Question 7 - Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Question 6 - What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Before making my magazine pages, I had to decide what I am going to use to make them. One of these is Adobe InDesign. Before making my magazine pages, I had never used Adobe InDesign. This is the main software that I used to put together my pages. Before attempting to make the magazine pages though, I practiced by doing the preliminary task. In the practice task, I found it difficult to get to grips with the navigation tools, and how to recognize what they're for when they don't label them. I also found it fiddly to use so many different components to what goes into making a magazine page and making sure different features on the magazine are on certain 'layers'. However, it didn't take too long to get to grips with the program. It took several hours to create my three pages; Front cover, Contents page and Double page spread. After I got to grips with how to work the tool bar correctly, I found it very easy to experiment and try out new things that I thought would work well for my magazine. The use of this software made it a lot easier to make a potential professional looking magazine in a much more simple way than any other software would.

Blogger was something new to me before starting this task. Blogger is a way of keeping track of my work and updating it every time I thought of and idea or wanted to post a task. It was simple to build on top of other posts, displaying my work I have done throughout the year clearly. The structure of the website is neat, easy to use and handy for the type of tasks I did. They also have an app of which I downloaded onto my mobile phone In order to view my blog and get myself comfortable with the website before starting to post. I loved using Blogger to display my work because it is edit friendly if a mistake is made and it makes my work much easier to read.

Photoshop was used to remove the backgrounds of my images. I only used this for that reason, though, because I found it extremely difficult to use. I was easily confused with other tool bars and it made it hard to get my task done quickly. I only got the hang of removing the background of my images, but nothing much more than that apart from feathering the edges of the image. I practiced how to remove a background on my preliminary task. This gave me a lot more confidence to work out how to use it for the actual front cover image which I think turned out extremely well. I used Photoshop to remove the background of my contents photo and I feathered the edges of the cut out to make it less harsh which I think, in my opinion, turned out well.

Prezi was my favourite way of displaying my work in a more interesting and creative way. Prezi, for me, was very simple to use and I picked up on how to work it instantly. The online application was an alternative way of using Powerpoint to display my work, which I think helped work towards a more attractive and fun plan. I had never used Prezi before doing this task, but I didn't need much help to get started as it was extremely simple to use, explaining why it is used so much on my blog.

I didn't use Powerpoint Presentation as much as anything else, however, I feel it is a very simple and easy thing to use. I have used Powerpoint for the past few years and I feel it is a more simple way of displaying work. To put Powerpoint onto a blog post, you have to use Slideshare, which is an online application, so that it can be seen on Blogger. I don't have any problems with Powerpoint Presentation other than the fact it didn't interest me or I didn't feel it looked as attractive on my blog. However, it was a different way of posting on my blog, which I was looking for.

To take images for the three pages of my magazine, I used a Samsung camera. This was a quality camera to use when taking the photo's, making them appear HD which was great quality for my POP music magazine. The quality of the images for the magazine affects the whole look for the magazine. If the image is bad quality, it'd immediately put me and anyone else off the magazine. When taking photos for the magazine, I learnt about the lighting, mise-en-scene features, Camera angle and the distance of the shot. I found it quite difficult at times to work out what made a quality photo. However, these factors sprang to mind as I was taking the photos. The more photos i took, the more confident I was with the focusing of the lense and the factors that make up a good image. My images that I took didn't take too long to capture once I got the hang of the camera and I felt that most of the images I took for the magazine were fairly successful.

To construct all three pages of my magazine, I used a laptop. That and the internet was a must have in order to become successful for this task. The internet helped with my research and planning when looking into other magazines to influence my own brand. I also used the laptop to create most of my written and actual magazine pages. The laptop was absolutely necessary to create the pages i required. Without the laptops, I wouldn't have been able to create the pages using the software that I would have needed. The internet and laptop have been vital parts of this task which are both easy to use. I came across both old and new technologies in the process of designing and making my magazines. I have learnt that the magazine industry is totally dependent on new technology to make and create their and my magazines.

Question 5 - How did you attract/address your audience?

Question 4 - Who would be the audience for your media product?

Question 3 - What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

Question 2 - How does the Media Product represent a particular social group?

Question 1 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Question 1 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Question 1 - In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions or real media products?

Double Page Spread Interview - Completed

This is my completed Double Page Spread. I have added the footer at the bottom which looks very similar to the one on my contents page. On the left hand side of the left page I added the page number '77' that is on the contents page reference number. It is in a black box with white numbers. I wanted it this colour instead of a white box because I wanted it to be visible next to the white background. Next to the page number, I included the date 'FEBRUARY 2016'. I feel it is important to add the date so that readers know it is a different issue from others that may be published. I also added the Brit Hits website 'brithits.com' on the right hand corner. I wanted to include this in both the contents page and the article because it makes it easier for the reader to go online. If it is included on mot pages the readers are more likely to memorize it because it is constantly in their face.

Last minute, I wanted to add 'Photographed by Megan Griffiths'. I felt this was an important reference that I couldn't leave out because it is something that readers look at and they may recognize the photographer and respect the magazine a lot more. It also adds towards the more professional look, making it look official and if the photographer is mentioned readers may feel that they are an important part of the magazine.

Overall, I think I am successful in putting together the double page spread. I feel it gives off the image of seriousness through the image to reflect the interview. It gives off a current and stylish effect through the informal style of writing and the font and colour of the text. This is all of which I deliberately wanted to achieve for this double page spread.
I have mostly kept to my draft, however, I made a few minor changes such as adding 'Photographed by Megan Griffiths' and added 'AUSTIN FEVER' under the masthead. I fee these changes are for the better and now make the double page spread look a lot more professional and unique to the POP music magazine.
There are some things that I could still change such as making the name 'AUSTIN FEVER' bolder and increasing the font size, but I think it still works well with the font of the interview underneath.