In my media coursework for creating a music magazine, I had to analyse two existing music magazines from this I was able to get an idea on how to create my own.
I used and developed many forms and conventions, which is common in existing magazines such as “Kerrang” and “NME”. The conventions of a magazine are: the title, central image, magazine slogan, anchorage (supporting) text and colour scheme’s ensuring to not go beyond four colours as can confuse the reader. I also added buzz words, puffs, teasers and graphic features. Along with the obvious features within a magazine such as a Barcode, Date and the magazine price, usually positioned at the bottom right-hand corner of a magazine near the barcode.
In creating a title for my magazine I ensured to stick to the usual conventions such as placing the title at the top of the magazine so it attracts the audience’s attention and stands out to the reader. I took some time in thinking of a name that suited the genre of my magazine and I eventually came up with (Outrageous) this seemed most suitable and I liked the appearance of the font type I planned on using for this title.
The font title “Outrageous comes across as slightly corrupted this corresponds well with the name of the magazine associating the title with the intended audience.
The title of my music magazine is consistently printed on every other page throughout the whole of my magazine, I done this as it reminds the reader of the title of the magazine and gets into the mind of the reader so they can remember the magazine for future reference. I also kept to similar conventions such as the magazine “Vibe” as I kept the background a plain colour rather than using a photograph as this would overload the cover with to many colours confusing the reader. Plain colour backgrounds are consistent throughout my magazine as it enables the magazine to look professional and more writing can be produced it also emphasis’s my central image. I didn’t stick to the usual conventions of creating a slogan, as I wanted my magazine to differ a little, however I ensured to counter this by stating “WIN” features within my magazine attracting the reader/audience in wanting to know what they can win. As my magazines goes on producing I may change my mind and create a slogan as this would be something new and exciting for the reader to see. Anchorage text is additional information designed to “anchor” the text to one specific reason, for example anchorage text relating to the central image. I learnt in the media industry if a caption is added to an image the image is interpreted in a way that related to the caption. My central image she looks like she is about to throw a guitar:
And the anchorage text states “Hits back” which relates in some form to the central image, I kept anchorage text to a minimal to not annoy the reader with loads of text. I also ensured to stick to the usual conventions of no more than four colours throughout my magazine, I used a kerrang style basis for my colour scheme design using black as the dominant colour with some light colours such as white and green.I stuck to the usual magazine convention for my central image. Generally the main photographed image of many magazines is centred and displayed in colour, with the subject(s) using a direct mode of address. Often this result in making ‘eye contact’ with the audience, which in effect entices them to at least pick up and browse through the magazine, it also creates a personal relationship with the magazine and the reader
The person on the front cover is also usually well known of. I set out my central image as having a direct mode of address making eye contact with the reader and ensuring to use anchorage text, the person on my front cover is also a famous person so just seeing her on the front page many people already know who the person is without having to read the text first. Like most magazines my main image has been photoshoped to perfection as well as feathering the image so the image looks more glowing giving the image a “Pure” effect. I chose to use a mid-shot as it pulls the reader in straight to the image and seeing her clearly, I wanted her to come across closer to the reader to pull the reader straight to the image as this is my unique selling point.
In my contents I have used yet differed from the forms and conventions of a music magazine. In my contents page the magazines issue date is printed in addition to the front cover. I have linked my front cover and contents page by colour scheme as well as the house styles and font sizes this is consistent between the contents and front cover.
I have integrated text and image on the contents page, It is arranged in one set column and on the right hand side I used pictures with the page number beside it so the reader would be attracted by the pictures and go to the relevant page as I have one column id like to state that there would be a second page contents as I would like my page to be a double page contents so that more information of what is in the magazine can be shown to the reader easily. My contents page looks quite neat and organised however putting the images into boxes may have giving the contents more of a professional look. I also look different shot types for the photographs on the contents I used high angle shots to give the image edge and interest, I used low angle shots to show significance to the photo as well as making the reader feel like there more superior to this person which is ironic as there a celebrity in a magazine. I differed slightly as magazines such as kerrang have there information on the right hand side and pictures on the left however I done the opposite as I wanted my magazine to be slightly different.
