Final front cover

Contents page: final

Final double page spread

Evaluation 6

Here are some list of technologies I have used during this project:



Used to upload my ideas



This is what I used to take my photographs

Created my front cover and double page spread. Also allowed me to change the lighting of my images when they appeared dark.

Created my contents page using this programme.

Studio with lighting to take my photos as well as my videos.

Uploaded some of my images, as well as annotation for the reasons why I chose to do things in a certain way e.g. the masthead.

Used this to present my ideas in a fun way.

Used for my evaluation as well as other post, to vary the different technologies used on my blog.

Used for my focus group as well as uploading my interview (which I edited). Also allowed me to post videos of my artist songs, in order for people to see who she was- build more fan base.

Tripod used to put my video camera on top to ensure that the camera was not shaky, whilst filming my focus group/ artist interview.  

Evaluation 5, part 3

How did you attract/address your audience? Double page spread using "Flicker". Click on the image, which would take you to Flicker.

Evaluation 5, part 2

How did you attract/address your audience? This is my contents page I analysed using "Flicker". (Click on the image which would take you directly to Flicker for the notes made).

Evaluation 5, part 1

How did you attract/address your audience? This is my front cover, using "Flicker". Click on the image which would take you directly to Flicker for the notes made.

Evaluation 4

Evaluation 3, part 2

What kind of media insitution might distribute you by priscillababy on GoAnimate

Animation Software - Powered by GoAnimate. This is the written verision of the animation: They distribute for magazine companies such as “Cosmopolitan”, which is a magazine aimed mostly at women. And with a female artist present on my magazine front cover, it would attract large amount of female readers. They also distribute for magazines such as "Reveal", "Elle" "Company", "Best". This company would distribute my magazine due to the fact that I feel I would be able to introduce a new genre into this market, targeting wider range of audience. And with many of the magazines having a female on the front cover, my magazine would fit in perfectly, as its targeting the same audience. Furthermore I would not only base my magazine online but in stores too. Such as WHSmith, as WHSmith displays range of magazines from different audience, this was seen whilst conducting my market research into the different music magazines that are produced.

Evaluation 3 part 1

What kind of media institution might distribut for by priscillababy on GoAnimate

Video Maker - Powered by GoAnimate. This is the first part of my evaluation using "Goanimate". This is the written version of my animation: Stated pervious times, my target audience are teenagers ranging from 14 to 17 years old. Due to the ages of my target audience I based my magazine to be on a weekly basis. In addition I also decided to base my magazine on a weekly basis rather than a monthly, because through my market research I found that some “Hip Hop” magazine such as “Hip Hop” was based on a weekly basis. While as “Vibe” and “XXL” were based on a monthly basis, charging £3.20 (Vibe). However due to my magazine being weekly I fixed my price at £1.30, making it affordable price for my target audience. From further research into distributors for magazine, although “IPC” and “Bauer” are one of the largest magazine distributors, they however do not distributor for my genre of music magazine, as they focus more on other genres of music e.g. “Rock” (NME). This led me to look further into distributors that could distribute for my magazine. I finally came across “COMAG” which is a company based within the UK, distributing magazines and other forms of leaflets. “COMAG” was formed in 1977, which is co-joint and owned by “Hearst Magazines UK” along with “Condé Nast Publications”. The company distributes for both weekly and monthly (annuals) magazine, which would be ideal for magazine, as it’s weekly based.

Evaluation 2, part 2

This is a focus group I conducted for my second evaluation 2.

Evaluation 2, part 1

How does your media product represent particualr social groups?

My magazine represent and reflect my social group, which was in this case teenagers from the ages from 14 to 17 years of age. Due to the genre of my music I wanted to focus on ("Hip Hop"), I took images that were similar to those I had seen on  "Hip Hop" magazine front covers. As you can see the image on the top left hand "XXL" magazine front cover is in some ways similar to my own magaine "Lyrical".This demonstarte that my magazine represents similar social groups to other magazines that are present in the music industry e.g. "XXL". The similarities of these magazines can be seen with the posture in which the artists are placed. Both of the artists have one arm across their chest, whilst another is placed near their face, with angle of gaze to ensure that it engages readers. Due to the photographs being one of a mid shot, this creates an initmating atmoshphere and a sense of power to the reader, which is the convention of "Hip Hop" magazines, leading the focus to be on the artist body language and facial expression.

