Final Thoughts

I believe that I have created a good group of products and they work well together. Not challenging any conventions has allowed me to create realistic-looking outcomes, and my audience feedback has been very helpful in allowing me to do so. The combination of my main product and the ancillary texts work well because they all have a sense of cohesion as the Harrogate Star logo is included in all the products. Although this project has been a lot of hard work, I have enjoyed creating a new ultra-local newspaper, website and poster.

My newspaper website

I have completed my Harrogate Star website:


http://jodieparkina2.moonfruit.com/

I have not challenged any conventions as I want my website to be clear and recognizable as an ultra local website. For example the masthead is in the top corner and I have included scrolling text hyperlinks. I have aimed the site at my target audience of middle aged middle class people so I have made the site look informative but not too boring.


Audience Feedback: Looks very similar to the Harrogate Advertiser website, the scrolling text looks good, good adverts, lots of pictures of people for news values.

Poster Progress

I created this poster using Adobe Photoshop. I like the fact that the star connotates the name of the newspaper, but it still looks quite unprofessional.

Audience Feedback: Looks too babyish, too simple but good concept.

This looks better than before as the star is more sophisticated and I think the Harrogate Star logo looks better in this position, even though I think the poster still lacks a slogan.

Audience Feedback: A lot of people can't tell what it is supposed to be, star looks good, nice newspaper effect.

I have used Adobe Photoshop to create a more realistic, less babyish approach to my poster, as my audience feedback told me that my previous posters looked too childish. As my target audience are middle aged, middle class people I made the poster look more appealing to adults. The design is simple yet gets the message across, and includes an image, slogan and logo of newspaper as I am not challenging any conventions of real newspaper posters. 

Audience Feedback: 'Bringing local news to you' works well with the star as it looks like its traveling towards Harrogate, clear and simple, harrogate star name goes well with harrogate written on the star for a visual impact as well as just the logo, but use original image for background! Also still needs a web address.

I made my final poster on Adobe Photoshop. I have used one of my own images of a starry sky and took a photo of a ping pong ball for the shooting star and used the smudge tool to make it look shiny and as though it was bright and moving. I used fontspace.com for the word Harrogate on the star and just added my logo and text on the image afterwards.

Audience Feedback: Has all the conventions of a real newspaper poster, good striking image, white stands out well on background.

Possible Ideas for adverts

-Birds-eye View of Harrogate
-Pictures of things that people relate with Harrogate, for example the Cenotaph and Betty's 
-Incorporate a star image to relate with Harrogate Star
-Large image to catch people's attention then a short, memorable slogan
-Bold font that stands out 
-Could be an image of the cenotaph at night with a star shining over the top

Generic Conventions of a Newspaper Advert

-There is a man in a black morphsuit

-It is set in a woman's room

-There is a slogan saying 'Think for yourself'

-There is the Metro logo

-The woman is being controlled by the man in the morphsuit
-The image is very large
-The font is bold and in bright colours
-The font is placed in the bottom right corner of the poster

The Sun Newspaper Adverts

These posters advertising the Sun newspaper are very bright, eye-catching and attractive to the audience. The words 'The Sun' are written as you would see them on the front of the actual newspaper and creates cohesion. This makes it easier for the readers to link the poster they have seen with the actual newspaper. The adverts use the slogan 'seize the summer'- a quick and memorable slogan to remember. The advert also includes lots of colourful, bold images associated with summer and fun.

The Guardian Newspaper Adverts

The Guardian uses colourful and attractive images to grab the attention of people that may read the newspaper or that may not. They advertise the newspaper by using a slogan at the bottom too, which is also written in bright, eye-catching colours. There isn't too much writing so the poster isn't boring or time-consuming to read and gets the message across quickly. The name of the product is repeated so peple can remember which newspaper, and the website is also written so people can go online and read the news.

Website Progress

I have started to produce my local newspaper website using the conventions of the Harrogate Advertiser website to work from. I have added a html for typing text, and inserted pictures and adverts to make the webpage look more realistic.

I created this advert on Adobe Photoshop for my newspaper website.

