Evaluation

Evaluation

For the preliminary task assigned to us, we had to design a front cover for our own college magazine, throughout the previous weeks I have researched and studied the different forms and conventions of real magazines, and some other college magazines that achieved an A grade. I then wrote about conventions used in magazines, and made sure to include as many conventions as possible from the specified media texts (magazines), I developed the use of feature stories, and a barcode, as well as a Mast head and colour scheme. I developed these conventions to give the magazine front cover a professional appeal, and to make it appear real. I also used suitable fonts, and a large main image, to grab the audience’s attention.

My Media product represents a variety of social groups, the main social group catered for are the students currently enrolled at Wyke College, this is because the main image is that of a student rather than a teacher, and that the majority of feature stories cater to students, however, students aren’t the only social group given thought to. Other social groups advertised to are the parents of students, and teachers. Who may be interested in feature stories, involving a tour of the campus, grade results, success stories from Wyke College, and Q & A sessions with teachers. The most represented social group in my magazine are the students currently enrolled at wyke.

The target audience for my magazine are primarily students, although other social groups have stories they may be interested in, the majority of feature stories are targeted towards students, I attracted the student audience by using a student as the main image, and catering the majority of content towards them.

I have had to learn a wide variety of technological equipment and software since starting the assignment,  the biggest learning curve for me was learning to use and implement Photoshop effectively, I also used technology such as a scanner to scan examples of magazines that follow the same conventions, as well as using the internet to research the conventions of magazines, and collect research material of previous college magazines, to see the general do’s and don’ts of magazine front covers. I have also begun using www.Blogger.com to upload my AS media coursework onto the World Wide Web.

After completing the perfume task, I feel I have developed a better understanding of conventions, and what their purposes are, I have also improved my image editing skills using Photoshop. For me, the biggest improvement has been conventions analysis, I am now used to analysing conventions and explaining their role in the media text. This is due to the multiple conventions analysis documents I have produced and uploaded to my media blog, as well as the magazine research of real world articles. I have a more extensive vocabulary and now recognise double pages spreads, contents pages, and front covers, as well as the connotations associated with them. Another thing I have learned is how to use blogger, having never used a blogging site before, I was relatively inexperienced with the concept of blogging, but I now find it easy to traverse the various menus, and customisations available on the website, as well as uploading, editing or deleting documents on blogger.

I would change my approach to the college magazine drastically if given the chance to do it again, I would do the work before the deadline, and be well organised in what has to be handed in and when. I would also spend more time doing my work, and doing it to the best of my ability, rather than doing the bare minimum required of me. I would do these things because I would most likely achieve a better grade, as well as having less stress, and no need for a learner agreement. I also believe it will hold me in good stead for when I’m at university and have to work independently, whilst taking care of myself and working.