Presentation of my Evaluation

I decided to present my evaluation in summary to an audience and ask them to ask questions at the end.

Evaluation

In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

My media product uses conventions from women’s weekly magazines, the way that the pages of these magazines are arranged influenced me to create my product around this bold, brassy and exciting layout, rather than traditional music magazines which I found were slightly dull and lacked colour. My media product therefore challenges forms and conventions from traditional music magazines because the colours used are not the same, and also the target audience for my magazine product is different to the two music magazines I looked at. My magazine product targets a more mainstream audience, whereas NME and Kerrang target an “indie/rock” target audience – making them both quite niche market magazines. My media product I think is new and there is not a successful similar product in the market today, it develops on traditional music magazines content by making the content more mainstream – but still using the same interview and page layout conventions.

Who would be the audience for your media product?
The audience for my music magazine is definitely mainstream, I would like to think both genders would be interested, but most likely females will buy the magazine as the type of music that is girls seem to like is mainstream pop, whereas boys tend to like rock, indie and dance. I think that the age range could possibly be as low as 12, for buying my magazine – however, it is intended for the ages 14-30. I have decided this age range as it is the age range that buys the most magazines, and therefore is the largest age segment of customers, making my magazine more likely to swim rather than sink when it comes to sales.

How did you attract/address your audience?
I attracted my audience by using bright colours and plenty of images, so that the magazine would stand out on the shelf compared to the other music magazines. There is a range of stories mentioned in the contents page, and I also think that this will entice audiences, because there are features in the magazine which allow the audience to be interactive. I especially like it in magazines when there are features showing opinions of “everyone else” about topical issues.What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?
I have learnt how to use Photoshop effectively. Before this coursework I had used Photoshop, but not using the software to its full capacity. I browsed the software using effects that I never knew about, however I found that some of the effects made the final product look a bit to “full on” and over the top, so I edited and undid some of my actions. I already knew how to take photo’s using a digital camera, but I am now more conscience of the different angles and distances

Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?
Since the preliminary task I have learnt how to use Photoshop. I at first had been introduced to the software, but was not fully competent at using the software. The preliminary task made my skills better, and allowed me to see what I could do to images and text – so this helped me when I came to plan my music magazine, as I was able to see what I was able and unable to do.

How does your media product represent particular social groups?
My music magazine represents celebrity musicians. This is a mix of the women’s weekly magazines who represent celebrities with limited or no talent and the music magazines who represent musicians with often a limited celebrity status. My music magazine mixes these representations and only includes celebrity musicians, so that the focus of the magazine is about music, and not about trivial idle gossip.

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?
A magazine institution such as Bauer or IPC would distribute my magazine because at this moment in time, these institutions currently publish magazines of a similar content. However, these institutions do attract a wide range of audience, so I think that any magazine could be published by IPC or Bauer. I think that smaller institutions would be reluctant to distribute my magazine product, mainly because there is a big risk with introducing new magazines to the industry – which is shrinking due to the use of the internet.

The Double Page Spread

This is the Interview with Nora Adrenaline (if the Writing is too small to read on the blog)

Nora Adrenaline is the hottest new British pop star since Florence and the Machine. Music Mania has an exclusive interview with the diva herself.

Your new to the music industry – How did your success come about? You’ve had a sequence of Top 10 hits - How long do you intend this good run to go on for?

Well, I have been rather lucky, I was singing in my local pub when in walks Jenny Blue from Huge records. She came up to me once I had finished my gig, (although only 25 people were there) and said that if I wanted, I could perform some of my own material in front of some of the executives of Huge records. Jenny told me then that she thought I’d have a bright future. This was only 3 years ago mind, so I’m still slightly star struck. I think that my recent success has just got out of control and I can’t believe that I have been so accepted by my fans and the British public. I would love to think that my “good run” will carry on for quite a while, I’m still a baby compared to the likes of Madonna and Beyonce. I hope to still be making music when I’m Madonna’s age!

People say you’re a “workaholic” are you receiving any medication for this?

(Giggles) Who said that? Well, I have been known to stick to a strict schedule in terms of my workload. But I love it so much; I’m recording, touring, filming or doing these interviews – which I love! I don’t work around the clock 24/7 but I don’t waste my days, when I jump out of bed in a morning I have my day all planned out so there is no time to lazy about.

