AS Media Studies Foundation Portfolio

4. How did you integrate technologies – software, hardware, and online – in this project? Click the link below for my response: https://prezi.com/view/e5jfgrR1elphVMw5iEif/ Transcript:   Technology was integrated in just about every step of my blog and magazine creation process. To begin with, I first had to familiarize myself with the website blogspot.com. It was important that I learned all the ins-and-outs and became comfortable with it, as this website is what I used to document the whole process of my project. I also initially used my iPhone camera throughout my first few blog posts when exploring camera angles, shots, techniques, etc. Overtime, I eventually upgraded to a more professional camera, my Canon Powershot SX540. I obtained this camera not too long after beginning this process, and familiarize myself within in order to use it to my advantage. This is what I used for the remaining photoshoots and all photos that were published in my magazine. Then, as I progressed fu...

 3. How did your production skills develop throughout this project? Click the link below for my response: https://prezi.com/view/e5jfgrR1elphVMw5iEif/ Transcript: Throughout the creation of this project, I was constantly faced with the challenge of improving and expanding my knowledge on editing and presentation skills. While I have worked on projects in the past that required me to create some sort of presentation, it was never to this extent. Thus, this process has taught me a lot. For instance, before starting this project, I was unaware of all the components and details that went into the creation of a magazine. Such as conventions, I did not know what purpose they served or how to properly implement them into my work. Comparatively, I initially felt this same confusion towards creating  my own blog.  Over time, this production has enlightened me on the components and elements that go into a magazine but a blog as well. Both projects have allowed me to gain and improv...

2. How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text? Click the link below for my response: https://prezi.com/view/e5jfgrR1elphVMw5iEif/ Transcript:   Magazines are constructed with the general purpose of providing information for the targeted audience. The purpose of my magazine is to inform the public about current news and updates within the African American community of the music industry.  Discovering your target audience consists of establishing what kind of people are most likely to be interested in your service or product. My target audience includes but is not limited to, African Americans, those who take interest in the music industry,  as well as those who take interest in African American Culture. Therefore, I engaged my audience by highlighting both experienced and upcoming artists and their journeys and accomplishments. I accomplished this through the use of interactive elements such as photos, feature stories, ...

  1. How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent groups or issues? Click the link below for my response: https://prezi.com/view/e5jfgrR1elphVMw5iEif/ Transcript:  The final product of my magazine both used and challenged some conventions to create an enjoyable music magazine that was both informing and eye catching. The calm aesthetic used in my magazine differs in comparison to most typical music magazines. Being that I focused more on my information and context rather than flashy designs and formatting. My magazine gives a calm yet still eye-catching vibe due to the fact that I redirected more of my efforts into providing interesting information for my readers. Moreover, I also included conventions that are found in all magazines such as a masthead, double page spread, table of contents, and a bar code. Another example would be my sufficient use of different fonts, colors, and sizes in my page numbers, headings, subheadings, and text througho...

 FINAL MAGAZINE

 Final Double Page Spread

While brainstorming ideas for my double page spread I did some research to get inspirations from music magazines in the past. This helped me get an idea of different layouts and formats that will best fit my magazine. In addition, this also helped me ensure that I am formatting my magazine to the liking of my target audience. Below are some examples I will be using for inspiration:   

  This is my Table of Contents that I have created for my magazine using this shot of Model #1 from our photoshoot.

 After several reevaluations and revamping, I am confident in my final cover page for my magazine.

Why Queen Diamond Isn’t Slowing Down   Since she burst onto the hip-hop scene in 2017 with “Pretty Girl Freestyle,” the now 20-year-old rapper has been on a seemingly inexorable rise She kept her rapping under wraps for years, even from her parents. But “when I got to college, I was like, ‘These people don’t know me. I can be whoever I want.’ One night I was rapping at a party, and suddenly everybody knew me as 'Queen Diamond' Every day, there are the lessons that come with fame. “The only thing I don’t like about having all eyes on you at all times is not all eyes are good eyes,” she says. “I still want to be able to walk into Walmart and buy dog food. I still want to party in the club and nobody’s recording me and no super-judgey internet police are going, ‘Shame!’ But all that comes with it, and you have to be prepared for people to be in your business, 24/7. Indeed, one gets the sense that Diamond has just begun to scratch the surface of what she has to offer. S...

