Initial Ideas Mind Map

After all of my research i made this mind map to give me ideas on how to present my magazine. I used all of the polls i took to get an accurate view of the audience and what they like in regards to contents. This will allow me to aim the magazine and its contents at the right audience and demographic. Also this research has let me determine that the cheaper the price the more people will want to buy it and the average price of a music magazine is about £2-£3, this will hopefully achieve a good balance between a good cheap price and a reasonable price for manufacturing. Also, i have used the conventions i have researched and analysed to get an idea of how the picture should be made which lets me create an effective and professional looking photo for the front cover and the double page spread images. 

Photoshoot continued

In the previous post i has some of the images i took for the magazine. I think i will use many of them because i believe that many are effective images and could be used in the final product. The image with the subject covering her face with a bandanna could be used for the Double page spread but nothing else because of the fact it is in a landscape format and wouldn't really fit in with the other images style as well. However, i could also use the image with two people in the shot pulling at a guitar. I think that it is the right type of image for the magazine an the subject matter within the shot suits my magazines genre well so it could be used in the magazine itself. I also have a lot of images that could be used on the contents page because they are quite generic and simple; with the right caption these could be used along side main images as headings for feature stories throughout the magazine. For example the image wit the subject on her own in front of some newspapers on the wall could be used on the contents page effectively - promoting a story about her but not grabbing too much attention because it is not the main story in the magazine. 

Photoshoot images

Layout Draft - Double Page Spread

Double page spread layout

The layout for the double page spread that i made is based on other magazines use of this style of article. I noticed that each one had a different style and layout, depending on the style of the content. This made me reconsider what the layout should be so i made a generic layout, letting me change the layout depending on the image and the article itself. I think that i will represent this layout draft but it may change if the image represents something different to the layout of page.

Layout draft - Contents

Contents layout

I used other magazines to decide were everything should go on the contents page and i was really careful to try and not make the page look crowded but also not allow too much free and empty space which would make the image look messy and boring. I think that the layout is effective and it diverts attention to the right places of the page with the sizes of the boxes. The text must be quite small but also attention grabbing so people will instantly see what they are looking for and want to see in the magazine.

Layout Draft - Cover

Cover Layout

This is my layout draft for the music magazine front cover. I used other examples of music magazines to get the conventions for the layout of the cover and were everything is usually placed. I also wanted to make it look more unique to make it distinguishable from other magazines as well so it doesn't look generic. For the main photo i would more than l likely use a medium close up o suit the conventions of the genre

Practice Photoshoot

Practice Photos 2

These images were taken at the same time because after taking the image on the right, i noticed that the composition made the image look a bit rushed and it made the image less effective because it was not thought through at all and was just rushed. This made me take the photo again, but this time i took it while considering the composition and tried to use the same sort of framing used in a music magazine. I tried to get either a medium close up or a medium shot to make it suit the conventions and i made her be positioned off to the side of the image. I think that this made the composition effective but the lighting of the image is isn't because it lights up the wall more than her; making the wall stand out more than her. I think i need to learn how to use the lighting effectively and will learn soon otherwise i will struggle to take effective images for the final product.

Practice Photoshoot

Practice Photos 1

 These photos were taken in front of a newspaper background. The this was the first time i used the lighting equipment and the studio and i think i still need to get used to the effect the lighting can have on the image. This has caused some shadows on the background which can be seen in the left image. This causes the image to look less professional and less streamlined because it makes the background standout more than the people in it. The image on the right is quite effective apart from the fact that the edge of the wall is visible, making it seem less suited for a professional magazine. Also, some shadows are visible on the backdrop. I think that i could improve these images if i spend some more time focusing on the lighting and composition of the image and not just the costumes and models positioning.

Uses and Gratifications Theory

Uses and Gratifications theory

This provides the use of media based on the physiological needs of an individual. The consumer and the audience uses or buys the media product for their own gratification.

Based in 4 main reasons of why the audience may want to consume the media text:

Cultural Transmission

Entertainment

Correlation

Surveillance

In 1974 Researchers Blulmer and Katz published an updated version of these reasons based on why we would use a piece of media text.

Diversion - Escape form everyday routine

Personal Relationships - using media as emotional / intellectual interactions

Personal Identity - finding yourself reflected in texts

Surveillance - using media text to gain information that is useful for living

As time and technology has changed and expanded so have these reasons, particularly with new technologies such as Video Games and the internet.

http://www.mediaknowall.com/as_alevel/alevkeyconcepts/alevelkeycon.php?pageID=audience

Demographics

Demographics 

Measurable characteristics of media consumers such as age, gender, race, education and income level.

