Media Evaluation

1) What was the task you were given and who was your target audience?
The task we were given was to create a Daily Mail front page based around the sudden marriage call-off between Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, based on an affair Markle had.
2) What research did you undertake and what did you find were some of the typical conventions of a Daily Mail front cover - layout, types of stories, fonts
Research was needed to find the specific spacings and fonts for the Daily Mail frontpage, or atleast a close enough counterpart. Similarly, searching was required to find where to put adverts, what colours should e used and also whether or not to use a picture for the main article.

3) Which Daily Mail cover did you use as your main source? Insert. What are your observations from this source?

Observations are that the newspaper relies on catchy and dominating titles on their front page to catch the eye. Similarly, the contrast in colour from blue to red, black and light purple are quite bold which bring in readers. Similarly, it can also be discerned that the newspaper has a Labour political bias.

4) Which areas did you find most challenging?
The most challenging areas had to have been the conventions of the front cover. The font selection and specific spacings were very difficult to attain, and as such it looks kind of off. For a first draft, however, I feel it is good enough.

5) What was you initial feedback? What did others say about your production? How successful was do you think it is?
Ive gotten feedback on my choice of side articles and text used for the headline etc, with most liking the final product. Personally, I like most of it but I feel that it could be better making it more sharper and professional looking, than a cheap photoshop look.
6) Identify what went well and with hindsight what you do to improve/do differently.
In hindsight, I believe that I could improve by

7) In the exam you will be analysing newspaper front covers. In producing this cover, are there any areas that you hadn't noticed before? What have you learnt from completing this task?

I've learnt that the use of font and pictures is highly important in creating a quality front page. The sizes, spacing, choice of font typically made for the newspaper itself, and using pictures which won't lose quality if resized are imperative for a successful job.

Industry key words

INDUSTRY VOCAB HOMEWORK – DEFINITION AND EXAMPLE, WHAT INDUSTRY MAY IT APPLY TO? UPLOAD TO BLOGS LABEL INDUSTRY, AUDIENCE, VOCABULARY

·         BARB

      The Broadcasters' Audience Research Board (BARB) is the organization that compiles audience measurement and television ratings in the United Kingdom. ... Participating viewers have a box on top of their TV sets which tracks the programmes they watch.

·         WEBCASTING LICENSE

      Webcasting usually consists of providing non-interactive linear streams or events. Rights and licensing bodies offer specific "webcasting licenses" to those wishing to carry out Internet broadcasting using copyrighted material.

·         TECHNOLOGICAL CONVERGENCE

      Technological convergence is the tendency that as technology changes, different technological system sometimes evolve toward performing similar tasks.

·         WEB 3.O OR SEMANTIC WEB

      a proposed development of the World Wide Web in which data in web pages is structured and tagged in such a way that it can be read directly by computers.

·         INTERNET OF THINGS

      the interconnection via the Internet of computing devices embedded in everyday objects, enabling them to send and receive data.

·         BINGE-VIEWING

       watch multiple episodes of (a television programme) in rapid succession, typically by means of DVDs or digital streaming.

·         DAB

      Digital audio broadcasting (DAB), also known as digital radio and high-definition radio, is audio broadcasting in which analog audio is converted into a digital signal and transmitted on an assigned channel in the AM or (more usually) FM frequency range.
      TRADITIONAL MEDIA

      Traditional media refers to conventional means of mass communication practiced by various communities and cultures, or embodied in local custom or lore.

·         GOOGLE ANALYTICS
      Google Analytics is a freemium web analytics service offered by Google that tracks and reports website traffic.

·         RAJAR
      RAJAR stands for Radio Joint Audience Research and is the official body in charge of measuring radio audiences in the UK.

·         NRS
      The NRS social grades are a system of demographic classification used in the United Kingdom. They were originally developed by the National Readership Survey (NRS) to classify readers, but are now used by many other organisations for wider applications and have become a standard for market research.

·         MIDAS
      Service offered by RAJAR.

·         CULTURAL IMPERIALISM
      The theory states that Western nations dominate the media around the would which in return has a powerful effect on third world cultures by imposing them western views and therefore destroying their native cultures.