My double page spread relates to the person who is on the front cover although on my front cover I stated “exclusive interview with John”, I thought it be best to do my double page spread on the person on the front cover as they are the central image attracting my audience to buy the magazine [USP]. The interview is based on music mixed with the stars personal life this intrigues the reader as they want to get gossip from the magazine. I ensured to put the magazines Title in the top left hand corner of the double page spread once again to remind the reader of the magazine so for future reference they can remember were they read an article from when they use “word of mouth” talking about the magazine. I used a bright Blue colour background this is a different to the plain black background on the contents and front cover, as I wanted to make the page stand out from the rest of the magazine, I used the same font throughout the double page spread as this would not confuse the reader and they would clearly be able to read the interview. I used quotes so that when the reader see’s the page the Quotes will attract the reader. I used a skill from Adobe illustrator to blend a image into the background so I could write on it and the reader would be able to read the text clearly as well as see the image, I set one page to have the main images on it so the reader knows who the interview is about I also used stronger bolder Fonts for the title of the interview. I set the first page out similar to what other music magazines do using pictures and a quotation that carries on to the next page I then started the second page with an introduction of who “Roxanne” is for those in my audience of might not no of her very well, I then also differed from usual magazine conventions by doing a little documentary in white writing what happened just before I started asking the questions this give my magazine a unique quality towards it. I also ensured to number each page helping to keep the magazine organised and so the reader knows what page they are on.
Q2. How does your music magazine represent particular social groups?
My music magazine represents a particular social group of both males and females my magazine is also aimed at those who enjoy the alternative scene music and is more aimed at the younger generation. How my magazine represents this particular social group is, the front cover has both males and females on it the central image being female they also appear to look like they fit into the stereotypical “alternative scene” through there appearance of body language and dress sense, my central image she is wearing casual clothes an dark makeup this could come across as representing alternative scene another image is of a male his hair is in his face this also shows the representation of alternative scene as this is commonly known to be the style of the alternative scene people. My central image the girl is giving a direct mode of address drawing the reader in she is holding a guitar almost as if she is about to throw it at the reader this is a stereotypical view of alternative being violent and crazy however I challenged this in my double page spread showing her to actually be a fun bubbly person, therefore my image is to be represented as she is strong minded. I also done close up shots so that the reader can clearly see what and who they are looking at. My magazine comes across to alternative scene people through the stereotypical representation on the front cover and the dark colours I used throughout the magazine showing this type of genre to be dark however I also used light colours such as white, blue and other light colours this connotes that this social group is not just “dark” but exciting and have a lot of energy. I chose to represent this particular social group as through my questionnaire results it deemed to be most successful as well as research I conducted stating this type of magazine is a popular trend in modern times and the music is growing in popularity.
Q3. Who would be the audience for your music magazine?
My target audience are those who are in or interested in the rock/ alternative scene; teenagers and young adults age range from around 14-24 however as the magazine deals with the rock/ alternate scene and music, along with the language used, it is aimed at the older audience as well. My magazine also has a variety of band features for example artists who are young adults to artists of an older generation. I have focused more on the age group 14-24 because they are the most important audience as they are more accessible for publicity on such things as social network sites, the interest in gigs, as well as purchasing of music. Gender is not a necessary factor as I planned my magazine to be unisex. My magazine is more for middle class people as they are more likely to see music as an outlet release from life and stress.
My target audience are those who are in or interested in the rock/ alternative scene; teenagers and young adults age range from around 14-24 however as the magazine deals with the rock/ alternate scene and music, along with the language used, it is aimed at the older audience as well. My magazine also has a variety of band features for example artists who are young adults to artists of an older generation. I have focused more on the age group 14-24 because they are the most important audience as they are more accessible for publicity on such things as social network sites, the interest in gigs, as well as purchasing of music. Gender is not a necessary factor as I planned my magazine to be unisex. My magazine is more for middle class people as they are more likely to see music as an outlet release from life and stress.
Q4.What kind of media institution might distribute your music magazine and why?