Do you get chance to watch much TV? What programs have you recently been enthralled with?

Well, I know I said I had a busy schedule, but I do find the time to fit in my two favourite shows; Desperate Housewives and Shameless. I just love the drama in shameless, it makes me appreciate the lifestyle I have and how lucky I am compared to those in our own UK who don’t receive the same luxury lifestyle which I do. Desperate Housewives always cheers me up, it is so unrealistic but I find the storylines gripping – and I cannot go by my week without watching it.

What’s your take on shows such as the X Factor? Do the winners deserve the success?

I do love X factor, but because of my work load, I never get to see a full episode. I love the shows when there are all them loony’s who think they can sing but can’t, I do watch the live shows, but to be honest I find them slightly boring, it’s like the 7th series of X factor now and its always the same stories, and always some joker who can’t sing but gets through every week. I think that the winners do deserve their success, its different from me, I had to prove myself to the record label, whereas X factor winners have to win over the British public. I find Leona Lewis an absolute drain, her songs are so weary and dull – I quite like Alexandra Burke though, she’s got more edge and charisma – which is essential if your going to make it in this industry.

If you could collaborate with any musician dead or alive, who would it be? Not Leona Lewis I take it?

(Giggles) Never say never, she’s alright and has a top set of Lungs on her, just don’t expect us to become “bezzie mates”! My absolute idol when I was younger was Michael Jackson, me, him and perhaps Madonna would be an absolute dream collaboration for me.

You have reportedly stated that you will be collaborating with Lady GaGa on her forthcoming album. Is this true?

Well, I couldn’t possibly lie to you – yes! The song has been written, we just need to set a date when we can record the song together. I think her album is expected out late August, but the single is the week before. I am so excited, she is one of the most controversial musicians of the decade and to be a part of the “GaGa” phenomenon is amazing. I don’t know why she picked me to sing with her? The song is called “dreadful days” and is about the aftermath of losing a boyfriend or girlfriend. I have seen some of the plans for the music video to – I think me and GaGa are playing lesbian lovers who go their separate ways.

What do you think people in 20 years time will think of your Music videos?

Well, 20 years ago was the beginning of the 90’s, I think that since then our music videos of today involve lots more technology and special effects. In 20 years I think that my music videos will lack the technology of the future and my children will probably laugh at the clothes I wear and my hairstyle, but its all part of being alive – things change. I hope that the message each of my music videos sends out is still interpreted by future audiences.

Your recent Music Video “The Grass isn’t Greener” involves some serious acting.

Yes, well this music video is very close to home. It is based on when my friend’s dad had an affair with this younger woman and left his wife and children behind. My friends mum suffered severe depression and my friend had to hold the family together. We later found out that my friend’s dad’s new girlfriend had conned him out of all his money and assets and was using him all along. His family didn’t take him back and he later committed suicide. The video is about me and I play the mother and wife, pleading him not to leave, some of the scenes are really emotional and I just hope that it relates to some of the audience who may be in a similar position.
Is acting your next career move perhaps?

I really like filming my music videos, I am really passionate about each one because they are all so personal to me. If I were to become an actress full time, I wouldn’t have that freedom of creating the stories and issues I want to be raised. I haven’t been approached by anyone so far so I think that my acting career is a long way away or never at all!

StoryBoard Ideas for my Double Page Spread

Layout of Double page spread

I have done two potential layouts for my magazine. Layout 1 is very simple, there are images on one side and text on the other, I thought that there wasn’t enough room for all the text to fit onto one side, and thought that the page looked a bit unbalanced, so I decided to do another layout – this time there is text and images on either page – like the double page spread in the Inside Soap magazine I looked at. I think that it is best to balance the pages out, as the first layout looked like an essay on the right hand side – which may demotivate readers to read. I think that I will use the second layout; I have found it easier planning the double page spread compared to the front and contents page, mainly because there is less detail, and more content involved.

What Questions to Ask in Interview

Why the Questions

I have come up with a variety of questions to ask in the interview. I intended on only using some of the best questions, but I have a range of 10 good questions to ask and I think that I will ask them all. If later on, they don’t all fit on the page, or the answers I get from the questions are poor, then I will not put them in my final interview which will be part of my final piece.

