Evaluation

NAME: Nicola Carroll CANDIDATE NUMBER: 2187

CENTRE: 33435 Aquinas College

AS Media StudiesOCR G321: Foundation Portfolio

Brief from OCR syllabus

Q1) Who would be the audience for your media product?

The audience for my media product is young females aged 16-22. My ideal reader would be interested in Pop Music, High Street Fashion and ‘A List’ celebrities such as Beyoncé or Rihanna. My type of Consumer would shop at places like Topshop and Riverisland and their fashion sense would be body-tight Dresses andHigh Heel Shoes for example.From my Audience Research I have noted that there are a lot of Indie and Rock/Metal music magazines out there, making Pop magazines underrepresented. For this reason I wanted to make them just as noticeable as other genres of music therefore I chose Pop & Fashion as my sub-genre, because I think the two link very well together as a hybrid genre for a music magazine, also this suits my personality and opinions extremely well so I wanted to make a product on something I was interested in myself as well as making it interesting for my target audience.


I aimed my magazine at…

Who know what music they like…

Influenced by…

Who spend money on…

Who like to shop at… Enjoy concerts and festivals…

FemalesAged 16-22…

2


I have made my magazine similar to Billboard and the audience that buys it however, may also be interested in high street fashion as well as Pop Music / Artists. I also felt that there was quite a large gap in the market for a Pop Magazine aimed at elder females, as most other Pop magazines are aimed at younger teenage females but I wanted to make a magazine aimed at older teenagers and maybe even for girls in their early 20’s. This would be my unique selling point.

Similar Products

Sub- genres & hybrid publications

• My audience research has shown that there is a gap in the market for the chance to create more Pop magazines. Due to this I decided to make my Individual magazine which combines Pop Music and High Street Fashion as Pop is underrepresented in the music industry. My magazine is aimed at a primary audience of Females ages 16-22.

Also Based on my research I decided to name my magazine ‘’Individual’’ as this is what my most wanted by my audience. I also liked this name as the other were a bit too mainstream, and I wanted something different but basic, so I went with Individual. I also like this name as my magazine is about Fashion & Style Sense, which makes you who you are as an Individual, so it reflects effectively on what my magazine includes.

I also wanted to have some idea as to who to feature in my magazine, so I asked them who their favourite Pop Band where, the majority of people said The Saturdays. But in the end I decided to feature Beyoncé and Jessie J, as I wanted to use Solo Artists in my magazine which again would reflect the masthead.

Another question I asked my audience was ‘’what special offers would you like to see in a music magazine’’, a large sample of people choose discounts which was Ideal for my sub-genre as it includes fashion, so I have included pugs in my magazine to advertise any deals or offers in some of the shops that my primary audience may shop in.

Audience Research / Primary Audience / Ideal readers

showing why current audiences enjoy using these publications.

These issues of Billboard use very basic, get feminine colours to attract the attention of young females. It also appeals to the same genre of music lovers than my magazine does.

Most real media products have a narrow primary audience in terms of age, as magazines such as We Love Pop and Top Of The Pops are aimed at young teenagers between the ages of 13 and 15. Where as mine as a much broader audience, aimed at females aged 16-22.

To make my product I have combined the colour scheme with my primary audience to make it appeal to females of an older age.I have used different shades of purple to show that it is aimed at older females, rather than using pinks which show it would be for younger females. But I chose purple as this is still a strong feminine colour.

This billboard content page has the page numbers and descriptions in columns down the middle of the page with a clearly labelled heading for each category. So for example on this content page the headings are ‘’Upfront, Features and Music’’ to show the audience where to look when searching for a specific section. Like on mine the audience may see ‘’Fashion’’ and look there first cause they want to read about their favourite celebrities style, for example.

Billboard’s images are placed on the top right hand side just below the heading of the page, with the main image located to the right of the page numbers so that it stands out. But on my contents page I have organised my side stories on the left hand side with page numbers written in the bottom left hand corner to show the reader where to go to find out about it. My main story is the biggest picture so that it stands out from the rest. I have also included a cover story on my contents page where as this issue of billboard hasn’t. And finally I have used a pug to give my audience the chance to win something, which will make them more interested.

