QUESTION 7: LOOKING BACK AT YOUR PRELIMINARY TASK, WHAT DO YOU FEEL YOU HAVE LEARNT IN THE PROGRESSION FROM IT TO THE FULL PRODUCT?

Abigail Adesida

HOW HAVE I PROGRESSED

• From my preliminary project up to my fully, completed media product, I have progressed significantly in a very positive manner; during the time I was creating my preliminary product, I did not know how to efficiently use Adobe Photoshop 7.0.1, Microsoft Publisher, the Panasonic Lumix 248 and Macromedia Fireworks in a very good way. In the manner that I used them, my preliminary product was very poorly and lacked complexity and it explicitly revealed that I lacked complex and developed knowledge on the programming, but also showed that I only used and knew the basic knowledge and depended on the basic knowledge.

WHAT SKILLS HAVE I IMPROVED ON:

• Based on skills, I have improved my ability of editing images, the ability to use more complex programs and technologies for my media product as well as my ability to edit the magazine to a standard that would fit the need of my audience, as well as myself.

WHAT KNOWLEDGE HAVE I ACQUIRED:

• From the time I created my preliminary project, up to completing my full media product, I have acquired various amount of knowledge, especially knowledge about audience, institutions and I have also noticed my strengths and weaknesses.

• In terms of audience, I have acquired the knowledge to apple Demographics and Psychographics to them, thus knowing and showing the type of audience that I aim my media product at.

• Furthermore, in terms of representation, I researched stereotypes and subcultures that my audience may or may not be associated with, due to the type of music that my magazine is based on.

• Additionally, I also researched the most popular media institutions that advertise and market media products that are very similar to mine, which are IPC Media and Bauer.

• Bauer is a big branded media institution that advertises media products such as 4 Music, Closer, Grazia, KISS – this is the type of media institution that I would allow my media product to be advertised and distributed by as they would know hoe to apply to young teenagers. Whereas the institution IPC Media which advertises LOOK, NME and TeenNow magazines, are mainly aimed at middle-aged women and wouldn’t comply to the needs of my audience.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

My strengths have significantly improved since the preliminary product and include:• Editing and manipulating images using Adobe Photoshop 7.0.1, Macromedia

Fireworks and Microsoft Publisher• Taking complex images with various shot angles and types using the

Panasonic Lumix 248

However, I still had many weaknesses:• Editing up to a professional standard • Managing my time efficiently

PRELIMINARY PROJECT COMPLETED MEDIA PROJECT

The mast head has been done unprofessionally; there is no skyline and it lacks creativity

The cover lines lack originality, as well as creativity and look very boring and dull

The images are very small and hard to see – the images don’t fit with the theme of the magazine as are very blurred.

The font used - Lucida Handwriting – is very childish and basic, primarily used for letters and creates a rather dull and tense mood within the preliminary product.

The preliminary product lacks a three-colour colour scheme, a bar code, an issue date and a rule of thirds – all of which are basic convention of magazines.

Main image is very blurred and not clear – not very professional and doesn’t link to magazine.

In the main image, there is no direct address or direct contact towards the audience; there is also an explicit lack in costume.

The mast head has been developed and challenged; the colour pink has been made the dominant colour, linking to the genre of the magazine. The mast head has been made very boldly and stands out sharply in the magazine.

The cover lines and rule of thirds have been developed onto a bright-coloured block on the media product, making the text and information more significant by making it stand out.

The main image uses and challenges direct address and direct contact and the main image has been filtered sharply, making the readers to be able to see the facial gestures and expressions of the artist shown. The costume has been significantly chosen and links to the genre of the music that the magazine displays.

The font used – Dolce Vita – is very complex and links to the genre of the magazine; the font is a very sans-serif font and very light-hearted.

The preliminary product uses and develops a three-colour colour scheme; the colours of pink, white and orange are significantly used, all of which have positive connotations.

A Barcode, QR code and straplines have been developed on the magazine, giving it a more modern feel to the magazine, whilst attracting a larger audience simultaneously.

PRELIMINARY PROJECT COMPLETED MEDIA PROJECT

Lack of creativity – the same image is used, but is more blurred.

Images that have no relation whatsoever to the magazine are used.

Unnecessary shapes and features used

Numbers of pages and titles are not aligned

Not very appealing and sets a dull, boring tone to the readers.

Creativity is shown as more than one image is used

The colours – orange, pink white – all set out a positive and lively tone and atmosphere – very bright and fun

The page numbers and page titles are contrasted together to express individuality and originality.

The use of social media makes it more suitable for the audience.

OVERALL• Based on my preliminary task, I have learnt various techniques and methods

on planning, producing and constructing my media magazine, thus completing my full product up to a standard that I am fully happy and satisfied with.