Research on Contemporary Magazine Double Page spreads

Research on the Layout of double page spreads on contemporary magazines

I have looked at 5 magazines of different genres. I have picked a double page spread from each one, thinking that the way they are all presented is different. For example, alike the front cover on the NME front cover, the double page spread is very simple, black text on white paper, with a coloured image. There are no colourful glitzy boxes containing information unlike the Closer double page spread. I do quite like this layout, and makes the reader read the interview without distractions. On the other scale of the spectrum is the double page inside the Closer magazine. A women’s weekly magazine aimed at women. This double page spread is full of colour, special effects, images – but interestingly not a lot of interesting information. The NME interview discusses issues with singer Florence, unlike the Closer double page spread which includes discussion topics such as “who talked to Victoria Beckham on the phone last week”. I think that without out a doubt my music magazine will contain an interview along similar lines of that from the NME interview – after all, my magazine is a music magazine and not a celebrity gossip magazine. The inside soap double page spread is quite busy, there are 4 images used. From the double page spreads I have looked at, I can say that I want the story or interview to be the main focus of the page. I understand that my front cover and contents pages are “busy” but I think that once the audience has bought and is reading the magazine, there is no need for the “in your face” colours and shapes, I simply want the double page spread to show simplicity and quality content in the interview.

Content of Music Magazines - Introduction

Double Page Spread

I am going to create a double page spread for my Media AS coursework. The content will be of a music nature, as it is for a music magazine. I will research what stories are in contemporary music magazines. I will do this by a content analysis, where I simply go through the magazine and put the content of each page into categories and then fill in a tally chart. I will see how many adverts there are, what sort of features each of the 5 magazines (of which I have been researching for the front and contents pages) include. I have a full understanding of what then decided what stories I will write and put into the double page spread. I will then see how the double page spread is exposed in contemporary magazines, such as how the writing is aligned, and how many pictures are used.

What is the content of Music Magazines?


I have read through an NME magazine, while categorizing each single A4 page into different sections; Adverts, Stories/Interviews, Features, Reviews and pictures. The results are as follows in pages;

Adverts
30
Stories/Interviews
24
Features
27
Reviews on Albums, Concerts and TV and Film.
24
Pictures
6

From these results, I have found that a large proportion of magazine content is adverts. I think that it is unnecessary to ask audiences what they think should be in a music magazine, because I will most likely end up with the same results as above. I have quite easily decided that I want my double page spread to be an interview of a musician, talking about musical issues such as the Internet, Censorship and X factor. I have decided rather than me writing out a made up interview, I will write some questions I want to ask, and then go and find some eccentric person in school (most likely our drama teacher) and conduct the interview – writing out everything they say, as they will be in role play.

Contents Page

What Colour Schemes to use?

Now that I have created a contents page and front page plan, I will now photocopy these final images and paint the images, using different colour schemes. Below are several different colour schemes i have used, on both the contents page and front page final plans.

Firey Red

Cool BlueMixture of Ideas

Colour Schemes For Magazine

I have photocopied the two storyboards, and then used water colour paints to see what colours look best on each of the pages, one photocopy is of my intended Front Page and the other is my intended Contents Page. I decided that I wanted my magazine to look colourful, but in an organized way. I came up with two schemes that I was happy with, “Cool Blue” and “Fire Red”. The cool blue colour scheme I thought would be a good way of showing audiences that the stories and content is “cool!” The “Fire Red” colour scheme I thought would be a good way of showing audiences that the stories and content of the magazine is “hot” and “news just in”. I then thought I could combine these two ideas, however, the results I don’t think look so successful. It is very messy, and there are no clear definitions of whether the magazine is hot or cold! Using clear bold colours that combine to create an instant message is what I intend to have done. I have decided that in order to put this message across clearly – I am going to use the “fire red” colour scheme, as there are a variety of colours that can be used; red, orange, yellow and white. I have done both the front cover and contents page at the same time, because they will need to match in the magazine. When I come to create the double page spread I will follow the “fire red” colour scheme also.

