Thursday, 16 February 2012

Pre-liminary task: Evaluation

In my Pre-liminary task I had to create 2 pieces of media text for a student magazine, I firstly had to create a target audience profile to determine the type of student my magazine would be aimed at, I then created a mission statement outlining what my magazines, values and aims are and what each issue promises to deliver. Following this I took some shots of my model and selected my favourite image, I made a mock up of what I wanted my front cover to look like, I then created my actual front cover and contents page using Adobe Photoshop cs5.

My magazine’s front cover follows the basic conventions of magazines, such as the masthead “Educating” at the top of the cover and the placement of the sell-lines, the dateline and puff follow the basic layout conventions. However although my image follows the convention of being a medium close up, I have used the props of earphones and a book, to indicate that the magazine is educational, but also takes the students lifestyle into account.

I have tried to give “Educating” a symbiotic link between the front cover and the contents page by using a similar theme. I created a theme by the use of fonts I have used the same font of ‘beer’ for the title of ‘October’ and the sell-lines on the front cover of my magazine as well as the banner of the main sell line ‘Business studies special advice from Alan Sugar’ I have also stuck to a colour theme of a burnt red which reflects the month. Furthermore the main image has background scenery of nature and leaves, I have continued this into the contents page by using an image of leaves along the side of the page, linking back to cover.

I have tried to reflect my target audience through my image and sell lines; they set the tone of the magazine and show it is not completely formal. The magazine aims to not only inform the reader it is also there to entertain the target audience. The cover of “Educating” sell lines reflect the target audience interests such as “Fall fashion style tips and tricks” it also covers social aspects of students lives such as “Beat the bullies”. This refers to Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs the theory that we as humans to be happy need to fulfil these needs. The sell line of “Beat the bullies” can help improve the readers feelings of safety, furthermore it may help their need for belonging as if they are confident and not intimidated by bullies they can live their life freely, moreover it will help raise their overall self-esteem helping improve their self-concept.

I have tried to keep my front cover balanced so it is equally aimed at women and men. I have tried to keep the colour scheme of burnt red and black unisex. Although my cover-model is male, I have also tried to include sell-lines particularly aimed at women such as “Prom planning for your dress”.

One of the strengths of my two pieces is the image used, as it reflects the overall tone of the magazine informative and entertaining. Furthermore the imagery reflects the time period and is relevant to sell lines such as “fall fashion tips and tricks”.  Strength is the sell-line used they are relevant to the target audience and will help fulfil their social needs.

However some areas which I would improve/change are the font used for the sell-lines as some of the sell-lines are difficult to read as they seem to blend into the background. Moreover I would also change the font used on my contents page which is used to head and list the sections of the magazine as it breaks the continuity between the front cover and contents page slightly, Instead I would use the same font for the sell-line’s and contents page list, and the same font for the masthead and the issue month. In addition to this I would edit the spelling error made on my banner of “Business studies special...” to “Business studies special...” .

To conclude, the pre-liminary task has taught me that I need to work harder on creating a symbiotic link between my front cover and contents page as this has a influence on my magazine’s brand identity and how recognisable it is to the reader. I also need to be careful of careless spelling errors, I must proof-read all my work.

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