30 second AV content

• Behind the scenes of the shoots
• Voiceover of an interview with the cover star as their persona

Statement of Intent: Second 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 current affairs magazine, which will adopt a heavy focus on the environment, I would like to incorporate media language that will appeal to my target audience of 'a socially-conscious, 16-25, middle to upmarket demographic'.  Whilst conducting my initial research, several respondents stated their reservations about the magazine, indicating that there is a need for a more engaging text, which encapsulates the ideology and interests. 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 mise-en-scenes for the images used in the final product, to fabricate a preferred meaning of reflecting the environment and its variety. From my research, I have discovered that the target audience would prefer to see both natural and synthetic settings to infer the diversity of issues mentioned within the magazine. I would like to feature cover stars that are representative of the target audience to promote inclusivity. In order to do this, I will feature an individual of Indian descent and an individual of British descent. In order to represent diversity, I will dress the individual of Indian descent in appropriate cultural attire, while creating an intertextual reference to Indian environmentalist Vandana Shiva. I will dress the cover stars in appropriate attire, with one cover star wearing formal clothing, to embody a sophisticated businesswoman, while the other cover star will be dressed in more casual clothing, acting as a protester. The cover stars will adopt a direct mode of address to adhere to the codes and conventions of magazines, which is evident in my research from examples such as Vogue and Porter, which will make the audience feel included. I shall construct representations within my product by utilising the mise-en-scene appropriately in each of the pictures and audio-visual content. I will make use of the mise-en-scene for lighting purposes, as well as props for the cover stars to use. Since Dennis Publishing will own the publication, I will need to construct my production in a way that adheres to their branding and house style, which features predominantly red font. In my production, I will encode specific messages, which adheres to Hall's Reception Theory. I would like the audience to decode the intertextual reference to Indian Environmentalist Vandana Shiva, however the audience would require a very high level of cultural competency to decode this message.

Product 2:

The accompanying website for my magazine should have a clear house style that is not dissimilar to the print issue. Since the print magazine industry is in decline, there should be clear links between the two products, such as digital convergence and house style. I will use consistent colour palette, font style and images to communicate a strong sense of brand identity to the target audience of 'a socially-conscious, 16-25, middle to upmarket demographic'. A publication's online presence has become increasingly important, especially as of recently during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Big Issue has seen an incredible decline in sales due to the pandemic, with their website being used to announce that the magazine will be sold in shops as an alternative. My research indicates that I should use media language such as a simple sidebar with easily accessible topics and articles. Depending on the topics featured in the print issues, I will feature articles and images on the website accordingly, which will provide more information on the topics covered within the print issue. To compliment the print issue, I will provide more information and content related to the topics covered on the accompanying website. Shirky's End of Audience theory states that audiences are no longer passive, they are now active and like to interact and actively engage with the texts that they consumer. Technology has changed audiences' behaviours and expectations; therefore there is a need for the media to evolve. There is now a need for brands to have an online presence in order to engage their target audience further than with just print texts. In order to communicate meaning and meet the requirements of my chosen brief, I will feature a range of appropriate media language techniques including typography, fonts, images and backgrounds that appropriately fit the genre of the website.

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 page where the consumer is able to contribute donations to an environmental charity or cause. These 'Easter Eggs' will be a small image surrounding the main content. These could potentially feature examples of intertextuality to flatter the audience or cause them to feel a sense of inclusivity. I will also utilise hashtags that will be featured in the print issue as well as the website to include digital convergence.

Flatplan

Issue 1:

Cover:

The first issue's main focus will be on the excess use/retrieval of energy and how this affects the environment (forests, air, etc).
















Issue 2:

Cover:

Magazine Industry Research

General:

Dennis:
Felix Dennis founded Dennis Publishing in 1973, with the first magazine published: Kung Fu Monthly. This developed in the 1980s and moved onto technology-based magazines.

Dennis Digital was launched in 1999

Dennis Publishing now publishes over 30 magazines; including Computeractive, Cyclist, MacUser, Men's Fitness and Women's Fitness.

In February 2020, Dennis announced that they would be publishing The Week Junior, a weekly subscription print magazine aimed at kids 8 to 14.

'Today, Dennis is one of the most dynamic media companies in the UK. As the 6th largest consumer magazine publisher, Dennis has transformed its business from its traditional print publishing roots to a true multi-platform, award-winning media company, with a group turnover of over £130m.'

'Our vision is to be the most dynamic international media group. We are dedicated to growing Britain’s best loved media brands, restlessly innovating across different platforms to bring our audience new sources of inspiration, information and entertainment.'

The Media Show

https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00dv9hq

Political magazines: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m000fq8b

Shot List

Issue 1:
Low angle shot of cover star V
Long shot of cover star through trees H
30 seconds of audio-visual content - interview
Thumbnail for AV content

Issue 2:
CU shot of cover star V
30 seconds of audio-visual content - BTS
Thumbnail for AV content

Website:
Two pics for online only

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.