2. The task set was to create 3 parts of an
English music magazine; a front
cover, contents page and double page
spread. We were to also take our own
images, which we then edited to create
our final publications.

3.  As I continued to produce and improve my music magazine, I made
sure to always keep it similar enough to a certain degree to the
‘standard’ music magazine’s that are popular and commonly
distributed. I felt that it was of extreme importance that, while my
magazine would be unique and not a direct copy of other well
established music magazines, it should also reflect the typical look of a
music magazine. I have ensured through the layout of my music
magazine front page and cover that this has been well reflected. On
my front cover, I used a close up of my female model, which- through
my research- I found to be the most common way to represent a single
female artist. In my contents page I also made sure to use different
columns with different headings, for example; Features, This
Month, iNiche –which I thought would be a good way to incorporate
different media’s into this magazine, seeing as we are living in a
technological era and a lot of established companies heavily rely on
the use of internet now a days- I also included several small images
along different areas of my contents page.

4.  As for my double page spread, I have made
sure to include an organised layout, through
my research I found that the most common
way to organise large chunks of text in a
double page spread, would be to use
columns. This ensured there was plenty of
space available for the text, and that the
magazine wouldn’t bore the reader or scare
them with a huge block. I also made sure to
include the title as a quotation, which also
seemed to be a rather common way in other
music magazines.

6. 1) In what way does our media product
use develop or challenge forms and
conventions of real media texts?

8. My magazine represents high class and social power, this magazine
represents these two social groups through various ways.
The name itself, ‘Niche’ suggests to the reader and represents that this
magazine isn’t for anybody, it is for the select few who qualify to be
part of this niche and elite group.
Adding to that, my tagline –‘The Best for The Best’- further reinforces this
ideology. It represents the magazine as one of superiority and gives
the reader an idea that they themselves- the targeted audience- are
that of high status too.
Furthermore, pricing my magazine played a big role as well. Although
many average music magazines are priced around the range of
£2.00, mine is priced at £3.00 for the purpose of adding that extra
touch of superiority. This magazine is for the best, and only the best
can afford it.

9. Baeur Media-
I believe this would be the best institute to distribute
my media product, for various reasons.
First of all, this institute is one of the most popular, not
only in distribution, but in the music industry as well.
It is the distributor of various popular magazines
such as ‘Q music magazine’ which is very similar to
what my own media production is, along with
various other famous and well established
magazines such as Kerrang (although this does not
relate to my genre).
Adding to that, Baeur media reaches an audience of
over 3 million every week, increasing the audience
of my own magazine and hence increasing
awareness and profits- resulting in the overall
success of my magazine also increasing.

10. The audience for my magazine would be girls around the ages 14-17 as I believed a
range any larger would have been too wide for all ages to be satisfied with my
magazine content. Adding to that, my audience are girls of high social class and
status. Almost ‘Gossip Girl’ but in England. These girls are most commonly found to
be living in the rural areas of London, in great mansions with expensive cars and
people to carry out every job they need to get done. These girls like to stay on
trend, but not just any trends, the best quality, most expensive trends. Their wardrobe
consists of only designer labels of the season, and they’d rather be dead than be
seen in anything else. Parties and social hangouts are a must; they will always be
either planning a party, or attending one. Their parents love to spoil them, and
although they are given a hefty sum for their allowance, their parents will always
spend more money on them and for them. As looks play a big part of their lives, they
must always be seen at their best, for that reason they have entire collections of
mac make up and other likewise famous expensive brands, they also tend to be on
crazy animalistic diets to ensure they maintain their figure.
Their dressing room is the size of a small ‘normal’ bedroom, and likewise, their walk in
wardrobes are almost as big as a - again- ‘normal’ bedroom.
Relating all of this to the music industry, these girls will pride themselves in buying and
paying the full price for all their music, from well trusted -not pirated sites- such as
iTunes on the latest brand of iPhone or Macbooks and other related apple products.
Their taste in music is centred mostly on relationships, or relationships ending, as this
plays a rather big part in their social image.
More details on my audience can be viewed here, at my audience profile.

