4. How did you use new media technologies in the construction and research, planning and evaluation stages?

During my project, i used many pieces of new media technologies over many different pieces. Firstly, i created my radio advert for my newspaper. I did this by using a computer wired up to a number of microphones which went through an external mixer, then i would record the sound using audacity.

Once i had recorded the piece, i would save the recording as a .WAV file. Once all of my clips had been recorded, i imported all of the sound files into adobe premier pro. From here i could do a number of things. Firstly, i went through all of the clips to see which were the best. If i though there was 2 separate bits, i could cut and paste them into a different file to make it sound even better.

After this stage it was a matter of just adding final adjustments to it. I did this by adding a song in to make one of the sections more lively and upbeat. I did this by importing the MP3 into Premier Pro. After this i could perfect the timings of all my pieces and then do a final edit and finally export the finished piece.

After this, i started on my main piece. For this i decided to use Microsoft Publisher. The choice was simple as it is the simplest program to pick up on. Compared to a package like Adobe Photoshop, it is extremely easy to use.

 Firstly, i designed my layout of the newspaper. Using publisher, this is very easy as you can tell the package how wide you want each columns, How many columns you would needs, and make a text size and font the default. I could arrange all my text boxes however i wanted to as the program let me drag them anywhere i wanted to.

I can import pictures that i took off the Nikon D60 camera. This was another use of new media technologies as things like when the picture has been taken, the on board screen briedly shows you the photo that you have just taken. You can then choose weather to keep the picture or not.

3. What have you learnt from your audience feedback?

In the media, and everyday life in general, getting to know what the audience think is essential! So this is why people choose to ask the audience for their feedback, as it is them who will be using and paying for the end product. This way i could easily find out what needed changing in my media products, and find out what was actually good in my products. The main ways which i conducted were in surveys and by asking people in person.

This was one of the things that i found interesting during my research was that over half of the people interviewed don't or rarely read newspapers. This is quite sad state to be in. With the internet being as big as it is, and more and more people getting their news from their mobiles. This almost makes it feel almost useless producing a newspaper. Maybe a website, or even an app would be a better way to spread new news.

2. How effective is the combination of your main product and ancillary texts?

To keep my newspaper matching and looking professional, i had to keep all of the font, colour scheme and size the same.

When first combining my main product and the ancillary texts i knew that i needed the style of it to keep the same for it to create a good combination. This was done by using the colours in my logo (red, black and white). This created a more professional look as it looked like it was all from the same newspaper which was the effect i was going for. This was for my front cover and the first page of the newspaper. It was vital that they felt that they were from the same brand because if not there would of been no consistency in my piece.

For my other piece (My advert) i have carried on the trend, by having a black background, with white arrows and red text. Then finally i had the logo on the bottom of it to make sure that the reader knew where the advert was from. This added consistency gives a professional feel to the newspaper and gives more brand exposure than if i was to have different colours all the time. This will hopefully allow my readers to connect with the colour scheme.

Also with the advert, i think it describes the newspaper very well. As i am advertising a new paper, the newer generation want their news to be straight to the point, with no waffle. Even though this wasn't my initial idea for my advert, after playing about with a few ideas i thought that this looked the most professional and gave the reader a good idea about what we are all about.

Overall i found that to be successful with my products, i need consistency, powerful messages, good advertisements and a catchy slogan. I think i have achieved all of these within my products as all my products look related through the colour schemes and the use of my logo. The powerful messages being embedded within the stories. Good advertisement through my poster, and my main slogan 'Bringing Manchester Closer' makes the reader feel involved by reading the paper.

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

Evaluation

Firstly, i analyzed a number of different newspaper logos and looked at the conventions that they generally followed. The real media products had a big influence over my final logo. The one that i choose to base my logo on was the mail on Sunday's. A basic single lined logo which stretches across the full page of the front page.

Another common style of newspaper logo in the local area and throughout the country is the logo that appears to be in a box. Ones like this include The Sun, News of the World and The Metro.

All of the above logos follow the general conventions of a newspaper. With there being 1 or 2 colours throughout the logo and the same throughout the full newspaper. The logos also need big, bold and tell the reader exactly what they are reading. There is no point over complicating the logos as they wont be read as much as the full content inside

With the conventions in mind, i designed my logo in Microsoft publisher. I used red and black as the colour scheme as the red is eye catching and the black nicely contrasts the red. The conventions of my logo could be classed as going against the trend though as i have included the logo as a part of the logo. I felt this was beneficiary as it adds more of a local feel to the newspaper.

The paper above is a Wigan local paper. This follows the general conventions of a newspaper. It has the logo at the top, with adverts everywhere. There is the main article and some pictures to follow up.

For my paper, i decided against having the logo next to an advert and instead have the logo using the full top of the newspaper. I have done this as i think one large advert is more desirable than a few small ones. The little information bar below the heading is also a nice idea i think as it gives the reader a little insight to the newspaper by telling them when it is out. I have tried to keep the front cover just about the main story mainly and just given a little insight to the rest of the paper on the right.

I think my newspaper does follow most of the general conventions of a traditional newspaper, but mine has slightly challenged that by having the slogan embedded into the logo rather than down the page. I have also challenged general conventions as i have included what is featured inside the paper on the right, this is more commonly found in a magazine but is also a good addition to a newspaper.

Another way i have challenged conventions in my first page is that i have included a 'gig guide'. Again this is more suited to a magazine but with it being a local paper, it is showing the locals what is happening in the local area. But at the same time i am still following the general conventions by carrying on my colour scheme of red, white and black. I have used a large picture to draw in the reader, and a large advertisement to replicate that of a real newspaper.

(Other) Radio Advertisements

This is one of the radio adverts i could find. This again shows the sheer lack of interest in radio advertisements. This advert is american as i had lots of trouble finding an english radio advert. American adverts are alot more emphasised.

(Lack of) Radio Advertisements

I have been trying to research radio advertisements in the last few weeks to give me a few ideas for my own project. In this time i have descovered that a newspaper radio advert is very uncommon. Even the tv ads aren't in their bucket fulls either. But there are plently more tv ads than radio ads. I have no idea why this is. Not even local papers seem to advertise on the radio, weather it be through a lack of funding or weather it being just unneeded.

(Poster) Advertisement ideas

For this i have 2 initial ideas. My first idea is to use the slogan "bringing manchester closer", and use an actual picture of manchester and somehow have them all pulling together (coming closer).
My second idea is to just have a simple image of the front cover of my paper, preferably on a tilt, and just simply have the words, "out now" underneath to try and tempt potential customers into buying it.