Finished Products

Qu 5:How did you attract/address your audience?

Click the pictures to see how my magazine appeals to my audience>>

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Qu 7: Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to full product?

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Progression

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Qu 6:What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Technologies

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Qu 4: Who would be the audience for your media product?

Audience Profile:
Shops: Topshop, H&M, charity Shops, vintage Shops, Mr. Shoes, HMV, boutiques, record shops
Products:Vaseline, pizza, converse, tea, brogues
Hobbies: Photography, art, local gigs, playing drums, reading
Music: White Stripes, Regina Spektor, Patrick Wolf, Razorlight
TV: Never Mind the Buzzcocks, Mock the Week, Skins
Other Interests: Socialising at pubs, festivals, cafes and house parties.

My target audience is specified by psychographics more than demographics as the magazine targets a specific sub-culture rather than an age or class, however there is a broad demographic brackets of teens to mid 30 year olds with ABC1C2 class. My target audience are not mainstream like my magazine. They value creativity, uniqueness and effort in a product. My magazine incorporates their music taste, fashion sense and hobbies such as photography. Due to this individualist approach the target audience is small but would be loyal as they feel involved in the success of the magazine and as though their custom is appreciated, unlike buying from large, established publishing houses. The cover lines feature artists they would be interested in and new bands they would like to know more about. The main image would also attract them as the black and white and double image effect would appeal to their artistic nature. The one font effect makes the magazine look stylised and non-mainstream which would appeal to my readers.

Qu 3: What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

As my magazine is a niche magazine I believe someone who has previously worked in a publishing house or another field of media may publish the magazine independently. Once he/she has built up the magazine name they may then sell it on to a publishing house; this however was the downfall of "The Face" magazine, as not enough personal flair was given to it after the transition. My magazine is a magazine that would be slow to establish as it is not mainstream, but as with " The Face" it could become a cult within individualist groups. For this reason subscription distribution would be one of the main ways my magazine would be distributed as it means the regular "cult" readers wouldn't miss an edition. Subscription is also feasible as it is a monthly magazine so delivery costs would not be too high. Online distribution would be key to my magazine whilst it was establishing itself as then less shelf space and therefore less money is required. My magazine could also be distributed in specialist book and magazine stores of which many independent magazines acquire shelf space. These are more common in larger cities, even some chain book stores such as WH Smith have large stores with shelf space for niche magazines in which I could distribute my magazine. Another inexpensive option for distributing my magazine is to advertise my magazine in creative, independent cafes, pubs, shops and galleries through the use of postcards, handouts or a copy of the magazine itself. It could also be advertised or displayed in certain fashion stores due to it's fashion and photography focus. Owners of such businesses are often willing to allow this as the arty nature of my magazine raise their independent, sub-cultured image. All of this along with viral internet advertising should lead to subscriptions being boosted and therefore the name of my magazine spreading.

Distribution is key to a magazine's success as it attracts the target audience. The right sort of advertising and marketing in the right place raises awareness of the magazine and enables people to decide what is right for them. The magazine needs to be distributed in the right outlets for it's budget so it is displayed to it's target audience. To gain maximum shelf space magazine companies use distribution companies such as Marketforce (UK) ltd, this only applies to magazines which are likely to be instantly commercially successful.

Synergy
As my magazine would be independently published and not mainstream there would not be a huge amount of synergy such as t.v programmes or radio shows as the target audience would be too small. However it may have a sister website with extra information about featured bands and links to video clips or gig listings. This may help it become viral on the internet. There may also be small gigs in honour of the magazine as my target audience would often go to small gigs, especially if the line up included featured artists.

Qu 2: How does your media product represent particular social groups?

I have chosen an image of Lenny Kravitz as he similar to my cover model as they are psychographically and demographically similar, and would both attract my audience. Both images are mid-shots although my image is closer up. Another similarity is the subjective gaze both subjects have, however the eye area is lit by more high key lighting on my image, giving more eye contact with the reader. There are differences in gesture with the images. My model has his head slightly tilted up which connotes superiority or attitude. The other model has his head tilted down however this gives similar connotations. Both models have neutral facial expressions further connoting a "cool" attitude. As my image is a studio image I have been able to position the artificial lighting as I desired. I chose a chiascuro style of lighting as the light and shade adds drama that the facial expression and gesture lacks; the image has impact without the model loosing his superior identity. The opposing image has ambient lighting which is quite low key. The costume and hair of both models is similar as they're clothing is relaxed and informal and they both have small afros. The relaxed, laid back attitude and clothing both models have would attract my audience as they would not like to see a model trying too hard, i.e posing, they would prefer people to be natural and themselves as this is how they act.

Demographically the models share similarities as they are of the same gender and similar race. I chose to have a male as the cover image not as it is a male gendered magazine but as I believe a male image will attract both sexes as it acts as a role model of males and a symbol of attraction for females. If I had chosen an image of a female I may have run the risk of only targeting females as males may not like to be seen buying a magazine with a "pretty" not "sexy" female on the front. My magazine is targeted at a wide range of social classes but mainly ABC1C2. The magazine is psychographic specific rather than demographic as it targets people with similar interests but they could be from all walks of life. The magazine is mainly aimed at individuals which justifies the ethnicity of the model and the range of models used throughout the magazine. The target audience of individuals means the magazine is pro-consumerist in a subtle way. The images in the magazine create an image for my audience to be inspired by, however as they are individual they won't respond well to having an exact product forced upon them; they would not like to be seen as following the crowd. My magazine could attract advertisers, however, as it is a niche magazine it is a good place for niche companies to advertise. This is beneficial all round as niche companies cannot get advertising space in mainstream magazines and my readership would not respond well to mainstream products.