AS MEDIA STUDIES + MAHAMED ABADAYAH: 7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Looking back at my preliminary task, in comparison to my final magazine you can see the progression I have made throughout the course. My final construction looks much more professional than my preliminary task. This is due to my preliminary being the first attempt at constructing a magazine and me not fully knowing and understanding my audience. I also did not know many of the forms and conventions of magazines which is what I learnt more about as I progressed.

I now understand how important the research process is within the construction of media products. Within my preliminary task all I knew about the audience is that they were students, parents as well as teachers. However, I did not fully understand their needs and expectations for a magazine, as well as how to appeal to them. Before we began our final magazine, we had to carry out a lot of planning and research in order to help us fully grasp and understand our chosen demographics. We carried out questionnaires, focus groups etc. to find out what they wanted to find within a magazine, why they read them and so on. However when carrying our research for my final magazine. I discovered how to appeal to my chosen demographic.

Comparing both magazines I can see that the knowledge on different codes and conventions is crucial in order to create a professional looking product. For my preliminary task I had basic knowledge of these, although; I did not know how to use them efficiently in order for them to work alongside my mode of address and attract my demographic. However, we learnt more in depth about these different forms and conventions (as well as how they can be broken or developed) before starting our final product. Due to knowing my audience thoroughly and knowing the conventions well, it allowed me to use them appropriately and develop or break them when needing to.

Theories such as Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, Uses and Gratifications Theory and The Male Gaze are vital when creating a media product. I did not incorporate any of these theories into the construction of my preliminary task, which would potentially lower the readership of the magazine. This is because it wouldn’t appeal to their needs or aspirations. Before starting my final magazine I made sure I understood all these theories and applied them fully within my magazine. By using these theories effectively, it allowed me to appeal to my demographic, through using things such as inspirational images, or images that reinforced hyper reality. This has also helped my magazine to look up to a professional standard.

I have learnt how to use different programmes and software’s such as Photoshop CS6 and Publisher. My skills developed throughout the course of the preliminary task to my final construction due to the time I spent trying to make my final magazine look professional. I did not use Photoshop for my preliminary task and had to develop my skills in order to make my magazine look as good as possible.

In conclusion I have learnt how vital research, as well as planning is in order to fully appeal to your demographic. Knowing different codes and conventions is essential, as well as understanding media theories so that you can apply them within your magazine.