·         DEMOCRATISATION OF THE MASS MEDIA
      Mass media today are regarded as one of the key democratic institutions which are vital in improving the quality of the electoral system, political parties, parliament, judiciary, and other branches of the state, even civil society, and safeguarding their democratic performance.

·         EFFECTS OF PIRACY

·         HORIZONTAL INTEGRATION
      Horizontal integration is the process of a company increasing production of goods or services at the same part of the supply chain.

·         VERTICAL INTEGRATION
       the combination in one firm of two or more stages of production normally operated by separate firms.

·         DIVERSIFICATION
       the process of a company enlarging or varying its range of products or field of operation.

·         ALTERNATIVE MEDIA AND INDEPENDENT MEDIA
       Independent media refers to any form of media, such as radio, television, newspapers or the Internet, that is free of influence by government or corporate interests.

·         CONGLOMERATE
      a thing consisting of a number of different and distinct parts or items that are grouped together relating to a large corporation.

·         GRA

·         PEGI
      Pan European Game Information (PEGI) is a European video game content rating system established to help European consumers make informed decisions when buying video games or apps through the use of age recommendations and content descriptors.

·         MEDIAWATCH UK
      Mediawatch-UK (formerly NVLA) is a UK pressure group established by Mary Whitehouse to campaign against the publication or broadcast of material its members find offensive.

·         IPSO
      The Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO) is the independent regulator for the newspaper and magazine industry in the UK. They hold newspapers and magazines to account for their actions, protect individual rights, uphold high standards of journalism and help to maintain freedom of expression for the press.

·         WATERSHED
       an event or period marking a turning point in a situation.

·         OFCOM
      Ofcom is the communications regulator in the UK. They regulate the TV, radio and video-on-demand sectors, fixed-line telecoms (phones), mobiles and postal services, plus the airwaves over which wireless devices operate.

·         MEDIAWATCH

·         BBC CHARTER
       The BBC Charter established the BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation). An accompanying Agreement recognises its editorial independence and sets out its public obligations in detail. Each Charter has run for ten years.

·         SYNERGY
       the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.

·         PSB

·         BROADCAST CODE
      Ofcom's Broadcasting Code governs what can be aired on TV and radio. It's the rule book for TV channels and radio stations and sets standards for programmes which broadcasters have to follow.

·         IWF

 

Front Page Analysis

1.Who is being represented in this image?

Young, lower class British people are being represented in this image. And while it is not directly presented, it is assumed the representation also includes black people.

2.Are you being given the stereotypical or countertypical image of the person/group? Describe the representation.

The presentation is of the stereotype. This is shown through the clothing, the stance and the smaller details. The clothing is a relatively cheap tracksuit, which is associated with lower class British people, typically in London, informally referred to as 'chavs'. The stance is rather threatening and close together, which makes him seem violent and unapproachable. Finally, the smaller details such as a hidden face and the fact the person is crossing in front of a burning car suggests he creates chaos wherever he goes and either doesn't want to be recognised, or is a metaphor for the amount of faceless people creating 'anarchy'.

3.HOW is this representation being constructed by the media language? – consider camera angles, choice of images, colours, size, mise en scene, etc.

The camera angle shows the whole scene, with careful choices to include the wreckage and flames, and the whole look of the person who 'caused' it. This image creates a sense of fear, that any regular person can cause mayhem, and it also sends messages of the sheer destruction in London at the time. The grey and orange tones of colour, it highlights the flames and evokes even more images of destruction.

4.How is the representation being constructed by the text? – consider word choices, size of text, tone, etc.

The words used are chosen to emphasise the rioting across London. The use of "spread, hit" symbolises the quickly moving violence in the area. On top of this, the "215 arrests, PM jets back", suggest everything is happening quickly and desperately needs the government to intervene. Finally, the use of "mindless violence" in large red text, with the large, dominant title of "anarchy" portray the idea that everything is horrible and going mad, (whereas it wasn't in reality).

5.Does this representation fit with the institutional codes and conventions? Explain your answer. – think about institution, audience, tabloid/broadsheet, etc.

