Kerhys Lang’s Media Evaluation Script

(Slide 2) Introduction;
Hello, my name is Kerhys Lang and this is my Media Magazine Project
Evaluation. The Preliminary exercise was to create a front page and a mock up
contents for a new student magazine; following the forms and conventions of
magazines that I have researched.

The Main Task; the front page, contents and double page spread article of a
new music magazine, similarly following the forms and conventions of
previously researched magazine covers, contents pages and double page
spreads.

(Slide 3) Preliminary Task;

My preliminary task was to produce the front cover of a school magazine, using
photo shop, featuring a photograph of a student in medium close up. In
addition the cover was to include appropriately laid out text and a mast head.
Following the completion of the front cover, a contents page mock up was to
be produced, in order to demonstrate my grasp of desktop publishing.

The target audiences for my school magazine were; teachers, parents, students
and sixth formers. I felt it would be more successful if it appealed to everyone
associated with the school, making it an official magazine for the school.

The Misé en scene of the bleed image was to connote a happy school life which
is represented by the happy facial expressions. To use natural lighting, so that
the image was clear. A colour scheme of blue to create cohesion within the
magazine, and create a clear brand identity as this was fitting to the school
colour scheme.

(Slide 4) Audience Feedback;

From uploading my preliminary task onto BlogSpot I managed to gain audience
feedback from comments on each post I had posted showing my progression of
the preliminary task. I also presented my final cover and contents page to my
targeted audience and asked them to give criticisms on what they would
change about the magazine, and also positive comments. I wrote down their
views and added them to my final evaluation of the preliminary task, which can
be read in full on my blog.

(Slide 5) Music magazine submission;

Masthead; derives from the characteristic of the genre of fast break beats, a
sampling of breaks as drum loops in the music giving drum and bass its identity.
Led light font – from audience feedback the font ‘led light’ was the most
popular for my mast head of my magazine, which was a font I downloaded from
‘DaFont’.

Audience; as it is commonly played in clubs, which is a stereotypical activity

attended by people in this age range during their leisure time.

The full pitch of ideas presentation can be seen on the link below, taking you
to my blog.

(Slide 6) Analysis

(Slide 7) Sketch of Front Cover;

The cover includes numerous sell lines to create an official looking magazine,
which was what I had found after my research and analysis of other music
magazines. I have chosen to include a large text size call out about my double
page spread article, which I found was a reoccurring style for music magazines,
to stand out from the page. The call out is complemented by secondary images
of the interviewee and his range of clothes, to entice the audience and
persuade them to read more and buy the magazine. The Masthead is positioned
in the top left hand corner; this was to mirror the forms and conventions of
previous magazines that I had analysed, as it was a common location.

Image;
This image was taken on my second photo shoot, I asked the model to wear
blue and red, as after my questionnaire the findings showed that blue red and
yellow were the most popular colours to use for a drum and bass magazine. In
addition the yellow copy I intended to use would stand out on the cover. To
illustrate the genre of the magazine he is holding a microphone, and is wearing
headphones. I chose this artistic background as the misé en scene of the colour
scheme was fitting to my models clothing, as it included the 3 primary colours
that I wanted to use, which allowed me to create cohesion within the picture.
His gaze meets the gaze of the audience, which interests the audience in
persuading them to buy the magazine. The way in which the model is
positioned creates an array of diagonal lines cut across the page, which can
contrast the slanted and horizontal copy when added to the cover. The image
also leaves plenty of room for sell and tag lines.

Cover;
I used Photoshop to enhance the misé en scene of my image, using 5 spot lights
scattered across the page, highlighting the model, leaving shadows and unlit
areas. I think is effective as it links back to the characteristic of the music
genre of bright spot lights and club scenery. I then added my copy in which I
added drop shadows and outer glows to furthermore stand out from the page.
In addition Plugs were inserted as I found these were apparent in all types of
magazines as they serve as hooks to draw the reader in to buying the magazine.
Complimenting the plug in the bottom right hand corner I inserted a poster of a
drum and bass even, in which the audience can win free tickets to, as from my
research most people were interested in free giveaways and competitions when
buying a magazine.

(Slide 8) Comparison;
In the aim to achieve an official looking magazine, I tried to follow similar
forms and conventions that were consistent in a variety of music magazines.
Cover lines, Mast head, and tag lines, call out from double page spread article,
sell lines, secondary images, barcodes.

(Slide 9) Progression
From my audience feedback from the preliminary task I used the criticisms to
improve my main task. I tried to use space more successfully.

(Slide 10) Audience Feed Back.

Similar to the preliminary task I ask for audience feedback to enhance my
work. I used BlogSpot and the social networking site, ‘Facebook’ to receive
comments and criticisms about my work.

(Slide 11) Contents Analysis

I analysed a contents page from Kerrang, in which I could use as a template
when forming my own contents page using In Design. The full analysis can be
viewed following the link below, to my blog.