For my double page spread rather than using my original house style of a white background with purple writing I decided to have a purple background with white writing so that my heading would stand out more. Also the colour of the heading contrasts with the stars hair colour making it bolder and more visible.

I chose to use a picture of my sister as the star for my main story (dps) as she has similar hair colour and hair length to the real star, she also has quite high cheek bones and long eyelashes like the celebrity.

When I was taking the photo of my sister, she was stood in front of a white wall so that I could get the white balance between the background and her skin colour. This also made it easier to remove the background when editing it on Photoshop. I also tried to use natural lightning, however I needed to make her skin look slightly more tanned as she is quite pale in real life.

showing why current audiences enjoy using these publications.

• My target audience would enjoy my publications because they include points of interest such as celebrities; clothing, hair products and beauty products. Etc.

• I have starred celebrities such as Beyoncé and Jessie J in my products as these are the type of people my primary audience would see as ’idols’ and look up to. My magazine also includes articles / interviews about these celebrities which the consumer of my magazine will enjoy reading.

• I have also included reviews of newest albums and any hair/beauty products as my primary audience is older females who would enjoy reading about the most popular products or to see what their favourite celebrities use/wear.

Q2 : How does your media product represent particular social groups?

I have filtered my star to reflect my ideal reader, by dressing them in the sort of clothing that my consumer would wear.

My star is wearing a long tight blue velvet dress, which is similar to the type of clothing my primary audience would buy. As my primary audience is older females who listen to Pop music, they would buy and wear more dressy clothing such as, tight dresses.

My star also has long dark straight hair. Most girls who are into this genre of music would like to have long dark straight hair, as this is seen as ‘mainstream’.

Also my star is wearing natural looking makeup which gives a medium coverage. Most female Pop artists where a fair amount of makeup, but however still look natural. She is wearing a liquid foundation which matches her skin tone and wears eyebrow pencil to make her eyebrows darker and more defined. She also wears a neutral pink lip colour which gives her lips a slight tint without looking too over the top.

In my publications I have included discounts/offers in well-known shops such as Topshop & River Island as these are where a stereotypical late teen – early 20 year old female would shop for their clothes. Also in these shops they even have clothes inspired by celebrities which makes the costumer what to buy the item even more as it is worn by their favourite celebrities or ‘idols’.


On my contents page I have included different categories to separate out the contents. I have named one of my categories ‘’Fashion’’ and placed it in the middle of the categories as this is where the readers eyes focus on first, and also to make it easier for the consumer to find what they are looking for, as this is the section they may be most interested in, as young females are attracted to the idea of looking like ‘A-list celebrities’ and fitting in with the crowd by buying the latest clothes, hair/beauty products and listening to the ‘right’ type of music and going to concerts of that music genre in order to be apart of your social groups.


MODE OF ADDRESS: My star uses direct eye contact in order to get the reader feeling involved. My star is a solo artist which reflects the masthead of my magazine ‘’Individual’’. The stars posture detonates confidence, which is what all young females wish to have. IDEAL READER:My star represents the ideal reader, with the use of mise en scene. Her clothing and performance connote a confident side, which meets the traditional conventions of a female pop star. Therefore my audience would ASPIRE to look like and be like her.


To appeal to the correct target audience, my star would have to represent an idolised version of the ideal reader. In order to appeal to as many consumers as possible, the star must appear mainstream. They must have an appropriate appearance and performance, to make the consumer want to buy the magazine. For example, direct eye contact to make the reader feel engaged, a neutral or positive facial expression to make the star seem interesting, no person would want to buy a magazine with the star on the front cover looking moody or threatening, positive body language, so the star actually looks interested themselves as if they want to be there. Neat hairstyles and neutral makeup as you don’t want to star to appear ‘overdone’.

Q2 : How does your media product represent particular social groups? Q2 : How does your media product represent particular social groups?


Direct eye contact with audience

Neutral/positive facial expression

“Barely there” make up (natural look)

Neat blonde hair

Short tight dresses are feminine and youthful

Demure body language - she is posing for the camera

She is trying to appeal to a young, female audience as a positive role model.

Beyonce Knowles-Carter: mainstream representation


Facial Expression - Not smiling– No engagement with the audience.

Long hair is un-brushed

High heels are worn to encourage the male gaze.

