Luke Ford AS Media Blog

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

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

The language that I used in my DPS is quite modern and simple as my target audience do not want to be reading heavy and complex words, they want the information in a style that is to the point yet is still informing. This makes the readers fell as if they are on the same level as the writer and feel as if they can connect. Even though the language is quite simple it is also very formal, as this shows a quite professional approach that the target audience will be able to relate to. The language also become quite in depth during the interview as the target audience will more interested in the interviewee as an musician. And how they came about to be where they are now. I also decided to make it peer into there social life and indicate towards gossip because my specific target audience are people who are looking for information but not wanting to be bored with all of the technicality of the interviews, I like to give it a social feeling as if they are everyday people as-well as famous musicians.
   I have represented my target audience, who will probably live in a rural small town near cities, by using a local skate park in on of my photos and graffiti which gives off a sense of an area being slightly secluded and low maintenance. However as my target audience is of a older, more social class, they would also be interested in things a bit more casual than outside locations, such as a recording studio and local bars whilst attending gigs, this provides a sense of being able to relate to the images that I had chosen to use. Due to my readers seeing these types of locations on a regular basis which like I said gives off a sense of commonality towards the particular artist featured in the magazine.
   my cover represents my chosen genre of pop punk/indie, I have represented this with the dark monotone colours used on my front cover photograph, as well as this the model is shouting which represents a sense of anger which is what most indie bands are based on. The clothing that my model is wearing is also linked to the genre of music my magazine is based around due to it being casual yet up to date on the common indie/hipster trends.
   My front cover is a quite typical male representation of the indie/pop punk genre, with the feelings bases in the picture empathised due to the lighting and the poses made by the model, (baggy shirt, losses whilst taking the picture from below shows a sense of power and dominance due to it construing him as being bigger than he is normally. This all creates a image of being as common as every day people because they are in casual clothing but still with a hint of dominance.

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

During my primary research I decided that a suitable institution to distribute my media magazine would be Bauer media group, I have decided this because they have a vast knowledge of how to publish to magazine. Not only this but they are already publishing a similar magazine called Kerrang,

After I looked into other suitable institutions to distribute my magazine I am still going with Bauer media group. Whilst researching whether or not this would be a suitable distributor I found out that they distribute over 300 magazines in 15 different countries, which is good because this will help my magazine become bigger at a much faster rate. Not only has this but they also dabbled in radio which again would help advertise my magazine. But the main reason decided on Bauer media, was because3 they are well known and they don’t just publish music magazines, they publish many others like Heat and Empire this gives me a sense of security when it comes to choosing them due to them having such a large success when it comes to magazines.

Who would be the audience for your media product?, How did you attract/address your audience?

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

when it came to using technology to construct the product i was doubtful at first but now i know how to use the technology to a level of which is acceptable. at first i did not know how to properly use the cameras and all of there setting but now i can take clear pictures with the right depth of field and shutter speed to match my desired photos.when acquiring photographs for my front cover, contents page and double page spreads I had to have a brief understanding of the camera I was using, for example how to use the camera and changing the settings to create different camera shots and picture styles.
not only this but at the start i only had a novice understanding when it came to using photoshop due to not having any past experience with the program, The issue here was that i wanted many things for my music magazine but did not know how to achieve these. i had to practice using the software so that i could use all of the tools to there full ability and manipulate the photos to come out the way that i wanted them to.

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

Since my prelim task I have gained new skills and adapted some to a higher understanding, during the prelim task I was having trouble using photo shop and understanding what tools did what and now I feel as if that if I was given a tast to do on photoshop I would be able to get on with it without having any issues. Not only this but I am more comfortable when it comes to using a camera for a photo shoot I understand what angels look good and good with genres and what doesn't.

I have also become more understanding with time management because the deadlines for the magazine were quite close together and I had to learn how to manage my time appropriately so that I do not have to play catch up with the work, this was a major issue with me. I have learnt many things throughout the progression from prelim towards the final product, and i feel as if i can now use the softwares to an standard potential.

Q: How does it feel to be back on the scene, and did you have trouble getting back into the swing of things?

A: Its good, we've been gone for so long. Its unreal how natural these thing feel, as soon as we stepped back onto the stage we felt as if we were home. We have had countless rehersals to make sure that we are still able to play our music, work together as a team and just be able to enjoy our whilst doing the things we love.

Q:What you started to realise on the first album with tracks like ‘Impossible’, you seemed to add to your armoury for the second with a more expansive sound…

 A:Yeah, definitely; that song in particular really started to evolve when we were playing it live and our whole live show has evolved into a much bigger thing than when we first started, so when it came to writing the songs, you do sort of write things that you’re going to take on the road with you – they are your weapons of choice really. So with a mixture of what happened last time, and how we’d changed as a band, it all influenced what we wanted it to sound like. I’m sure it’ll change again, but right now, that’s where we’re at.

Q: I did read that you might have recorded, or just spent a bit of time up in a recording studio in Norfolk, but that it wasn’t the most prolific time for you? 

A:Yeah, we spent some cold months up in Norfolk and looking back, we did do all the songs on the record up there, but we just felt like we came out of it empty-handed, when in fact we hadn’t. We’d started all the songs, but hadn’t finished anything, so we were all a bit glum! Looking back, all the songs were started there, but they were all in some crazy order, and like, ten minutes long!

Q: Are you returning with a new vibe, if so how do you think your fans will react?

A: No we want to stick with the same vibe as we left with, we spent ages developing a unique sound for our band, as-well as this we have gathered many fans over the years and we are not ready to let them go, it would just ruin the status and image of the band. And we definitely do not want that to happen.

Q:Would you say the fame has changed your look on life?

A: Yeah definitely, before the band we all were just simpletons roaming the streets looking for something to come along and keep us busy, we all took things for granted and expecting every thing to be handed to us. But now we know that working towards something is much more rewarding than just sitting back and being spoon-fed. So yeah you could say the fame has changed our outlook on life, but for the better.

Q: Rumor is that your arranging a charity event at the O2 arena next year.

A: Well you have heard correctly, Jamie came up with the idea of giving something back to those who helped us throughout the process of being who we are today, if it wasn't for the Clapton Twelve Advice group the we wouldn't be able to be a group due to jamie's past activities.

JAMIE: Yeah they helped me through the rough stages of my life where I depended on every one to bail be out of situations, I just want to be able to say that im giving back what they gave to me.

Q: Some people have compared you to The Beatles in the sense of popularity, How do you feel abou this?

A: Whoever's been saying this they're stupid and obviously dont understand music, The Beatles are amazing and are our idols, it is an complement as much as an insult to compare us to the Beatles, our fans may think that we are as good and popular as them but we do not think we are up to there legendary standard just yet, but hopefully in the future who knows.

Q:When your not recording in the studio, what do you do in your spare time?

A: We just do what other general teenagers do really, we just hang out and have a laugh, dont get me wrong we are always on the job really, we constantly jam and come up with new ideas for songs, but its nice to just relax with a beer and a couple of mates over a game of FIFA. We like to think we are like any other teenager just hanging out as friends do.

Q: And what can we, as an audience, bring to the table for you? 

A: Oh, just show up. I think every show is different, but it’ll be like a bit of a home show really, because all the songs were started up there and it’ll bring a lot of memories. Bringing the songs back, all ready and finished off and playing in that venue, I think it’s gonna be a special night.