(Slide 12) Contents

Sketches;
The mast head 'BREAKBEATS' is aligned at the centre at the top, which develops
brand identity. Over lapping the mast head is the title ' Issue #1' which uses the
same font as the tag line on the cover to further more develop brand identity,
and state what issue the magazine is. In addition the logo 'we love drum and
bass' is also positioned in the same location as the front cover, to further more
create brand identity to the reader. Creating brand identity is useful as the
audience recognises the magazine, which creates popularity, therefore making
it a success, which is why I wanted to incorporate as much similarity from the
front cover to the contents page to create cohesion. The principle image is of
'Aaron Mandingo', as he is the main feature to my double page spread article,
complimenting the image using thirds rule, is a call out from the interview to
entice the reader to read on. The sell line on the right informs the reader of
what is inside the magazine and on what page it is located, this is also very
clear and easy to read. In addition to some of the page headings there are call
outs, which serves as hooks to give a taster to the reader so that they continue
to read on. At the bottom left hand corner there is a plug addressing the issue
of subscribing to the magazine, which is bold and stand out as it uses the same
blue outer glow that I used on the copy, to further more bring to the reader’s
attention. Adjacent to the subscription plug is a plug about 'Def:inition'
whereby the readers can enter a competition to win free tickets, I added this
as my research found that most readers where interest in free giveaways and
competitions. The plug is different from the front cover as it has more
information on how to enter and further details which are not provided on the
cover as the cover is merely to hook the audience into finding out more
information.

Image;
I decided to use the model in which my double page spread article is based on,
as it is an exclusive article for the magazine, therefore fundamental for the
reader to be informed about. The article is about how music effects the way
people dress, with an interview of an up and coming drum and bass clothing
designer, therefore i needed to incorporate misé en scene which were relevant
to music, so i had my model positioned on amps.. His facial expressions
connotes, a crazy and fun life style in attempt to sell his clothing range, for
example the trainers he is wearing. The model's stance is leaning forward
engaging the view of the reader to interest them into the magazine

Final Contents;
I feel it successfully interlinks with the front cover, creating a sense of brand
identity and adding cohesion to the magazine. I am also pleased with the way it
resembles an official contents page for a magazine, and shares all the same
forms and conventions as a real one.

(Slide 13) Progression

(Slide 14) Comparison

In the aim to achieve an official looking contents page, following the front
cover, I tried to follow similar forms and conventions that were consistent in a
variety of contents pages. Subscription Box, Mast head, call out from double
page spread article, sell lines, secondary images, Principle image
(Slide 15) Audience Feedback;
Similar to the Front Cover I ask for audience feedback. I used BlogSpot and the
social networking site, ‘Facebook’ to receive comments and criticisms about
my work.

(Slide 16) Double Page Article Analysis;

This double page spread article was taken from 'Q' magazine. It is an article
about a boy band called 'Friendly Fires'. The double page has a bleed image of
the band members, Ed, Edd and Jack, informing the audience of the band that
they are reading about, so that they become recognisable to the public eye.
The left hand side of A4 displays the principle image, on the opposite side the
image is continued and overlapped by copy of the article which is aligned
centrally of the bottom of the page. The image to text ratio is not even, with
the majority of the double spread as an image, as visual aids are incentives for
the reader to read the article. The copy is aligned into two even columns and
separated into paragraphs, and similarly to the forms and conventions of other
articles in magazine the first letter of the first word in the first paragraph is
always in a much larger font size to the rest of the copy. The issue of the
magazine, masthead of the magazine and page number are located on the
bottom right hand side of the page, as it helps develop brand identity, and
notify which issue the magazine is to the reader.

(Slide 17) Sketch, Image, Final Double Page Spread

Sketch;

The Masthead ‘BreakBeats’ is faded in the background of the double page

spread article, as I wanted to further the cohesion of the front cover and
contents page to the double page spread article, to develop brand identity. In
addition to this the article title, ‘Aaron Mandingo’, who the article is based on
uses the same font as the copy throughout the magazine. The principle image
uses a bleed format and is positioned in the centre of the page layout, to
create a sense of importance, as it is an ‘exclusive’ article. I edited the
principle image by similar lighting effects, to increase the cohesion between
each media piece. The image was manipulated by using the erase tool on Photo
Shop to delete the background to leave a blank misé en scene so that the Omni
spot light would look more intense against the black shadows the spot light did
not cover, acting as a blank slate for me to add copy on. I really like the chosen
image as the model is in an interesting stance, connoting a different and
interesting life style, the misé en scene of costume relates to the genre of
music my magazine is based on as he is wearing stereotypical clothing to those
who are also interested in Drum and Bass music, as the music has its own sense
of style and visual characteristic complimenting it. The gaze of the model
meets the gaze of the audience, which furthermore serves as a hook, drawing
attention to the article. The call outs of the article are in a larger font size and
colour, to stand out from the page as I highlighted interesting quotes from the
interview which would intrigue the audience to read the full article. Adding to
the cohesion created, the copy was edited using drop shadows, to furthermore
stand out from the page, similarly I included a secondary image, of which was
used in the front cover of the article to showcase more of ‘Aaron Mandingos’
work and to interlink with the front cover itself. I used a similar colour scheme
to the red blue and white, previously used, however I used a softer shade of
each colour, as the double page article is more personal, and I wanted to
compliment the soft blue, white and peach colour of the models shirt, to create
a cohesion within the article.

(Slide 18) Comparison

(Slide 19) Audience Feedback

(Slide 20)How my media product represents particular social groups

(Slide 21) IPC, a media institution I researched in which would potentially

distribute my media product

(Slide 22) What i have learnt about technologies from the process of
constructing my magazine.

(Slide 23) What I have learnt in the progress of my media project,

(Slide 24) The End.