Stockings and suspenders are worn – provocative

Body language -Head turned slightly, lips half open & her hand running through her hair - playful and maybe even flirtatious – attract the male gender.

Black clothing – makes the model appear thinner. A woman wearing black implies submission to men. Black outfits can also be overpowering.

Beyonce Knowles-Carter: niche representation

COSTUME: Both outfits represent different images. The bodycon dress connotes innocence, whereas the high heels and suspenders connote a more rebellious side. Both these would appeal to different audiences.

Beyonce would wear a similar outfit to this while performing because it is an everyday causal dress which is appropriate to be worn in front her of fans and in public. This represents the image she promotes.

Unlike this outfit, this outfit would not be appropriate for her appearance on stage, as it would not appeal to the audience.


Direct eye contact, side on.

Neutral facial expression, slight smile.

‘’Barely there’’ make-up (natural look) But, the photo is slightly blurred

Wavy messy hair, looks quite dull and flat.

Baggy jumper, casual clothing.

Neutral body language – doesn’t seem bothered

Neutral facial expression – positive role model.

Direct eye contact

‘’Barely there’’ make-up (natural look) clear photo.

Straight neat shiny brown hair.

Tight bodycon dress – feminine/youthful.


COVER STAR:

In all the photographs of my star, I tried to make sure she would be APSIRATIONAL for the readers. She is the same age and gender as my IDEAL READER, therefore would attract the TARGET AUDIENCE. The mise en scene of the star represents a positive role model for young woman, and the use of tight / slim fitted clothing connotes a sense of confidence.

Q3: What kind of media institution might distribute your product?

I researched the music magazines Billboard and Cosmopolitan in order to get an idea of the differences in the ways they use media conventions and institutions to give me an idea of how to develop and distribute my own music magazine using my own conventions for m y choice of genre to attract my target audience. Both magazines are different genres and so using both examples helped me to develop my magazine as my genre is a mixture of both, Pop and Fashion.

The brand statement for Billboard is ‘’Billboard is the world's most influential music media brand‘’, This makes the magazine sell better as it bases itself on statistics and facts and therefore people will buy the magazine because it looks professional and recognisable rather than buying it due to their opinions. Whereas I decided to make my magazine recognisable and professional through its appearance, e.g. colour scheme and house style, rather than using a brand statement, because I felt that if I did use one it would make the company look like they need to ask for people to read their magazine, whereas if I keep it basic and simple people may seem more interested and feel less forced into buying it. However my top banner (which advertises a competition) is the first thing the consumer will see when they pick up the magazine and this will encourage them into buying it without being too in their face.

Although Billboard magazine generally features mainly female artists and attract the female audience some of the magazine have ‘’women’s music’’ or ‘’women in music’’ written at the top of the front cover to show that the magazine is aimed at the female audience, so females can see that this is one option for them when choosing a magazine and makes it easier for the consumer to decided weather this is the type of magazine they would be interested in. Whereas I just stuck to a feminine colour scheme to show that my magazine is aimed at females.


I’d choose to distribute my publication as I feel that Individual and Billboard would both compliment each other.

Prometheus Global Media currently publish and distribute Billboard; respectively rank the top songs and albums regardless of genre

Prometheus Global Media was formed by Nielsen Business Media which is a company that that enables companies to understand consumers and consumer behaviour.

As the genre my publication caters for is becoming more and more popular amongst concert goers, Prometheus Global Media would have the expertise to promote the genre in concerts (through “Nielsen Business Media”). Individual would also compliment Billboard, as it is a branch of Pop and R&B music.


Individual would be a weekly magazine priced at £4.75 an issue, which is a similar price to Billboard which is issued weekly, which is more expensive than Top Of The Pops magazine but that is issued monthly.

There will also be a lot of advertisements in the magazine.


Billboard Website


The publication claims itself to ‘’Play The 100 Most Popular...’’ which attracts anyone of any age or gender who enjoy listening to music as it does not specify a specific genre.

Advertising ”Bruno Mars Q&A’’ on their website also attracts the reader and creates a unique selling point. This may also encourage the website audience to buy the magazine in order to find out more about other artists.

Having a large variety of genres and selling the magazine world wide increases the brand reach. This means that the brand can reach a wider audience, and therefore sell more.

