Wix Website

Before deciding which template to use for my website, I looked at Dennis Publishing's website, along with a few of their brands' websites to establish their brand identity. 

I came to the conclusion that there is no clear brand identity connecting brand, aside from the navigation bar at the top of the page, therefore I could establish an individual brand identity for my production.

I chose the Social Forum template, since I liked the modern theme that I will adopt throughout my production. 

My Wix website link: https://candidate6110.wixsite.com/renew 

Statement of Intent: First Draft

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? (approx. 400 words) 

Product 1
In the production of my magazine, I would like to incorporate media language that will appeal to the target audience of 'a socially-conscious, 16-25, middle to upmarket demographic'. When creating my magazine, I wish for the cover stars to display confidence in their body language to convey power to the consumer. As well as this, I will use appropriate backgrounds for the images used in the magazine, including both natural and synthetic settings to infer the issues mentioned within the magazine. I would like to use cover stars that are representative of the target audience to promote inclusivity. I will dress the cover stars in appropriate attire, with the female cover star wearing formal clothing to The cover stars will adopt a direct mode of address to adhere to the codes and conventions of magazine and make the audience feel included. I shall construct representations within my product by using the mise-en-scene appropriately in each of the pictures and in the audio-visual content. Since the publication will be owned by Dennis Publishing, I will need to construct my production in a way that adheres to their branding.
Product 2
The accompanying website for my magazine should have a clear house style that is not dissimilar to the print issue. I will use a consistent colour palette, font style and images to communicate a strong sense of brand identity to the target audience of 'a socially-conscious, 16-26, middle to upmarket demographic'. Depending on the topics featured in the print issues, I will upload articles and images accordingly, which will provide more information on the topics covered in the issue.



How do you intend to link your media products to demonstrate your knowledge and understanding of the digitally convergent nature of your media production? (approx. 100 words)
I intend to link my media products through the utilisation of a clear house style and a consistent brand design in order to portray the digitally convergent nature of my media production. Within my website, I aim to use 'Easter Eggs' to add more content, possibly leading to another webpage where the consumer is able to contribute donations to an environmental charity or cause. This median could potentially feature examples of intertextuality to flatter the audience.

Planning: First Ideas

Main Product: Magazine:

For my first front cover, I am going to use a low angle shot to make the cover star look powerful, since the interview will be them as a campaigner for the environment and they should look sophisticated. 

The locations I am going to use include a lighting showroom (to show how energy is wasted), the beach (where I will scatter plastic around the cover star) and a garden with exotic plants. I have also researched into areas where I could shoot footage such as  The Garden at 120 and Kew Gardens, however due to the current climate, this may not be possible.

For my second cover, I would like the cover star to look vulnerable as if they are threatened by the deteriorating environment. 

According to each of the issues, I will write articles relating to each of the covers.

Generic Research: Language and Digital Convergence

How do media producers use language to communicate meaning?
Within magazines, producers use language such as direct mode of address, iconography and colour palettes to communicate meaning. This can be in the form of print, digital or online magazines. Meaning can be communicated through this language to engage the audience, advertise person or another product or rebrand themselves. Certain narratives can be constructed through use of mise-en-scene, including settings, costume and lighting. Camera shots are important in the construction of a text, as they can communicate many different meanings.

A high angle shot is used in this Porter cover, however the connotations of the shot type are contrasted by the cover star's 'powerful' expression, which is also highlighted by the cover lines. The cover star is dressed in red, which has connotations of power and love, which is contrasted with the natural, green setting. She adopts a direct mode of address, to give the impression that she is addressing the consumer directly.

Producers may also use techniques such as intertextuality to communicate with and flatter the audience. This Vogue cover includes an intertextual reference to Frida Kahlo by using brightly coloured flowers and clothes. The cover star adopts a direct mode of address, however she appears to be acting more passively.








How do media producers use digital convergence to link their products?
Media producers use language such as colour palettes, fonts and house style to link their products through digital convergence. Print and digital issues can be linked through digital convergence by using hashtags to notify print consumers of the magazine's online presence and vice versa. 

They may also hyperlink social media pages within their website to provide consumers with more content to engage in.

Representation Theory

Stuart Hall infers that representations are built via codes. The media uses stereotypes and often reduces groups of people to oversimplified cliches. 

Our ability to decode imagery within the media is not innate, it is learnt through continued exposure to media products. The media uses and shapes our understanding of the world and how we interpret it. 

In terms of magazines, he states that the portrait photograph of the cover star can give connotations of power. If the cover star directs their gaze to the left of the frame, this can infer regret or nostalgia, however a high angle shot may infer vulnerability or helplessness. Magazines will specifically use media stereotypes to reflect social attitudes and the wider views of society. We can interpret society's views through the way social groups are stereotyped. However, the media also contributes to the construction of stereotypes within society, Since the media is so powerful and is owned by the dominant hegemonic groups in society, these stereotypes can be easily constructed and enforced by such companies and brands. This drastically affects society' attitudes towards social groups, especially those that are under-represented in the media.