It is important to know the correct demographic when creating a magazine because it ensures that the correct target audience is aimed for and the topics and other issues attract them. If the magazine doesn't appeal to the correct demographic, the magazine will fail. for example if the magazine is aimed at people who are working class but costs too much, they wont be able to afford it so the magazine wont sell to the working class and the higher classes wont be attracted to the magazine because it wont be aimed at them as an audience. However if the magazine is aimed at the correct demographic.

Below is an example of a demographic table, this outlines the different classes of people and what their life stereo typically involves. This will help aim the magazine at the right people and make sure it suits the correct class of people.

My Demographic

From the polls i have conducted i have realised that my key audience prefers a cheaper fortnightly magazine and they are mostly in the E/D group of the above table because the are teens and many do not have jobs. This means the magazine cannot appeal to the elite but the everyday teenager who like this genre of music. Also the use of free items is a key influence for my target audience which i will have to include in my final piece because the poll shows it will increase the chance of my demographic being attracted to the magazine. 

Poll results 2

Poll 1

I asked people when they think a magazine should be published and how often. I noticed that people prefer to have a magazine be published every fortnight. I think that this will let me judge how much stuff should be in the magazine and how it should be communicated. For example if a magazine was published monthly, the articles must be much more concise and informative so it can get everything in while a weekly magazine can be more spread out but less substantial because of the lack of news to cover.

Poll 2

This poll asked whether a free gift or offer would encourage someone to buy the magazine. I found that it almost always will so i will use this on the cover of my magazine to attract an audience into buying it.

Poll 3

This poll asked people how much they think is a reasonable price for a music magazine. I chose the prices based on the variety of prices i found other music magazines to be. I found that people prefer a magazine price to be low as possible so i think that i will be able to use this on my front cover to advertise a lower price; causing more interest.

Genre Example - Florence and the Machine

Florence and the Machine - Kiss with a Fist

This music video fits the same genre i have chosen and i think that this is most suited to the conventional style used by the genre with all the cheap effects but fast pace and energetic feel making the video feel more intense and vibrant throughout. I wish to achieve this effect through the use of colour and text style 

Genre Example - Two Door Cinema Club

Two Door Cinema Club

This video also shows the type of music i wish to use as the main genre of my magazine. I notice that the use of colour is very distinctive which i think sets this genre apart from the others because each example is different and unique. I think i could include this in my main design by using a very distinctive colour scheme on each page but also keeping the same consistent theme.

Genre Example - Muse

Muse - Madness

This is the sort of music i want my magazine to be like and i aim to make it represent this particular type of music. Muse are also on the front cover on Q magazine which could be used as an example as to how this type of music is represented on a cover or double page spread

Poll results

I made some polls on my blog to find out what my target audience thought about certain issues regarding a music magazine. I hope this will help me create a music magazine that is suited to them and will attract the right audience effectively

Poll 1

This poll was about what people were interested in. I used four things that were likely to be used on a double page spread and asked people which they believe is the most interesting to be used. I found that the reviews was the most popular with interviews and recent music news being close behind. I will try to use all these in the magazine because i think they are the most relevant to the music magazine genre. Also, i will research how these are made to look effective and how they are used correctly in real magazines, this should help me decide whether to include them in my magazine and how i will produce them

Poll 2

This poll was about what made people want to buy the magazine in the first place, in regards to the front cover. The result of the poll shows that people are more interested in the main picture than the colour or the masthead. This could include how the picture is taken, who is in it or how it is used but i think i must research into how the front covers image can be produced effectively, helping the magazine seem effective and more professional. The poll also shows hat some people are more interested in the name of the magazine and its status in the music world. I think i have a grasp on the concept of a magazines image and status but i must research it to fully understand how it is used to its full potential.

Poll 3

This poll asked people what they thought the main audience is for a music magazine and the answers reinforced what i already knew about the audiences and who they are. The older teens and early 20's are the most likely to buy i a music magazine while younger teens can sometimes buy them but are less likely. This poll will hopefully help me target my magazine at the correct audience and the right people without it looking to vague and not attracting any of them.

Poll 4

This poll asked people how they magazine should feel and what pace it should have. This is because different magazines have different paces, for example; Q has a slower and more intellectual pace, creating a more professional and relaxed vibe, while Kerrang! is more fast paced and energetic creating a less serious and more fun magazine. The results show that people prefer this type of magazine because it shows that 80% of people who voted prefer the fast paced (even though the poll said Fat paced by accident) and concise magazine. I think that this is because the target audience prefer the genre of music that is related to this type of pace and magazine. This will allow me to make the magazine the right style to suit the audience and will hopefully keep them interested in it without going over the top

Genre Moodboard- Indie Rock

This moodboard contains images relevant to the genre of music i have chosen. I noticed the most of the images are in black and white and look quite gloomy but stylish at the same time which i think is a convention of the genre and i think i will use it in my images during the final pieces.

