Below is a screen castify of how my media engages with my target audience and how I would go about distributing it. I have had to split the screen castify into two sections due to it going over the 5 minute limit. The first section talks about my target audience and the second about distribution.

So far, I am very pleased with the way that my magazine is turning out. I have finished drafting my pages so to see the media coming together is great. The pages are working together in that they carry the same colour scheme and certain fonts and details and they are definitely portraying the genre of pop. This is being accomplished through my images, colours and layouts. Although I have drafted all of my pages, I do still have improvements to be made. For example, I could take the front cover star image and edit it even more to make it pop and small features such as line spacing need to be changed.

As well as composing a piece of media, I have also learnt many transferable skills such as:

• Digital design skills: I have learnt how to use apps such as photoshop and Indesign to make my magazine. I will be able to use these skills in the future when editing photos or creating anything digitally.
• Communication: I have communicated with my peers during photo shoots and when actually creating my media. This has been useful when looking for improvements as everyone has their own taste so getting feedback has been extremely beneficial.
• Organisation: I have had to be very organised especially when planning and doing photoshoots. This skill is useful in all areas of life.

Throughout creating my magazine, I have continued to learn even more design skills that have positively impacted my magazine. These are shown below:

This is the colour theme tool which has allowed me to pick certain colours out of the images and use them in my magazine. This has allowed me to make my star seem built into the magazine and follow the genre. This has impacted my magazine in that it all looks clean and composed and that my star relates to the magazine. The genre of pop is expressed between the star and the magazine, creating interest for my target audience.

This is the drop shadow tool and has allowed me to create a three dimensional look. This has formed the idea of realism and creates a connection with the audience as my stars are not just part of the page. This reflects the idea that although the artists are extraordinary, they are also people like us.

This is a tool which has enabled me to wrap text around shapes and images. I mainly used this on my double page spread where the article wraps around Zoe and the quote which has been enlarged. This has impacted my magazine in that it has enabled the content to interlink and look well put together. It has enabled me to make certain objects (such as the image) larger and more intriguing and interesting for the reader but without losing lots of space for text.

Overall, I am very happy with how my magazine is going and I think that certain design techniques like this are benefiting massively. Although they are small details, they are building up together to positively impact telling my narrative and expressing the genre of pop.

What new design skills or production techniques have you learnt? What went well and even better if. Include 2 – 3 screen shots of tools used in Indesign and Photoshop and explanation Identify what meaning(s) you tried to encode.

When creating my magazine, I have learnt many new design skills on both Photoshop and Indesign. I have learnt how to (and have used):

The quick selection tool to cut my model (or other individual parts) out of my photos. This has enabled me to place a different background behind my model or to edit certain parts to make them more interesting and eye catching.

I have learnt how to adjust coloring in my images using the curves and colour balance settings. For example, I used this in making the donut and jumper on the front cover brighter and more fun. This allowed the genre of pop to really be identified through my photos.

I have discovered and used the spot healing and sharpen tool in my images to make them even more clean and perfect. This helps with the star image look (of perfection) and  makes the image more clear and sharp.

I have learnt how to add effects on In design to make my images even more interesting. I have used the drop shadow to add a sense of dimension to my page. This hopefully interests my audience into feeling a connection to my magazine as it seems more real.

I have used the stroke and colour settings along with the other font settings to make my text even more unique and fun. I have used this in all of my headings and masthead to make them more aesthetic and in fitting with my genre. Making the text unique allows my audience to be interested as it is different to other magazines.

Just to recap, my mission statement is:

“UP2DATE thrives in promoting pop music through the current trends to those with a passion in pop. Looking at the new artists, fashion, top hits, hot gossip and your favourite celebs, we aim to inform, entertain, and develop readers and keep you up to date and involved with the latest news.

Using Richard Dyer’s theory (the paradox of the star), I will need to try and present my star’s image as an extraordinary pop artist but also someone ordinary like my readers. This will intrigue my readers as although they are huge and famous, they can also relate to them.

From learning about Mise en Scene and Camera, I know that I will need to encode my magazine with lots of features that reflect the pop genre. These details will then be decoded by my readers. (My target audience which is Generation Z’s: teens and young adults) If I am successful in composing my magazine and star image, then hopefully my audience will be lead to purchasing my media.

Thinking about Mise en Scene:

COSTUMES: I will need to use my plan to follow what my star should wear. I have planned two main costumes: one is very clearly pop as it includes neon and fun colours, and the other is slightly more modern and toned down. It is constructed with jeans and a white crop top. I will then style these outfits with many different props and accessories (such as popcorn, bracelets, a belt, etc) to make them more exciting and edgy. \

LIGHTING: From looking at other pop magazines and the genre of music, the lighting used is quite bright and fun. This means that when photographing my star, I will need to be very careful of shadows and how dark the photos come out. This week we learnt about flash photography so I may resort to this if the photos are too dark.