Q3: What kind of media institution might distribute your product?Ways for the audience to find my product.

Website

Tours & Concerts

Twitter feedsFacebook pages

Instagram

Merchandise

The merchandise can be bought from any festivals or concerts, online from our website, or as a free gift when you buy the magazine or as a competition to win all 4 items.

Q4) In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms or conventions of real media products?

My media product is made for my primary audience which is young females age 16-22 who are interested in Pop Music & Fashion.

The Hybrid genre of my magazine is Pop Music and Fashion, in order to show that and to make sure I have met all the relevant forms and conventions I have looked at example of real media products.

I have used Billboard, Top Of The Pops, Sugar and We Love Pop as my examples that would help me to use and develop the appropriate forms and conventions for my subgenre.


FRONT COVER.I think that each of my media products uses and develops the forms and conventions of real media products, such as the examples of other magazines that I have used.

I have used an appropriate colour sheme for my target audience throughout my magazine, including the front cover, contents page and double page spread.The colour scheme I have stuck to is Pink, Purple and White as my target audience is teenage girls. This makes the magazine recognisable and more appealing to my audience, as well as having a professional look to it.I have also continued to use the same font throughout each product to make it easier for the consumer to read. However more important details may use a different font and could perhaps be made bigger or highlighted using a different colour to make it stand out, for example the Masthead.The masthead is much bigger than the best of the text on my front cover to draw the readers eyes to the name of the magazine before reading what its about. Also the name of the front cover star is in a bigger font with a bold outline again to catch the readers attention to who is being advertised in my magazine.

My front cover also includes conventions such as a pug to show if there are any competitions or offers.A top banner to advertise any additional offers/competitions and A bottom banner which gives extra details such as if there is a website to go with my magazine or to present what products are inside the magazine, which is what my front cover has. My front cover has topics written at the bottom to show what contents are inside, for example,Music, Hair, Beauty etc.


Contents Page

My contents page also uses the appropriate forms and conventions for its genre/subgenre.

It contains a bold masthead ‘’This Week’’ with the title of the magazine written above ‘’Individual’’ to make it recognisable through out.

Page numbers are displayed neatly down the centre of the page with a small description of what is on each of the page, so it is easy for the reader to find what they are looking for.The page numbers also come under different categories to make it more organised and easy to allocate. For example I have used 3 categories, Features (which includes interviews or any upcoming events) Fashion (which is things like hottest hairstyles or best deals of nail/beauty treatment) And Reviews. So reviews on albums or concerts for example.The Page numbers are different colours to the writing explaining what is on each page in order for it to stand out.

My contents page also includes a main image which is usually found in the middle of the contents page and this is where the readers eyes automatically look at before anything else on the page. So the main image becomes the main focus of the contents pages.

There are also smaller images used which are called ‘’side stories’’ this just gives the reader a brief idea of what sort of articles are going to be inside. For example, one of my side stories is an image of an new artist, which tells the reader that some where in the magazine there is going to be an article or story on that certain celebrity. All of the images also have small numbers on them in one of the bottom corners to indicate which page it is on. And sometimes there will be a caption underneath explaining what is in the photo.

Finally, on the right hand side is my editors letter which just very vaguely tells you a little bit about themselves and explains why they made the magazine.


Double page spread

For my double page spread I have done it on Beyoncé which matches this example perfectly.

The house style or colour scheme doesn’t normally have to remain the same as your front cover or contents page but I have kept mine consistent for my double page spread because I want it to be recognised and I also wanted it to look professional all the way through.

My masthead for my double page spread uses the same font idea as the star on my front cover, as they’re both celebrity names, and so I want them to stand out against the rest of the text.

They both use the same font and colour. I chose the font ‘Pepsi’ for star names as this is a very big/bold font which would contrast against a more dull background. I also decided to use a darker purple as an outline of the text to give it more depth.

Compared with this double page spread, Mine uses the same colour either side whereas this has a grey background behind the image. This makes the actual article stand out more. Whereas with mine, I have used a purple background behind the text and the image because I want them to stand out equally.

My article begins with a Capital letter just like any double page spread, this is used to introduce the readers attention on to what the article is about to get them interested and wanting to read on.