The media institution that would distribute my magazine would be the institution that distributes magazines like Kerrang, NME, Mojo and bauer. I done some research on bauer and found that they distribute magazines just as Q, Kerrang and Mojo they even own kerrang radio from research I found kerrang magazine has more male viewers than women. The media institution that is most suitable distributing my magazine is Bauer as they distribute many rock/alternative related magazines. Their business is built on millions of personal relationships with engaged readers and listeners. They also state that the magazine kerrang is for "Individually minded, independent of thought and musically experienced, an audience defined by attitude, passion and loyalty", which I believe are qualities for people who are interested in my magazine to have.
The media institution that would distribute my magazine would be the institution that distributes magazines like Kerrang, NME, Mojo and bauer. I done some research on bauer and found that they distribute magazines just as Q, Kerrang and Mojo they even own kerrang radio from research I found kerrang magazine has more male viewers than women. The media institution that is most suitable distributing my magazine is Bauer as they distribute many rock/alternative related magazines. Their business is built on millions of personal relationships with engaged readers and listeners. They also state that the magazine kerrang is for "Individually minded, independent of thought and musically experienced, an audience defined by attitude, passion and loyalty", which I believe are qualities for people who are interested in my magazine to have.
Q5. How did you attract/ address your audience?
To attract my target audience, I based my magazine on what my target audience likes. Being a music magazine, I based my magazine on rock/ alternative music. I featured a
Well known artist “Roxanne” and as she quit the music industry then had a comeback this was a good attractive feature for my audience to want to buy the magazine and find out what happened next. The title also attracts the audience as it says “Outrageous” and most alternative music is out going and exciting so the title illustrated the alternative scene. The language used is mostly universal but the magazine has some adult content in it, therefore my target audience is above pre-teens. The colour scheme used throughout my magazine is based on stereotypical views, a black background to represent the stereotypical dark side to alternative scene with white to show its not all dark it can be energetic and pure. The main image both attracts and addresses my target audience; my central image uses a direct mode of address and creates a personal relationship between the reader and the image therefore drawing in the audience in purchasing the magazine. The background is a plain black so it doesn’t confuse the reader when they read the text and see the images, as keeping it plain is more. The Price has been put into a double coloured star ensuring that the price stands out also making it come across to the reader as a good set price for the magazine keeping it efficient and affordable. In addition I added a competition to win tickets to go to Redding concert, this addresses my audience and will entice them to purchase my magazine to participate in the competition. The “Freebies” that come along with the magazine also is an attractive feature as it entices the reader to want to purchase the magazine even more. My contents page will attract my audience as I have chosen to stick to my set colour scheme linking the front cover with the contents. Some of the text has supporting images. My contents is nicely organised into a column with sections within the column. The title ‘contents’ uses creative feature writing making it look slightly unordinary a good feature to have as it gives the magazine a good appearance and shows its individuality compared to other music magazines of this genre. I have ensured the font size is of a reasonable size and therefore suitable for my audience. My double page spread also has qualities that appeals to my target audience such as the questions that have been asked; they are mainly based on rumours which is what my target audience would be interested in. Also the different images used intriguing the reader to know what “Roxanne” looks like. In addition to my interview, the first page of my double page spread is made up of a variety of pictures of the “Roxanne” as well as on the second page I blended a photo into the background so that I am able to write over it this rare in any existing music magazine I have seen so I think this will attract my target audience as the alternative scene is known for highly respecting “being different”.
