Planning & Production
Mind Map
I decided to start my planning and ideas development with a mindmap full of all my options. I have created 4 categories and brainstormed 3 ideas for each pathway. This gives me many options and directions to take this project.
My first idea after reading the brief was to create a magazine about rock music, and how pop-punk is making a comeback because this is something I really enjoy. However, I will make sure to consider each option and really evaluate what pathway will result in the best piece of work I can create.
Rationale
Compared to the start of my college life, I have developed an abundance of skills in realms of visual planning, video editing, photo editing and most importantly, the conventions of different industries and what they expect to see on their product. During the second year, I have practiced my processes in Adobe programs and have captured an insight into industry life which is very valuable. I have a great understanding in how to engage a desired audience from practicing this skill through all the projects so far this year. I am very confident in magazine creation as I have done this twice already since my first year of college. Because of this experience, and confidence that comes with that, I have decided to create a magazine campaign for my FMP. This will be an interesting project as I have already researched the conventions. Therefore, more of my time and focus will be on the end result.
Project Concept
For this project, I plan to create a magazine campaign that highlights rock music. More specifically, pop-punk music and how this genre is making a comeback in 2020 and 2021. I intend to create two magazine covers, a double page spread with a gripping article, a social media page and a website to promote the article, and an audio advertisement to be put on websites like SoundCloud in the ad-break portions. I have had an idea to create an article about Avril Lavigne and how she changed her style to conform to the media. This is something I have thought about a lot recently and would love to do further research in. This will also be very fitting as she is releasing a pop-punk album in the summer in response to the recent popularity boost by names like Machine Gun Kelly, ModSun, and Maggie Lindemann. I will include interviews taken from trustworthy sources and quote the words from MGK and Avril. However, I will also try to gather my own information from the new teenage fans of the genre and how they have responded to the genre’s popularity boost.
Evaluation
To evaluate my work and track my progress, I will be keeping a diary on my website. I will date every substantial piece of progress that I complete so that I am aware of the pace I am working at, if I am able to make the deadlines, and what I need to change. I will also keep weekly evaluations here too. Keeping this diary will assist in ensuring I complete the tasks in order. In my final evaluation essay, I will take the information taken in my diary, highlighting problems that I had and how I adapted my project to them. This essay will be a summary of all my diary entries. The diary will act as an element of planning for my larger essay. I believe this is the best way to track my progress and ensure that I do not miss out any key information in my conclusion essay. Following these diary entries, I will have a peer assess my progress weekly to make sure I am working on time and to give feedback on what I could change or do differently.
My Pitch
As I am working from home during this time because of COVID, I have decided to adapt my pitch by creating a Powerpoint presentation.
Bibliography
Jim Bilton, Specialist magazines: do they have a newstrade future? (2005) <https://www.inpublishing.co.uk/articles/specialist-magazines-do-they-have-a-newstrade-future-2210> [accessed 10 March 2021]
Allena Tapia, The Difference Between Consumer and Trade Magazines (2018) <tinyurl.com/ps7jcbbr> [accessed 10 March 2021].
Statista Research Department, Share of female popular music artists in the U.S. 2019 (2021) <https://www.statista.com/statistics/801059/share-of-females-popular-music/> [accessed 10 March 2021].
Bill Maher (kishore kumar), billie joe armstrong about religion on real time with bill maher (2018) <https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sarjud3rFP4&ab_channel=kishorekumar> [accessed 11 March 2021].
Spencer Kaufman, AC/DC’s Brian Johnson Takes Heat After Blasting Religion (2018) <https://ultimateclassicrock.com/ac-dc-brian-johnson-religous-controvers/> [accessed 11 March 2021].