Contents page

The use of headphones establish the fact that this person (me) has a singing talent. Therefore, it shows that this celebrity is used for a reason. Although, I believe that this image cannot be used for a front cover, because it's a mid shot and I was planning to use a full size image of this person which would be a long shot, that is typical. On the other hand, I have considered to use this image for contents page or for an interview of this celebrity, that I'm yet to give a name to.

Planning and Research (photoshoot)

I have arranged a photo shoot of myself for my music magazine. Since, I have decided my magazine to be an R&B music magazine, I considered to put a a female on the front cover to establish a romantic genre. This shows that my magazine will mainly attract females as they like to show their emotions and my music magazine is based on that. This will include music like - slow jams, love songs etc. Although, my ideal reader could also be a guy that feels attraction towards women, therefore it could be argued what my target audience could me. This illustrates that my magazine would have a variety of fans.



(If used - still to be edited)



Magazine conventions;

It is important to make sure that the type of language is used is appealing to the audience that my magazine is going to attract. Therefore, the type of language that I’m going to use is formal, yet exciting and entertaining, since it’s a music magazine and it involves media and gossip. So, the mode of address is the way the media represents and addresses the target audience.  It is also important to consider other types of language that could be used, like slang, humorous and seriousness,  since I have decided my audience to be between  17 to 25, yet they might be different from one another, and some prefer humorous text rather than serious. So I need to make sure it includes both to attract my ideal reader. Although, the use of images also attract readers attention which shows that the pictures used should be appealing and outstanding.      

This is one of the music magazines that I researched to illustrate that both text and image used stand alone and is very clear to read.

               

Front cover and Contents page

(This is suppose to be white)

I have constructed a rough draft front cover of a music magazine. This will help me to take steps towards making my actual front cover and over think if anything could still be changed as I'm still at the planning stage. As we look at this front cover, we are able to identify the key concepts of a front cover of a magazine, for example - "Title." It illustrates where my masthead is going to be placed. I think it is very effective to place it at the top of the page as the title suppose to stand out and inform the ideal audience what they are reading.

                                           What I'm trying to portray throughout my Contents page 

(This is suppose to be white)

Target audience for a music magazine

In today's lesson I considered the target audience that my music magazine is going to attract. Therefore, I had to think about the age, gender, ethnicity, social class and religion that those individuals are. This is significant in order to attract the traget audience. For example, older audience are likely to read a magazine that is written formaly, rather than informally that contains slang.
Therefore, I have considered that my magazine should be aimed

Research - visiting WHSmith

Due to my research, on the 6th of November I visited WHSmith to clarify why dissimilar magazines have been placed in a particular section for display. I have also taken few images to show how have been the magazines placed. I have discovered that those magazines have been placed in particular areas for a reason and not randomly, For example ; Music, Film TV & imaging, Men's Lifestyle followed by Gaming were placed in order, as they all have something in common which is media. This visibly illustrates that it is significant to put different magazines in correct section. Also, this makes it easier for the readers to identify where their preferred magazines lay. Also magazines like - "Working Mother" are likely to be placed beside 'Home & Garden," due to the fact that mothers attention could also be drawn to those particular magazines. This method is not only done to make it easier for the readers and viewers to find their most favourite magazine, but it's done, since it's easier to grab the audience attention as they would buy the selling magazine. Therefore, this advertises the following magazines.

Research a music magazine

In today's lesson (4th November 2010 - Thursday) I investigated a magazine called - "Terrorizer." First of all, I was aimed to find the price of this music magazine and who is the publisher. Due to my research I found out that the cost of this Music magazine was - £3.99 and was also published by Dark Arts Ltd - Miranda Yardley. What's more, this particular music magazine is released every four weeks and with thirteen issues a year. Also, what had caught my eye is the strong eye catching image that has been used within the front cover of this music magazine. This clearly illustrates that this magazine is based on heavy metal music.
Furthermore, down to my research I have figured the number of adverts that appear in this music magazine and their dissimilarities. I have discovered that this magazine has been displaying the albums that are available to buy, although the price has not been shown.
Also, as I have looked more into this particular music magazine, I have noticed the features within it, for example;
Live reviews, use of slang, formal AND informal language, publicised. Also the tone used within this magazine is informal, but also sounds old. This particular magazine would most likely target older individuals. However, the amount of images used would also attract the younger audience, as there is more chances for them to pick up this magazine and read it, as they wouldn't be as much interested in the text displayed. Therefore, from my perspective I believe that comparison images and writing, it both share equal percentage (50% - 50%) the space used within the music magazine.

