What is media?
Media is a form of communication such as news, broadcasting and publishing.
What is media studies?
It is learning about different ways to communicate using different forms of media.
What is the point of media studies?
To gain new useful skills and go into depth about the different forms of media and how they’re used.
What are you interested in about media?
I am interested in the design and creative aspect of media and I believe that it’s very enjoyable and inventive.
Media means mass communication, which can include broadcasting, publishing and the internet. Communication channels consist of news, advertising/ promotional messages or even education. Media is used to inform and influence people in larger groups. Media studies is a course in which you learn how to inform and influence large amounts of people effectively. It can be useful for many careers including marketing/advertising positions where messages need to be sent out to masses of people. I’m taking this course as I’m hoping to take fashion design and marketing at university, I want to study media a level to prepare me for the marketing side of the degree. I think it will help having background knowledge before I go down that career path so I know what to expect when I start university.
Media Forms –
Forms studied on the course –
Similarities + Differences –
(Most) Newspapers, Magazines and Books are physical and word based, whereas Media Forms such as, Radio, Television, Cinema, Video Games and online aren’t physical and are audio based Mediums.
In addition, Newspapers, Non-fiction books and Adverts tend to be more formal, informative and serious; focusing on events occurring world-wide. However, mediums such as Video Games, Movies, Magazines and Television are more informal and used in order to entertain the audience.
Iconic signs
Indexical
Symbolic
My Chosen Magazine Cover
Prior to designing this magazine cover, I looked at the covers of many Gaming magazines. After many attempts of creating magazine covers, this one I decided was my favourite. I decided to design the magazine cover for the Nintendo Magazine. This cover is aimed at Older Children and Teenager (between the ages of 10-24). I have designed the logo free-handed, with all other features of this magazine being printed off. I have gone with a red and white theme as they are the main colours of the Nintendo branding. Red and white also I find looks quite appealing together because the red is quite dark, and the white colouring used for the title makes it stand out from a distance. I have included a date line, which is written in red to fit in with the colour scheme of the magazine and I have also included it on top of the masthead because I feel with its placement there, people will take notice of it.
The masthead is the name of the magazine. I have used it against a predominantly white background so that it stands out. The masthead also matches the colours on the main image. I have used red and white for the masthead as they are quite bright colours and will stand out from a distance, thus attracting the consumer’s attention. The Masthead is the Nintendo logo to inform the consumer that the magazine is associated with the Nintendo branding and franchise. It also is large to stand out and used on every magazine issue so the consumers instantly know this is the Nintendo magazine. I have used Mario as the central image on my magazine because Mario is the most famous Nintendo Character and I find his red overalls make him stand out over my predominantly white Mario themed background. I also used symbols associated with Mario (ie coins and the power-up items) as my background behind the large image of Mario, so the consumer instantly knows that this magazine edition is all about the Super Mario franchise.
As my magazine is based on the Super Mario Bros Franchise, I have used the Super Mario logo as my central image’s caption. This is so that everyone knows the magazine is all about Super Mario Brothers. I have even included a yellow bubble with an article that will appear in the magazine. I have chosen yellow because it stands out as it is bright, it also quite closely opposite to red on the colour wheel and yellow is a colour used within the Super Mario Franchise (Wario’s hat and shirt). I also included the caption “Mascot Madness” as I find it is quite catchy and the alliteration helps people to remember it, thus allowing them to keep my magazine cover in their minds, making them more likely to buy it and future issues.
Finally, I have included headings of articles. I have written them in red to fit in with the Super Mario colours. I played with words and came up with the heading “Super Sonic” by combining the “Super” of “Super Mario” with the “Sonic” of “Sonic the Hedgehog”. I have also included snippets of competition prizes available throughout the magazine. I used the prizes that are more of a once in a life-time experience in order to entice customers to buy the magazine to try and win amazing prizes in future competitions held in future issues.
Keanu Reeves
The Main Character
Razer Mouse
Ryzen Chipset
Two Sub Characters
Gun
Neon Signs
Razer Mouse
Cyberpunk Font
Yellow Color Scheme
Consistent Font
Ryzen Chipset
Clothing
Cyberpunk Title
PC Informer Title
Game Sub Headings
Informative Bottom Text
Neon Signs
Top Banner
Gaming Magazine – Media Induction Task – 2019
For my magazine idea I decided to use the game Call Of Duty WW2 as I had just recently finished playing the game. I decided for the main part of the cover to be the soldier as it conveys multiple emotions to the viewer such as worry but also respect. In addition, I reduced the opacity of the backup image (covering the whole page) as not only does it give a slight insight of what the game is like to the viewer, but it can also be viewed as a flashback or memory of the main solider.
As well as this, by using scary/ dramatic images to represent the game can also be used in order to attract some players who like action, horror or historic based games. The phrase “No mission too difficult. No sacrifice too great. Duty first!” Is also used widely throughout the game in order to display each characters loyalty to the army and their country; not only does this phrase also attract and interest the a new audience to the game but also attracts people who may have already played the game as they have an emotional connection with he phrase.
This magazine was mainly directed at PlayStation [4] users, as it is a very popular console. I also tried to maintain a compact/ similar colour patter which matched the colour scheme of the ‘Call Of Duty WWII’ logo; therefore, using quite dull colours as well as white and grey. This game was released on November 3rd, 2017. Which is why I decided to add a date around the same time as the game would have been in high demand. In addition to this, I also decided to advertise a game with a similar thriller/action/horror theme also released only a month later. Too highlight the advertisement and add a bit more colour to the page, I inserted a green circle (in order to emphasise the advertisement as well as to add colour) I then used the quick selection tool to cut out the name of the game – ‘Resident Evil(7) Biohazard.
The two main pictures covering the page, however, only represents the theme of the game and the campaign (story) mode which may not be as appealing to someone who enjoys online games. I therefore attempted to advertise more than just the story mode by mentioning the multiplayer and zombie game modes which the game also offers. As this is a magazine supporting and advertising PlayStation games, I also inserted a banner along the top which highlights other consoles/ add on such as VR that the company has also created to enhance gaming experiences.
Iconic Signs –
The soldier
The weapons
The soldiers outfit
Idexical Signs –
‘PlayStation’
The characters outfit
The fonts used in the top banner
The characters facial expression
Symbolic Signs –
The ‘Resident Evil’ advert
The yellow PlayStation sign links to the Yellow ‘WWII’
The ‘Call of Duty’ font
The ‘Resident Evil 7’ advert changes the colour of VII in order to emphasize 7