However the images differeinate as "XXL" gesture connotes some element of playfulness, this can be seen with the facial expression (with the showing of the teeth). In contrast one could argue that with the showing of the teeth, gives it a sense of aggression, which in affect makes the gesture very similar to my own image. Although not a lot of women have this persona of a hardcore impowering gesture, by chosing to place my artist in such a pose adds to the idea of powerful "Hip Hop" arists who are serious on making music and their image (how they are percieved). Through such expression, this allows the reader to have an idea of what the magazines would include e.g. by having a hardcore female artist on the front cover this gives an insight to the reader that article would be included on the subject of women making it in the "Hip Hop" scene. 

The use of costume in these images suggests that in both cases, the artists are in a way high maintenance this is shown with the jewelleries which they are wearing. In the "Hip Hop" scene the earing of jewelleries (bling, bling) are very important, this is due to the fact that artists are associated and know to their fanson the bases on the jewelleries, this has led many artists to have their own masterpiece of unquiue jewelleries. Although with the wearing of such jewelleries connotes high maintence, this represents my social group well due to the fact that they have similar dress sense. By wearing such jewerlleries this therefore inspire and encourages my target audience, that those who want to trying to make it into the music business would one day make it, allowing them to own their own individual chains.

The colour scheme in both magazines are bold and eye cacthing. Despite the background of "XXL" being the same colour as my own background (grey), I wanted to use colours that would suite my social group. This led me to subvert from the convention of using red, instead I used colours that were unisex engaging wide range of readers. I used gold, connotating  the idea of my magazine being famous (popular). This is helped through the use of purple giving it the feel of power and royality, which is the connotation of purple. By using colours such as purple, indicates the idea that even though the connotations of colours states power and authority, it also has a sense of femmine touch as purple is soft, often associated with romantic. This contrats the use of black which reinforces power, adding to the aggressive nature of "Hip Hop". This is balanced with the colour white making my front cover as a whole stand out, whilst attracting my social group who stated in my survey conducted (using "Survey Mokey"), that such colours attracted them due to the brightness.   

Evaluation question 1

Double page spread layout

Sorry for the late post, this was the beginning of my layout of my double page spread, using "Photoshop".

Final changes made: Front cover and Contents page



This is the front cover of my magazine, which I created using "Photoshop". Although my magazine front cover overall follows the conventions of "Hip Hop" magazine, such as the pose in which my artist has been placed in and the colours used. However changes needed to be made, as there were far too much colours used on the front cover alone. The norm of magazines consists of three to four colours the most, but as you can see my magazine contains five colours, this therefore needed to be changed in order to follow the convention of colours used on magazine front covers. The main reason as to why I had originally used a lot of colours on my front cover, comes down to the fact that, due to the colours on my artist shirt, this made it difficult for the text used to be readable, as it clashed with the colours on my artist shirt. This then led to be changes some of the text to be orange, in order for the text to be clear and able to read. However due to the vast amount of colours used, I had to change some of the text which were written is orange to be either black or white. I then casted a shadow on the text, making the text easier to read as well as stand out from the rest of the text which were present. I then tackled the problem of too much text being used on the front cover, I took away some of the text due to the fact that the text was crowding my artists, making the page look far too busy. Because this is not the convention for "Hip Hop" magazines to use a lot of text, by taking away some text allowed my magazine to look like a real life "Hip Hop" magazine front cover.





This is my contents page, I used "Indesign" to create this contents page. The colours used links well with the colours used on the front cover of my magazine. This is a convention of "Hip Hop" magazines, which I wanted to follow as it's the genre of my magazine. There were some changes which needed to be done, in order for my contents page to look like real life contents page in music magazines. The first change that needed to be done was to ensure that my editor's letter was Aline with my bottom left (32) image. This was done in order to make my page look professional and well thought of layout. I also had to the the same on the other side of the page (with the features section). I had to make sure that the page within that section was divided equally, as some spaces were larger than other. I also had to Aline my features section with the guidelines that were provided. Lastly I fixed the line that appeared on top of "Contents".



Final finished product of my front cover

Final contents page with corrections made

Quick update: distributors

Unfortunately I have not had any luck looking for companies who will distribute for my magazine. From earlier research, as well as current research has led me to believe that there are not a lot of companies present in the UK do not distributes for my genre of music magazine (Hip Hop). This is due  to the fact that many of the Hip Hop magazines are based in the U.S rather than the UK, meaning that more than likely that distributors will also be based in America. Although I have been on "Vibe" and "Hip Hop Weekly" (Hip Hop magazine),  website into finding out who their distributors are, I have not found any of this information on their website.
My research continues.....

IPC for distributing Lyrical?

