in any way, simply because the distributor was a major contender in magazine distribution.

Thus, I chose for the magazine to be published by IPC media, due largely to the fact that, as one of the largest magazine publishers in existence, they would be able to offer the necessary resources, particularly in terms of advertising, to allow the magazine to reach a wide number of individuals. Another reason why IPC seemed appealing was the fact that, as the distributor of NME, the company already has a considerable amount of experience with alternative music magazines.

Taking the aforementioned points into consideration, the magazine would be available for purchase in a wide array of locations, including newsagents and stationary specialists such as WH Smith. The magazine would also be available for purchase on the magazine's official website, with readers being given the opportunity to purchase just one magazine rather than being bound to a full twelve month subscription. This means that if an individual is particularly interested in a cover star or feature within an issue of the magazine, they are able to purchase it at ease whilst being offered the freedom to choose particular issues.

2- How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The predominant social group represented within 'Space' magazine would be young individuals who possess gothic, individualistic characteristics and wish to distinguish themselves from the crowd.

The cover star of 'Space' magazine is a twenty year old inhabitant of London who is passionate about music amongst other things such as art, fashion, film and culture. I purposefully chose a cover star who would act as an accurate reflection of what the readership of the magazine embodies, and an image which readers would aspire to/admire.

The originality which the magazine aims to convey to its readers is reflected by the stylistic elements of the cover star, who is dressed entirely in black clothing, and wears bold make-up and an expression of fearlessness; the mise-en-scene of the main cover image invites connotations of somebody who is not afraid to be an originalist. The cover star is looking straight into the camera without hesitation, the mid-shot allows for visibility of the costume; an important tool when attempting to convey a particular image. The readers of the magazine would have a similar life philosophy to that of the cover star, aswell as the other musicians featured within.