Planning and Research - a girly music magazine

I have picked another music magazine that portrays a 'girly' type of a magazine. This is clearly portrayed, throughout the use of colour and font. As we look at the front cover, we can confidentially tell that it's directed to girls/ladies without even reading it. The fact that a female is also used, within this front cover also symbolises that this mag. is for girls only. However, girls aged 16 and over might not be the only audience that this is targeted to, since another aaspect members might be also reading this particular magazine, for example - gays, since they are more likely to be interested in fashion that is displayed on the left hand side of this front cover of a music magazine- "Fashion & Beauty."

Flat planning a music magazine !

• In today's lesson we ensured that the images we develop, have to be appropriate in order for the product to be constructed. Therefore, how I conceive of the intended images is paramount.

So, I have picked an example to show how a contest page might look like, within a music magazine;

It clearly portrays that this magazines - "The Beat" theme is R&B/Hip-Hop, as the costumes used within the images illustrate so. Therefore, this tells us that the choise of colour scheme or the pictures used are in order to communicate to the target audience the ideal reader for this particular magazine. So, due to this research I'm now be able to decide the images, colour and font that I'm going to use throughout MY project. Although, I have not yet decided what type of music my magazine is going to exhibit.

Front Cover & Contents

Planning and Research for Music Magazine !

I have selected two music magazines, in order to portray how this particular magazine should be displayed. For this reason, I'm going to be analysing the conventions of these two music magazines. 
The image used within this magazine, visibly illustrates a well known artist - Chris Brown that is an icon, for those who are into R&B, Hip-Hop or is a big fan of Chris Brown. Therefore, this particular image has been used in order to attract the readers and inform the target audience about the performer/artist.
What's more, the text used is also a very significant part of any particular magazine. Although, as this is a music magazine, it's important to display a musician within the front cover of a music magazine.




Also, I have chosen another music magazine that has a female artist within the front cover. This magazine is more likely to attract ladies, than men. However, the choise of captions, portray that this magazine is not only for men -"Chris Paul sabing basketball..." Also the choise of colours inform that this magazine is not only for one particular gendre, since the colour of the writing isn't girly pink or navy that is more likely to be seen within men's magazine.

Magazine Conventions

21^st October 2010 Lesson

In today’s lesson, we discovered what the mode of address means, since today’s lesson was about the conventions of magazines. Therefore, the mode of address is the way the media represents and addresses their target audience. So, this is also linked to the ideal reader (target audience) and also my existing research. In order for this to be successful, it’s significant to consider the following;

·         Style of writing

·         Use of slang

·         Is it writing formal or informal?

·         The quality of what is being written

·         Is it humorous or serious

Therefore, due to my previous research (questionnaire) I now know that an exciting look is more appealing, due to the fact that my target audience are youths. However, I believe that slang wouldn’t be suitable, since my target audience are students; however some of them are younger and may not be familiar to this specific language used. Although, it suggests that I may also be using formal language, because since this is a school’s magazine it is important to make the magazine look appropriate and not get carried away, by making it look as if it was a simple teen’s magazine. Also, in order to grab their attention, I have to consider if it should be humorous or more serious. Therefore, I have come to a conclusion and decided that teenagers don’t like to take life seriously just yet, but what they don’t realise is that school is just as important, in order to achieve their goals that they are aiming for. This visibly illustrates that I should be using both methods, because the students wouldn’t bother opening the magazine if the front cover would have a serious look that would portray schools misery. Therefore, I chose to use a fun look in order to make the students read the magazine and get something new out of it, in order to make them take the first step towards their career.

Also, what I have considered to be important is that the use of images also attracts many readers’ attention, and not only youths. However, teen’s would like to see on a school magazine something exciting, that would make them look inside the magazine and read all about it. Therefore, this would make the magazine look appealing for my target audience – students.

Answers to my questionnaire;

Answers to my questionnaire

After I have collected my questionnaire, I have recognised some significant parts within a school magazine front cover. Due to my questionnaire, I have considered some ways to attract my target audience; this was due to the fact that for my first question, majority answered;

“5, ever since that is the first thing the reader would see, if you don’t have a front cover that draws the attention of your reader, then they will not bother to open it.”

This clearly portrays that a front cover is the most significant establishment of a magazine. Therefore, the front cover has to look appealing and attractive, in order to draw readers’ attention. For example, the font and the colour of the writing have to match with the main image that might be used within a front cover of a school magazine.

Also, another important question that I have picked out, was the forth question – “Do you prefer more formal approach or exciting look within school magazine  give reasons, for your answer.” I thought this question is very significant, due to the fact that it gives me a clear image of what students would like to see within a front cover of a school magazine. Therefore, as I questioned this, it suggests that school has been stereotyped as boring and not exciting, therefore, my magazine would attract my target audience if it had an ‘’enthusiastic’’ representation . So, if I chose to make my front cover ‘formal’ it would stereotype my school as boring and dull.

