Moodboard

Developing my initial idea for my magazine.

Initial Idea for My Magazine

After doing my research on existing Media, I now begin to consider the kind of music magazine that I would like to produce for the main task. I would like to focus on the genre of mainstream pop, music and artists from the charts. My target audience will be 16-21 year old females because they are the kind of age range that listen to that type of music. The reason I will be targeting mainly females is that I will be incorporating gossip and fashion analytical pages. I've decided on this particular target audience as I am in the same age range and I will respond to opinions of my peers and make a magazine that I would like to buy for myself. This will hopefully mean that I make a successful magazine that focuses well on the target audience and is appealing.

Analysing a Double Page Article from NME

The main focus of this page is the large image on the first page and this will grab the attention of readers flicking through the magazine and may persuade them to buy the magazine. There is a low angle shot used when looking at the band which makes it seem as though the readers are looking up to and ‘idolising’ them. There are also looking directly at the camera which could be intimidating which would suit the genre and appeal to the target audience. The direct mode of address could also make the readers feel like a part of the band’s interview. The members are stood in a way that includes the reader with very open body language and a slight gap in the middle of them. 

The main quote which is very large and takes up a lot of space on the article will appeal to Oasis fans as they are likely to agree with the words of one of the band members. The fact that there is a lot of text on the second page may be off-putting to the readers but it is broken up slightly by the quote in the middle that divides the page into two parts. Overall, the article is attractive to readers and likely to grab their attention.

Analysing a Double Page Article from Top of the Pops Magazine

The images of this double page article are both using direct mode of address. This makes the readers feel a part of the events and feel as though the One Direction band members are talking directly to them as individuals in their interviews. The text is placed around the images of the boys which make them the main focus of the page. Such direct images that are so large will be easily noticed if someone is flicking through the magazine in a shop and will catch their attention and make them want to buy the magazine as this particular article will appeal to the target audience of teenage females. Also, the boys are talking about school experiences which is very relevant to the target audience of teenagers. As Zayn talks about a difficult time at school, the article may help some readers with problems of their own. If the readers take something from the article that helps or entertains them, they are likely to buy the magazine again. 

The captions of quotes from the band members give a very brief insight to what is being said in the interviews and are the first bits of texts that will be looked at by the reader. These particular quotes seem to be quite personal and therefore give the impression to the readers that they are going to find out personal things about their ‘heart throbs’! The target will want to read about the lives of people that they are interested in. Also, the interviews are broken into small chunks and categorised which makes the text look easier to read and less amounts of large text. This would appeal to the target audience as they will want to read the article casually and for entertainment and large amounts of text may be off-putting to the younger audience. 

Analysing the Contents Page of Kerrang

The house style of Kerrang is used with the colours and the sans-serif font. The articles are all categorised along one side whereas there are prioritised  articles are made bigger and are the main focus of the page. Kerrang’s contents page has a few articles that have been made the priority of the issue and these are all to persuade buyers to purchase the magazine when briefly looking at the magazine with the intent of buying one. By the contents page being busy, it makes the issue of the magazine seem packed full of articles that will interest the target audience. 

The images that are used make the magazine appeal to the target audience. There is a clear rock and rebellious feel to this issue which appeals to the the particular target audience of this magazine’s genre. There is short and snappy captions placed around the page which grab the attention of potential buyers for the magazine. 

Analysing the Contents Page of NME

The contents page uses Kasabian as the main image and focus of the page. This would appeal to the audience when they are looking briefly at the contents, deciding whether or not to buy the magazine.  The rest of the article information is in categories but information is limited. The pages are shown along the sides but with very little information so the image of Kasabian is relied on to appeal to the audience enough to make them want to buy the magazine. The composition shows clearly that Kasabian is the main priority of this issue. 

The colours are all quite basic but in the house style of NME which allow regular subscribers to associate with the familiarity of the magazine. However, the colours are not eye catching and I don’t think they would allow for the magazine to appeal to new readers who are looking to buy a magazine. As someone who does not read NME, the contents page doesn’t make me want to go out and buy the magazine. I understand that the genre of the magazine is not the genre that would usually appeal to me so I’m sure the colour scheme appeals to the target audience. The red that is used has connotations to danger and rebellion but also passion and love. I think passion and love may not be as relevant to this particular target audience. The basic font of the house style makes reading the text very clear and this makes the magazine appeal to the target audience as they want to simply read the magazine. 

Analysing the Front Cover of Top of the Pops Magazine

The lay out of this front cover is quite busy and the articles overlap one another. The fact that the main image is such a popular band with teenage girls, makes the magazine to appeal very specifically to the target audience. As the band is very new and just won the X Factor shows that the magazine is up to date with recent gossip and bands and almost suggests an ‘exclusive’ article with the band. The other articles shown are all of popular boy bands who are all very popular with teenage girls also. They are seen as heart-throbs for teenage and the poses of the boys appeals to the target audience. The colours are all quite specific to females, using pink and purple so I think the magazine is targeting the audience very specifically and cleverly.  

The language used on the front cover is used very cleverly to appeal to the target audience. It is very significant that Little Mix are ‘standing up for and representing the girls’! They are also known to have spoken about difficult pasts so the tagline, “Bullies, Boys and Body Image” along with “Little Mix fight back!” are inspiring for teenage girls and they will want to buy the magazine to read the article. There is a lot of alliteration used on the front cover which is catching and makes the magazine appeal to the younger audience. Alliteration is used in the JLS article saying “Biceps and Boxers” which will certainly appeal to the teenage girl audience. The language has been very carefully considered to appeal to the target audience of teenage girls and is very effective.  