Although stereotyping can be thought of as increasing visibility of under-represented groups, it is rarely a good representation, as it is, again, created by the dominant hegemonic groups in power. The groups' negative traits and characteristics are highlighted, typically for comedic effect. Due to the dominant hegemonic groups having little experience with people from these groups, it results in negative representations. There are few women and individuals of colour at the top of media industries, so we see less positive representations of these groups.

Environmental Issues: The Environmentalist

The Environmentalist's landing page covers a broad range of environmental issues. 

The landing page begins with an overview of the topics the magazine covers; environmental, climate, ecosystem, pollution and waste. This magazine caters to many interests and concerns of the consumers, since it covers several current environmental issues. A slideshow of imminent concerns is also shown and offers and options to 'Learn More'.

 

Below the Fold, the website depicts many different issues, spanning from disposing of waste to domestic air pollution to the destruction of the ocean.

The page is set out clearly to allow for more user-friendly access and also allows for a wider audience.

Each section has a similar layout, conveying a clear brand identity. The colours blue, black, white and green are used to communicate the brand identity, whilst adhering to conventions of the 'environmental' genre.

The topics included in The Environmentalist include technology, health and finance, indicating that environmental issues are no longer seen as a niche subject.

Generic Research: Websites Research 3

Websites Research 3 from Candidate 6110

Generic Research: Websites Research 2

Websites Research 2 from Candidate 6110

Generic Research: Websites Research 1

Websites Research 1 from Candidate 6110

Revision of Pitch

My original pitch: https://16607candidatenumber6110.blogspot.com/2020/03/planning-pitch-and-moodboard.html

My original pitch has slightly changed since researching and analysisng the form of magazines and online in more detail. I have gained a more clear idea of the codes and conventions used in magazines and how they differ across the platforms of print, digital and online and also how cross platform convergence is utilised. Since some of my focus group were unsure about the idea of the environment being the main topic, I will need to incorporate other subtopics such as social issues and interviews to engage the target audience.

I now need to decide which topics to write about in the magazine to ensure that the target audience is captivated throughout and their interest is held. I will research many current environmental issues to decide which I will write articles about in my production. 

Audience Research Summation

From the research I conducted into audiences and the magazine industry, I have concluded that magazines need to be much more interactive and engaging to compete the new, modern technologies of social media. 

My focus group seemed very uninterested in the magazines that are currently on the market. These answers led me to decide that there is a need for a more engaging text which encapsulates the ideology and interests of the 'socially-conscious, 16-25, middle to upmarket demographic' that the brief requires. The focus group appeared to be disempowered by the texts and brands they had seen advertised, therefore I would like to change this and make the target audience feel empowered by what they are consuming. By focusing on an important issue, this may cause the consumers to be more likely to be active in their views and beliefs relating to the environment.

I must create a strong sense of cross platform convergence within my production in order to compete with other magazines on the market, including print, online and digital platforms. My research into audience behaviour showed that print magazines are becoming increasingly unpopular, since consumers have a preference for online and digital platforms. This is a strong indication of the lack of ease and accessibilty of print magazines compared to other platforms.

My production should incorporate language similar to the magazines I have analysed, since these magazines are very popular and successful among consumers. My focus group had mixed interests and views on what should be included in the magazine. Although this is not entirely representative of the whole demographic, it gives a good indication that although this is a genre of magazine that is rarely seen, it needs to be executed carefully, since it is not regularly seen on the market.

Generic Research Summation

From studying many examples of the form, I have gathered a good idea of the codes and conventions used for magazines and their websites.

Print:
By fully analysing three different magazine texts in the form of print and online, I have realised that generic codes and conventions of this media form includes a cover star; usually acting in a sophisticated and confident manner to connote superiority to the consumer. Another convention is that most cover stars have a direct mode of address with the audience, which is utilised to make the audience feel more involved. 

Online:
In terms of online magazines, most have easily accessible topics and articles through a sidebar with several subtitles.

Theory:
Stuart Hall's theory of representation can be applied to this form, as language is used to create or reinforce a stereotype. Ideas about certain groups or topics are created in the consumer's mind; this may lead to the consumer's decision to engage in the text or not.

Barthes' theory of semiology can also be applied to this form. Signs and icons incorporated into a magazine may influence an individual's decision to engage with a text. Specific icons may be used within a culture and may signify certain ideas or morals which can result in influencing an individual's engagement with the text. These semiotics can include symbols, colours and words that indicate or code for another meaning.

Generic Research: Textual Analysis 3

Textual Analysis 3 from Candidate 6110