Although, mean whilst the pupils answered the following question, they still considered that formality is as important as an ‘exciting’ image given for the chosen school, for the reason that school is a step to a better life and is taken seriously. This could be done, by using methods like competitions to make students take part in different activities and learn something vital too.

In addition, as you can see I have collected my research through using a questionnaire. This helped me to relate to other people perspectives and how they feel about a front cover. This gave me an idea how my front cover should be perceived.

For front cover of my school magazine, I design a questionnaire that I will be later handed out to the current students within my school. This would be done, due to the fact that I need to consider and take notice of other individuals (students) opinions. This is vital, because as I would be asking the target audience those questions, it will demonstrate me what is significant within the front cover of a school magazine and also the contents page. This would make my task more successful, as I would take the student views for consideration and try doing something about it.

1.)     From 1 to 5, 5 being the highest, how vital do you think the appearance of a front cover of a school magazine is? Give reasons, for your answer.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

2.)    If you were to design a front cover of a school magazine, what would you consider as the most significant part? Explain your answer, if possible.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

3.)    What would you like to see on a front cover of a school magazine, and how would this attract the target audience?

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

4.)    Do you prefer more formal approach or exciting look within school magazine? Give reasons for your choice.

_______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Magazine front cover

Overall, the posters that I have chosen helped me to overcome some of the matters that I have been having with my “school magazine,” ever since I couldn’t decide on the colours that I will be using later on in my project. So, it visibly demonstrated to me that it is important to use colours that would attract both male and female as part of my target audience – teens. Also, since my magazine is for students between 16 -19 it is vital to use exciting colours, rather then dull that would mostly attract elders only.

Research

This is a mid. shot of a student, in a learning environment. I have taken this image, in order to clarify that my magazine is a school magazine, since it’s visible that this picture has been taken in school. The mid. shot is able to show what the student is doing and also to portray what is behind him. Although, whilst this picture was taken, I did not consider the person behind the student that I was aiming to take a picture of and as a result, this process is no longer successful, because I will not be able to use it for my school magazine. Although, I might be able to edit it with Photo shop if that would be appropriate.

Target Audience for a magazine

7^th October 2010 – Media lesson

In today’s lesson we investigated on some of the magazines. This illustrated the ideal readers (target audience.) This was due to the fact that we examined it in more detailed and asked our selves questions like – “What TV shows do they watch?” This helped us to consider what type of audience could be reading this magazine, e.g. – one of the magazines that I surveyed was “Visor Down” and me and my partner decided and judged that the “TV” shows that this person would be watching reality shows like –“Top gear” and action films, ever since the target audience would be those who are into motorbikes or even an average cars. 

 This research helped me to question myself, whenever I do my own school magazine that I need to consider my target audience and if everything that I put into my front cover is suitable.

Media Text;

 Research from 5th October 2010

In the previous lesson, we identified how media text can create representation for an audience. This clarified that it is incredibly significant to make sure the colors and font that is being used would appeal to teens. However, it should also intend to both girls and boys. Therefore, I have researched one of a school magazine that show how it should look like, if you want your magazine to be set to both genders. 

This school magazine front cover clearly portrays that the colour used is successful, because it’s intended for both genders, because it isn’t a girlie or masculine colour and could be argued that it’s proposed in cooperation for boys and girls.Furthermore, I have also discovered that it is important to choose the right image, for a front cover, due to the fact that it could appear stereotypical. E.g. – to see a group of students learning is stereotypical as they are in a school environment and that’s what we as a audience would expect to see on the front of a school magazine. Although, some magazines might have something on the front cover that you wouldn’t expect for a school magazine to have, e.g. – prizes. However, this is what would attract the target audience to read the magazine, because it would sound exciting and would give motivation for the students to do better at their learning.  

Evaluation for chosen existing teen movies;

Overall, the posters that I have chosen helped me to overcome some of the matters that I have been having with my “school magazine,” ever since I couldn’t decide on the colours that I will be using later on in my project. So, it visibly demonstrated to me that it is important to use colours that would attract both male and female as part of my target audience – teens.

American Pie 2;

Furthermore, I have also chosen to survey – “American Pie 2.” The reason for this is, because it’s a very good example to illustrate a teen movie poster. It visibly exemplifies that this is a thrilling movie, as the image used appears to be colorful and noticeable, due to the colors used. However, I believe that the characters could have been separated to show their position within the movie, so this could illustrate their role. Continuously, I personally think this image used doesn’t give details for what the movie is about; therefore it wouldn’t sell, as the audience wouldn’t be as interested, since from my prospective they would like to see what the film is all about, just by looking at the front cover/poster. 

Although a number of teen movies, don’t always relate to both sexual categories. I have chosen a perfect example – “Mean Girls’’ to illustrate so. The way the director represented his movie within his poster, demonstrates that this movie would be considered to be watched my teen girls only. The reason for this is ever since he used girlie colors like – pink. This clearly shows that the target audience would be ladies. 

