Brief chosen: Brief 3: Magazines and online
How do you intend to use the four areas of the media theoretical framework to communicate meaning and meet the requirements of your chosen brief?
Product 1
I intend to create an indie/pop music magazine that values individuality, sustainability and its audiences voices.
I want my magazine to entertain and engage the target audience of 16-25 year old, middle-market demographic by drawing on elements of the 90s/2000s through intertextual references such as the coverline: ' Oops She Did it Again!', and styling or overall aesthetic, which have recently become a trend again, that they will be familiar with in current pop culture. My magazine will also have liberal and progressive views, which is likely to adhere to the young target audiences' views and reflect the zeitgeist, with one of my covers focusing on the progression of embracing different sexualities in the music industry with a bisexual cover star and using the LGBTQ+ specific slang term ' queerbaiting" as my audience have the cultural competence to be familiar with the term.
My cover stars will be in the same age group as my target audience, meaning that the audience will relate to them more. My audience will share a strong sense of contribution as there will be two opportunities to be featured on the website or in future issues and two competitions mentioned in the contents page. The cover lines used will reference current artists to engage my target audience. As my magazine will be independent, it does not have to follow the same conventions as other magazines and has a smaller team, making it feel more personal and connect with audiences.
Product 2
Due to print sales being in decline, many magazines are focusing more on their online presence. I intend for the online product to share the same liberal views and ideologies by giving more information on an LGBTQ+ charity' Switchboard in relation to the magazine issue about sexuality. The layout of my website will be easy-to-navigate with a menu bar with a high level of synergy between the two products aesthetically. I will offer exclusive features such as a form to send in their concert experiences, more information on competitions, merchandise, playlists to encourage the print audience to interact with the website. I will also promote inclusivity and diversity in a 'Meet the Team' section on my website showing different ethnicities and genders to reflect the magazines ideologies about equality that the target audience will share.
How do you intend to link your media products to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the digitally convergent nature of your media production?
To create a cohesive sense of brand identity, synergy and digital convergence, the logo and masthead will be the same across both products and will be distinct and recognisable to create a sense of branding. Having a set colour palette of a contrast of bright colours and black used in all products and having the same fonts used will create a ‘house-style’. Social media links as will be used on the website and qr codes between products to engage a digitally native audience and show digital convergence. I will publish similar articles online to print and use interactive' easter eggs and merch discounts to encourage the audience to look at the website.
