A2 coursework

I feel that the AS media exam went quite well. I enojoyed the questions and thought i was well prepared for the exam. The exam was about gender and i found this an good question to apply the clip top.
The A2 coursework sounds really fun and enjoyable. I cant wait to get started on it. I think that because its in group work it will be very different to the course from AS and i think it will test how well you can manage groups to get the task done.

FINAL DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

FINAL DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

FINAL CONTENTS PAGE

Question 7

I feel that i have learnt a lot form my preliminary task, to my end full product. I have learnt how to keep better time management and that i must stick to deadlines to get the work done on time. I have also learnt how to use software that will help me more, such as fireworks. Without this i wouldn't have been able to edit my photos as well as i did and this would have been a huge set back. I have come across more problems with my main task, such as text box problems with publisher, but i have tried my best to overcome these problems. I also feel that i have placed this magazine together a lot better than i did with my preliminary task and this has helped to create a better magazine. I also found it more fun than the preliminary task as i felt that it was more down to you, which left it to your own Independence.

Question 6

Question 5

Question 4

I attracted my audience by finding out information from my research. i conducted research through questionnaires and informal focus groups. This gave me an understanding of what my audience expected in my magazine. I used open and closed questions on my questionnaire which helped to produce quantitative and qualitative data results. I then used these results to link back to my audience requests throughout the making of the magazine. However i did change some of the requests as i wanted to challenge the conventions. For example i didn't use a direct mode of address because i wanted to see the response rate received when i didn't use it, too see if a direct mode of address made a difference to the sales. However the photos still attract the reader even though a link through the artist and reader isn't made. I used colours that i knew would attract my reader as i gained it from my research and this then helped to draw in the correct target audience. The choice of language that i used also showed that my magazine wasn't too formal but not too informal.

Question 3

My music magazine is aimed at younger people mainly. The target group was 16 to 25 as they were the biggest age of music fans around. I feel that it is more acceptable for people older than this age, than younger than this age, as they can link to it more. I feel that my music magazine is aimed at the middle class because the language used is not too informal and suits the middle class audience better than the higher or lower class. It was originally aimed at university students so it should be sold at a lower cost, and this still reaches the middle class. The artists inside will display new and old artists and this is what i found out that my target audience would like when i looked at my research.

Question 2

My music magazine is aimed at male and female fans. It is specifically targeted at indie fans, hence the name of the magazine but it will also contain music artists from other genres on occasions. It is aimed at more of a young target audience than an older one, as my target audience is 16 - 25. However, i feel that it can be acceptable for people younger or older than this.

Question 1

I decided to call my magazine Indie-Go because it relates well to the type of genre. I used these first three different styles to start with but then i decided that i wasn't so keen on the style so i used some different fonts and colours to compare, before asking my target audience which one they liked best.

Here are some more examples of the magazine name. I changed the fonts and colours to see what would appeal better to the target audience. I also did a tally about which one the target audience liked best and i included the other 3 designs. I found out that the one i should use is the one from the first few.

These are the photos i took for my front cover, contents page and double page spread. I used a range of images from different angles and shots. In some photos i used direct mode of address as this is what you would expect to find on the front cover of a normal magazine. However, i did experiment where there was no direct mode of address as this challenges the codes of magazines. I edited my photos by changing the brightness and contrast. I also edited out background so i could see what suited the magazine the best.

Recipe for a Music Magazine

Ingredients
1 handful of Target Audience
100g of images
25g of Artist interviews
200g of a well established brand identity
25gof diversification
1 free item 25g of interesting headlines/cover lines

Method
1. Take the handful of target audience and mix thoroughly with images
2. Next, take the artist interviews and sieve through the mix.
3. Slowly add the brand identity at the same time as gently pouring in the diversification. Stir in well.
4. Beat the interesting headlines until it meets a firm consistency
5. Bake for 20mins at 180 degrees Celsius until golden brown.
6. Sprinkle with free item.

Core buyer

A core buyer is a typical consumer of my magazine. It will be aimed at 15-20 year olds and to both male and females. They will most likely be students and so they will have a low budget to spend on the magazine. It should therefore be affordable for them. They will also be interseted in recent artists and music aswell as parties, celebrity lifestyle, concerts and gigs and fashion.

Double Page Spread Analysis

I have analysed a double page spread of a music magazine. This helps me to review what i should put on my double page spread. It also shows me different settings, layouts, themes and colours and shows how they can all like to the theme and name of your magazine.

Florence and the Machine

As part of our homework and research, we were given the task to research on an artist of our choice. I chose to do Florence and the Machine because i really enjoy listening to their songs.

Second Questionnaire

This is my second questionaire. I added more images and colour to this, as my target audience requested. This makes it more appealing to the eye. I have also added a few more questions that help me to find out more about the target audience. I gave the questionnaire out to 30 people and i am analysisng my results. I shall upload my result graphs shortly.

First/ Draft questionnaire

This is my first Questionnaire.I sent 5 out as pilot copies and ask for feedback. I was told that the questionnaire was boring and needed more colour and images. However, the questions were good and easy to understand.

Review

We are 4 weeks in to the G321 course and i have decided to review blogging.
I believe that blogging is a good way of evaluating because:

• Its interactive - We can read and review other pupils work by adding comments. You can also recieve comments which may help you to improve your work.
• Regular - You can log on daily/weekly to update your blog which is useful as your work is still fresh in your mind.
• Easy to use - Blogging is easy to log on to and easy to use. The layout is good and the instructions are easy to follow making it more popular

However, Blogging has negatives as it:

• Can show a lack of detail and media terminology
• Its is hard to show your personality through typing
• You must stay on top of your updates

Media lesson..

For our homework we had to write up a questionnaire to research on target audience and genre. I used a range of open and closed questions. I found the questionnaire challenging as it was hard to think of varied questions that were relevant for my research. I then gave out 5 copies to students and asked for there comments. I added the changes to the comments, however after our lesson in class today, i now need to add more before my questionnaire is finished.
We have also done a front cover analysis of NME music magazine. This was to look at why features were put in certain places and why the colour scheme, position of person on the cover,and text had been placed where they were. This helped us work out why the target audience buys the magazine. :)

Why blog?

Blogging is a cool fun way that i can keep a record of my work. Its easy to use and access. They are also a good way of recieving feedback as people can comment on your work and updates. They show your personality through the source and add your individuality to your work :)

New Media Technology and OCR

I think its really fantastic that OCR are allowing us to use blogging for our G321 coursework. Its a really modern and fun way that OCR have connected to the students on a level that relates to the students easily :)

About me...

Hiyyaa, My name is Jessica Burnett and i am studing As Media. Subjects i also take are History, Biology and sociology. I really enojoy the subjects i take and find them really fun :)