Genre Decision Summary

Genre - Indie Rock

I have decided to do the magazine based on an Indie Rock Genre. I have chosen this because i enjoy this genre and also i feel that it uses a more creative style and lets me be more creative like the image above which i think accurately represents what i am interested in. I think i have effectively researched the genres conventions and how it uses them to create a recognizable feel. Also, if i enjoy the genre of music itself and listen to it on a regular basis, i believe i will understand what the magazine should represent and the feel it should have. Furthermore  i believe it will allow the feel of the magazine be unique because each article and picture can be different if the content doesn't suit the style, letting it change accordingly.

Genre Mindmap

This mindmap will hopefully give me an idea on what genre to make my magazine and how to make it suitable for the people who read it, making it it an effective product in the process

Music Magazine Mind Map

Contents Page Analysis

Contents page Analysis

The page mainly uses a white background which is similar as the other contents pages of this magazine in other issues. The white background connotates the idea of purity and 'freshness' which suits the magazines theme. Also, the images are all varied in a number of different ways, one of which is the composition. The images all have a different composition, for example the picture of muse is a medium shot showing their whole bodies and showing their dominant stature, while the picture of John Lydon is a medium close up to show off the expression on his face.This makes each image distinguishable from the others making it easier to separate the different stories in the magazine. Also the red headings for the stories matches the style of the Q magazine logo which makes this recognizable as a Q magazine contents page. The use of the colours also hints connotations of the old chart standings available in newspapers and this keeps t the magazines retro but modern theme. The page also uses the same conventions as it usually does, the 'regulars' section is kept separate, the main story is made the biggest and most visible, the masthead is very prominent and visible and the images are all related to the stories they are involved in.

Q is a very large and well respected music magazine and most people trust them to deliver a sound verdict or judgement while a smaller magazine may not be. The fact that Q is so big means that there doesn't have to be much advertising for the magazine on the contents page and on the cover and it also allows the magazine to be recognized easily and know what it is associated with. 

The magazine is aimed at teenagers probably aged around 15-21 because it appeals to their tastes in music while also having the retro and rebellious theme which appeals to them. However the use of older artists can also appeal to older audiences as well because they will want to know their old favorites  are doing now. 

The main artist shown on this contents page is John Lydon and he is presented as a patriotic rebel like what he was in the sixties. This makes the audience think he is still as good as he used to be but he has matured a bit as well.

Music magazine Front Cover Analysis

Front cover analysis

The cover of this edition of Q magazine uses Muse as its main attraction, making them more dominant in the page. The caption to their image says; “where no band has gone before” which also relates to the background of the image which shows a space scene. This connotates the idea of the band being ‘out of this world’ and higher than anyone which relates to how this magazine and many others feel about a band as big as Muse, people see them as one of Britain’s or the world’s best bands at the moment so the use of the space background effectively presents this to the audience. The masthead is in the same place as it is in every issues and it the same bold red colour which keeps to the conventions of Q magazine and lets the reader instantly recognise the magazine as one for Q. Also, the bright bold red that it used connotates passion and love which relates to the attitude and lifestyle the magazine cover is trying to show, the artists and the audience are both very passionate about music and the general consensus of views on the magazine is that it has very high quality music and topics. The top of the magazine has a tear effect to separate the main cover subject and the other related stories and shows pull quotes. The tear effect connotates a rebellious theme which relates to the feature stories it is showing because they are about classic punk bands. The audience of this magazine is usually older teens but a lot of people in other audiences read this magazine, old and young. This means the cover is made to appeal to a wide range of readers, this is reflected on the variety of styles of images that are used. The image of muse is made to look more modern and sleek while the ‘punk pig out’ section at the top looks more like a classic punk rock album cover. This appeals to both older and younger audiences so the whole range of readers is targeted and is successfully attracted to the magazine.

Evaluation

Evaluation

I have most of the conventions I found while doing my research, to make the, magazine look more like an original magazine. I put the masthead in big letters at the top to make it instantly recognisable and let the audience know what the magazine is called. I also put the sky line at the top like in most of the magazines I have researched. I made each of the stories mentioned in the sky line a different colour to make each look different from the one before and the alternating colours used suits the colour scheme while also standing out form the rest of the cover. I have tried to use a medium close up o fit in with the conventions of a magazine cover but I think the image is more of a medium shot which lets the reader see the full person.