My article is set out into separate columns which makes the article easy to follow. My rows are kept neatly in line below one another to make it easier to read accurately, whereas the rows on this contents page are all over the place which makes the article look a bit out of order and not as neat.

The text is kept onto one side whilst the image is kept on another side, this just again makes it neat and nice and easy for the reader to see what is happening on the page. However the masthead on this double page spread does slightly overlap the centre, but I have tried to keep mine to one side.

Although this example doesn’t use a sub-heading I decided to include one in my product to give a little more detail on what is in the article.Towards the end of my article I have also added a couple of extra details about upcoming concerts with the star to get my audience involved and to give a little more detail about how to enter any compeitions which could help you win tickets to various other events.

Q5) How did you att ract/address the audience?

I chose to address the ‘Pop’ audience, by using colloquial language and music for young teenage girls.For my cover star I used a 17 year old female because she looks natural and would be a positive role model towards my audience, instantly it hints at more of the same kind of stars that will be found inside the magazine. Also on my cover I included artists such as Beyonce, Rihanna, Jessie J, Ellie Goulding and many more.

The fonts used within my front cover may be successful to attract the genre aimed at because it relates to the neat and innocent audience that i want to attract, and it also relates to the contents of the magazine

My magazine is similar to billboard or top of the pops due to style of music, artists used and their appearance. This being a pop magazine, I can compare the two, and get a rough idea of what I can do to improve my own work.

Q5) How did you att ract/address the audience?Front Cover

Masthead

Main Image

Cover Star

Pull Quote

Extra Images/Side Stories

Free Giveaway

Repetitive Feature

Features

Anchored Text

Gender, Age and Genre...

Gender:My magazine is aimed primarily at young females The cover star is a female however she doesn't look amazingly beautiful , she just looks casual which is the look my target audience would prefer.

Age:The primary audience for my magazine is mainly aimed at teenagers from the age of 16 to 22. The cover star is within this age range so the reader is aspired to be like her.

Genre:The genre is ‘Pop’ this is portrayed through the cover stars clothing and appearance. It is also show through the other stars included in the magazine and through the stars name.


Colour:The use of the purple colour stands out because it contrasts with the white so the purple text is what the reader concentrates on. The purple colour is totally opposite from the white so its eye catching drawing the reader in and encouraging them to buy the magazine.

Extra Artists:The use of the extra artists listed at the side tells us that there is information to offer about other artists and not just the artist in the image, this creates a wider audience because if the reader does not like the cover star there are other features they can look at.

Main FeatureThe main storyline stands out on the page because there is a bold outline used around the text.


The word ‘win’ in used twice to put an emphasis on how no other magazine offers a competition as good as this and that therefore draws the reader in. This is the first thing they will see when the magazine is put on the news stand.

This is a repeat of the free giveaway the reader gets with the magazine. With this being top of the page this is the first thing the reader will see and the word ‘win’ is written in a different colour to make it stand out from the rest of the magazine.

The word ‘free’ draws the reader in because it is something that they don't have to pay for. It is also in written in a larger font To try and persuade the reader to buy the magazine.

The masthead stands out because it is in a bright colour and also it meets the conventions because it is in upper case text which means the magazine will be recognisable and easy to find.


Q5) How did you att ract/address the audience? Contents Page

Using pictures emphases the main articles and draws the reader in making them what to read the magazine. It also tells the audience what is included in the features. Alsopage numbers are written in a different colour so that they’re easier to identify.

The heading uses the same colour and same font as the front cover and the rest of the contents page. This is so that the magazine keeps a consistent housesyle but also creates a unique selling point, meaning people will want to buy the magazine.

The white text stands out from the purple background, making the reader look at them and therefore reading the magazine to find out more..

Giving the reader free giveaways and competitions draws them into buying the magazine if they like the offer. Including it again on the contents page shows them where to look for it and reminds them that its there.

Q5) How did you att ract/address the audience? Double Page Spread

Title is in a big bold font compared to the rest of the text as this is what the reader sees first. We want to encourage the consumer to read the article,. so the title is what has to stand out.

The use of two different colours and two different fonts draws the reader in because it makes the heading and sub-heading stand out from one another and gives the reader an idea of what else is included in the interview.

