Evaluation

For my coursework i was given the task to create two pages of a new local newspaper, two linked pages of a website and a poster. I created these tasks using the software, Photo shop, dream weaver and in design. This would have been the first time that i have used this software especially as i was working on the Apple Mac computers, which i have also never used before. I preferred to work on the Mac computers as the pixellation and the quality of my work was higher than if i used a Dell computers with a slower and older software.

Once i had the idea of my newspaper and the name, The Southend Scoop, then i was able to begin the most creative piece of my work. I decided to create my own logo for my newspaper as i felt that the use of logos within companies help create a recognizable feature within the public. Originally I chose the name, The Daily Scoop, for my newspaper but felt that the name seemed to be irrelevant to the idea of a local newspaper, also the idea that it would have to be a daily publications would have been to much. So decided to use The Southend Scoop as not only was the clue in the name that it was local it also left a gap within the publications date of publishing. The logo was designed after i had researched pictures of ice cream on google and then elaborated the ideas using photo shop.

The newspaper proved to be my most difficult task as it lacked the simplicity that photo shop and dream weaver possessed. After purchasing the local newspaper, The Evening Echo i was able to look at the style and features of a local newspaper. This helped me create my own independent style to my newspaper. I created my own advertisement for my newspaper, i decided to create an advert as i chose to make my newspaper free and would need the use of advertisement to fund my publication. I made sure that my newspaper was not cluttered with information and stuck to main blocks of informative articles.

The idea surrounding my poster came to light after researching different posters for companies in relation to my project. During my research i noticed the advertisement of campaigns such as the Orange network and the television production of Big Brother. The Big Brother campaign features a plain background with an eye. The campaign confused the public as it was unclear what the poster was intended for, i wanted to do the same kind of idea, to enable the public to recognize my logo without the name of my publishing to be included. I decided to include the title of my newspaper and a slogan as well as the logo which was centred onto the page. The slogan reads 'The Southend Scoop You Just Can't Lick It' the verb 'lick' has a double meaning. The idea of the ice cream links to the work lick but also lick could also mean beat. I felt that the double meaning worked well within the seaside town.

To create the website we were advised to use photo shop to create the art work and then upload that onto the dream weaver software. This was quite complex and also enjoyable. I chose to stick to the same ideas of that on my newspaper just with a different article featured. Using photo shop i created a design of a four leaf clover to coincide with the article featured on St Patrick's Day. I was unable to provide a print screen for my website like i have for my poster and newspaper that is featured on my blog, so decided to place the URL code instead.

In conclusion i feel that this coursework was thoroughly enjoyable. Even though i had too achieve all three tasks within less time than the others in my class, i found that as i was so involved in creating and finishing my work by attending extra lessons that i was ahead of those that had been working on this brief from the beginning of term. The use of software made me more comfortable with programs such as Photo shop, Dream weaver and In design. The more that I worked on my tasks the more confidence i grew with the idea knowing that i was able to complete this on my own.

Final Draft Of Poster

Final Draft Of Website

My website can be seen by following this link as shown below.

http://mcastudents.seecoll.ac.uk/A2media/melissaInman/index.html


I have completed the ancillary task by completing two web pages that are linked to one another. I used dreamweaver and photoshop to create the webpage. I decided to use the same story that i had chosen for my newspaper aswell as my first page. I changed the article to give more of an insight for those who may have not read the whole story. I included my advertisement to interlink with the idea that this company were funding my newspaper.

The second page interlinks with the second page of my newspaper also. In the article I ask the readers to send in their photos to the website mentioned. I chose to put my own pictures up of the day in question and share the idea that the website is for younger readers and that the newspaper is for older readers.

For both pages I used marker felt for all headlines in order to keep up with the style of the newspaper as almost a continuity.

Final Draft Of My Newspaper

This is my first page for my newspaper. The colour choice was chosen to attract the readers attention and to give the impression of a relaxed publication, thats friendly and is only published for the benefit of the locals. As you can see, i included the advertisement that i have made as to enable the company that have funded the newspaper to be presented at the front of the newspaper. The second picture that i have not yet mentioned on my blog of the two girls, were also part of my own photography. I chose to do a piece on school proms and to allow access to the public of all of the goings on within the event.