Analysing the Front Cover of Q Magazine

   The house style of Q magazine revolves around the main logo and most text is either white or red which used together, is very aesthetically pleasing. The colour red has very obvious connotations to danger and warning but also passion and love. People tend to find the colour very powerful and this tells the audience something about this particular magazine. Colours of white and red have been mixed on the front covers of Q and this gives the font variety and makes the magazine seem appealing to the target audience. The colours give a sense of glamour clearly.

   The image is very powerful on the cover as it is in direct mode address to the audience. Also, the image has ‘sex appeal’ which is used in selling frequently. This also makes the magazine seem glamorous to the audience. The use of such a famous person who is very popular with the public sells the magazine to the audience in itself. The text is placed around the image which centers the image and makes it the focus of the reader’s attention. The rest of the text is a brief mention of the other articles in the magazine which are slight add-ons as to why the audience should choose to buy this magazine.  

   The language that is used on the cover is all quite brief and catchy which allows for buyers to scan briefly over the articles within the magazine. The best bits of the magazine are selected and the promoted by the captions. Also, the line “3 words… Cheryl Cole Rocks” has links to the other famous 3 words, “I love you”. This could make the magazine appeal to single people and make that lifestyle seem desirable. The strapline at the top of the cover that reads “The UK’s biggest selling music magazine” shows the audience how popular the magazine to others so makes the target audience want to buy the magazine. 

Analysing the Front Cover of Kerrang

   Kerrang use large images that usually overlap the masthead on their front covers. The layout of the front cover seems slightly messy because of the overlapping and therefore portrays a laidback feel of the magazine which would appeal to the target audience of 15-24 year olds. The composition allows for the items to be split up into categories without looking too carefully arranged so the attitude of the magazine is portrayed as laid back and easy to read. All of this is felt by the audience just by looking at the front cover so the job of appealing to the target audience is very well done. 

   Kerrang uses the same font style and size in the colour of white mostly which keeps their house style very clear and the brand identity obvious. The font of the masthead and cover line is scratched and looks cracked or broken which connotes a certain rebellious feel to the magazine.  The colour white has usual connotations of purity and innocence which contradicts the feel of the rest of the magazine. It could almost be seen as a sarcastic connotation. However, it stands at very well against the background and the rest of the items and so the magazine will look appealing on the shelf.

   The main central image of the pop star is taken at a low angle which makes him appear superior and look like an idol of the audience. The angle connotes that he is a role model and should be looked up to by others. His pose and posture is laidback and also quite ‘cool’ so adds excitement to the magazine and appeals to the audience. The rest of the items on the front cover fit around the central image which makes it the focus of everyone’s attention even more so. This shows clearly that the main central image will take the focus of this particular issue. 

Introduction to the Main Task

Now that I have completed the prelim task, I will begin the main task of creating a music magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread. All images and text used must be original and produced by myself with a minimum of four images.

Action Plan


16th January
- Compare magazines and research the magazine market place
- Research similar products: 3 x Front Covers, 2 x Contents Page and 2 x Double Page Spread.

24th January
- Initial ideas
- Audience research
- Writing a treatment plan

30th January
- Layout / masthead ideas
- Plan photo shoot and take photographs
- Drafting of pages
- Audience feedback

6-27th February
- Drafting of pages
- Audience feedback

16th March
- Evaluation

Final Deadline = 16th March

Evaluation

Before creating my magazine cover and contents page, I did research into the use of certain devices in creating a real magazine cover and contents page. I found that other student magazines included information about the college so I decided to include revision tips and latest news in and around the college. I also found that my front cover should have a large image of something relevant to college so decided to use a student from my college to model in a basic manner for my cover. I thought the basic pose would make the magazine seem informal, friendly and quite laidback/casual.

I tried to focus very specifically on the target audience of students. I understand that within students, there are many different social groups so I tried to keep it broad in that sense. Taking this into consideration, my aim was to make the magazine seem light and friendly, young yet serious enough to appeal to the age group. I also included items that would attract to all students and relevant to their current lifestyles, no matter what social group they belong to. Being a student myself, I thought to make a magazine that would appeal to me and my friend group and others that I knew.

A local media institution would distribute my magazine as it has specific articles to one specific college. I chose to do it in this way so that the magazine would appeal more to those students as it is personal and relevant to their lifestyles. Therefore, they are more likely to want to buy it. However, I think that the magazine could be distributed nationally as long as the content is adapted appropriately to each college.

My audience would be college students aged 16-19. I think the magazine is mostly unisex but by the nature of some of the items with mainly females in the articles, it may appeal slightly more to females. Items such as, ‘exclusive interview and photo shoot’ with someone are often seen in women magazines such as Closer.  

My front cover attracts the audience by using colours and the main image. The masthead is very bold and the name will hopefully become very well-known so the masthead will be the first thing that is noticed. I also responded to my questionnaire research and aimed to make my colour scheme sophisticated and respond to what my peers had said they would like on their magazine. Also, the image is informal and friendly which would make students want to read the magazine.

I have used new technologies that I have not used before such as InDesign. I found InDesign very easy to use for this project and it made the planning and making of the cover and contents very easy. I found it easy to navigate around the software once I got used to it and it was perfect for the tasks that I needed to do.  

Final Front Cover and Contents Page of Student Magazine