In order to draw the audience into an image and make them focus on the narrative, models need to be strategically placed and look eye catching as just changing the settings on a camera will not help to produce an effective image to portray a narrative.

There are various ways in order to make an image communicate meaning:

• Change the distance from which the shot is taken to portray different emotions and surroundings; for example close up shots can be used to show emotion.
• Use specific makeup on the model to represent who they are or where they come from and create specific denotations that link to connotations about the character.
• Put the model in different positions to convey their feelings; for example sit against a wall if they are sad.
• Use different lighting to convey mood

These ways will help me make an eye-catching magazine that clearly portrays a narrative.

These rules effect how photos and videos are taken and are different ways to draw an audience in:

• The Rule of Thirds
• Depth of Field
• Contrast & Texture
• Lead Room

Media can be used in many different ways to portray various ideas and meanings-

• Media can be used to show the personal identity of a person, for example who they follow on a social media platforms like Instagram can show who they look up to or their interests in certain peoples lives
• Media can be used to give out important and relevant information through newspapers or television programmes
• Media can also be used for entertainment, for example Instagram for looking at travel pages or magazines for looking at latest fashion trends.
•  The uses and gratifications theory by Blumler and Katz is an audience centred approach to understanding mass communication. The idea is that audiences seek out media in order to gratify a need such as Entertainment or information. This idea implies that media is interpreted into peoples lives by them taking control of how much and what types of media they would like to see.
• This knowledge on Blumler and Katz will make me think about what types of media I engage with so that I can become more aware of my media interest and effectively project them onto my work. For example, for my music magazine, this theory will make me think about what music media I engage with so that I can make my work interesting and unique.

My Horse ranch Lego construction

There The definition of an ecosystem is “a complex network or interconnected system,”  this can be shown in Media Ecology by the eight co-existing components. I created a Lego construction of a Horse Ranch to show a form of ecology and to highlight the fact that ecosystems need factors that support each other in order to work effectivley. In the Lego construction for example, if the man didn’t look after the horses they would die, and if they died the ranch wouldn’t have been able to charge people for horse rides and there would be no income for the family. This could be representative of the fact that in Media Ecology if Media creators did not exist there would be no Media audience and without a Media audience there would be no income for companies.

It is important that there are all factors of the Media Ecosystem or it will not work.are eight important co-existing components that make up Media Ecology.  These are components that support each other and ensure that the Media Ecology works and without them the system would fail. This knowledge will help me with the creation of my music magazine because I will be able to understand and take into account all of the factors that play in to the making of Media. For example I will be able to think about ways I can attract my target audience by using other components in the Media Ecology system such as Social Media as a way of advertising. I will also take into account that my magazine cannot be distributed in the first place without funding from the government for the technology used to make it.

Media ecology mindmap

Media Ecology is made up of these factors:

• Government and Law
• Money
• Audience
• Social Media
• Institutions
• Creators
• Distribution
• Technology

I think that two main factors that Government and Law influence are:

1.  Distribution, because the spread of fake news means that there would be no one to stop rumours and no one to set boundaries on how much information should be released. Distribution happens by things such as social media platforms, radio or television.
2.  Money, because without money the government would be unable to fund things such as technology or employers for Media.

The definition of an ecosystem is “a complex network or interconnected system,”  this can be shown in Media Ecology by the eight co-existing components. I created a Lego construction of a Horse Ranch to show a form of ecology and to highlight the fact that ecosystems need factors that support each other in order to work effectivley. In the Lego construction for example, if the man didn’t look after the horses they would die, and if they died the ranch wouldn’t have been able to charge people for horse rides and there would be no income for the family. This could be representative of the fact that in Media Ecology if Media creators did not exist there would be no Media audience and without a Media audience there would be no income for companies. it is important that there are all factors of the Media Ecosystem or it will not work.

What are you hoping to learn?

In media studies I am hoping to learn about different aspects of media how how it impacts everyday life. I am also looking forward to learning how to develop my computer skills and make my own types of media so that I can gain a better understanding of media. I hope to develop skills such as using my laptop more to research information as well as learn how to use all aspects of google drive so that I can easily access emails and other important features which will help me to learn online more easily. I think that Media Studies will teach me how to manage my time and teach me how to work online on a computer as I previously haven’t used my laptop much to complete work of communicate. I think being able to navigate my way around the communicative areas online  will put me at an advantage when looking for jobs in the future because it is helpful to know how to use technology as it is being used in many types of job. I am looking forward to being able to produce my own media and am excited about expressing my creativity online.

What skills do you already have?

In media I have begun to have an understanding of ecology and how there are many factors that impact different types of media,  such as Distribution, Creators, Social Media, Money, Audience, Government and Law, Technology and Institutions.