Final Submission

I have not changed anything from my third quarter submission, as I felt satisfied and confident in my product. I am very content with the final version of my magazine. 

Creative Critical Reflection

Candidate 6208 Creative Critical Reflection

Creative Critical Reflection Draft 4

4. How did you integrate technologies - software, hardware, and online - in this project?

In this project, I integrated many different types of technologies to create my product. The cover and pages of my magazine were made on Microsoft Publisher. I created my own template for the layout of my cover, table of contents, and article pages. To take the pictures for my magazine, I used two different cameras. The first camera I used was the iPhone 7, with the camera settings set at the highest resolution. I used this camera to take all of the photos that were taken outside of the pool. The other camera I used was a GoPro Hero 4. With the GoPro, I also used the GoDome Over/Under housing, which allowed me to get clear underwater shots without worrying about trapped air bubbles or water droplets. To edit my pictures, I used the Apple Photos app and the GoPro app.

Microsoft Publisher

iPhone 7

GoPro Hero 4

GoDome

Editing Apps

Creative Critical Reflection Draft 3

3. How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

My production skills have developed in so many ways throughout this project. Before starting this project, I had no idea what went into producing a magazine. I had never interviewed anyone before, I had no idea what a  flat plan was, and I did not know anything about distribution or marketing. My photography and editing skills have also improved significantly during this project. While I had been interested in photography prior to creating my magazine, I never had to think about the types of shots I was using or how the photograph should be framed. This project has taught me a lot about how to take and edit pictures in a way that captivates and pleases the audience. The process of creating a real media product, keeping track of my research/planning with a blog, and receiving feedback from my class has all significantly improved my production skills. Working on this project has made me realize how much work it is to create a magazine, and how long the entire process takes.

Creative Critical Reflection Draft 2

2. How does your product engage with audiences and how would it be distributed as a real media text?

My product engages with its audience in many ways. One way my magazine engages with its audience is by using social media. For example, the Instagram page I created can be used to connect with the younger audience. I can also use social media to spread behind-the-scenes information, Instagram also allows for the readers to like posts and make comments, which might help to bring in feedback to improve the magazine as a whole. Another way my magazine engages with its audience is by sponsoring events. These events could be masters swim meets, age group swim meets, parties, banquets, etc. By sponsoring events, my magazine can support swimmers and advertise at the same time. Hopefully, the events will allow for more readers to want to support my magazine.
My product would also be distributed as a real media text in many ways. One way I can distribute my magazine is digitally, through a number of different platforms. Using different platforms allows for more people to access the magazine. I plan on making my magazine available on Apple iBooks, Google Play, Amazon Kindle, Nook, and other popular online bookstores in America. I also plan on publishing some articles to my website, which will help to distribute my product to those who cannot afford a full subscription. I can also distribute my magazine by using print distribution. One way I can do this is having everyone with a subscription receive each issue by mail. I also would like to partner with a publishing/distributing company that will help to get my magazine stocked on shelves at grocery stores and convenience stores, such as Publix and CVS.

Creative Critical Reflection Draft 1

1. How does your product use or challenge conventions and how does it represent social groups?

My product uses many of the conventions in the sports magazine genre. One convention I used was the font of my magazine. Sports magazines typically use big, bold fonts. My magazine used fonts that are big and bold, especially on the cover and table of contents. Using these fonts are beneficial to my magazine because it makes the words easy to read and it allows it to fit in with the other sports magazines. Another convention my magazine used was the type of pictures. The pictures used in sports magazines are typically either action shots or pictures of an athlete posing with some type of sports gear. Both of these types of shots are utilized in my magazine. Another convention that was used in my magazine is branding. Typically, magazines of any genre will put their website or a social media account at the top or bottom of each page in the magazine. My magazine has my website at the top of each page.
My project represents the social group of swimmers. From personal experience, I am aware that many swimmers, including me, feel under-represented when it comes to anything sports-related. Swimming often gets little recognition, and many people do not understand it. I think my magazine would be most significant to someone who truly understands this sport.