Due to the fact that "Bauer" does not distribute my genre of magazine, this lead me to look further into detail as to which distributors, which in this case is "IPC"to see if it  would be ideal for distributing my magazine. However from further research shows that "IPC", also does not distribute my genre of music magazine. This may be due to the fact that it distributes the "typical" British  music magazine, such as "NME"(which is associated with punk rock, but also combine other music genres). What I found interesting is that although its one of the major distributors for magazines within Britain, they however do not distribute for other genres of music magazines such as "Hip Hop" and "R&B". This therefore means that I have to continue my research for distributors for my magazine, or to simply distribute it online, and therefore offering home delivery. In addition to my search, I will be looking further into the distributors of "Vibe" and "Hip Hop weekly" magazine.

Upon further research on "IPC" website, here are some examples of the major magazines based in the UK that, the company distributes for:





These goe to show that the company "IPC" provides distriubting for all age range, from teenagers  to adults.

Research into distributors- Bauer

I have been looking for distributes for my own hip hop magazine. First on the list, I had a close look for one of the major distribtors of magazines. Due to the genre of my magazine, I was not suprised to see that "Bauer" did not distribute hip hop magazine, rather they distribute major magazines that are popualr within the UK,such as the following:

 

As you can see, most of the magazines that "Bauer" distributes does not include any hip hop magazines nor does it include any R&B. This therfore means that such distributors would not be ideal to distribute my own magazine, as they do not deal with my genre of music.

Contents page in "Indesign"

This is a rough layout I completed using "Indesign". I found out that by using such programme, it made it easier  to fit all my text inside accurately, making it look professional. All the text along with the image were placed accuratly with the guide lines. The only problem i had with such programme was the fact that my masthead's colour could not be changed. This meant that I had to copy the title and then put it into "photoshop", before the colour could be changed.

Layout in photoshop, testing out ideas

Hip Hop with politics

This is another Hip Hop magazine "The Source", which incorporate Hip Hop with politics. This comes down to the fact that "The Source" is a Hip Hop magazine. Here it presents rappers and Hip Hop artists who support Obama, as a way of encouraging more people to vote.

Another Hip Hop magazine of "Vibe", in another issue which uses Obama on the front cover of their issue. In this issue the image focus is on Obama, through the use of close up of Obama's face. Although the main image is of one of a politician, other Hip Hop regular storyline can be seen such an issue of Jay Z.



This is the front cover of Vibe magazine, which is one of the largest Hip Hop magazine based in America. As you an see, Vibe has an image of Obama on the front cover to possible promote this policies in order for the public of America to vote for him. Obama may have been used on the front cover of the magazine due to the fact that he is black, as most Hip Hop magazine promote the success of black people.

I have used similar headlines in my own magazine (Lyrical)stating "Special juice issue, it's Obama time for the second time". This is because other Hip Hop magazines include such issue as it's educative.

Double page spread changes

I started my dps using "Indesign" but after I had completed a rough layout, I found out that my creation for my dps did not match my flat plans and so therefore needed changes. In addition I decied to change my dps from Indesign into "photoshop" due to the fact that my images on top of my article were, looked are too crowed, which was not the look I was going for.

Contents page edit using "Befunky"

This is some of the ediits I have done
for my contents page. I have added
text in order for my image  to relate
to music, I have added text to the image.
In order to make the image stand out, I have
added a border around the image, which
goes with my colour scheme (using
colour wheel).

I wasn't sure which images I wanted to use for my
contents page, due to the fact that I liked both images,
in order to find out which one suited my genre.
I asked people which image they liked the most, and
at the same time understand my genre of music.
I wanted to put two of these pictures next to each other, as I couldn't choose
one image. I had added border around this image aswell, so that it relates to
the one above.

Interview for dps: corrections made!

I had drafted my interview and sent it off for it to be marked. When I finally got my interview back, there were a lot of corrections that needed to be made, in order to ensure my interview was chatty and entertaining. These were the things/ways in which I needed to improve my interview piece:

• To make my sentences shorter, so that it's easy to read as well as understand it.
• I had to also think carefully  about whether I was talking to Paiidz or about her. (In the end I decided that it would be far more interesting if I was to talk to the artist. I have done so in my corrections.)  
• I was to add more of what my artist said in my interview I had conducted with her. 
• Lastly I had to read more examples of such articles. 

I could not find examples of such articles on the internet, however I have tried to make my interview sound more smoother. I then sent my completed corrections by e-mail for my teacher to mark. 

How I edited my interview