StoryBoard Ideas for Contents Page

Why to Include items on Contents Page

I have decided that similarly to the front cover, there are some features which all of the contents pages I have researched have on. Items such as the page number, some kind of contents list, and the magazine name, an editors “box” with words in and several pictures. I think that it is important to include an editors prologue because this links the people who make the magazine and the readers, the readers can see what is important to the magazine makers and will entice them even more into the magazine because they may share the same values, strong evidence to support this is of Closer magazine which have put in a persuasive piece of writing in the editors column arguing why a specific drug should be made illegal. I think that all the other items on the page are necessary and no explanation is needed to explain why I have decided to put the onto my contents page. A contents page includes what the content of the magazine is and a guide to what page each particular story or feature is on.
I have however found that there are differences between each of the contents pages I have looked at, the way they are all presented are very different. I have decided that the 2 I like the best are from Heat and Closer magazines, they are both quite organized and clear, yet still look busy. I have been influenced by these when roughly sketching out my ideas, my friends and mum who has seen my composition plans have advised me on which one they think is best and how I could make improvements on each composition. I have finally decided that the composition I like best and will use is composition 3. This is because it is structured into 3 columns, and the left and right columns seem to frame the centre contents list, so attention is drawn to it. I think that this one is better than compositions 1 or 2 because it is not as dull as composition 1, and more full and busy than composition 2. However, I do quite like the simplicity of composition 2, but for the target audience I am marketing towards, I think that it is necessary that the page is similar to the front page – busy and alive!

Content Ideas of Contents page

Here are some ideas of my own, from analysing existing contents pages - these are my ideas what I want to be on my contents page.

Research on Contemporary Magazine Contents Pages

Research on Contemporary Magazines

NME magazine Contents Page

NME contents page is certainly different to the rest perhaps because NME has recently developed a “new look” this is the first issue, and therefore will intend to be edgy and different to past conventions. NME seems to be leading the way, or creating its own way in terms of the layout of their magazine. The contents page is very simple in terms of colours and information. There is no indication on what the content of the magazine is, I suppose this may be because they intend the audience of being aware of the contents as they perhaps expect loyalty. They need limited pictures on the front cover because there are 9 other front covers available to buy that are shown. In terms of sales, the re-generation of the magazine will encourage audiences to go out and buy the new issue so they don’t really need to sell the magazine by its content page. In conclusion, the page is very different and I quite like the simplicity and organized order of the page, a refreshing change to all the celebrity magazines which bombard the pages with lots of information.

Kerrang magazine Contents Page

This contents page is very much split into two halves. The top half includes pictures with reference to the page that the story is on, this allows the reader to go straight to the desired page and read the story, making their reading experience that much easier. The second half of the page is very busy and includes; the contents of the magazine, a page by page outline – under a subheading of the type of content, such as News, Reviews, Features and competitions. The left of the page is the editors column, which includes a picture of the editor and some information of what can be expected in this edition of “Kerrang”. The bottom left of the contents page is a chance to subscribe to door delivery of the magazine – a marketing technique used to secure loyalty in customers. The background colour of the bottom half is white, whereas the top half is black.

Inside Soap Magazine Contents Page

The contents page for this magazine is very busy. The contents are down the left hand side of the page, they are structured by the different soaps. The page number is in bold red or yellow alternatively and the text is all black – the cover stories are in bold. Down the centre of the page are only pictures with a number on them, this is very simple but readers will soon assume that this is the page number, and being regular soap watchers they will know the characters. Similar to other contents page there is an editor’s report of the magazine, this is in a separate box at the top of the page. I think that this is effective because it breaks up the page and makes things more exciting. At the bottom of the page in another separate box is a features column, this is in a separate colour and is perhaps the least looked at on the page. The colours are not bright and don’t allow for much attention, I think that the features column is simply to bulk up pages and to add audience involvement to the magazine. Overall I don’t like the layout as much as the NME contents page, however, the page still consists of what seems to be necessary items such as the contents, editors column and a few pictures.

Heat Magazine Contents Page

Heat magazines content page I feel is very structured and organized. There are 4 clear areas to the magazine at the bottom of the page, separated by different colours. This makes a refreshing change to the lists and reels of a typical contents page where the page numbers are listed with a title of each pages activities or interviews. In the centre of the page is a story intro with two pictures attached very artily using masking tape and ripped paper effects. I really like this special effect as it contrasts with the order of the boxes below. The texts used are all the same, only differentiating by using bold, italics and different sizes. At the bottom of the page are the page number, and the website of the magazine – an interesting marketing tip, whether this is much looked at as it is in a very small font, and if I personally want to find a website I just type it into Google. However there is no harm with it being there, as perhaps it may incline the reader to go onto the website if they are having a throughout scan of the page – rather than just skim reading and looking at pictures.

