Preliminary Task Evaluation

What have you learned from completing this task?
By completing my preliminary task i have learned and understood the different types of media text, the numerous conventions used in a magazine and how to use them effectively, and how to use technology to successfully design a magazine. From the preliminary task i now feel i have the right knowledge and experience to successfully complete the main task to a high standard. 
How have you used technology?
I have used Adobe Photoshop to design a music magazine to a professional standard. By using and getting used to software used by professionals I feel equipped to make my main task look as professional as a real music magazine. I have also used the internet to help me gather and analyse various music magazine related images and examples, which in turn has helped me fully understand the procedure that goes into making a music magazine, and the unwritten rules I should follow. 
What conventions have you used and why?
I have followed all the typical conventions of a mainstream music magazine by including a masthead, feature stories, a plug and a main image. By doing so with my magazine I have enabled it to stand to a professional standard with the information included, making my magazine contain all the conventions mainstream music magazines include to attract viewers and entertain them.  

Main Brief

To design a front cover, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine. All images and text used must be original; a minimum of four images must be used. 

Final Product

Photographs For Front Cover

 These are the 10 photographs i had in mind to potentially be the front cover of my college magazine, what made me choose the image i did for the front cover was my subjects facial expression, stance and use of the props i provided. The facial expression of the subject suggests that he is happy to be a student which is exactly what i required. He is stood in a very professional way which is a great feature for my main image, and the props are clearly seen in the image which is precisely what i desired for my main image. 

Chosen Main Image

Basics Of Photoshop

Mise-en-scene and Location Ideas

For my front cover i would like my main image to look as professional as it possibly can. I had various ideas for potential locations for various themed magazines such as: a piano for a music themed magazine, in a science lab for a science themed magazine, a photograph in front of a painted canvas for an art magazine and a photograph in a library for an English themed magazine, however i wanted my magazine to represent everyday college life and appeal to all students. I came to the conclusion that getting a close up picture of my subject in front of a plain bricked college wall would not only look professional but would also help to portray a very relaxed looking photograph that viewers may find easy to engage with.  

Camera Framings

Feature Stories

Feature Stories

- Wyke Students Celebrate Biology Success
- Dramatic Increase in the much Coveted A* Grade
- Surviving the storm of coursework 
- Top 10 tips to plan for your exams 
- Where to find yourself a part time job 

Music Based Feature Stories 

-Top 10 gigs you have to go to this winter
- Wyke students Freedom Festival stardom 
- Leeds Fest review 
- Win two tickets to The Wytches at Adelphi on page 26! (plug)
- 5 albums you need to survive your A levels

Colour Palette

Magazine Names

Magazine Names


- Wyke Weekly
- Aspire 
- Influence 
- Close-up campus 
- You 
- Study
- Student 
- Campus Weekly 
- Campus Monthly 
- Student Weekly

Chosen Magazine Name 

Campus Weekly 

Digital Draft

Mood Board

This is my mood board showcasing things most students show an interest in, mainly including things such as: music, social networking, subjects such as art science and music and social events. This then gives me an indication of what i can include in my feature stories, plug and main feature story, making my magazine relevant to modern day students. 

Conventions Research

Semiotics / LIIAR Analysis

Semiotics

Semiotics are features of a media text that suggest meaning, examples of semiotics in media include: conventions (the expected and predictable features of a text), denotations (what we see in a media text) and connotations (the hidden meanings we infer from a media text)

LIIAR

The acronym 'LIIAR' contains 5 of the main concepts of media.

L - Language - Media language is what an effective media text usually contains, for example: music, text, video and photographs

I - Institution - The institution is the company that manufactures a media text, which is important as it will help the media text reach it's target audience effectively. Some examples are: Rockstar, BBC, EMAP and IPC

I - Ideology - Ideology in media is the beliefs and emotions that are connected to a media text, these are also important as the form the media text a specific audience, for example: a pop magazine will contain pop music beliefs and emotions such as how people should listen to chart music, attracting people with similar beliefs and emotions.

A - Audience - The audience are the people who consume the media text, the audience is important for without one, a media text would never be noticed.

R - Representation - Representation is how individuals are portrayed in the media, this is an important concept as it helps to display and convey a message and an opinion about a person to the masses, which in turn will also attract an audience who are intrigued to learn all about what the text may be saying about said person.  

Brief

To design a College magazine front cover and mock up contents page