http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/L5TQJVN

Introduction to my blog

Hello my name is khadija kamara and this is my blog. In September I began studying media, which my teacher told me that I would be designing a magazine and that I had to do research planning first to go along with it. In order to do this I had to create a blog of my own which I would input all my coursework. My aims in media studies are to achieve a C/B the reason for this is that I love creating things and when I was told about the magazine I was excited. I have managed to complete all the objectives. I hope you like my blog and find it very helpful and interesting.

Introduction to my blog

Hello my name is khadija kamara and this is my blog. In September I began studying media, which my teacher told me that I would be designing a magazine and that I had to do research planning first to go along with it. In order to do this I had to create a blog of my own which I would input all my coursework. My aims in media studies are to achieve a C/B the reason for this is that I love creating things and when I was told about the magazine I was excited. I have managed to complete all the objectives. I hope you like my blog and find it very helpful and interesting.

 

khadija evaluation

Media evaluation

Media evaluation

1.       In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms conventions of real media products?

My media product challenges many conventions of real media products. I say this because on most magazines the title block is usually Bold and captivating and has a specific font; I have done this on my own magazine. However in order to give it my own distinctive look I put a white glow around the title. The reason why I chose the title called ‘UK’s finest’ is to represent the current talent in the UK and also to make is obvious that it is a UK magazine. The background colour of my magazine is a very unusual one because majority of magazines front covers backgrounds are white or pure natural colours, mine being black allows everything to stand out especially the title block which is hot pink. The colour pink and black complement each other and the white glow around glow gives it a softer look rather than a tough one. However i didn’t want to make it look like a feminine magazine so i added the colour blue which stands for strength and also the fact that Tynisha is wearing a blue top goes well together.

My central image is of a girl who body language is very refined and friendly. Her make-up and hair is quite heavy and outstanding, which in most real media products is the case. Stereotypically you would think she looks like a Barbie who only cares about make-up, hair and other artificial stuff but this view may change when you look at her facial expression. Her facial expression is very serious and the fact that she is looking directly at the camera proves this. There is a slight grin to show she is happy but takes her career very seriously. Also the ancourage text confirms her seriousness because it says ‘watch out for me’, which indicates that she is going to make it big in the music industry and no one is going to stop her. The layout of my magazine is the same all over and the font has been kept throughout including the colours pink, Blue and white.

I have challenged forms of conventions from a real media product by using a female for an UK magazine. Nowadays the UK’s talent is over powered by men and there are very few women in the scene. This could be either a good thing or bad thing. If my product was to be sold many women would buy it which means a new audience. The bad thing would be that no one would buy it because the UK is not used to music magazine they are more focused on soap stories. Ever real media product has a barcode which I have included in my magazine. Above this barcode I have put the date and how much the issue would cost which i done a survey on early. 

2.       How does your media product represent a particular social group?

My media product represents young black women with talent but have had major setback in life and not been able to fulfil this talent, until something or someone helps them do this. In my article i mentioned that Tynisha was rebellious as a teenager however her life was turned around for the better when she began going church and singing in the choir. This for plenty of black women is the case. A huge example and role model is Oprah Winfrey. Oprah has been ranked as the richest African American of the 20^th century, the greatest black philanthropist in American history and was once the world’s only black billionaire. Nevertheless, she wasn’t born into a life of wealth and fame, a child she went through a lot but overcame this by making her own talk show and gaing the strength and courage to tell the whole world about her abusive past and through this she helps other people and is a role model for alot of young black women.

The age group for my magazine would be from 15-29 and this is because at this crucial time in women life they find it hard to belong and be someone in life. The positive thing about this is that it will encourage women of any race or age to change their life and will make them feel worthy and important, however the negative is that many people don’t like to face their fears and may not want the public to know there business or they may not want help. Overall this article is to help women. 

4. Who would be the audience for your product?

The audience for my media product would be teenagers and adults from the age of 13-25 years old. There interests would have to be in R’n’B, hip hop and gospel and would be socio-economic group of C1. They would be in education or work such as secondary school, university or college. Because the magazine is a UK magazine my audience would have to live in the UK, preferably London because this is where it would be easier to purchase. I believe that there would be a huge gap in the market for my magazine because in the UK we don’t really have music magazine especially Urban one’s, so this would be completely new to the industry. Also it would be affordable as the price is £1.99. students could save and those who go college or university could use their EMA or student loans, the magazine would b3e published every fortnight so they wouldn’t have to worry about saving every week.

5. How did you attract/address your audience?

I attract my audience by putting a young girl with make-up and a fashionable top on the central image. This will attract my target audience because when they see the magazine they may like make- up, hair or top. Majority of girls like the colour pink and the title block is this colour, which will appeal to them, also the font itself is very stylish as it has a graffiti look to it. The colour of the font is not only for girls who are into make and other artificial stuff it may also appeal to tom-boys. Te magazine promises a free CD, this will encourage them to buy it because it will be cheaper with the magazine than to buy it on its own in shops such as HMV which might cost £10.99 or something around that price.

6. What have you learnt about technology from process of constructing this product?

When I was creating my media product I didn’t know how to use Adobe Photoshop and illustrator. The reason for this is because media is a new subject for me as I have never studied it before. However over the couple o month I have taught myself how to use these programmes. With the help of this technology I have created a professional magazine. In Photoshop I learnt how to put my image in a transparent background; I also learnt how to make the colour of my images change from bright/dark. I changed the volume of her hair by using the bloating tool. In illustrator I learnt how to make my title have an inner glow around it and change the colour of the glow.  I believe that i have learnt plenty from these programmes and can now use it for the future.

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

Looking back at my preliminary I think I have made a huge progress. This is because my preliminary task is very dull and doesn’t have a background and only has 2 puffs. There is no ancourage text to allow the reader to know what the magazine is going magazine has and my preliminary task doesn’t have is a barcode and page numbers, these things are very important.to include. Throughout the who magazine there is only one font colour which doesn’t make it stand out and eye-catching. However my music magazine has this entire thing and more it has a variety of colours and few more puffs and is very organised. Also another thing that my music

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