Closer Magazine Content Page

The Closer magazine content page is alike Heat – very structured. There are 3 vertical columns, one consists of three pictures, the second column reels of all the different pages in the magazine and what their content is, and the third is a mixture of the front cover in detail and the Editors column. The colours used match completely with the front cover, pink, and yellow, black and white. The text is all the same, but differs due to bold, italics, and size of each font. The text colours consist of all the 4 colours stated; white, black, pink and yellow. I like the link at the top right side of the page – there is a bubble consisting of information about the stories on the front cover, this is the same shape as the bubble at the bottom of the front page. I like how not only is Closer magazine relating each pages by using the same fonts and colours, but is using similar shapes. This is interesting and none of the other magazines I have looked at have done this. I do think that the list in the middle of the page is a bit boring and wordy; however, the colours and images at either side of it bring the page to life and balance out the dullness.



From this research

From this research I have decided that my contents page will not be overly complicated and fussy, but will be simple yet colorful – linking in both the traditional music magazines simplicity and the colour schemes from the women’s weekly magazines. I think it is very important for all the pages to match, by using the same fonts, colours and even shapes. There are some conventions which all the content pages include, such as a page number, magazine website and some kind of format presenting the different pages and their content. However, there is some dissimilarity such as the special effects that Heat have used regarding the main image on the contents page, and NME’s decision of using paper to present the magazine rather than glossy paper which the other 4 do.
I think that in order for a magazine to be successful it must have something that is different from other magazines, a unique selling point that makes it stand out from the crowd. From what I have seen on these content pages, they are becoming busier and more vibrant so that when a potential customer flicks through the pages they see that there is plenty going on and they are getting there money’s worth. I have decided that my magazine contents page will be relatively busy, but not so that it is “in your face”, but not quite as dull as the contents page of NME. eH

Brainstorm Of Ideas

Introduction to Contents Page research

Introduction

Inserted is all the research and planning that I have done to create a suitable contents page which fits the same scheme as the front page and the double page spread. I intend on researching several other magazine contents pages, then make comments about each one – stating what I like and disliked about each of them. I will brainstorm what I am going to have on my contents page and gather images needed. I will then draw out some rough outlines of what I intend my contents page to look like. I will then use either Photoshop or publisher to create my contents page. I will leave all evaluation until I have completed all of the pages.

Front Page

This is a draft of my front page.

Composition Plans for My Front Page

Storyboard Planning Findings

I have done several storyboards for the front cover of my magazine. The majority are based on the front covers from Heat and Closer magazine, and the story content is influenced from Kerrang magazines.
The first composition is very basic, and includes only a picture of a singer with a quote and the singer’s name. It is all very simple and the title of the magazine is at the very top of the page, I have not elaborated on how this will look as when I get onto Photoshop I will be able to play around with fonts, special effects and colours. For now though, this composition is very basic, and I don’t think that this will appeal to the target audience I am aiming at.
A second composition includes 4 other stories on the page to make the page busier so that there is more to attract potential customer’s attention. At the top and the bottom of the page I have included a bulletin line; the top includes a quote or summary of the magazine in a quick statement. The bottom line is an additional bulletin of an “extra” story that is included; this will be in a brighter colour and will stand out so that audiences can see that there is “extra” in the magazine. However, this front cover composition I think is far too simple and boxed up – therefore I have designed a third composition where there are stories at the top of the page, stories down the left hand side and a story in a “bubble” as an extra – instead of a bulletin which most other magazines use. I have done this so that it is slightly different to other magazines. I have decided to use composition 4 because it is the busiest and include a variety of shapes to present the pictures and story headliners, also the stories around the page frame the centre image which brings focus to it. Also included on this composition is the “must haves” such as the bar code, issue number and date. I will however change the size of the name of the music magazine, “Music Mania”, as at the moment it is too small, otherwise this is a great composition plan and I am very happy with it.

Deciding What Content to Include on Front Page

Below are some brainstorms with ideas of what I want to include on my Front page.

