How does your Media product represent particular social groups?

When analysing my product, I feel confident in saying my front cover main image, shows representations of a youth male. This was my aim, as my magazine was aimed at young people and teenagers. I feel it was important to have a young male, as  a young teenager could associate themselves and relate themselves to the image.

I have represented my main character by purposely dressing the young male in modern teenage clothing. When doing research into magazines aimed at young audiences, I took notice to the costume of the males and females. With my main mage being a male, I knew my image would have a bigger impact he were dressed up similar to how my audience would. 

The location of the main image wasn't relevant, as I was going to remove the background through Photoshop. Although I did place the male in a background that I knew would be easy to edit, this wasn't my first option in terms of how I wanted to represent the main image. 

My main camera angle is a 'mid-shot'. I thought this would be important, as I imagined looking at the image if I were the audience. I felt it would have a bigger impact if the audience could look directly at the image and come up with similar representations as myself. 

My images for my product all include artists in action. My product was designed like this because I wanted the images to be represented similarly and that they could all be linked with similar representations. This is linked with the body language of the images I have used, in that they are cool and confident, and these are some more of the representations I was trying to achieve. 

The lighting for all the images are quite dark. At first, I had a mixture, with my front cover being very bright. This was the same for my double-page main image, where I edited the image to be darker. I felt this would be effective as it links with my music genre. I didn't want to contrast the type of music I was promoting , and having a light and bright music magazine. 

All of the images I have used were deliberately used to not intimidate the reader. I feel it is better to use images for my music magazine that show the artist playing naturally rather than them looking directly at the reader. I think teenagers prefer images of artists playing than them posing looking directly at the camera. I have used this idea on my front cover as shown.

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

Some of the magazines that ‘IPC Media’ represent are ‘NME’ ‘Instyle’ ‘Now’. These magazines are worldwide and are extremely respected in terms of the content, impressions, and the way it is styled. I feel that have the IPC Media institution would be very good for me, as it would make my magazine have a high level of respect and reputation and it would possibly be known in many areas of the world. Therefore, the I can have a wide range of audience groups who could relate to my magazine. This institution is also extremely popular, so my magazine will hopefully have a huge audience to start with, rather than if I went of another institution which is not recognised well. 

This is former NME magazine that has ben published. I would relate my music magazine to the style and layout of this NME magazine. This is the look I was trying to achieve, and some of the features helped me. Given this idea, I feel that the IPC media institution would suit my magazines. Research shows that they promote magazines that explore 'soft rock'. This is would therefore suit my music magazine, and have a similar audience as other magazineI would like to advertise my magazine through billboard advertisements, television advertisements and youtube advertisements. The adverts on youtube would be my main priority because of the audience I am aiming at. The younger generation use Youtube on a daily basis, and is used commonly my many people. Similarly with television, younger audiences tend to watch television.

Linking Youtube and the internet in general with younger audiences, it may be effective that I can help promote my music magazine through an online website. I have added this on my own product, and since so many teenagers use the internet, it could lead to many people viewing the website and exploring my product in this way.

This is an example of a Youtube advertisement I was discussing earlier.  Many links appear on videos, and so younger audiences could be interested by these types of advertisements.

http://www.ipcmedia.com

Representation of Main Image (Contents Page)

The image I have used the main image on my contents page (which you can see in the versions of my front cover on my Blog) was used purposely for different reasons. Firstly, I wanted an image that was taken at a Live Concert. I have been to many concerts, and it was hard to pick one that was relatable to what I was aiming for. I aimed for an image that showed the audience of an event that really did take place and that this may draw them in. Secondly I wanted to stick to the theme of 'being cool' and being likeable. The image I have chosen was good for this because of the way he came across was relatable to this theme. I didn't originally plan to go for this type of image but I decided that it would make my front cover look more professional and appealing. I feel the feedback I am getting is extremely beneficial as it is making me realise exactly what I need to include and what would make my magazine more professional.

Representation Of Main Image (Front Cover)

My main image, (which you can see in the versions of the front cover that I have posted on my Blog) show the artist I have talked about in my main headline and sub-headline. When I heard that I had to pick a main image for my front cover, I immediately came up with a plan that this was the type of main image I wanted. I got someone I was good friends with to by music artist. I could picture how I wanted him to look and it took me a while to come up with the idea that I did. At first, I had my music artist standing up, with his chest out and playing the guitar. Yet, I felt he came across too differently to what I wanted. I wanted my music artist to come across 'cool, smooth and likeable'. The main image I had used makes me feel like I have achieved this. I experimented with my friend by getting him into different body positions and doing different stances. Whilst I was thinking about what I wanted, my friend sat down and played a tune on the guitar. This made me realise, that I needed this type of body position and facial expression. It was really lucky that he started to play a song from his guitar, because I probably wouldn't have used the image that I have. I think my music artist comes across very professional and looks quite 'cool'. His facial expression is very focused,a nd this also something I wanted to achieve.

Updated Version Of Front Cover 6/12/12

Here is the latest updated version of my front cover. I have made only one main change, but I think it makes the magazine look completely different. Firstly, I have made my front cover look a lot more realistic. I have reduced the amount of background colour on the double page spread. Before I did this, my front cover main image, looked extremely compressed and although it took up a fairly large amount of my front cover, it didn't look professional and it looked like I hadn't done much with it apart from edited it. Whilst making it look more realistic, I have had to stretch the image further width ways. The changes I have made are extremely beneficial because it makes my front cover more professional and realistic. I was happy with the other conventions, such as sub images, sub headlines etc. Yet I have always agreed that I had to change my main image. Now, it takes up a very large amount of my front cover. The frustrating thing with my front cover was that I didn't realise what was missing. The feedback I received was extremely beneficial, because it made me finally notice what I needed to do. I think the feedback has helped me massively.

Updated Version Of Double Page Spread 6/12/12

This is another updated version of my double page spread. I haven't made too many changes this time around, yet I have made extremely significant ones. Firstly, my image has been changed to a more realistic and relatable one. Prior to this updated version, I included an image of a woman who was holding a child (This has some relation to the context of the double page), yet after receiving more feedback from my classmates, I realised that an image of a live concert I was at, helps make the double page more effective. The research of magazines further helped me realise that I needed to add a caption to the image, which is a change I had made. Although it doesn't really stand out and isn't necessarily the focus point of the double page spread, it is still effective because it adds to the realism of the double page. Furthermore, I added page numbers to the double page. This again was to make the double page spread more reliable. The changes I have made to my double page spread are mainly relatable to realism and this is what I think my classmates were trying to tell me. I think although I added a good font type with good conventions,I needed to add more realistic items that would make it look more appealing to the audience. At first I didn't really want to change my double page spread, but the feedback I received made me realise that this is the best thing to happen as it is looks more appealing and realistic.

Updated Version Of Double Page Spread

Here is the final version of my Double Page Spread. After receiving feedback I had realised that I needed to make changes. I have added more text, and repositioned it. It now takes up more than one side of the page. I have cropped my image, making it look more realistic. Also, I have repositioned the main image to the lower left corner of the page. The feedback for this made me realise, that it didn't look right at the top of the page, especially because it was so stretched. The right of the page wasn't really an issue, so I didn't really want to do anything with it. I feel my double-page spread looks a lot more realistic, and it is a lot more effective. I really happy with my updated version because I think it looks better as whole. I haven't really changed a lot to the double-page, but the changes that I have made make me more satisfied, and I am happy with the feedback. Furthermore, I feel that I wouldn't have noticed this had I not got the feedback.