11. Through the use of my title, and the typography and
colour of it; the word ‘niche’ itself means small
market or a small group that is unique. This suggests
to the audience that they are the small elite group.
Adding to that, the gold colour and lettering infers
money, or gold, or wealth; items my target audience
pride themselves in having plenty off.
Furthermore, my strapline ‘The Best for The Best’
further supports the previous points, it merely clarifies
that this is for you, the best out of the other girls.

12. Throughout the course of this project I have learnt to use different technologies
that I have not frequently or ever used. The prime example here would be
my use of Photoshop. This is a programme that I have never used before in
my life, admittedly I found it quite challenging but after my preliminary
task, everything that followed seemed to become much easier, and I am
now a lot more confident in my use of it. A few examples of what I have
done with photoshop are; cropping images- sometimes there is too much
background for the image to be of good sutability for my
magazine, cropping was essential as it allowed me to redirect the main
focus of my image to the area required (which in almost all cases was of the
models face). Airbrushing is also an essential technique. One of the
requirements of the mark scheme is for the magazine to have a ‘high quality
finish’; now seeing as a majority of us teens have been unfortunate enough
to have imperfect skin, my images and my magazine cover had to portray
a healthy looking, radiant model who seems perfect. The various techniques
that I learned to use to airbrush my models skin took a lot of practice but in
the end I believe I managed to get the desired effect across. My last
example regarding photoshop would be that of feathering, this technique
allows you to fade or blend in the edges of the image with the
background, this effect is not visible on the front cover, however I have used
it on an image in the double page spread and I believe it gives the image a

13.  Another technology I have come to use is
blogger. I am new to the concept of
blogging so it seemed strange at the start,
however, as time through the task
progressed, I found that I was becoming
more and more familiar with the concept
and that it really wasn’t that difficult to use. It
has helped me to plan and provide
evidence of important work, it also acted as
a quick and easy way to store all my work in
one place and helped me quickly jot down
ideas before I forgot them. Over all I believe it
helped me become more organised.

14.  Throughout this task I have progressed greatly from the
beginner level that I was at during my preliminary task. I now
know how to use Photoshop correctly and appropriately to
ensure that my magazine comes out looking professionally
finished and containing all the correct codes and
conventions of a UK music magazine.
 Looking back at the preliminary task I have realised that I now
understand the correct codes and conventions required. In
my preliminary task, my front cover seemed to be too
bare, with only four other cover stories on it, however I know
understand that there are other various conventions that I
have missed out in my school magazine.

15.  Likewise, in my preliminary task, my contents page lacked a lot of the
requirements that were needed, as I progressed to the full product and did more
research I came to realise that there were missing codes and conventions, and
made sure to improve my work accordingly.
 Following on to that, I have learnt various technological skills leading up from my
preliminary to my full product. While I was constructing my school magazine, I was
aware of the minor basics regarding Photoshop, however, with more practice
and gradually increasing knowledge on the software, I become more
comfortable with it and was able to put in a lot more productive effort into
improving my magazine and giving it a good finish.
 Likewise, in my preliminary task, my contents page lacked a lot of the
requirements that were needed, as I progressed to the full product and did more
research I came to realise that there were missing codes and conventions, and
made sure to improve my work accordingly.
 Following on to that, I have learnt various technological skills leading up from my
preliminary to my full product. While I was constructing my school magazine, I was
aware of the minor basics regarding Photoshop, however, with more practice
and gradually increasing knowledge on the software, I become more
comfortable with it and was able to put in a lot more productive effort into
improving my magazine and giving it a good finish.

16. In regard to all that has been mentioned previously, I feel like
I have learnt and progressed greatly through the course of
this assignment. I have learnt how to effectively use new
software's and technologies, and that
sometimes, computers aren’t always the most reliable
(learnt that the hard way!). I found that even though at
times this task was particularly challenging, with good
practice and patience I managed to get it all done.
This has also opened my eyes to just how much work goes
into making a music magazine, and I understand the
process involved much better than if I were to simply be
taught it in a classroom.
I hope you have enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed creating
it!
Thank you.