Evaluation of student magazine

1.              In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Before making my student magazines I researched others to give me some inspiration. I noticed that there are various key things to put on the front covers of student magazines as well as suitable content throughout. My magazine had to appeal to my target audience through the use of images, colour, layout and contents. To do this this I used the same colours throughout and included contents which I believed they would find interesting. I also included many pictures and avoided using blocks of text to give it an informal appearance which suited my target audience.

2.              How does your media product represent particular social groups?

My magazine is aimed at teenage students. This is why I have included more images than text as the majority of teenagers would be put off if they saw a lot of text. Also the text that is included in my magazine is simple and informal to resemble student language.  All of my images are of students to emphasise that the magazine is about and for the students and so that they would find the images interesting.

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

My magazine is specifically for college use and therefore would be only be on sale in the college. My magazine would also be made within college meaning there wouldn’t be a high cost to produce it which is the reason why it is a low price which makes it affordable for students.

4.              Who would be the audience for your media product?

My audience is students ranging from ages 16-18 who study at Ludlow College. It is aimed at both genders so more people will buy it.

5.              How did you attract/address your audience?

I attracted my audience through the use of colour, image and layout of my magazine.  The colour scheme I used was blue, black and white which I believe appears to both genders. I have used the same kind of house style throughout which is black spots around the images and text, which I think looks attractive and would fit in with my target audience. For my central image I have used a student from Ludlow college and the contents features about the college which would keep the audience interested. The fonts that I have used are causal and cool which fits in with the general fell of my magazine.

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

Before I started making my magazine I had never used Photoshop or InDesign and wasn’t sure if I would be able to use it, but with time I gradually became used to the software and as the lessons went on I slow became more confident. Also when I was taking my photographs I had to think how they would appeal to a student audience and how to make the pictures look natural. I had also never created a blog before, therefore I had to learn how to use blogger and make my blog look appealing.