Magazine front cover first draft.

This is my first draft of my magazine front cover.

Magazine write up

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

My product is a football magazine which uses and challenges the forms and conventions of other football magazines.

My magazine uses the convention of having the title in the top left hand corner. This is a common theme in most magazines of all genres. I did this as people will look there straight away as that is where they are used to seeing the title of magazines.

I didn’t challenge any forms or conventions as I thought I would be best suited to stick to the conventions and forms that are found within all football magazines as this would not put the sale and distribution of my magazine at risk.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product?

TwentyFourSevenFootball.com

This is a good example.

This is a new website designed around the basis of the newly published football magazine twenty four seven football.

I would set up my own website based around my magazine, which would allow the audience to receive the latest news on the magazine and would also allow them to read the latest edition online. I believe this is an easier for me to distribute as it would enable me to distribute it directly to my target audience, whereas if not I would have to ask a media institution to distribute it for me.

Another way in which I could distribute the magazine would be to create a social network page, which would enable my target audience to view, comment and discuss the magazine with others online. It would also allow my T.A to give feedback on the magazine, and make suggestions for improvements.

Bauer Media is a good example of who would distribute my magazine. Bauer produce many magazines, some of which are other football magazines such as MATCH. Bauer media is a division of the Bauer Media Group, Europe’s largest privately owned publishing Group. The Group is a worldwide media empire offering over 300 magazines in 15 countries, as well as online, TV and radio stations. This institution would allow the magazine to be bought and read worldwide.

A good location for distribution would be where my target audience would be present, for example outside football grounds such as Goodison Park and Anfield.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine also represents the social group of people who like and enjoy football. I have done this through my contents page where I inform the reader what is in my magazine. I looked at other football magazines for ideas of what to put on the contents page; for example a player profile with Crystal Palace winger Wilfred Zaha.

The age 7-15 is represented through the language used throughout the magazine, and also by the layout. The layout design is very basic and contains pictures to keep the young audience engaged.

Who would be the audience for your media product?

My main target audience would be people aged between 7 and 15 as my questionnaire results show that people between this age would be interested in buying the magazine. I also chose this age group as I felt the design I wanted to create would be best suited for this target audience.

My secondary target audience would be people aged 16+ who have a general interest in football and football magazines.

How did you attract/address your audience?

From my questionnaire I found out that my intended target audience would like me to include a contents page as it can help them navigate the magazine and know what page to turn to, in order to find out the information they are interested in. I therefore included a contents page as party of my double page spread. This obliges to the codes and conventions I am aware exist in well-known football magazines.

I also attracted my audience by offering the option to get in touch over social media websites such as Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. This would widen my range of audience as people wouldn’t have to visit there local shop to purchase the magazine, they could find it online whilst at home. They could also leave feedback on the social media websites, and suggest improvements for future editions.

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

Before this year, I had never studied media and was unfamiliar with the technologies which would be used throughout the course. However, through constructing this product, I have learnt how to use Photoshop to a good standard and I feel confident that I would now be able to help another student with Photoshop if they were struggling.

I have also learn;t how to use PowToon to an adequate standard. This has developed the ways in which I present media products, and will do in the future.

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

During the progression from starting the preliminary task, to completing the full product I have learnt that football magazines have to be presented in a certain way to attract particular target audiences. For example, a football magazine aimed at a young age group would tend to include a basic styled layout and would include mini games and quiz’s to please the young age group. In contrast, a football magazine aimed at the age group 14-21 would mainly focus on including good, factual information and would stick to the basic, informative layout style.

I have learnt how to use many different technologies that I had not used before such as Photoshop and PowToon. I believe my knowledge and understanding of these technologies is of an adequate standard, and is one that would allow me to assist other students who were struggling to come to terms with these technologies