ACTING: This was also included in my plan for the shoot. I will get my model to act very relaxed and as though she is having a lot of fun. Pop music is very uplifting and nothing too overly serious or depressing. I will get her to laugh and smile. Pop music can also be quite sassy so as well as some fun shots, I will also get her to have a serious side where she isn’t frowning but also isn’t smiling. Poses I will get her to try are crouching down and standing to the side; looking over her shoulder to the camera.

MAKEUP AND HAIR: I am going to do my models make up so that it is kind of natural with a bit of glam. I will use metallic eye shadow with some bold mascara. I will also contour and highlight her face quite a bit to accentuate her features. (Modern pop music is not as extravagant and cringe as it used to be so I don’t want to go too over the top with the makeup) With the neon outfit, I may add some neon eye shadow to make it even more fun. For her hair, I am going to plait 2 dutch braids. With these, I will then pancake to make them even fuller and interesting. They will not be too tight and will include lose parts to shape her face. (If they were too tight, she would look as though she had no hair.)

PROPS: I am not planning on using any props as I don’t want them just to be there for the sake of it. However I am still going to bring some candy floss, popcorn and confetti to try out in case the photos are surprisingly successful with them included.

SETTING: The actual photo shoot will be in the white studio. This means that I can then easily take out the background when editing the photos to be used. It also allows even more lighting for the photos, hopefully eliminating shadows. There is also a black studio however I decided not to use this as my models hair is brown and didn’t want her hair to blend in with the background.

As well as Mise en Scene, I will also need to think about the actual camera techniques. I could have great Mise en Scene but if the actual pictures were not taken well, it could ruin the narrative. With my DSLR camera, I will need to remember the 3 main features:

• Aperture (F Stop)
• Shutter Speed
• ISO

If these are incorrect when taking the pictures, then my photos may come out unsuccessful and different to what I expected.

Below are the costumes I have planned out. There are two neon pop and two that are more relaxed and casual.

So, now I have looked at all the components involved in making my magazine and have tried it out, I am now ready to make it for real.

When making my magazine, I will first need to think about what genre of music it will be based on. From this, I will then be able to look at the conventions of that style which I will include in my magazine. I will need to think about:

My target audience: this will tell me the age range, gender, likes and dislikes of the people my magazine will be aimed at. I will then be able to tailor my magazine to this which will hopefully interest them into buying my magazine.

Mise en Scene: I will need to think about the costume, lighting, acting, makeup and hair, props and settings for the photos that will be included in my magazine. These will need to fit in with my chosen genre otherwise the images will look out of place and will confuse my audience,

Camera: this will need to be considered so that the images are not only of the right thing but also taken at the right angle with the correct lighting.

Layout: this will need to be decided on by looking at the conventions of other music magazines. I will need to include all of the components from the main cover line to the pugs. Although it should be conventional, it will also need to be unique to create interest for my audience.

Typography: I will need to consider not only the genre of my magazine but also how easy the typefaces are to read. I will need to think about whether I use a serif, sans serif, decorative or script font and also the sizing and alignment of it. I will need to decide on what is actually written on/in my magazine as well. The type of language will also be very important as it will be directed at my audience. For example, I would not use slang if I was making an Opera magazine aimed at baby boomers.

AIDA: my magazine will need to be successful in order to attract, interest, desire and make my audience take action into buying my media. I will need to include my target audience’s interests and make my magazine aesthetically pleasing for this to happen.

Blumler and Katz: I will need to take their theory into consideration to know what my music magazine’s purpose is (It is most probably to inform and entertain). I will then be able to think about this when making my magazine so that it can achieve these purposes.

Everyone consumes (and creates) media daily. Whether it is in the form of Entertainment, as a Social Interaction, through Personal Identity or receiving information. These four reasons were created as a theory by Blumler and Katz in 1975. This is called the “Uses and Gratification” of media. 

Informative media:  includes things such as News Reports (such as BBC News), Newspapers (e.g the Guernsey Press) and Radio Stations (including Radio 1 and Island FM). They should educate, give advice and inform people on past, present and upcoming events.

Personal Identity: should reinforce personal values and should explore one’s personality. Media included in this group should be things such as Social Media (including Instagram, Facebook and Pinterest), Music apps (such as Spotify) and Online shopping (including websites such as ASOS).

Integration and Social Interaction: should identify yourself with others and should form relationships through integration. Media included in this category should include social media (e.g Facebook, Snapchat and Instagram) and also TV series and shows. (including reality such as love island. This will create gossip with friends and family about the media.)

Entertainment: this media will act as an escape and an emotional release. It should fill your time with enjoyment. Media in this category will include Reality shows (e.g dance moms), Netflix, Social Media, Films, Magazines, etc.

Most types of media (especially successful pieces) will fit into multiple groups; not just the one. For example, Radio 1 is included in Entertainment, information and Social Interaction.

From looking at Blumler and Katz’s theory, I have realised that when creating my music magazine, it will not only need to be informative, but will need to fit into another category such as entertainment to make my piece of media successful.

Below shows a collage of how I use and create media. It also shows the categories (from Blumler and Katz’s theory) which the media fits into.