A4 Lesson 4

Lesson 4

In todays lesson, we focused on target audience, and how to attract them and catch the imagination of our readership. All media products have a target audience. Identifying the right audience is essential to producing a successful media product.
I learnt the three main categories of target audience:
Gender :
male
female
male and female
Age:
up to 15
16-24
25-35
36-55
over 55

Social Calss:
A
B
C1
C2
D
E

We also spoke about specialist publications. For example, music magazine may focus on just once genre of music that is targeted to a particular audience.
We then moved onto talking briefly about design. I learnt about visuals, graphics and copies and we spoke about colours and backgrounds and the effectivness of using WOB (white on black).

Also we looked at combining visuals and copoies by using image backgrounds, short paragraphs, text boxes, bullet point and large fonts. As the presentational devices in the layout all effect the readership consumption. We also learnt how the text must address and register the audience especially through tone and language. For example, most advertisments use colloquial language which involves day to day spoken english, as this is easily understood and appeals to the audience.
Furthermore, we spoke about the effects of words and wordplay. Live and vivid vocabulary and positive words evoke happiness.
Sound patterning is also an effective device. This can include:
alliteration
assonance
onomatopoeia
rhyme

We then briefly spoke about images and how each image must be chosen carefully and be anchored with the appropriate text to add meaning. When creating my final product, we could choose to use both symbolic imagery or indexical imagery but we must remember the mise-en-scene. This is because a simple mistake in the background of a shot could change the entire meaning.
Images also do not have to be alligned but are often successful when they are canted and angeled, however I must ensure that this is done carefully so that the page does not become a mess or too overcrowded or disorientated.
I also learnt about usin a variety of text fonts and sizes. I know that the text must alwaysbe readible, try not to use more than 2 text fonts at any one time unless appropriate, group componants together well and not to leave too much empty space.
Moreover I learnt that the most redible text font availiable is comic sans althought the most popular published text fonts are Times New Roman and Aerial. Ii is important that I keep this information in mind when I design my magazine.
Overall my major point that I have learnt is that I must plan everything in advance and use trial and error in my priliminary tasks to make sure I create the best design that I can.

A3 Lesson 3/Analysis of Burnt Mill Magazine

Lesson 3

In todays lesson I learnt how important it is to consider time and preperation in order to meet deadlines. I created a mock up front cover of a magazine and had just 40 minutes to get it completed. Here I learnt how you must have good organisation skills to keep to a deadline.

Homework

For my homework I looked at the Burnt Mill News magazine that they give out weekly in the school. This can be viewed at:

http://www.burntmill.essex.sch.uk/BM_School_News/Christmas_2008.pdf

I looked specifically at the Christmas edition to see how they accommodated the seasonal theme.
The layout had kept the same as previous editions however, banners and Christmas icons are included to suit the theme. Although it still kept it's original housestyle which are made up of the schools colours.
The audience is targeted at parents, teachers and puils. It includes a number of images to interest all categories of the target audience and also uses fairly simplistic language so everyone can read it. The text includes important dates and events past, present and future which is important for readers to know. The magazine acts as a all round communication for everyone involved with the school. As it is an endof year issue, it includes a guide to what has happened over the past year, reminding everyone of all the good times that the school has had.
The images are also captioned, this especially suits those who find it hard to read and can pick up main news events from the captions.
It also advertises the school's website and explains how to use it for those who have access to the internet, complying with the modern technology that has now become second nature to most people.
Finally, the magazine includes logos from other businesses. For example, sam learning, is a learing website for pupils which is greatly recommended and used widely throughout the school. It also has a large burnt mill logo as well as one that represents the school's performing arts status. Overall I think that the magazine is sucessful but maybe not appealing to those of a younger age group as it is busy with alot of text. This may be because of the anount of pages are restricted to save on financial costs, as this is given out for free to all students, parents and teachers as well as being avaliable online.


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A2 Lesson 2

Lesson 2

In todays lesson, working in pairs, we created a sales pitch for the priminary task of creating a school magazine. In this sales pitch, we divised how we would research our target audiences. By handing out questionnaires which ask things such as, 'how much would you be willing to pay for a school magazine?'. As this research will help us to create the right content at the right price and for the right people - helping us to make the magazine as sicessful as possible. We also had to learn our target audience, who they are, what they like, where they are and how to reach them.

We also took into consideration the finances of publishing. This was more expensive than we first thought of and therefore we had to take into consideration funding and sponsorship details to cover the necessary costs. We also decided on advertising to years 11, 12 and 13 to become members of the journalists and editing team. This then prevents us from having labour costs and also allows students to have a good reference of the teamwork and skill involved for interviews and UCAS entries. Overall I think that the sales pitch gave us a real insight into what we need to think about to begin making the magazine. However we do need to remember to keep focused on the costs and target audience at all times.

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A1 Lesson One

Lesson One

I have been given the outline of the foundation portfolio and know what to expect from the work ahead.
I must make sure I understand the concepts of 'process' and 'outcome' and learn abour 'print medium' in order to successfully complete the task.
I am writing a continuious blog in order to maintain an on-going record of the refelctions for the assessment.
I am aware of the primiary excerise as well as the main task and what each entails.
The more progress I make, the more I will be able to reflect on how I am doing and what changes or improvements I must make.


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