Merit & Distincion

Merit Tasks

1.       Learners use correct media terminology in their analysis. They demonstrate a good understanding of the conventions of the media product’s genre, and their understanding is supported by examples within the chosen media product

2.       Learners’ analysis of the target audience shows a good understanding of the relationship between the target audience and their chosen media product

3.       Learners’ analysis of their chosen media product demonstrates a good understanding of how legal and ethical constraints impact on the product. They relate the legal and ethical issues analysed for the chosen media product to the role that the relevant regulatory bodies play in upholding guidelines and regulations

Distinction Tasks

1.       Learners’ analysis shows a thorough understanding of the relationship between purpose, form, content and meaning within the intentions of the chosen media product

2.       Learners explain what aspects of the media product would appeal to the target audience and what would influence the target audience to use the product

LO4 - P5

LO4 – Understand ethical, legal, and regulatory issues associated with media products.  P5 – Wider Impact          

Impact/Effect on Audience

influence on individuals/mass audiences, positive effects e.g good role models

negative effects e.g bad role models

Audience behaviour theory active/passive theories)  

    

Representation

YOU SHOULD investigate how your chosen sub-genre of music magazine has to deal with or concern themselves with stereotyping and – in the case of hip-hop/RnB music – racial profiling.
For example –
http://thesocialmatrix.blogspot.co.uk/2013/07/hip-hop-journalism-and-black-stereotypes.html#.VADE-Sh_hG4
Make sure you reference any secondary sources.

Stereotypes – This could be in the form of Age, Gender, Race, Religion, Social Group and many other demographics and psychographics. HOW are they represented and what impact does this representation have on the audience who consume this product (Music Magazine)?

Legal Issues       

Copyright - http://www.copyright.com.au/members/claim-payments/are-you-entitled-to-claim/staff-journalists

Royalties     

  

Ethical Issues    

Accuracy, Offensive Material, Sensationalism, Chequebook journalism, Privacy, censorship, Right to know   

       

Regulation

Press Complaints Commission-  http://www.pcc.org.uk/cop/practice.html

Press Regulators

Advertising Standards Authority

Ofcom

Self Regulation  

LO3 - P4

LO3 – Understand how Media products and distributed and promoted  P4 – Reaching the Target Audience         

Distribution Channels

HOW is the product (music magazine) distributed to it’s audience? e.g. Hard Copy Sales vs. Digital Sales.
Past – Present – Future – Where is the brand going in terms of direction compared to the Past & Present.

HOW does it compare to their competitors?

Advertising

HOW do the publishers go about advertising other products within their own products?
For example –
http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/advertise Bauer

2. What type(s) of products are promoted within the magazine and Why?

Marketing – Above the line and/or Below the line?         

LO2 - P3

LO2 – Understand the relationship between media products and their target audience

Target Audience

What are demographics and target audience.

Why is it important for your publisher?

Uses & Gratifications

What is this? Apply to your magazine

Maslow Hierarchy

What is this? Apply to your magazine

Research - Questionnaire

Gender/Age/Lifestyle/Spending Power/Interests/History etc.

Research – Focus Group

Gender/Age/Lifestyle/Spending Power/Interests/History etc.

Research – Secondary V Primary

What are they – Why does this matter? Why do you need both?

Psychographics

What is this? Apply to your magazine

·         Gender

·         Spending Power

·         Age

·         Lifestyle              

What are they for your magazine?

Relationship between Target Audience and My Magazine

What is niche and mainstream?

Why does this matter?

Evaluation

What type of research is better? Primary or secondary? 

LO1 - P2

Purpose

Magazine chosen shown and its purpose given (educate, entertain and inform, sell products, promote brand)

Star Appeal – Dyer

De Saussure - Signifiers

Conventions of Magazines

What are they - Size = A4, Contain sections such as?, Front cover has X, contents has X

Genre Conventions

What are they - Size = A4, Contain sections such as?, Front cover has X, contents has X

Conventions/Genre my Magazine follows

What does your magazine copy from above

Form

print forms: tabloid, Berliner, broadsheets, e-magazine,

magazines, handbag size – Explain them and tell me What is yours?

Style

What is Style? Does your magazine have one?

Content

What are the sections? Why? What is in them?

Meaning

Created through Colours, language, text, costumes etc.

Production Process

Pre-production – Content, flat plan, commissioning

Production – Write articles, Photographs, mastheads

Post Production – Editing, sub editing

LO1 - P1

TIP!

Contact the Publisher and investigate HOW the Company operates – for example http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/contact

P1

What is the Ownership structure of the company?

·         History of Company  - When was it founded? By whom?

·         Are they a Local OR Global Media Institution?

·         Do they have a Sister Company?

·         Owner of Company

·         Key Staff

·         List of Publications and Circulation Figures

Operating Model

·         Brand Ethos and Slogan

·         What does this say about the Institution and what they value?

·         Would the audience agree with this slogan?

·         Organisational Hierarchy

Products

·         Screenshots of Key products

·         Information about most successful – Sales figures

·         Other Interests (What else does it do) 

Technological Convergence

Market Position

·         All Sales figures

·         Comparisons to competitors

·         Do they make any more Music Magazines – why?

Competitors  

   

·         Who are they, screenshot their logos and market position

·         Compare and contrast

Intro

This unit aims to allow learners to understand media institutions, how they work and the products they produce.

Learners will understand production processes, target audiences, distribution and marketing through the analysis of media products.

Students MUST investigate a Music Magazine Publisher – for example Harris Publications – and associated product – for example XXL – to that Institution as part of the Project

Specification