Audience Feedback

 For my front page, the audience thought the changes I need to make are:
-Use original images
-Less negative space
-Recycling logo must be added

For my second page, the audence thought the changes I need to make are:
-Put in the rest of the images
-Add more lines
-Use original images
-Use original adverts
-Lighten dark images
-Less negative space

Generic Conventions of the Blackburn Citizen Webpage

-There is a masthead at the top of the page

-Cohesion with black and green font

-Green headlines and black stories

-Pictures with some stories

-Weather forecast

-Search bar

-Featured Jobs, Most popular and Local Information headings

-Jobs, dating, homes and cars tabs at the bottom of the page

-Adverts down the side for local companies

-Search bar specifically for the companies

-List of Most Shared stories

-News, entertainment and sport headings

-Bar at bottom of page with News, Sport, Leisure, Info, Forum, Photos, Videos, Family, Jobs, Homes, Cars, Dating, Announcements, Directory and Advertise

Generic Conventions of the Harrogate Advertiser Webpage

-There is a masthead at the top of the page

-There are four hyperlinks to different pages (News, sport, community and lifestyle)

-Drop down menus
-A search bar
-A sponsor is shown on the website
-National news (moving)
-Advertisements
-Log in/ register facility
-Day, year and month
-Contact us, help, accessibility, terms and conditions, disclaimer and cookie policy
-Small photo with certain stories
-Interactive; opportunity to comment on stories and photos
-Weather for Harrogate section
-Publisher and copyright
-Five main stories shown on homepage and one with small picture
-Each different section has title at the top (e.g. lifestyle)
-Search bar for local businesses
-Shows local jobs, motors, properties and announcements
-Opportunity to give a complaint about the site’s content, and chance for further complaint if you are unsatisfied with the response
-‘You are here’ section
-Cohesion; colour, font
-Photo Gallery

First draft of newspapers

These are the first draft products I have produced using Adobe InDesign and Adobe Photoshop. Work still needs to be done on them but I have given these drafts out to people so I can get audience feedback and take that into account when altering the products.

Newspaper Progress

Newspaper Article 15

Harrogate stops scoffing

Snack and sweet shop 'Scoffs' located in the Victoria Shopping Centre has been shut down due to the owners' financial problems. The shop was a family-run business which has been very popular with young and old for years, but money has been an issue for owner Brian Gates since 2009. Mr Gates said "I'm really sad to see Scoffs close but as a family we need to move on, we simply aren't making enough to continue". The shop has been in Victoria Shopping Centre since 2001, starting off on the upper floor, and moved to the ground floor in 2003 to give the customers and products more room, as it was always very busy. Unfortunately, the recent economic climate has just been too much for Brian and his family and Scoffs has to go, but new sweet shop 'Sweet Treats' will be taking its place, providing a more traditional sweet shop feel.

Newspaper Article 14

Stabbing scene shut down

Fast food takeaway outlet 'Ocean's 11' has been shut down recently due to the stabbing that took place last month. It is believed that staff were too shaken by the trauma to return to work, especially after once member of staff had to defend himself with a frying pan. Head chef Jamal Sarki said "It was so scary but I knew exactly what I had to do to get rid of the crook." The outlet had only been open for 6 months when the attack took place, and the decision to close it down has been made due to the lack of customers recently. There will be a full makeover of the takeaway shop to clear the history, and it is believed that it will re-open again later next month.

Newspaper Article 13

Clangers with Style

Harroagte-based charity Yorkshire Cancer Research is inviting knitting and sewing enthusiasts to create their very own version of the charity’s loveable pink mascots – popular 1970s TV characters The Clangers! The competition has been organised as part of the 'Twisted Thread Knitting and Stitching Show', which will take place at the International Centre, Harrogate, from 24-27 November 2011. The person who knits or sews the ‘best-dressed’ Clanger will be announced at the show and presented with a Hamper of Yorkshire Fayre from Farrah’s, famous throughout the world for its Original Harrogate Toffee. All entries will be displayed at the exhibition and will be available to purchase along with the charity’s official Clanger key-rings and badges. Proceeds from the sale of knitted or sewn Clangers will go towards funding world-class research, treatment and diagnosis projects throughout the region. Sally Crerar, Head of Community Fundraising at Yorkshire Cancer Research, said "We’ve already received some fantastic entries and we’re really looking forward to choosing the Clanger with the best outfit! We’re delighted to be part of such a fantastic event and we really hope everyone who loves knitting and sewing will join in the fun and help us raise money for our vital work." Entries should be sent, along with your name, address and telephone number, to Freepost YCR, Yorkshire Cancer Research and the deadline for entries is Monday, 11th November. If the competition winner is not present at the exhibition, the hamper will be sent by post, so get knitting!