Why to Include Items on Front Page

I have decided that along with the contemporary magazines I have researched, there are some elements that seem to be core and essential on a magazine front cover, such as; the bar code, date, price and issue number. These items are usually presented quite subtly and are not often the main attraction to the page, therefore on my final composition plan I have decided to put them almost hidden at the bottom of the page. Also that seems to be essential on all the front pages I have looked at is the title of the magazine and a centre picture about the cover story – mainly of gossip or an interview of pictured person. How the name of the magazine is formatted is totally unique from other magazines, for example Heat is a bubbly red title, whereas NME is a bold straight forward title. I have not gone into much depth in designing what I want the title to look like, as when I get onto Photoshop I will see which formatting, colours and style looks best and most appropriate. I have however played around with a few names, such as “Popworld” and “Music Overload”, I think that the best of them is “Music Mania” as it double emphasizes the letter “M” and will be remembered by audiences because of this repetition. I found that many of the celebrity magazines especially included statements or quick bulletins that “sum up” the magazine. So for example; “Every story! Every Secret! Every Week! Is what Inside Soap uses to simply describe what is in their magazine, and is used week after week as a slogan. I thought that my magazine should consist of one of these, so that audiences can instantly recognize what will be in the magazine, I have thought of a few different ones such as; “Music Information Overload—HERE & NOW” and “Exclusive Music Gossip”, however I feel that the best one is “This weeks hottest music news”. Mainly because I feel that it is quick to say, and says exactly what will be in the magazine – “hottest” gives a sexy, slick edge, whereas words such as “most recent news” is slight boring, I want the magazine to be “full on”. I am targeting an audience that is mainstream, both sexes, however I think that girls are more likely to be inclined to buy a magazine about music, and boys are more likely to buy a magazine about cars. The age range of my target audience is somewhere in-between 16-35. I have decided this because this age range will be “living it up” – many will not have children and therefore extreme responsibilities and will have the time to read music magazines. My only concern is that an older age target audience would have more disposable income, however as this coursework is not a business – I am not concerned by this issue.
I have not yet decided on colour schemes or font sizes etc specifically, but will come back to these issues once I have completed a final storyboard for each of the pages I am creating; a front cover, contents page and double page spread.

Why to include certain stories

I have decided to simply “use my imagination” to think of stories and content that would be in my music magazine to go on the front page and contents page. I need a variety of different stories, about different musicians – boy bands, girl bands, soloists etc – so that I appeal to a wide mainstream audience. There is a variety of features I intent to include, and just hope that they all fill the page, so it looks busy and inviting to a potential customer from my target audience. The pages I intend to be functional and include the basics; such as contents on a contents page, and the price, bar code and name of the magazine on the front cover.

Research on Contemporary Magazine Front Covers

Below is some anaylsis of what is on each front cover. I have researched magazines from different genres - not just the music industry.

Research on Contemporary Magazines

NME magazine Front Cover

NME is a popular contemporary UK music magazine, above is the front cover I have analyzed, in order to make appropriate decisions when I come to design the front cover of my music magazine. The front page seems to be very simple, and there is not a great deal of images or story headliners that would grab the potential audience’s attention.
However, I understand that NME are “re branding” their image and this front cover is the first of their “new look”. Interestingly NME have designed 10 separate front covers for the same week, as a special for their new image.
On this exposed front page, there is a single image of a celebrity male singer – Jack White who is seated in the centre of the page. His name is in a large font, with a quote in smaller font below. The colours of the text are black, although is broken up by altering text sizes, and boldness. The title of the magazine is in a large bold, yellow font at the top left of the page, with some of the main image overlapping the text. The price and date are in small print at the top left of the page, this maybe because the price shouldn’t be important, and neither is the date – as newsagents will only shelf the latest copy of the magazine at one time. The background cover of the page is white mixed with grey, it gives of a trouble-free vibe which I find refreshing compared to the majority of celebrity magazines which are very busy and colorful, often stories about celebrity misfortunes.