To attract my target audience, I based my magazine on what my target audience likes. Being a music magazine, I based my magazine on rock/ alternative music. I featured a
Well known artist “Roxanne” and as she quit the music industry then had a comeback this was a good attractive feature for my audience to want to buy the magazine and find out what happened next. The title also attracts the audience as it says “Outrageous” and most alternative music is out going and exciting so the title illustrated the alternative scene. The language used is mostly universal but the magazine has some adult content in it, therefore my target audience is above pre-teens. The colour scheme used throughout my magazine is based on stereotypical views, a black background to represent the stereotypical dark side to alternative scene with white to show its not all dark it can be energetic and pure. The main image both attracts and addresses my target audience; my central image uses a direct mode of address and creates a personal relationship between the reader and the image therefore drawing in the audience in purchasing the magazine. The background is a plain black so it doesn’t confuse the reader when they read the text and see the images, as keeping it plain is more. The Price has been put into a double coloured star ensuring that the price stands out also making it come across to the reader as a good set price for the magazine keeping it efficient and affordable. In addition I added a competition to win tickets to go to Redding concert, this addresses my audience and will entice them to purchase my magazine to participate in the competition. The “Freebies” that come along with the magazine also is an attractive feature as it entices the reader to want to purchase the magazine even more. My contents page will attract my audience as I have chosen to stick to my set colour scheme linking the front cover with the contents. Some of the text has supporting images. My contents is nicely organised into a column with sections within the column. The title ‘contents’ uses creative feature writing making it look slightly unordinary a good feature to have as it gives the magazine a good appearance and shows its individuality compared to other music magazines of this genre. I have ensured the font size is of a reasonable size and therefore suitable for my audience. My double page spread also has qualities that appeals to my target audience such as the questions that have been asked; they are mainly based on rumours which is what my target audience would be interested in. Also the different images used intriguing the reader to know what “Roxanne” looks like. In addition to my interview, the first page of my double page spread is made up of a variety of pictures of the “Roxanne” as well as on the second page I blended a photo into the background so that I am able to write over it this rare in any existing music magazine I have seen so I think this will attract my target audience as the alternative scene is known for highly respecting “being different”.
Q6. What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing the product?
Through the production of creating my music magazine I learnt how to use Adobe Photoshop, which allowed me to make images look more attractive, also adding small features like getting rid of blemishes. I also know how to use Adobe illustrator, which helps in the creation of making magazines. I can now easily use the tools on both of these programmes. I know how to edit pictures on Photoshop and create documents in illustrator to a good standard. I have also learnt how to use a digital camera for my own personal gain and to correctly take reasonably good pictures for my magazine, learning how to frame the images to show meaning to the reader and different types of shots from long shots to medium and close up shots. I have also learnt how to create a blog (on blogspot.com). I learnt how to upload images, work, add friends, polls and move between blogs. The blog has also been very useful to me in helping me gain feedback on my work and what I can do to improve on it. I have learnt that in the media industry, technology is used to change images to the way the person or company deem acceptable which can change people’s perceptions and opinions of what is right; they also use airbrushing in Photoshop to alter people's appearances, weather they are made better looking, skinnier or younger so that they have a perfect image. This deceives the reader into believing they are unperfected, which can cause them trying to be like the fake perfection, which is within the image.
Through the production of creating my music magazine I learnt how to use Adobe Photoshop, which allowed me to make images look more attractive, also adding small features like getting rid of blemishes. I also know how to use Adobe illustrator, which helps in the creation of making magazines. I can now easily use the tools on both of these programmes. I know how to edit pictures on Photoshop and create documents in illustrator to a good standard. I have also learnt how to use a digital camera for my own personal gain and to correctly take reasonably good pictures for my magazine, learning how to frame the images to show meaning to the reader and different types of shots from long shots to medium and close up shots. I have also learnt how to create a blog (on blogspot.com). I learnt how to upload images, work, add friends, polls and move between blogs. The blog has also been very useful to me in helping me gain feedback on my work and what I can do to improve on it. I have learnt that in the media industry, technology is used to change images to the way the person or company deem acceptable which can change people’s perceptions and opinions of what is right; they also use airbrushing in Photoshop to alter people's appearances, weather they are made better looking, skinnier or younger so that they have a perfect image. This deceives the reader into believing they are unperfected, which can cause them trying to be like the fake perfection, which is within the image.
Q7. What do you feel you have learnt in the progression from the preliminary task to the full product?