The grey box includes extra information about the star such as upcoming events or new albums, which draws the reader in because when they go to turn over to the next page they will immediately see this before turning the page.

The image is much larger than the text because this shows the reader who the article is about. It also draws the reader in because it lets them see what the artist looks like and what she is wearing so that they can be just like her.

The text is written in columns so that it is neatly organised and easy for the consumer to read.

Q5) How did you att ract/address the audience?

-A repetitive colour scheme consisting of purple, white and pink.-The purple and pink are feminine colours so it relates to my primary audience which is why I kept it consistent throughout.-The white contrasts with the purple and pink making the more important features stand out.e.g, mastheads, headings, sub-ending, free giveaways, discounts, compeititions, etc.

Q6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product? Constructing a Front Cover

To construct my front cover I had to start of by selecting an appropriate cover star for my target audience. I decided to use a young female in their age range to make the magazine appeal to them. I used the magic eraser tool to get rid of the background to give it a suitable background colour for my magazine. I made my background white so that the text would stand out against it and any important things such as offers would catch the audiences attention for example the cover star name, to make this stand out I used the stroke effect to give it a darker outline which gives it more depth. And on both banners I used a darker colour for the word ‘win’ to draw the reader in. Again I used a dark outline for each of the cover stories to draw the readers attention to what is inside the magazine. Lastly I used a large ‘plus’ sign which shows which artists are featured in the magazine. It is a lot larger and bolder than the text beneath it to catch the readers eye.

Q6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Constructing a Contents Page

I started of by picking an appropriate masthead I chose to use ‘’This Week…’’ to show that this was the contents page of a magazine, I kept the colour scheme the same throughout to make it professional and recognisable. I used the lighter purple for the top and bottom banner as this is the colour I used for my banners on my front cover, I then used the darker purple colour for the ‘individual’ which I have written in the top left hand corner to show that this is the magazines own contents page. I used the bottom banner to advertise other places you can find information about the magazine, for example social networking sites such as Facebook and twitter, and I also introduced our own website which will include the most recent music updates and any new fashion styles. I then selected appropriate images to show what other stories are inside and a larger image to make the main story of the magazine stand out. Next when I started to write the pages and page numbers I started off by sticking to one colour for the page and another colour for the page numbers, but I decided it looked better if I used 2 different colours to make it stand out more so in the end I used a light pink colour and a lilac for the pages and a darker purple for the page numbers. I then decided that there was too much white space and so I needed to add something in order to fill it up and to make the page look fuller. So I decided to add headings to separate the pages up to make it clearer to the reader and to help them find what they’re looking for so they can just scan the page to find what they want rather than having to read each one. I decided to put the headings in the darker purple too so that they stand out and are therefore easy to see. Lastly I added the editors letter, I decided to write this in a lighter colour and to place it on the right hand side of the page in the centre as this is the last thing the resder would read before turning the page. And the offer at the bottom of the page again in the dark colour to make it bold and catch the readers eye.

Q6) What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

Constructing a Double Page Spread

First, for my double page spread I decided on using the lighter colour for the background to make it more interesting for the consumer to look at, I then therefore used a white text on a lilac background so that it still followed the colour scheme but was still easy to read. I then selected a font for the masthead, I used the font ‘Pepsi’ as this is quite a large bold font which represents the genre of music my article is on. I used a darker outline around my white text, to stick to the theme of artists names, which makes them stand out. Then, I chose a different font for my sub-heading, I used the same colours for this (white & dark purple) so that they would stand out against the lighter purple background, and I kept the font the same too to grasp the readers attention, and the words I wanted to highlight were in the dark purple colour. This makes it more clear to the audience what the article is about.

Next, I chose an appropriate photo of someone who looked similar to the artist I was writing about, I chose my sister as she has dark hair and dark eyes like the majority of female pop artists, I also used her as my star as she is in the same age range as my target audience and the celebrity in my articles.

To get the right image I had to brighten it a little as the original background was slightly too dark and you couldn’t see her clearly, Also there was a shadow of my star in the background of the taken photograph, so I had to crop it, however this didn’t matter too much as went it came to putting the edited photo on my page I had to use the background remover tool to get rid of the background all together anyway in order to make the photograph look professional when placed in the article, Another thing I had to make sure of was the image size to make sure it fit the page perfectly.

