Production Diary

After three weeks of development and creation, today my final evaluation was ready to be uploaded onto issuu and then my blog. The evaluation required me to answer seven key questions with regards to my final magazine. These questions were as follows:

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

How does your media product represent particular social groups

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

 Who would be the audience for your media product?

How did you attract/address your audience?

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

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

As was the final magazine, the evaluation was created on InDesign, as this provided the best format for the evaluation. In addition however we also had to post each individual question onto our blog using as many different mediums as possible. Once these had been finalised and uploaded the AS Media G321 coursework was concluded.

Production Diary

Today my magazine was completed. The lesson started with everybody aiming to do the same. I was happy with my front cover, contents page and my first double page spread however my second double page spread, I felt let the magazine down, as it seemingly had the professionalism of the previous pages. As I result I stayed at school until five o'clock in order to change my second double page spread to make the professionalism consistent throughout my magazine. (My final magazine is available on this blog). The next step therefore is to complete the evaluation.

Production Diary

Since my photo-shoot I have now created what I believe to be the basis of my magazine. After collating the images I needed, the next step for me was to use photoshop to which was a relatively new software for me. Therefore I decided to follow the tutorials provided to which gave me a step  by step guide on how to exactly what I need from each photo. This included using such things as magnetic lasso's to remove the main image from the background. This will be integral to my final magazine as I plan to use a full bleed image to which bleeds over my masthead, as my prior research of successful magazines within this genre suggested that this would help my magazine to look much more professional.

Production Diary

Today I finally completed my photo-shoot. Up until recently production has been low, thus resulting in a reduced amount of production diaries, however now my photo-shoot has been completed I can begin to build my own individualistic magazine, using the images I have taken. During the photo-shoot I ensured that the style models or image ideas were available to me so that I could get exactly the images I needed for my magazine.

Production Diary

In todays lesson we researched a multitude of different promotional methods existing in magazines. These included such things as fee gifts and tickets as well as signed memorabilia and merchandise. Magazines often offer these in order to entice readers to buy the magazine as often owning something 'rare' or 'unique' is very important. I realised that this was particularly poignant in my chosen genre of music because the fans are often very competitive and loyal, therefore it is possible to conclude that promotional methods in this case are important because often people will buy the magazines if they feel it will give them a greater position in society based on their improved knowledge or unique ownerships.

Production Diary

In today's lesson I finished my article analysis. Similarly to my front cover and contents page analysis the detail was in great depth as I wanted to have a greater understanding of how magazines work and the generic codes and conventions. Such in depth analysis is beneficial to me in the long run as it allows me to compare my magazine with pre-existing and successful magazines ultimately to enable my magazine to look professional.

Production Diary

In todays lesson we looked at and analysed existing mastheads and names. By analysing the mastheads and names I was able to understand the significance of having a bold eye catching masthead because this is inevitably going to be the firs thing a reader will see. Furthermore the name is also important as it has to be memorable. For example the name Kerrang! originates from the sound of an out of tune guitar being strung. This makes it unique and therefore stands out against other magazine names such as Classic Rock to which ultimately serves a different purpose to Kerrang! This analysis has allowed me to deduce how I can approach creating my masthead and indeed magazine name.

Production Diary

Production Diary

Today in media we looked at the representation of our chosen genres in music magazines. This was important because it provides us with some valuable information with regards to the way in which we would approach the production of our magazine in such features as the photo-shoot. The importance of a good photo-shoot was apparent during this task because, especially in my chosen genre of rock/metal, the mood is very specific and ensuring said mood is met appropriately is increasingly difficult. From this task I have learned therefore that my models in my photo-shoot have to be quite arrogant and rebellious in order to conform to the hegemonies of this genre.

Production Diary

Production Diary

Production Diary

         The introduction to AS Media studies included a discussion about types of software available to us and the course expectations. The main focus at the beginning of the course was to collate a variety of photographs from around the school grounds. These will be influential in a later task. One necessity was that each class member included a mid-shot within their galleries, without this we would not be able to meet the criteria of the task. After all photo's were collected and uploaded onto the system it was time to begin with preparations for the main task in our AS Media studies introduction. This was to, design both the front cover and the contents page for, a Haydon school magazine.