Newspaper Article 12

Next years fireworks expected to go off with a bang

Harrogate Round Table are back again this year, and are planning to put on the most spectacular display in the bonfires’ 30 year history. Being one of the few remaining bonfire events where an entry fee is not charged, Harrogate Round Table are reliant on the generosity of the public on the evening to donate as much as they can afford to this years supported charity which is Yorkshire Cancer Research. This years’ community service chairman Paul Horner said “With around 11,000 people expected, this is by far the biggest single public gathering of the year in Harrogate. No Round Table volunteers get paid for any of the hard work that goes into planning this event, so the public can be assured that all the money they donate is going to a very worthy cause. Without those donations, this event would sadly disappear. We always try to ensure a great warm family feel where everyone can watch the display in safety. You sense a real community spirit and it’s great to see so many families enjoying the event”. This is one of Harrogate's best traditional events, as it brings the whole community together and provides toffee apples and novelty light-up toys for children (or immature adults)! This year the event timings are: 6.00pm – Stray FM buildup, 6.30pm – Bonfire lit, 7.15pm– Fireworks start. Don't forget to bring your wellies, as this event has been known to get very muddy!

Newspaper Article 11

Harrogate High School Keeps its name- for now

A planned change in status at Harrogate High School has been put on hold. The school had been due to convert to academy status, under the umbrella of Outwood Grange Academy in Wakefield, from the beginning of term earlier this month. But the move has been delayed by a hold-up in the legal process of converting to academy status, although the school has told parents it is still committed to making the transition. Harrogate High School principal Andrew Bayston said: “The process is still active. “The governing body is pursuing discussions with all our partners, including the local authority and Outwood range Academy Trust. “We still see ourselves as fully in partnership with those organisations.” While other schools in the district, including Harrogate Grammar and Rossett School, have converted to academy status on their own, Harrogate High opted to be part of a “family” of schools led by Outwood Grange. Outwood Grange headteacher Michael Wilkins was brought in to Harrogate High as an executive head in 2007 when the school was branded failling and put on the National Challenge register. Since then, the number of pupils achieving at least five GCSEs at grade C or above - seen as a national standard - has increased and the school has also seen a rise in pupils’ achievements at A level. Harrogate High announced earlier this year it wanted to formalise its arrangements with Outwood Grange, which already has several schools within its group. Becoming part of the group of schools would include changing the school’s name to reflect its connection to Outwood Grange, which Mr Bayston said will take effect when the school converts to academy status. A new uniform was introduced at the start of the autumn term, in line with those worn at other schools in the Outwood family.

Newspaper Article 10

A Very Popular Badger

New pub 'The Fat Badger' has proven very popular as it has already earned back the £1,000,000 spent on it as an extension of the White Hart Hotel. The new building provides food, drinks and a relaxed and friendly environment, including both indoor and outdoor tables and chairs for people to sit. It has also provided many local people jobs and it seems that the Fat Badger is new place to be in Harrogate. The pub is situated at the bottom of cold bath road, and is always buzzing with both locals and tourists.

Newspaper Article 9

Council takes action with new cycle route

The Council have made a decision to place a new path for cyclists on the edge of the stray, after a 150 year cycling ban has recently been lifted. Council workers were widening paths on the 200-acre stretch of green yesterday despite campaigners such as the Stray Defence Association criticising the decision. Local man Lionel Shrago said "the council are destroying the stray" and added "100 percent of people I know disagree with the work that is being done for the cycle path". The selected paths will be 2.5 metres wide and will be available for both pedestrians and cyclists. There will be no lighting and signage will be kept to a minimum. It is expected that the finished paths will arrive in around ten weeks.