From my preliminary task of producing a school magazine I learnt that a magazine should’t be to plain, as it will not attract the reader I also learnt that puffs are an attractive effect to have on a magazine and therefore I ensured to produce one on my Music magazine. I learnt that there is a ‘sweet spot’ where most people tend to look first and that the best information should be put there. I’ve also learnt putting a special effect around the price of a magazine is useful as this makes the reader think that the magazine is special as it’s at a good set price. Also there should be a balance in images and text, and the image you put on the front cover is a major influence on whether people will buy it or not. Using a direct mode of address photo is useful as it connects with the reader creating a personal relationship with the reader therefore they want to buy it. I have also learnt from the preliminary task that images are important within a magazine as well as keeping the fonts and font sized the same and not mixing different colours together. I also learnt that more text is needed so the reader is aware of what they are expecting from the magazine and also ensure my central image attracts the reader to want to purchase the magazine. Magazines that are bought tend to have someone who well known in it. Using a direct mode of address is a strong technique, which is used to attract an audience as it connects with the buyer. I have also learnt that layout is key in making a magazine work, as it cannot be confusing or messy. I placed text randomly on the page in my preliminary task and have learnt this is not the way to organise any page of a magazine, it needs to be clear and consistent, and have a balance of images and text. I made sure of this in my music magazine. The fact I learnt to use the skills for Photoshop allowed me to use these skills for my music magazine compared to my preliminary task were I was unable to use my Photoshop skills to the best of my ability.
From my preliminary task of producing a school magazine I learnt that a magazine should’t be to plain, as it will not attract the reader I also learnt that puffs are an attractive effect to have on a magazine and therefore I ensured to produce one on my Music magazine. I learnt that there is a ‘sweet spot’ where most people tend to look first and that the best information should be put there. I’ve also learnt putting a special effect around the price of a magazine is useful as this makes the reader think that the magazine is special as it’s at a good set price. Also there should be a balance in images and text, and the image you put on the front cover is a major influence on whether people will buy it or not. Using a direct mode of address photo is useful as it connects with the reader creating a personal relationship with the reader therefore they want to buy it. I have also learnt from the preliminary task that images are important within a magazine as well as keeping the fonts and font sized the same and not mixing different colours together. I also learnt that more text is needed so the reader is aware of what they are expecting from the magazine and also ensure my central image attracts the reader to want to purchase the magazine. Magazines that are bought tend to have someone who well known in it. Using a direct mode of address is a strong technique, which is used to attract an audience as it connects with the buyer. I have also learnt that layout is key in making a magazine work, as it cannot be confusing or messy. I placed text randomly on the page in my preliminary task and have learnt this is not the way to organise any page of a magazine, it needs to be clear and consistent, and have a balance of images and text. I made sure of this in my music magazine. The fact I learnt to use the skills for Photoshop allowed me to use these skills for my music magazine compared to my preliminary task were I was unable to use my Photoshop skills to the best of my ability.
When first doing the first draft of my music magazine my colour scheme challenged the reader as I had different varieties of colours as shown below:
However I came to realise that this colour scheme took away the important features that magazine was offering as the colours were to overwhelming so I therefore, edited my magazine and decided to stick to a set colour scheme of around 3 colours which is common in existing magazine’s. I also realised that the front cover didn’t have any features relating to my intended audience or a specific genre of music as it was to eclectic. Therefore I made my front cover more simple and easier for the reader to understand as well as ensuring the image to have a direct mode of address rather than the above were she seems to be looking at something confusing the reader at what she is looking at. My final magazine is as below:
On my blog I also asked for audience feedback by creating a poll. In one poll the audience stated they preferred my final magazine cover compared to the one that seemed eclectic which was good feedback to have as I also agree. I also had feedback from another poll saying they thought my blog was outstanding and good. Audience feedback is very important and was a key element . The feedback that I received allowed me to recognize what I had to do in terms of changing and improving my work. In order to receive this audience feedback, I had to set up polls and people were able to comment on my work, i created a poll stateing which magazine did they prefer from this i learnt that not many liked the electic looking magazine. My questionnaire allowed the audience to select the features in which they would want, desire and prefer in the music magazine, this then helped me to create and build upon my own magazine. Reference to this is on my blog http://michaela1000.blogspot.com/ my blog is also capable of being commented on so anyone can state there opinion on my work and from this I can get ideas and feedback on what can be improved and adjusted or any positive comments so that I know my magazine meets my audiences requirements.
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