Third Quarter Submission

Distribution Plan

Through my research of magazines with similar target audiences, I have a few ideas for the distribution of my magazine. The first idea I can use for my distribution plan is to make my magazine available digitally on multiple different platforms. I plan on using Apple iBooks, Google Play, Amazon Kindle, Nook, and other popular online bookstores in America. This will allow my magazine to be accessible to both iPhone and Android users, plus those who prefer to read on an eReader or a tablet. This will help my magazine to sell more subscriptions because it will be accessible to everyone. Another distribution technique I plan on using is publishing some articles to my website. This will allow the people who aren’t sure if they want to buy a subscription to see what the articles are like, and hopefully convince them that a subscription would be worth it. This would also be beneficial for people who can’t afford a full subscription, because it allows them to read some of the articles and share them, influencing more people to want to subscribe to get the full magazine.
I will also distribute my magazine through print. I will have my magazines delivered by mail to each household with a subscription. I would also partner with a bigger distribution company who would help get my magazine stocked on shelves at grocery and convenience stores, like Publix or CVS.

Distribution Research - World Soccer

World Soccer is a monthly magazine with a target audience of athletes, specifically soccer players, of all ages. This magazine uses both digital and print distribution. For print distribution, they offer three different types of subscriptions: rolling, 1-year, and 2-year. They are also sold in stores. For the digital distribution, you can buy a subscription for iPhone + iPad. You can also download each digital edition on Apple App Store, Google Play, Amazon Kindle, Nook, Kobo, Lekiosk, Magazines Direct, and Zinio. By having all of these options, it allows more people to read this magazine. Because this magazine distributes all over the world, it is important to have many reading options so it is accessible to as many people as possible. I can use the distribution method of having multiple download options so that i can maximize the amount of readers and subscribers of my magazine.

Distribution Research - SPLASH

SPLASH magazine is a quarterly magazine with a target audience of American swimmers of all ages. They use both digital and print distribution. For print distribution, all members of USA Swimming recieve a subscription by mail for free. Non-members can also purchase a year subscription through the USA Swimming website. For digital distribution, instead of just having the full issues available to download, they publish some individual articles on their website. They also post some features to social media, including USA Swimming’s own social media accounts and the accounts of well-known professional athletes. This is a good idea because it can help with advertisement as well as distributing the magazine. I can use the distribution method of posting articles on my website, because it will help to give possible readers a glimpse of what they could be getting if they were to purchase a subscription. 

Distribution Research - Traditional Distribution Model

In magazines today, distribution can be done in many ways. The modern times have changed the way magazines can be read. A typical magazine uses both print and digital distribution. Print distribution can be through a mail subscription or by buying individual issues in convenience stores. Digital distribution can be cell phone downloads, eBooks, or articles on the magazines own website. From apps to twitter accounts, digital distribution of magazines is easily accessible virtually everywhere. As technology is evolving, magazine publishers have to find the most efficient ways to get their magazines into the hands of the readers. These are just a few examples of today’s typical distribution of a magazine.

Marketing Plan

Through my marketing research, I have found many ways to market my magazine. The first form of marketing I will do is using social media. The social media platform I will use is Instagram. I think this will engage my target audience because swimming is most popular for ages 7-17, and I think Instagram is the most popular social media for this age range and older. The second form of marketing I will use is sponsoring an event. I plan on sponsoring a masters swim meet. This will engage my audience because it will let the swimmers aged 18+, plus all the timers and officials, hear about my magazine and they will want to support it because we supported them. The third form of marketing I will do is a partnership with USA Swimming's Kick Set podcast to talk about my magazine. This will allow all the swimmers who listen to this podcast to hear about the magazine and hopefully want to read it.

Target Audience Research - Sports Illustrated

A magazine with a similar target audience to mine is Sports Illustrated. Our magazines have the same targeted age, geography, income, and education level. While this magazine is mostly advertised towards men, there are many females who read this magazine, and there is a Sports Illustrated Women magazine that is advertised more towards females. This magazine markets their product through social media(including their YouTube channel, pictured below), their website, their app, their podcast, and even their sports league management software platform. This magazine uses mostly the emotional appeal by featuring famous athletes and sports teams.This magazine uses print, TV, radio, and digital media. An aspects I can use to market my product is making a YouTube channel or a podcast where I can post full interviews or other exclusive content.