This is my second page, i used the newspaper, The Evening Echo as a template. I decided that i didn't want to include a weather forecast for my first inside page as i felt that it was not needed so i created another article about how the pubs and clubs of southend had the greatest income since the recession due to the much celebrated St Patricks Day. I created the four leaf clover using photo shop and used it to add to the article. I also added a brief article about the new SE building that has caused a lot of controversy with a continued article on another page, acting as almost a taster. I also added to my main article on the second page, for anyone who celebrated St Patricks Day to send their pictures to the address given for the newspaper, with this i intended to create my second page which features pictures taken from my camera of that particular event.

Visual Analysis

The tone of my coursework is very lively and busy, this is to show that my newspaper should not be taken to seriously. It includes all of the details of local news but with a relaxed style to suit to the idea that there is no clear target audience.

The colours used helps create the tone as using colours such as purple possess a welcoming tone. The bright colours are used to draw the attention of the local reader.

The images used include real people and my own photography and use of photoshop. The use of a logo promotes visualisation to the reader, it is used so that when that logo appears the reader will instantly recognize what company that it belongs to.

The size and scale of my font varies as to determine which headline is of more importance. The font size of my article is a consistant size 11-12. The headlines thoughout all of my tasks have been produced in marker felt in the largest font that i could enable as this grabs the attention of the headline.

Questionnaire And Results

This was the questionnaire that i created and sent out to ten people of various ages, here are the resluts.

1, If you were offered a free newspaper weekly, would you read it? e.g. such as the newspapers posted through the letter box.

Yes: 1 No: 1 Depends on Publication: 8

2, To receive a newspaper what would you prefer?

Post: 3 Hand Given: 1 Ability to pick up your own from a stand: 6

3, Would you be put off of a product for using bright colours?

Yes: 0 No: 9 Perhaps: 1

4, What would you expect from a local newspaper?

Detailed articles of news in the area: 9 Not much detail: 1

5, Would you enjoy being able to take part within other forms of a newspaper? such as sending pictures to the web address.

Yes: 6 No: 0 Maybe: 4

6, If a logo was to be associated within a publication would you feel that it would be a good idea so that you are aware that they both interlink?

Yes, it would help: 5 No, it would make no difference: 1 Don't know: 4



With the six questions asked I made sure that I chose different ages and genders each time. I asked ten people all ranging from ages 17 to 62. I chose this large age gap to enable whether or not I should set a target audience and with these results I have come to the conclusion that I do not need to provide limitations as it is a local newspaper intended for everyone. Doing this activity helped me to determine whether or not I should include a logo or not. With the results proving that submitting a logo will help visually, I proceeded into the creation of my logo. I used bright colours as it was proved that it would not put the reader off of the publications. I worried about the use of colour as I tried to make my publication suitable for all, and thought that if i were to make the front cover to be quite dull and boring then I would not be aiming towards the enitre public.

Images used

The images that I have used have been taken from my own camera to make sure that this is all my work. The images created in photoshop have also been created solely by myself images such as the logo and four leaf clover. To this took a lot of time and effort but really built my skills for usage of the program within the future.

Diary

September 09
we were introduced to out new teacher at the beginning of term, when we were given the brief we only had the option of two briefs instead of a chance to choose any one we wanted. I really liked the idea of creating a teaser trailer but this was one of the briefs that we were not able to use.

October 09
Myself and a classmate looked into the concept of creating the brief that we were drawn to, we emailed our teacher and asked advise of the head of a level media. We were given the go ahead and began to plan our filming and ideas.

November 09
As we began to plan we were constantly told that with this brief that we would fail by our lecturer this disheartened us and we began to doubt our own capability. We were not given much help which we knew would happen as we were told that this brief was not something that our teacher knew of.

December 09
I decide that after constant put downs of our upcoming 'failure' that it would be easier for my self and classmate to change our brief to that of which we will be able to be helped. We decided to work together, which once we had emailed our teacher was confirmed to be okay. Working together would lessen the work load as all of our class were still on the first task when we had begun.

January 10
After creating a logo for our newspaper while my classmate was absent, we were told that we have to work alone for a better grade even though we had already begun work on this task. As i had near enough all of the work with the newspaper it was agreed that I would keep the original newspaper and that my classmate would start anew.

February 10
Extra sessions were added for students who needed help with there coursework, this proved a problem for me as now all of my work was on an apple mac computer whereas all of my class were working on ordinary computers with an older system meaning that every lesson that i had to find a mac on a different floor in order to do my work, which always ended up with me having to come to the after college session as i was unsure of what to do next and that was the only way i could access help.

