Proof of my photoshoot and images which I have not selected

These are some of the images  i had decided not to use within my final magazine publication. Once I had completed all of my research, the majority of the Hip Hop genre magazines had all maintained close up shots, and had very little use of web 2.0 technologies in order to enhance the images. I had decided that I must choose an image which would be simple yet effective to my target audience, therefore I selected a variety of medium and extreme close up shots to appear within my final magazine publication.

Conclusion of analysis and other product research

By successfully analyzing and taking into account the various codes and conventions used by magazines in the same genre as my final piece; I have managed to draw conclusions on elements which needed to be included to my magazine in order to make it successful to those in the same industry.  The main conventions which I had found on the front covers of Vibe magazine for example had all included;

- Masthead: This is the magazine's name and can be easily identified by the target audience through being at the top of the page and being very bold and large. For my magazine to be successful, I will have to have the masthead very big, identifiable and at the top of the page. Furthermore, some mastheads are slightly covered by the iconic figure used on the front cover of the magazine. This shows that the institution distribute the magazine on a regular basis and can be easily identified by the target audience.
- Iconic figure: On the majority of hip hop magazines, an iconic figure is always used because it not only relates to that genre in which the magazine is found but because the use of an iconic figure draws in the majority of the consumers. However for my magazine we cannot use iconic figures but represent ourselves in such a way that we can be seen as someone who has a similar status to them.
- Layout of the magazine: The majority of magazines take a “C" shape layout which psychologically draws readers in as many of us read from left to right. If I include this in my magazine, it will follow the codes and conventions of a magazine therefore making it successful.

Regulation in the media

- Regulation in media publish guidelines which inform media institutions on what they are allowed to publically show and what not.
- £ 4 billion is spent in total on advertising across all media year in the UK.

Media regulation boards include;
- PCC : Press complaints commission
- ASA: Advertising standards authority
- OFCOM: Regulatory body for the communications industry

Subjects which are deemed as offensive or inappropriate include:
- Nude
- Alcohol
- Drugs
- Violence
- Discrimination
- Sexism
- Deception
- Animal cruelty 

Media regulations battle offensive and inappropriate information through; watershed advertising (where certain adverts are allowed to be shown at certain times of day), certification (where only a certain age group can consume a type of media), warnings and labels, and self regulations (where media consumers can report offensive material.)

Evaluation on my final magazine

 Here is part 1 of my evaluation: (Please hit the hyperlink below)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_w3KWUxHMCA&feature=youtu.be

Q5&7)   What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

The type of media institution that would distribute my magazine publication would be that similar to Time Warner. I believe that a media institution like Time Warner would distribute my magazine publication as it falls into the Hip Hop music genre which they distribute. In addition, Vibe magazine has a similar target audience to that of my magazine publication, so choosing Time Warner to distribute my magazine to a similar target audience will save me money on conducting market research, and it will also allow my media product to reach the ideal consumers.Moreover Vibe is distributed globally and appeals to consumers who have an interest in Hip Hop music and culture. I believe that these types of media industries will be willing to distribute my media product as they have a similar target audience which I hope to reach out with my magazine in order for them to maximise the revenue for the media institution.

Q6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

During the creation of my magazine I was instructed to use the software Photoshop to enhance my images to a more professional standard which most of the main media institutions use also to do the same with their magazines. Improvements which I had made to my images that I had used in my magazine were many such as; selecting the main components needed for a particular piece in my magazine, resizing an image to be of an appropriate size, and fathering an image to get it to a more professional look and similar to those seen on the front covers of many magazines published by huge magazine institutions today (these can be seen down below). In addition, I have also managed to use a variety of web 2.0 technologies in order to gain valuable information in order to make my magazine appeal to my target audience through the use of Survey Monkey. I have also managed to upload part of my evaluation on You Tube which shows my creativeness and also the variety of technologies available which many media institutions use also.

My final front cover, contents page, and double page spread for Superbass

Audience feedback

As part of being in the magazine industry, it is vital that an institution has a target audience in order to meet the consumers needs in order for them to buy the magazine when it is published. For many institutions nowadays they conduct market research from the general public in order to establish a certain audience demographic. Once a demographic is in place, the institution can start to piece together many things in order for the magazine to be successful. Things such as, how much an audience is willing to pay for the magazine, what codes and conventions must the magazine include in order for the consumers to buy it once it has been placed on the shelf alongside its competitors, and also what to include inside the magazine itself all have to be taken into account before a magazine is to be published. For my magazine, my target audience are males and females between the ages of 14-18 who are interested in hip hop music. I had conducted an online survey using the software Survey Monkey, where I had distributed my survey through electronic communication to males and females within my community. Here are my results and the feedback received from the audience. By taking into account the target audience's responses, one of the decisions that I have made is to include the colour red quite alot. Furthermore, I will encorporate this colour into the house style of the magazine as this follows the codes and conventions of the magazine in the hip hop genre and will appeal greatly to the target audience. 

My stills shooting schedule

Flat plans for contents page

For my final magazine cover I have chosen my flat plan number 5 to appear on the final publication. The reason being is because the majority of my target audience feel that it is the most successful one which follows the common codes and conventions of a typical Hip Hop genre magazine. Furthermore, as I have previously analysed the contents page of Vibe, one of the leading magazine sellers within the Hip Hop industry, it also follows a house style similar to that of my magazine therefore I have selected flat plan number 5 as the most representative of a Hip Hop magazine and to appear in my final magazine publication.

Flat plans for front cover

Double page spread flat plans

Colours

Moodboards

Moodboards are used commonly within the media industry to connote different moods and emotions in relation to the company`s latest product. For example, my mood boards presented are all based on a Hip- Hop genre and I have done this successfully by including things which are associated within the culture. I believe that the red mood board best connotes what is commonly associated with the hip hop culture and industry today. I believe this because red connotes blood, love, violence, sex and passion; which are common themes thoughout the hip hop industry which get publisized alot to consumers today. For example blood and violence can be linked to the amount of hip hop artists in gangs who come into conflict today and are identified by the colour of bandana's worn by each member of the gang.

Typeface and fonts - 2

Typeface and fonts analysis- 1

Evaluation of my chosen genre ( Hip- Hop)

I have chosen to evaluate a hip- hop magazine ( Vibe) because it matches my AS Media final magazine project. The common codes and conventions which are used by Vibe magazine will also be identified in my magazine as this would be ideal to fit in with the genre. Furthermore, the images which I select to use in my final magazine will include a mid-shot of an iconic figure and he will be represented through stereotypes of a typical male such as:

- Strong: This will be shown through the " money rules society" pose by having the male dressed lavishly and looking carefree. 

- Getting all the girls: This will be identified by having the male surrounded by females who are commonly used by hip-hop magazines to show that males have the control over women. The iconic figure will be touched by the female, which shows his high status over women and that all the women love men with money and power. Furthermore, many theories within media suggest that females are used for sexual purposes and seen as sexual objects to men, this will also be highlighted within the magazine. 

If I manage to successfully follow all of the common codes and conventions of a hip-hop magazine which I have identified through my analysis,  I believe this will gain my magazine a positive final grade.

Hip Hop genre contents page analysis 2

Hip Hop genre contents page analysis 1

Magazine analysis

Double page spread analysis of a Hip Hop magazine- 2

Double page spread analysis of a Hip Hop magazine -1