Kerrang magazine Front Cover

Kerrang is a UK contemporary music magazine, specifying in the Rock genre. The name of the magazine “Kerrang” is onomatopoeia for the sound rock music makes - this I like.
The main image is lead singer of rock band Paramore, Hayley. She is framed by the other headliner stories and images on the magazine which all revolve around her image.
At the very top of the page is bold bulletin showing there are VIP tickets to be won via Kerrang. There is no information on this, and will make potential audiences pick up the magazine to read it, and find out more.
At the top of the page is the magazine name “Kerrang”, which has been edited to make it look torn and hacked.
Down the left side of the page are 3 images that show what is inside the magazine, such as album reviews and interviews with rock stars.
There are several stories on the front page, which contrasts with the 1 story NME has on its front page. All font is either black, white or yellow. Again however, the text on the bottom of the page looks roughed up, or scratched. Like the other magazine front covers, there is the bar code, date and price on the page – situated in the bottom right corner, in relatively small font.
At the very bottom of the page is another quick bulletin with a “Plus!” which leads on to 6 or 7 different names mentioned which indicates interviews or reviews.

Inside Soap Magazine Front Cover

The front cover is instantly very bright and busy, and includes an array of different colours and font sizes. The name of the magazine font size and colour are instantly recognizable, as this is a permanent feature of the magazine every week.
The main story is about pregnancy in Eastenders, and includes images of the potential mothers with a question (“Who’s Pregnant”) in a large font and garish colour.
The layout follows a similar pattern weekly also, as there is a main headline story in the centre of the page, with 3 other stories at the bottom of the page – quite effectively laid out. This is because one story in bordered by a circle, and the other two are bordered by a horizontal line. I find this very effective and interesting, as it is another way of decorating the page, without using excess colour and font styles and sizes.
As with the contemporary music magazines “Kerrang” and “NME” Inside Soap includes the date, barcode and price in smaller font on the page. Similarly to Kerrang, at the bottom of the Inside Soap page is a bulletin with an “EXCLUSIVE!” which leads to a story about soap’s biggest star.

Heat Magazine Front Cover

Heat is a celebrity magazine, targeted at a different audience than that of music magazines NME and Kerrang. I have chosen to research into this magazine as the audience is different, I have found that there is no music magazine which is music based which writes about mainstream pop and RnB music, NME and Kerrang - the leading magazines include mainly about rock and indie music.
Heat magazine like all the magazines I have looked at includes a recognizable name font and colour. The colours are similar to the inside soap magazine, being yellow, pink, black, white and red. Also is a variety of text fonts and sizes, with some text on a slant. All this font enhancement creates a busy and exciting look, which entices customers to buy the magazine. Also, the celebrity magazine industry is very competitive, and therefore each magazine must stand out of the shelf.
Alike all the magazines there is a main story on the front page – in the middle and has the largest font attached.
Interestingly, above the main story are 2 sub stories which are in boxes, which is different to how inside soap presented the sub stories in circles and diagonal shapes.

Closer Magazine

Closer magazine is typically targeted at women. That may explain the colour scheme and that all the stories featured on the front page are about women. I have chosen to look at Closer magazine because I think that there isn’t a music magazine featured at this audience as the music magazines that I have come across are generally aimed at the teenage rock culture. I have found by analyzing the front page that there are some similarities to other women’s weekly magazine “Heat”. Such as the magazine sum up, “Celebs + Real Life + Fashion + TV”, heats magazine definition on the front page is “This week’s hottest celebrity news”. Other items on the front page such as the date, barcode and price are generally necessary items and are featured on all of the magazines I have looked at. The main story is the focus of the page, with other stories surrounding it, this is also a common feature on all of the magazine I have looked at. Similarly most of the magazines include a quote from an interview from either the main story or one of the additional stories. This seems to be a marketing ploy, so once the reader has read the quote – they are then enticed into buying the magazine to read the full story. Unlike the other magazines Closer includes a “bubble” at the bottom of the page, including a story. I thought this a funny place to put the bubble as I thought it would probably look best in a corner. However, I think it is in the middle because there are two cover stories, so the bubble in the middle would balance the page. However, Kerrang magazine have included a film real to contain a story in the bottom left of the page, I think that this is interesting when looking at the page because it is more than just a box with a title then a picture.

