CCR Draft #4

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

I used the software Microsoft Publisher to make my magazine.  I chose this software because I was familiar with it and the tools it contains, rather than using InDesign which I was not familiar with. I found that I got more done in my magazine and it was very easy for me to edit and add elements to it as I went along.  I also used Photoshop on the cover page of my magazine.  It was the first time I had used this software. 

I integrated online technologies into this product by all the research that I did in order to get a better idea of the issues around dogs and how to compensate for them. I also researched tips and things that would interest all pet owners to include in my magazine by using the internet. 

3rd Quarter Submission

My cover page revision consisted of me moving the article titles down to the bottom of the page, and putting all the text in white.  I think this made the text easier to read and made the page look clean and organized.

For my table of contents, I moved the text on each side of the page and made them equal lengths, and made the text wrap around the dog's shoulder.

I added the author's name to the first page of my article.  Then, I bolded and increased the size of the first letter of the article and added a page number at the bottom.  I also added a different picture to the middle of the page and made it have sharp edges, as opposed to the soft edges that my picture before had.  I also changed the font of the text to make it look nicer.

For the second page of my article, I moved the picture and moved it to take up the top third of the page.  My text fits in the bottom third of the page as well.  I did this because I wanted the picture to be in a different spot than the first page, so that they were not too similar.  I had also seen many magazines do this with their articles so I decided to do it too.

CCR Draft #3

How did your production skills develop throughout this project?

My production skills have gotten better throughout this project.  I used Microsoft Publisher to make my magazine, and although I was familiar with the program before this project, my skills have definitely gotten better and I have learned new tools and ways to use the program. I also used Photoshop for the first time during making my magazine.  I became familiar with the tools.  I over layed the text of my title over the cover picture of my dog, and then erased the text that was on top of the dog's head.  This is a technique that many magazines use to their cover pages, and I now know how they do it.

Taking pictures for my magazine was very easy for me because I have been interested in photography for a while now, and am always taking pictures.  I knew to use different angles for each subject I was shooting, and used the iPhone 8+ camera in portrait mode.  This camera has excellent quality and is very similar to DSLR cameras.  I used the apps VSCO and AirBrush to edit my photos; two apps that I have been using on my own personal pictures for years.

Finally, I have learned about distribution and how to get your product out to an audience.  Finding a distribution company is crucial in order to get your product to as many people as possible.  You can distribute your product nationwide, in your country, in your state, or just in your local city.  For my magazine, it is centered around pet life which is something that people everywhere need.  I would distribute my magazine in the the United States first, and then maybe expand to all of North America or nation wide. 

CCR Draft #2

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


My product engages with the audiences by informing them of issues regarding pet abuse and housing, but also includes information and tips for every day life with animals.  Anyone with a pet would be able to pick up my magazine and get information from it.  From recipes, to actives, to tips for a healthy pet, there is plenty of information included in this magazine that could interest a wide array of people. 

My magazine would most likely be distributed in grocery stores, pet stores, and veterinarian offices.  Grocery stores are a great place to sell magazines because there are so many people that come in and look at magazines while they are checking out or waiting in line.  Pet stores and vet offices would also be a great place to advertise my magazine because all the people that go in there are pet owners, so they would most likely be interested in my magazine. 

CCR Draft #1

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

My magazine uses conventions that I have seen in similar magazines in this genre.  The front page features a dog that grabs the audience's attention, with the title of the magazine above it and subtitles lower on the page. This is the most common layout that I have seen for most magazines.  I added a section at the top of the page that says "dog heath, care, food, and fun." I added this feature so that when the magazine sits on a stand at a grocery store, the top of the magazine is still visible and people will be able to see what my magazine is about.  Although this is not on every magazine, I still wanted to add it to mine in order to utilize the once empty space. During peer revision I have received many compliments for this feature as well.  I also decided to photo shop the title to go behind the dog's head.  I have seen many magazines do this and it looks very professional so I wanted to do it also.

My next page is the title page.  I kept this page pretty simple but I think it turned out very good and appealing.  The entire background is taken up by a high angle image of a dog, compared to the low angle the I used on the cover page.  The title "Contents" is written at the top of the page in white.  The page numbers and titles are in white and are located on the sides of the page, wrapping around the image of the dog. Most magazines have a very busy table of contents with different pictures, fonts, and colors.  However, I wanted to keep mine clean, organized, and simple.

My two-page spread looks pretty similar to other magazines, and uses the same conventions.  For example, the first letter of the article is in a larger font and in bold.  Most magazines utilize this convention to make the page look professional and makes the article stand out.  The actual text of the article is in two columns, separated by a high angle image of a dog.


My article represents issues regarding animal abuse, adopting, and sheltering.  I wanted to make this magazine about animals after I had seen how animals can be mistreated in stores, and how adopting is always the better option.  I wanted to bring awareness of these issues and if I were to write more articles in the future I would conduct more research and possibly do interviews in order to write more articles about issues such as these. 

Article Revision

For the first page of my article, I made a few changes but overall kept the layout the same. I added the author's name because that is something I initially forgot to do for my midterm draft.  Then, I changed the font of the text to make it look more realistic and clean.  I swapped out the center picture and made the edges sharp to make it look more professional. Finally, I put the first letter of the article in bold because I have seen many magazines do that and I liked how it looked, and I added page numbers.

For my second page of the article, I changed the layout.  I took my picture and moved it to the top to take up the top 1/3 of the page, and moved my text to the bottom. I have seen many magazines do this and thought it was an effective layout so I decided to do it too.  I made the same changes with the bold first letter, font change, and page number at the bottom right of the page. 

Digital Distribution Post #2

Animal Wellness Magazine also has a website that you can visit that offers more than just the magazine does.  On their website, they offer issues of their older magazines from 2006, as well as the current ones from the recent years  You are able to view a preview of these digital magazines or purchase them.
They also offer a Video Gallery that is not available on the physical magazine.  There are videos on Heath, Nutrition, Food, and Lifestyle.
Also on the website there is more room for more articles and pictures, so there are multiple pages under each tab.
There are more advertisements than in the actual magazine and by clicking on these ads, they take you to the companies website, which is a feature not possible in a magazine.

Digital Distribution Post #1

Modern Dog Magazine uses digital distribution to reach dog lovers worldwide.  Their website (moderndogmagazine.com) is available everywhere for anyone to access, while the actual Modern Dog Magazine is only available for purchase in North America.  On the website, they offer many more services than are in the physical magazine including:

• List of magazines from past months/years
• Photo contests 
• Memorials 
• More advertisements 
• Shop
• Must-see videos 
• Blogs
• Pet industry news
• Events/art/travel/etc. 

They also include a link to another branch of their magazine called Modern Cat.  At the top right of the page, there is an option for you to click saying "Love cats? Visit Modern Cat!" Pressing this link will take you to another website where you can check out that magazine and their digital option. Including a link that will directly take you somewhere is a great way to get people to visit your website.