RESIT - AUD and INST SLIDES

Reading and annotating an article [Screencast]

After today's revelation, that some of you are not actively reading and annotating articles as part of your preparation for the Audiences and Institutions section of the exam, I decided to create a screencast to show you how I expect you to read and annotate an article. It's a bit rough and ready but it does the job!

Link to the original article: http://www.economist.com/node/21556635

Where to look for articles about the Magazine Industry...

To help you get to grips with reading around the topic of the magazine industry, I thought it would be helpful to share a few websites that you can trust (to an extent).

MediaMagazine - Remember to ask me for the username and password.

Guardian Newspaper (Media Section)

Independent Newspaper (Media Section)

The Association of Magazine Media

The Economist

Wired

TechCrunch

Please remember that even sites like these are open to bias and should be handled critically.

Keep up with your case studies!

You must remember that the Audiences and Institutions unit is a case study and as such is an active, evolving topic. With that in mind, you need to keep up with events.

Playstation Magazine which I gave out as a case study has since shut down. This follows the closure of Nintendo Power, a long running Nintendo-related magazine. Both magazines were published by Future US, Inc.

A quick glance at Future's website suggests that they are concentrating their energies in the digital market, significantly updating GamesRadar, as well as launching a new weekly interactive digital tech magazine.

While I was looking through related articles I also came across this article about the fact that Newsweek is going 100% digital.

You have got to keep researching and reading. This topic is alive, kicking and is never not interesting. There is always something to learn!

AS: A&I Essay Planning

One of your peers emailed me unsure of how to get started with the Audiences and Institutions essay. If this particular student has questions, then I am sure that the rest of you do. So here is a copy of my reply:

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Have you used the mind map to plan the structure of your essay? My first question if I was doing this essay is which parts of the mind map are going to go into my essay.

So, read the question. What are the possible answers?

Well, some magazines have fully embraced the use of 'converged media'. Some have had to in order to keep up with audience needs and changing tech. Some have not.

Therefore, my arguments are:

• Argument 1: Yes, media convergence is important. 
• Argument 2: In fact it is now integral to success for some parts of the magazine industry. 
• Argument 3: But there are some magazines that do not yet need to adapt 

Now I have a plan I need to use my mind map to flesh this out.

Arg 1: Convergence

• Pg 1. What is it? Why is it important? What case study can I use to illustrate that? 
• Pg 2. Can I build on that? Is there another case study? Another quotation? 

Arg 2. Some mags have no choice? 

• Pg. 3: Audience expectations - location, time, multi-media content... quotation? case study? 
• Pg. 4: Keeping up with the competition. Quotation? Case study? 

Arg 3: Not important. 

• Pg. 5: People's Friend - importance of knowing your TA 

Now, surrounding this I need an intro and a conclusion. 

Intro: In a few sentences set out the arguments. Don't mention any specific case studies. Keep it general.

Conclusion: What is your opinion? What does the future for the industry hold in relation to technological convergence? Hypothesise.

I hope this helps?

Audiences & Institutions: The Magazine Industry [Mind Map]

Here is a PDF of the mind map (as far as w got in the lesson). Your HOMEWORK is to complete the mind map adding more info to the various sections; in particular: Challenges, NMT and Synergy. 

I have added a few extra bits of info already so do look at the document carefully. I really want to see you add features from your case studies and also quotations from your wider reading on the topic. 

You need to be prepared to share and feedback what you have added in our first lesson after half term.

Magazine Industry Research

While we work through presentations, I want you to develop your understanding of the key issues through 'secondary' research.

Investigate and make notes on...

Magazine Industry

• How is it changing/evolving?
• What does the future hold?

Audience and Institutions

• How do audiences benefit from changes in the magazine industry?
• What challenges are magazines (and publishers) facing?

New Media Technologies

• How are NMTs impacting on the Magazine Industry?

Further to this, you need to find and analyse an article that comments on the current or potential future state of the Magazine Industry.

Investigate and analyse the article:

• Source?
• Who write it?
• What is the line of argument?
• Key quote? - This needs to be carefully critiqued.
• How does it link to the wider concepts in the unit and your case study?

Next, in groups of 4/5, share your articles making notes. This will give you a range of opinion on the topic.

AS/A2 Snow Day Work!

School is closed on Monday 21st January.

Please work on the following tasks...

Year 12

1. Continue working on your research/prep for your Magazine Industry presentations.

2. Take the opportunity to update your coursework blog.

Year 13

1. Read this article about the Coen Brothers: Coughlin, P., 2003, Joel and Ethan Coen, Senses of Cinema, Issue 26: http://www.sensesofcinema.com/2003/great-directors/coens/

2. Take the opportunity to update your coursework blog.

AS: Audiences and Institutions Practice Assignment 2

Here is your next essay title; due in Monday, 16 April.

"Discuss the ways in which media products are produced and distributed to audiences, within a media area, which you have studied."

Please make sure you read through my comments on your previous essay before attempting this one.

Have a great Easter,
Mr. M.

Investigating reading habits...

Follow the link and add your questions to be included in a survey of people's magazine reading habits.

Consider, what would we want to know and why?

Link: http://www.wallwisher.com/wall/magsurvey

AS: Magazines still have some ammunition left in them (guardian.co.uk)

Short but timely article from the Observer this weekend:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/feb/20/magazines-circulation-increases-comment

Year 12 Cover Work From Mr Ford

Please continue researching your second magazine to compare and contrast with NME!

• Please use the hub in 72 and Chikara/LRC.  Don't forget to actually get a physical copy of your chosen magazine and analyse it too!
• In preparation for Weds, I want you to present to me briefly what you have learned when comparing the production practices of the 2 magazines. 
• A brief 2-3 minute presentation is all that is needed.