 However, guys could also be watching this movie, since the poster portrays four attractive females. Therefore, it suggests that they might also want to see this film. 

Continuously, I also like the way director chose to use his color combination, since the writing font matches with what the girls are wearing on the right hand side. Although, the teenager on the left is wearing dissimilar color (red) top, from anybody else in the poster, which doesn’t even match the color of the ‘tag line’ or the ‘masthead.’ Nevertheless, the reason for this was to make the girl on the left to stand out, ever since we can clearly see that she’s the protagonist. 

Also, what has drawn my focus is the contrast that has been made by means of the masthead. The effect of this is to show the target audience that the girl on the right hand side, does not get along with those girls that are on the other side of the movie poster. This is significant as it tells the audience what the movie is based on. Therefore it attracts the viewers, as they would be asking themselves to why have these girls have split up in two different teams. So, I believe this method is very significant as it is very straight forward and easy to identify, why this has been done, because it not has only been used to make the poster look appealing.

Existing Teen Movies;

Existing teen movies:

I have explored on some particular teen movies that I think are very significant within my research, due to the fact that it indicates what today’s youths are like. I have chosen – “John Tucker must die,” Mean Girls” and “American Pie 2.” I believe those movies are going to illustrate the idea of my subject, since teenagers are clearly portrayed within those posters. Although, the posters don’t have to include youths within the poster, because the director could have used variety of colors that are intended for teenagers and therefore an image is not needed. However, I have chosen those movies that embrace teens within them, in order to demonstrate what a teen movie poster should or could look like. The font and color is very important, since this is what mainly attracts youths, because they are attracted to exciting and fascinated things.

Continuously, I have chosen to explore on “John Tucker must die.” The reason for this is because I think many teenagers think this is an exciting movie that might relate to their lives. Also, the way the teenagers have been presented, signifies that this movie is about a boy that has many girl fans, ever since he’s surrounded by four exclusive ladies. For this reason, it symbolizes that this movie is for teenagers as this situation is more likely to occur in teen lives. Although, an easier way to portray that this movie is for teenagers, because it demonstrates that the target audience is {12.) Also, the choice of colors suggests that is an exciting movie, due to the fact for the colors used. The colors used also imply that the “guy” (John) in the middle is the guy that those girls are all after, for the reason that his clothing has different colors, therefore the main focus is on him as he’s the protagonist. Also, for this poster a slogan is used. The way it has been layered out, indicates that this movie has its up and downs, ever since these four girls are all chasing after a very popular guy, within their school.

 24^th September 2010 –update.

Due to the survey I did on the 23^rd of September, I was be able to decide which “Title” I was going to use for my school, magazine.  The pie chart below shows exactly how I gathered my information.

Being Competitive – 0

Victory – 1

Successful – 1

Reaching for success – 12

The Best – 4

Aim High – 1

This pie chart demonstrates, that the majority of the votes gained ‘’Reaching for success.” This is essentially, because students in my school thought, it stands out the most, and is a very short powerful statement, which would suit my school magazine, ever since it is not a long masthead, but yet very authoritative. Conversely, I also thought that both of the words make sense on it’s possess. This is significant, since they both have different meanings, e.g. – “Reaching” implies that everyone strikes to be the best and compete with their same aged groups, whereas “success” already illustrates achieved accomplishment. However, in order to make this statement (“Reaching for success”) to stand out, I need to consider the size, colour and type of writing within the magazine used. Further into my research I will demonstrate some of the few examples I have chosen, which will illustrate the flourishing and comprehensible mastheads of a school magazine. Although, the other few mastheads that I congregated in my survey weren’t as appealing as “Reaching for success” and “The Best.” Therefore, I considered that they weren’t going to be as influential as the ones that gained the most votes. This is mainly, because the individuals that I questioned were those that were in a learning environment, and as a result their opinion is the most significant, since they are the key audience that are going to pick up this magazine. Consequently, the headline has to stand out, in order to attract this audience.

Ideas towards my - project

What’s more, I have considered few alternatives that I might use for my school magazine and contest page. This is mainly due to the use of colours. I think this part of planning is the most significant, as colours is what attracts the audience, before they pick up a magazine. Therefore, the appeal has to be well organised, planned and structured, in order to advertise my product well. However, the structure of writing has to be layered out really clearly and visible. This is, due to the fact that if the writing stands out, but what has been said is not as appealing then my magazine wouldn’t be as successful, because students would like to hear something exciting, e.g. – “Winning Awards at the end of each term.” This would motivate them to do better in their studies; meanwhile the magazine would do better as well, ever since they would pick it up, due to the fact that the magazine would give those students a huge encouragement towards their learning.