March 10
I proceeded to attend the extra sessions but found that i spent most of my free time in the library creating my work due to the fact that i had achieved nothing in class. It intrigued me that i had basically started my coursework in January and now was near enough complete when my class have been working on the same task from the start and are still working on there main task.

April 10
I completed my poster and my website within a day or two, i found dream weaver quite easy to manage unlike the use of in design which i found rather complicated. Everything is complete as of the 27/04/10 which feels like a huge weight has been lifted from off of my shoulders. I am happy with the work that i have completed and can now focus on my blog.

Poster

For my poster I decided to follow in the footsteps of the advertisement team behind the production of the television programme Big Brother, they organised a range of advertisements both within publication and moving image. The idea was that using a logo for the eye was to confuse but to entice the audience. I chose to use the logo which was designed by myself and to have that centered within the posters A4 page. Using Photo Shop I will create a baby pink background with the logo itself alone, I have played around with ideas to feature the newspaper name but with my final decision I decided have decided to add a slogan as well as the publications name featuring across the bottom of the poster. The poster now reads 'The Southend Scoop, You Can't Lick It' Lick is being used as an old slang word for beat which also plays into the part of the ice cream.
Here is my first attempt at creating my poster before i decided fully on the detail.

This poster did not capture the essence that i had hoped for my newspaper so i kept the same idea for using the logo and placing it centred but decided to change the background colour and choice of text.

Website

To create the website I used the program Dream weaver, I was unfamiliar with this program but soon enough got the hang of it.
I created my border and main content in Adobe Photoshop, this found easier than that of using Dream weaver and only that program. I decided to follow the idea of my two main articles for my first two pages of the website. I change the article completely from that of the articles features within my newspaper.
I used different pictures also, all from my own camera. I chose to follow the idea of the readers sending in there pictures from there time celebrating St Patrick's Day and composed a short introduction which was followed by pictures of people enjoying themselves. I have asked permission of all those present in the pictures.
For this page i designed my own four leaf clover using Photoshop.

The front page once again included that of my advertisement, as I am using this advertisement as my sole funding for the magazine and must add the advert as much as possible.

Newspaper Final Draft

Using the program in-design, we were told to create the first two front pages of a newspaper, i was not familiar with the program but soon enough I began to get the hang of the system. My main article features a fictional story about a student at SEC college who wrote a script that was then passed on to one of England's best directors, I asked the boy who's picture I had taken for permission of usage. The idea of creating such a storyline was to encourage students that anything can happen if you try our hardest. I then placed my advertisement and the bottom of newspaper as I had often seen in frequent issues of the Echo. The bright colours throughout appeal to the younger generation but the price appeals to all. As it is a free newspaper, I felt that other newspapers such as the Metro which are free also that I would need to step up to my competition and make the cover appealing to all.

The second page I used newspapers such as The Sun and The Echo to help determine what was needed for my own paper. I created a contents page that features at the bottom of the page with contact numbers featuring also. The main story steers away from the usual first pages which often involve weather updates of political issues. I chose to present a feature article on the rise of income on the day of St Patrick's Day, I chose this day to explain that the amount of people that celebrated the religious day were linked to a sales boom of income with the pubs and bars within Southend. I also included an extra piece detailing that if the reader has any pictures of themselves celebrating that they should send the pictures to the address of the website.

I appealed to the areas that people are fond of such as there is a small box on the front page explaining that there are vouchers for restaurants, clubs ect. this appeals to the audience because of the recession that has caught Britain, and people would go anywhere to have a bargain.

Ideas For Newspaper

For my articles I brainstormed ideas that would relate to the locals news, I achieved this by getting ideas from the online site of the Echo which collaborates all of the news throughout Essex, I also researched headline ideas by buying the newspaper of the same name.
Some of the articles that I noted were some of that i knew a wide knowledge of such as the hunt for the Laindon cat killer. I decided to use that idea within a small box at the top of my front page. My main story idea was to choose a student and to create a story about the stardom that they have achieved just like that of the x factor finalist Olly Murrs who was originally from Essex before he became famous. I composed a list of ideas from cat killers to serious incidents that happened on the roads of Essex. I also tried to think of humerous story lines to make my newspaper more appealing to the younger side of my target audience.