 For my feature story I will be interviewing Model #2 (Female) who goes by stage name 'Queen Diamond'  Below is a guide of questions that I will use throughout the interview: 1. How old are you? 2. What inspired you to rap? 3. How did you decide on the stage name Queen Diamond? 4. In the music industry, most female take up singing rather than rapping. What led you to decide on rapping? 5. How has your journey as an upcoming rapper treated you? 6. Did you have any inspirations growing up? 7. In what moment did you realize that your career was finally taking off? 8. What have you learned thus far about the rap game? 9. Has your experience as a female rapper just as you imagined it to be? 10. What advice would you give to upcoming artists?

 For my magazine photoshoots I had a photo session for both a math and female candidate, which I first Introduced you guys in my "Model Introduction" post. Below our some pictures from the shoots

Over the past week or so I focused on mastering creating feature leads and feature stories. I am now confident that I'll be able to create a double page spread in the upcoming future. As I finish my practice magazine, I've decided that my next step will be to decide what content I will specifically include in my magazine, which I will do using the results of my previous survey. Because it indicates what my target audience would be most interested in reading. In addition, I'll start planning what kind of aesthetic and photos I'd like to see in my magazine.  So, my upcoming blog posts will be discussing my finalized magazine ideas and thoughts. 

Production Calendar In order to stay organized and on track with the completion of  my magazine. I have decided to make a production calendar. I will label and follow this calendar accordingly. This calendar will signify what I should be doing each week and will guide me to completion.

      In this blog, I will be practicing and assessing my ability to write my own practice lead as I will have to create one for my own magazine. Given the story below:    " The police in this municipality received a call at 3:45 p.m. yesterday afternoon. A woman shouted at the sergeant who answered the telephone. She said: "My son's been beaten. His teacher whipped him this afternoon, and he's all red where she paddled him. Can teachers do that? That's assault and battery, and I want her arrested." Two police officers were sent to the home. They questioned the boy, who is 9 years old. At his mother's insistence, the police officers also inspected the boy's reported injuries. They reported: "We couldn't tell that the boy had been paddled. His fanny didn't look red to us, but we did notice that his pants legs were wet and muddy. As we talked, it became obvious that he boy was lying. He finally admitted that he had stopped to play on the wa...

 This class we took time to learn about feature stories, their components, and importance.      Feature writings tells the reader a story. They include a lead, middle, and end. It also allows readers to see the story through the use of detailed description, vivid writing. Including feature stories in magazines gives readers a break from the normal content and provides them something more engaging.      Most contents found in magazines only provides a brief description of the topic. On the contrary, f eatures are more in-depth than traditional news  stories  and go beyond providing the most important facts. The  purpose  of these  stories  is to provide a detailed description of a place, person, idea, or organization. Over the next few days, I will continue my research on the role of feature stories and practice creating my own.

       After receiving feedback and evaluating my initial preliminary cover page, I decided to go back and reattempt my cover page with the new corrections. I replaced the first photo with a new shot I captured of Model #2 and I love it. I have placed the new image below: 

 After creating my first practice cover page and learning that I must provide my own photos for my content, I gathered the models I would like to use for my shots. Meet my 2 lovely models below! Model 1: Female 17 African American Model 2: Male 18 African American

      In my previous blog post, I showed you guys my first attempt of creating my magazine cover. Since then, I have learned what works and what needs to be tweaked. For instance, I am now aware that I must provide my own pictures so I am now planning on gathering models and taking the necessary shots. In addition, I will also make sure I continue to pay attention to detail such as, font, font size, color, placement, etc. The original font colors I chose did not stand out against my cover photo. Next time, I will make sure that the new photo I choose works with the font color and size. In the meantime, I will utilize the canvas program in order to work on more practice covers until I create one to my liking.

Hey guys! Below is my first attempt at creating my magazine cover.