The Sun is a red-top tabloid. This means that it relies on eye-catching front pages, done through colour, word choice, font etc. to attract buyers. This representation fits this ideology as the bright flame with "ANARCHY" dominating the page attracts attention to what the paper is covering. Similarly, the word choice used such as "hit, jets, riots spread" makes the scene sound worse than it is, continuing the trend that tabloids rely on gossip and fear-mongering.

Jungle Book YouTube links

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/films/2016/04/18/the-jungle-book-the-making-of-disneys-most-troubled-film/

Distribution, Marketing and Production Essays

Distribution essay media from Kyle Cousins

Marketing essay media from Kyle Cousins

Production essay media from Kyle Cousins

Fact Sheet

Class essay on Disney Marketing / Circulation

Student essay on jungle book from Kyle Cousins

Theorists

 

 

Stuart Hall

 How media can affect the minds. I.e. if a particular image is frequently associated with a particular feel or scenario, then that can affect our outlook on such things.

 

Barthes

 Semiotics. Symbolism. How we view a particular item, scene or look. I.e. how a piece of clothing  linked to terrorism can cause fear. Or how someone wearing an authorities uniform can seem more trustworthy.

 

George Gerbner

 Television. Cultivation theory. How people, if enough time is spent in the 'television' (or media) world, they will begin to believe the messages being portrayed. "Grown" to believe.

 

Hypodermic

 The theory that the media 'injects' views directly into the passive audience. I.e. with Nazi propaganda, it was wholly believed by the people, and acted uniformly regardless of stimuli.

 

Albert Bandura

 The theory that media can affect behaviour and thoughts through imitation. As a child would, different stimuli within the media can affect people and cause them to act in a particular way.

 

Steve Neale

 Genre. How a film must follow a specific set of 'rules', by following stereotypes and conventions, to be able to be defined as one of that genre.

 

 

Curran and Seaton

Industries. How the media is owned by a 'specific group', and how that can affect what it portrays. I.e. Rupert Murdoch owning a lot of News outlets, can decide what gets reported and not.

Mise-en-Scene

• Mise-En-Scene is a French term meaning what is put into a scene or frame
• It is made up of visual information in front of the camera
• It communicates essential information to the audience about setting (time & place) and characters
• It is made up of 5 elements. Costume, Lighting, Actors (gender / age), Make-up, Props and Setting. (Settings & Props - costume, hair & make up, facial expressions & body language, lighting & colour, positioning of characters / objects within the frame)

 

Settings & Props

 

Settings & Locations play an important part in film-making and are not just 'backgrounds'. Sets are either built from scratch or a great deal of time is spent to find a setting which already exists. Settings can manipulate an audience by building certain expectations and then taking a different turn.

 

Settings and props in:

 

A science fiction film:

 

• Sleek, modern designs
• Futuristic inventions
• Space / Aliens / Other planets and galaxies
• Hovercraft
• Lasers
• Holograms

 

A romantic comedy:

• Highschool / university / college
• Chocolates
• Roses
• Animals

 

A horror film:

• Fog
• Forest / Abandoned building / night-time
• Knife
• Mask
• Blood
• Body parts

Semiotics - Barthes

 

First off, the characters are clearly not human. The light blue dots lining up the features of the darker blue skinned creatures makes them look primal yet also in tune with their bodies. Similarly, the wide eyes with stark green contrasting from their blue complexion captures the attention, and presents them as 'spiritual', as the eyes are the gateway to the soul.

The two characters in the scene are also at equal height, similar facial expression yet easily differentiated. This shows a sense of unity and non-prejudice between the creatures, yet the emotions portray thoughts that the film will have a serious tone. This could be because everything in the scene is blue tinted and appears natural, (with the world and animals), while the scene is also centred on and is being invaded by unnatural grey military helicopters, which suggests a possible conflict for the land the creatures live on.

Finally, the two planets being split in half but still near each other suggests that the helicopters could be of a different planet to the creatures, possibly Earth and humanity.

Media representation of me

This is a representation of my most used media.