By Manisha Dhuna

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

I think my magazine conforms and challenges otherreal Media products. My magazine can be comparedto other popular Hip-Hop/R&B magazines such as‘VIBE’ and ‘The Source’ because of the predominantcolours used which is red, white and black, thesecolours appeal to the target audience and are mainlyused for music covers. I have used images of girls toportray the Hip Hop/R&B image across my magazine.By the models wearing big chunky accessories andsunglasses this indicates to the target audience that

itis a Hip-Hop/R&B magazine. I chose bright colours to catch the audiences eyes and colour co-organised mymodels, with the use of tights, jewellery, sunglassesas well as other props.

For my magazine I have used a variety ofconventions, I used a masthead, different colours,

anda vast amount of teasers and plugs. As I have setthem out in a professional manor and made it look

likea real music magazine it can relate to one itself.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine creates a representation to a younger generation who idolises celebrities in

the 21st century.

The font I have chosen is easy to read, plain and simple. This shows that Hip-Hop/R&Bcan be clean and simple and isn't confusing as the media makes it sounds, which iseffective to the younger generation.

The colours show that Hip-Hop/R&B isn’t just about one colour, it has a vast amount ofcolours. In my magazine I used a selection of colours to attract the audience as coloursare a significant role in younger generation.

In conclusion my magazine is representing the younger generation who idolises oldercelebrities. My images I chose shows a new image of Hip-Hop/R&B as it’s multi

colouredand still has the stereotypical view of hip-hop but portrayed in a different manor. The image shows that the models have power as they are in front of the masthead and theplugs are fitted around the models.

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

Local institutions such as WHSmith and HMV would be most suitable to promote mymagazine. I believe that as this magazine targets many audiences it would be best topromote it in a institution which is always busy and is local to all ages, as it would make

areasonable profit as well. Also, online magazine stores would be interested to sell mymagazine as it relates to younger generations and more younger generation spend timeonline the computer day after day.

My magazine contains the conventions of a Hip-Hop/R&B magazine and this genre is themost common genre to the younger generation. The standard conventions are used forthe magazine, as well as the use of Photoshop, this was used to make my magazine.Also, to change the font and image size so it can appeal to the audience as its the keyfeature and to make sure it’s clear, and to change the colours of myproduction.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

I believe my target audience would be teenagers and young adults of the ages 16-24, but is aimed slightly at older ages. After my questionnaire findings, I knew that mymagazine would target teenagers more then any other age group, so I knew that I had tomake sure it attracted teenagers more then adults. This is shown by the colours I choseand the language used. Words like ‘BEEF’ is common for the younger generation thenthe older, and in the article the answers were in slang and the language is common to teenagers and appeal to them as they can read it like the magazine relates to them.

My magazine had a simple and effective look to it, as well as it being professional andeasy to read. I kept to the traditional layout of a magazine, which was big masthead andeye catching image as well as teasers, plugs, hooks and free gifts. My choice of colourswere primary colours which the audience automatically relate to and they’re powerfulcolours, this related to the magazine as Hip-Hop/R&B is a powerful genre. Also, theclothing used influences the genre so the audience know that its related to Hip-Hop.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I addressed my audience by using a questionnaire which I designed to find out whatattracts my target audience and what doesn't. Majority of the answers from myquestionnaire would like to read stories about real celebrities, but I believed that a groupre-appearing after a long time would be more suitable as it would show the differences between old school music and new school music.

Also, black white and red were the common answers for my magazine to choose as mypredominant colours, but as it was the spring season and my article was about a newgroup re-appearing I thought it was best to choose bright colours so it could attract thetarget audience as well as emphasise the season, and the colours go well together asthey are primary colours.

Through out my magazine my font is simple but professional, only key headings were ingraffiti. By creating a market research questionnaire it allowed me and didn't let me usecertain elements for my magazine.

What have you learnt about technologies from the process on

constructing this product?I feel that I have learnt a large quantity of knowledge about Photoshop CS4. withoutPhotoshop I could not have made my magazine to the standard it is now, this shows

thatthe technology I had to use to create my magazine plays a major role for my finalproduction. I learnt how to design and create a wide range of productions, which isnoticeable in my constructions.

Eventually, after getting the hang of using Photoshop, I was able to create products Iwasn't able to create before. Also, the internet helped me to gather information for myresearch and planning, and helped me with my radial analysis as I needed originalmagazine covers. I also learnt that I was able to manipulate and put effects on onesingular picture as well as text.

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

product?I feel I have learnt a lot more then I was capable of, and have progressed quickly as Iwas able to create and design my own media magazine front cover, contents page anddouble page spread in a professional manor. I was able to develop an understanding ofhow to use new programmes such as Photoshop. Without using Photoshop in mypreliminary task I grasped the concept of the software within a matter of weeks as it

wasa necessity to understand the functions of the software, I managed to edit pictures andtexts as well as to be able to change colours so it all links together and make it lookprofessional.

I feel that now if I have to make a magazine I have enough capability to make one on my

own without any help, and creating one would be easier as I have a wider imaginationand have explored a wide range of music genres, and now know what targets myaudience a lot more. Looking back at my preliminary task I feel that I could have donebetter in that task as I now have the ability to do better. But now it has made me able tocreate my magazine more professional and attractive to the target audience and nowknow where I need to improve on.

Overall I have learnt that I can produce good quality of work if I have the right technology

and this whole process has taught me how I can achieve it.