My magazine "threshold" uses conventions from other successful metal magazines to appeal to its target audience. It takes inspiration from magazines like "Decibel" in using a large central image on the cover with direct eye contact. Unlike some magazines, the title lays over the image to be memorable. The magazine follows conventions like the rule of thirds layout and uses two primary colors. The target audience is 16-24 year old males interested in death metal. The cover image aims to represent this audience's aggression and individuality.

1. Evaluation

2. In what ways does your media product use,
develop or challenge forms and conventions
of real media products?
My magazine “threshold” is designed specifically to suit the music genre of metal and its
target audience. I researched into other metal genre magazines and found out what were
the most popular conventions to use. It terms of layout I took a lot of inspiration from a
metal magazine “decibel”. Like the front cover of many decibel magazines the image is
by far the main attraction. This is also the case with mine, the photo I have used for my
front cover looks the buyer directly in the eye following the convention of direct
engagement with the reader.
My magazine's logo I feel is very unique, on my front cover it is incorporated with the title
text itself. The logo used is a scythe, it connotes death which is thus linked to the “death
metal” genre of music. Unlike man other metal magazines however the title lays over the
top of the picture, I felt this would be an important generic convention to change as it
being the first edition it is priority that the name and logo is remembered over everything
else.
My magazine, also like many other music magazines follows the rule of thirds, the top of
the magazine holsters the title and lure, the centre holds the bulk information of the
magazine, that is the picture and text and the lower part of the page holsters excess but
still important information, in this case the heading “shredding the anger tour”. By
following the rule of thirds I maintain a professional look to my magazine.

3. Similarities
Masthead
Text located
around the
sides of the
magazine
Rule of thirds Two
Picture is the centre of the primary
image and direct contact given colours

4. How does your media product
represent particular social groups?
My media product represents a
young audience of around the
age's. This group however is
more of a minority in
comparison to others which is
thus why my magazine holsters
such a unique look in
comparison to say a pop or r'nb
magazine which thus connotes
the individuality of the buyer.
The individuality is shown
throughout its colours and
aggressive nature. The logo of
my magazine itself connotes
death, (a major theme
throughout metal music) and
the aggression that is also
The facial expression of my model is
connotes represents its more
showing clear aggression, relation to the
characteristically aggressive
age of my target audience and his dark
readers, i.e soldier's etc. clothing relates further target audience
further.

5. What kind of media institute might distribute your media product and
why?
What is an institution?
A media institution is the establishment in charge
of the distribution, marketing and production of
media products, one example being “COMAG”
who distribute the magazine “vibe”

6. What kind of media institute might distribute your media product and why?
My magazine is not suited for a large range of audience and as such it is not
likely that this magazine would be distributed by a company that specialises in
a more niche market, however in this case I believe BAUER would make a
good choice in distributing my magazine. Although they specialize in rock and
pop magazines I believe that my magazine shares a close audience with there
magazine “Kerrang”. Their magazine “Kerrang” has an median audience age of
22 which is near centre of my age range target.
They also do not sell a specific metal magazine yet so I feel this would be a good addition
to their collection of currently sold magazines as it offers something more unique.
They also have a
very large budget
which in turn
means that much
of this budget
can be focused
around
advertisement
meaning there is
an increased
chance of this
magazine getting
out there.

7. Who would be your audience for your media
product?
My audience for my media product would be around the arrange 16 – 24 years, male and
suit for all ethnicities. It is mainly suited towards those with interests in heavy/old school
death metal.
To find my target audience I used magazines such as “Kerrang”, who attracted a similar
audience and observed what techniques they used so I could later incorporate them with my
magazine. It was also through the use of a questionnaire that
I gathered necessary information to find out not only the type
of people that like the metal theme but what they also
thought about the colour schemes, layout should look like
e.c.t

8. My magazine itself connotes death, (a major theme throughout metal music) and the
aggression that it also connotes represents its more characteristically aggressive
readers, i.e soldier's etc and as such I feel they would be the larger reader. The main
image on the front cover I feel would be suitable towards these type of readers as the
actor is within the age range of the audience and showing clear aggressive nature.
Not only that but he fits in with the metal scene thus relating to customers directly.
The stereo type name given for my audience is “metal head”. In my cover I am further
conveying my relation to them by the use of a hand gesture connoting devil horns
which relates to the topic too much of the metal music.
Aggression

9. How did you attract/address your
audience?
I attracted my audience in my
magazine initially by the
lure, in this case it Is the
“shredding the anger
heading” located at the top
of the page, the reason it is
located there as it is likely
that other magazines will be
placed over it and the first
thing I want the audience to
see is something they can
relate to instantly, in this
case it is a very well known
metal tour known by many in
the metal scene.

10. Once the audience has picked the magazine they will be instantly given
eye contact with the front cover and thus will feel an engagement.
Should the magazine be put at the front of a shelf this will cause the
magazine to stand out much more. A common convention for most
magazines. Also, a large majority of death metal fans will favour the
colour black or red over others as it symbolises there music well,
black for death and red for blood. By incorporating these colours on
the front page the audience will see this and favour the magazine
much more than if they were to look at a pink and yellow magazine.
The customer feels connected with the magazine as they have now a
personal connection thus intriguing them more.

11. What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing magazine I have used various
Throughout the construction of this
this product?
software programs and equipment. Something I have learnt when
using photo shop is that it is very easy to change the atmospheric
feeling of a photo from per say happy to sad. I used this technique of
changing the mood in my contents page, initially the image had no
emotion to it, but by change the colours to black and white and
adjusting the contrast settings I found that I was able to create a
much darker mood which connotes the symbolism of the metal music
genre. I have also learnt how necessary it is to learn how to use new
technologies in order to keep up with today’s modern standard of
production. For example, using photo shop to enhance images,
although it is possible to create and take pictures looking just as
professional the time it would take to perfect an image for it to meet
the standards of a photo shop image is obsolete. Personally I feel
quite acquainted with the program adobe photo shop cs.5 however I
would of not said the same thing at the beginning of this task.

12. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do
you feel you have learnt in the progression from it
to the full product?
(Preliminary) (Final)

13. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have
learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Since completing my preliminary task I have learnt many things, one of these things
being the importance of target audience research and since then I feel that this is one
of the most important aspects of creating a magazine as it allows you to construct
something personal to the buyer making them want it more. Something else I have
learnt through the process is meeting expectations. It is clear that there is a set
“standard” level of professionalism and only these magazines are successful, I have
learn that to achieve the same level that sampling of general conventions should be
taken in order for a magazine to be successful I have also learn that although eye
contact is key, what makes all the difference is the facial expression. On my
preliminary task although I had eye contact there was not too much emotion
expressed. Also in the preliminary task I found myself trying to make the magazine
look appealing to me, as a pose to make it look appealing for its target audience.
I have also learnt that a key part of constructing the magazine is getting the best image
possible as it will save you a lot of time in the long run. I had the right image for my
contents page and for my front cover and found both pages looking not only a lot
better then my double page spread but a lot less time had to be put into them.