From this research

I have looked at several magazine front covers, from different genres and have found some similarities and differences between them.
All the magazines I studied included a bar code, date and price; this is something that I will have to include on my front cover to make it look legitimate. I also found that the title of the magazine on all the covers is situated in the top left corner of the page, and is consistently the same. This makes the magazine easily identifiable.
However, there are clear differences between the music magazines NME and Kerrang, and Inside Soap and Heat. The latter two are specifically aimed at a different audience, being predominantly women and most likely housewives -whereas NME and Kerrang are for the younger more “retro” audience. The differences are identifiable as colours are much simpler in the music magazines. The music magazines include one main image, whereas the soap and celebrity magazines contain many more, especially inside soap, where 5 large images dominate the front page. This is something I have been influenced to include in my music magazine, lots of images and lots of colour on the front page of my music magazine. I think that as I have chosen to create a magazine about mainstream Pop music, the magazine will be closely linked to the soap and celebrity magazines, rather than the alternative music magazines, simply because of the similarities of the audience I intend my music magazine to reach out to.


As I have not only looked at music magazines, but also women’s weekly’s and a soap magazine I can make much more justified decisions when I come to create the front page to my music magazine. This is because I can consider a variety of audiences and different techniques each magazine has used to entice their audience. The biggest difference I have found between the music magazines and the women’s weekly magazines is the colour scheme. All but this and the magazines are relatively similar, including a main story, quotes and captions, pictures and an exclusive bulletin at the bottom of the page. From this research I can gather that the audiences are different which results in the difference of colour, and the type of stories included. I have found that mainstream pop is not really reported heavily in either magazines, mainstream singers such as Cheryl Cole is not giving interviews about new albums, but about personal lives in Closer and heat magazines. Similarly in the music magazines, the target audience are not concerned about mainstream pop and therefore stories about this is not reported, it’s all rock and metal. Therefore I have decided that my music magazine will target a more mainstream audience including issues about music by mainstream artists.eH

Audience Research & Feedback

Below is a questionnaire that has been filled in;

Below is a graph to show some aspects of audience feedback;

Findings from Questionnaire

To gather information for my questionnaire, I based myself in the school foyer at lunch time and asked all available people to fill in my questionnaire. This included mainly students aged between 12-18 but also office staff, teachers walking by and school visitors. I tried to get a balance of different genders too. The questions I asked were mainly to do with the front covers of magazines; I asked if the front cover of a magazine was more influential in buying it over the price. I just wondered because when I go and buy a magazine I often don’t look at price and just see which magazine has the most exciting front cover of the genre I typically buy. I found that the majority of participants, like me, are not loyal to one magazine but drift the market and buy the magazine with the most exciting front cover. However, in a follow up conversation with a group of participants, they said that they do buy the one with the best front cover, but it always ends up being the same magazine they buy. Therefore the front cover is hugely important to represent the content of the magazine on the shelf and to stand out from the other magazines so that it gains the most sales. From previous research in the AS exam, I looked at how magazines were stacked on the shelves – this also plays an important role in marketing because where each magazine is placed either gives it more or less viewing from walkers by – which potentially lead to sales.
A question I asked was “how often do you buy a magazine”, I think that this is important because finding out how regular each individual of my sample buys or reads a magazine will affect the validity of their responses in the later questions. Those who are regular readers will be able to give me a reliable answer and have justified opinions. I then asked a qualitative question; this is where the participant wrote down all they could think of relating to the front cover of a magazine. I got all sorts of responses from some of the younger end of the sample who were perhaps not taking the questionnaire seriously. Most answers however gave me the information what I wanted, meaning that they were rationale and related well to the magazines I have already looked at. The audience expects what the front cover of the magazines includes. Therefore I can go and design my magazine front cover and understand what the audience expects to be included.

Brainstorm of Ideas

Below is a brainstorm of ideas which I feel should be on a magazine front cover.

Introduction

Introduction

This blog will cover all the research and planning for my Media AS coursework project. I am creating a front page of a music magazine, together with a contents page and a double page spread for the magazine. I (Fred Ellis) am the contributor for all 4 parts of this coursework project, I felt that I would rather work alone so that I can carry out all the work in my own time, and as this is a resit, the whole project is done in my own time. I intend on carrying out this peice of coursework during the easter holidays. As this is a resit, my A2 coursework takes priority in school time, along with my other subjects, and is why i have therefore decided to get the bulk done in the easter holidays. I don't have Photoshop at home, so will get this done at school within the first week back, and then all the evaluation after that.

Below is how I intend to plan my time. I have created a plan on excel, and then printed them out and stuck them inside my Media AS coursework folder. Once I complete each task I will cross it out so that I know where I am.