I have used the chosen colour because the colour green connotates the idea of prosperity and freshness which I feel will attract the correct audience. And the colour yellow connotates the idea of happiness and joy which is what I wanted because it wanted the magazine to be a light hearted one and feel less serious which it think will attract the key target audience because the magazine is aimed at people in their late teens and I feel that this target market will prefer a light hearted magazine to a serious and dull one.  I have also made the model hold some college folders to connotate the idea of this lifestyle being educational while the fact she is wearing casual clothes shows that the lifestyle is also casual. I think that this will attract the target audience because the people in the target audience will want and desire this lifestyle. Also, the use of stories that relate to the reader will attract the correct target audience because they will want to know how it will affect them or how they feel about it.

I have asked some people what they think about the magazine, they are in my target audience.

“It looks so interesting and I want to read the actual magazine”- Josh Burnett

“It looks informative”-Jack Bell

I think I would have to do a wider assessment of the target audience to see whether it is effective but the preliminary results show it to be good.

Using the technology has made me learn how to use Photoshop effectively and has let me see the capabilities of the technology.

I believe this cover is slightly effective because the image looks like it will meet the target audience because of the colour scheme and the use of a splatter style background to make the image look more rugged and less serious which will attract the target audience. Also, I believe that it meets most of the conventions whilst also creating some of the necessary media language to attract the target audience effectively. However I feel that the image I have used looks to sharp and the edges need to be smoother to make it look more professional.

Final Magazine Cover

Original images 2

In most of these images i tried to get a medium shot or medium close up to meet the conventions of a magazine cover. I chose the location in some of the images to get the logo of the college in the background and to show some of the scenery, i think this will relate to the college theme of the magazine and show some of the college's features.Like in the other images, I made the people in the images wear casual clothes and also have books or folders in their hands to say that college life is casual but also educational at the same time. 

Original Images 1

In the bottom images i tried to get some long shots of the college and set up some establishing shots so the cover could showcase some of the colleges locations on the front cover. In the top to I tried to get some medium shots and medium close ups to meet the conventions of a magazine cover. I tried to get some of the college in the background as well so it will fit in with the college theme. Also, I told her to hold some college folders while also dressing casually to connotate the idea of college life being casual and educational at the same time to attract the audience into the lifestyle.

Magazine Cover initial idea

This is a draft/ initial idea for my final piece. I used the conventions used in other magazines and tried to muse the right colours and image to create the same connotations as a professional piece  Also, think I will use some more pull quotes and feature stories to attract an audience and leave less empty space, making the piece look less vacant.

Magazine cover layout

This is the plan for the layout of a magazine front cover, using the conventions from the various examples I have seen in my research. 

Contents page layout

This is a plan for the layout of a contents page using the conventions I have noticed in the research

Magazine example and analysis

This cover uses a two-tone style for the images which has the connotations of being “urban” and it has a similar feel to banksy image which makes the images look more rebellious. The mast head is a similar colour and the same shape in each issue of the magazine which can make readers instantly recognise which magazine it is. The colour of the text changes in each issue to make each cover different and unique, it also make the masthead fit in with the colour scheme used on the cover.

The target audience for this magazine is people who are in college or other forms of education. This audience is effectively attracted because the colour scheme makes the image look more attractive and will grab attention while also suiting the target audience because the way the colours are “splashed” all over the page, makes the image look like a messy piece of graffiti (sort of). 

The text connotates a sense of importance because all the letters are in capital letters and stand out more, making them seem more important. Also, the way the text in the centre tilts, makes this text seem more important than the others because it stands out from the straight angled title.

The images used in the cover show people having lots of fun. This gives connotations of the activities the magazine is advertising being fun and makes the audience like and want that sort of experience, making them want to know more and therefore read the magazine.

This magazine is therefore effective because it attracts the target audience and makes someone want to read the magazine through the ideas commutated through visual and media language.

Contents page analysis

Contents page conventions

This is about the general conventions of a contents page of a magazine and what they do

Framing

This post is about the different types of framing available and whether they can be used in college magazine

Extreme Close up

This is used to draw emphasis to a specific point or in the case above; emotion/face. These make the viewer see the intended amount of detail in an image.

Close up

This is used for mainly the same reason as an Extreme Close up but it doesn't  create as much emphasis doesn't draw as much attention as the extreme close up.

Medium Close up

Medium close up shot shows someone from the chest up and is the most used type of framing in a college magazine.

Medium Shot

The Medium shot is of a person from the waist up. This is used to show a persons stature and is sometimes used in a college magazine.

Medium Long shot

This is a picture of someone from the legs up and is rarely used in a college magazine but it is sometimes.

Long Shot

This is used as an establishing shot to show the scene or show a landscape and is used in college magazines to show parts of a college.