Introduction to StudioWorks

  Soon after exploring more ideas for my theme, I was introduced to StudioWorks. I was first taught how to use the navigation bar, which is what can be seen at the top of the page when the app is opened. Here there are 8 sections: the dashboard, pages, content, portrait data, planner, recent activity, setup, and support. 

The functions of each are:

• Dashboard - A general overview
• Pages - Where you can view, edit, and manage pages
• Content - Where your images are stored and uploaded
• Planner - A calendar that can let you know when things are due
• Recent Activity - Says who has been working on what lately and when
• Setup - Holds information on the project and staff
• Support - A link to the StudioWorks staff in case you need assistance. 

  I then learned the basic workings, like how to make a colored background, measure things in a unit called "pica" (which is equal to 1/6 of an inch), and identify the bleed and gutter.

  During mid-October, I learned the more advanced tools. These included text-wrapping, gradients, shadows, transparency, and more.

Exploring Ideas

  It was now October, and I needed to know which topic I specifically was going to do, so I minimized my list of themes (mentioned in the post prior) to three options: Haitian culture, Plantation High, and art. I then jotted down what I could photograph, who I could interview, and article ideas for these three topics. 

I also analyzed themes shown in websites like Best Buy and Target. I observed the colors and texts they used and who their target audience and message was. This brought me closer to the vision of my own magazine. 

Choosing A Theme

 During mid-September, I started thinking about what I wanted my theme to be. Having had so many options to choose from, I listed ten theme ideas:

1. Music
2. Plantation High School
3. South Florida Weather
4. Haitian Culture
5. Fashion
6. Beaches of Florida
7. Video Games
8. Art
9. Entertainment
10. Florida Tourist Spots

I also took a look at a few examples from actual magazines to give me an idea of what I wanted my work to look like. I kept in mind how professionals displayed their themes.

Getting Started

 When I started this class, we focused on what publication was and what it did. I completed two group discussions with my peers. We answered a total of six questions:

• What is media?
• What is media studies?
• Why do we study media?
• Is media valuable?
• Is media harmful?
• How is media updated?

While doing this, I learned a multitude of things. Some things I learned include: 

• Studying media allows for a more extensive understanding of how communication connects the interactions between people.
• Media can preserve memories of the past through its publications
• Media is updated based on the most efficient medium of its time (ours now being the internet).