After this, I added a short description at the top of the right hand side of the page to give the reader a brief idea of what the article is going to be about. I then started of the article by using a ‘Dropped Cap’ to draw the reader in. This creates a dramatic start to the interview making the reader become more interested and encouraging them to read on.Finally i decided to add some quotes to the article said by the star, to give it more meaning and emotion towards the reader and to make her a well known positive role-model who her fans look up to and idolise to be like her. And just to finish it off I added some extra information in the bottom corner of the page (like a grey box) about any upcoming events, as they will look here before turning the page.

Uploading to my Blog

As well as using Photoshop to construct, create and edit a magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread we also use a website called ‘’blogger’’ this is where we can upload our work on a weekly or monthly basis to keep up with what we have done in previous lessons. Our teacher can then view this to check our progress and tell us if they’re any improvements needed and therefore what to do to improve it. Once all of our work is uploaded, at the end of the year, the teacher will send it off to the examiners board to be marked.

Looking back at your preliminary task (Aquinas College Magazine), Q7) What do you feel you have learnt in the progression to the full product?

I feel that my work has progressed throughout the unit, and that my Photoshop skills have improved hugely.

I have learnt about magazine conventions which is reflected through my 2 front covers, contents pages and double page spreads, especially the ones for my music magazine. I haven't only learnt about conventions for any ordinary magazine but I have also learnt about conventions for different genres/subgenres.


http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MnTnLAkPMtI/Um-_ynKXuDI/AAAAAAAAAN0/Vwlbt7xzzoo/s1600/aquinasmagazine2.jpg


http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8G3wyHzXksw/Ul54aWk63VI/AAAAAAAAAF4/jryb7M0iVv8/s1600/aquinasmagazinecontentspage.jpg


My first FC design is less detailed. The colour scheme links to the genre (COLLEGE), However the front cover for the music magazine includes more conventions such as plus features (what’s inside/what artists are included) side stories with captions, a bottom banner as well as a top banner (giving more information), a larger image of the cover star and much more. This makes the magazine more appealing to its audience.



Colour schemes and formulas are important when presenting different ideologies in a magazine. Each of my products has a particular colour scheme which relates to it’s genre and style. E.g. Beyonce is a Pop/R&B artist so I have used feminine colours to reflect this image. My final music magazine product is about a female Pop singer with passion and confidence so the pink portrays her passion and the purple connotes her royalty.


I feel that my FC and CP are a huge improvement to the previous. It fits the genre and audience of young females and relates to the consumer. The colour scheme links to Pop Artists & Fashion which are the main topics of my magazine.

I feel my Photoshop skills have developed massively and are used effectively to give outer glows and to remove backgrounds.




-With my first contents page I tried to use the contrast of light and dark on the pages, by making the page number bold so that they stand out from the rest of the text.

-I used black and red text on a white background to make it clear and easy to read.

-I used the red (the brightest colour) to create focal points and make features stand out so the reader could scan the page.


Looking back at your preliminary task (Aquinas College Magazine), Q7) what do you feel you have learnt in the progression to the full product?

Technologies Used:•Publisher•Adobe Photoshop•Digital Cameras•Altering & manipulating photos



MUSIC MAGAZINE FRONT COVER Strap line at the top of the page to encourage reader to

read inside...

Highlighted Features ensure that the text stands out and is made obvious at a first glance.

A change in font colour draws in the attention of the reader and gives a bright colour to the colour scheme.

For the bold main feature i have used same font as masthead and big quotation marks for the pull quote.


Anchoring- Masthead links with image by overlapping slightly onto star’s hair.

Blending Options Outer Glow- used to make lettering stand out

Banner to show extra features inside the magazine. Basic square shape with white text used to make it visible and stand out.

Pug is relatable to the female audience and promotes a free item which will encourage them to read on.

PHOTOGRAPHY


The cover star’s eyes are central vertically, and are looking into the camera. I used this to show that Alesha is a confident and photogenic character, which draws the reader in and makes them interested because they aspire to be like her. The photo has a white background which creates negative space and emphasises the star and the text on the cover.

I dressed my cover star in dark blue clothing to match the colour scheme, which links the text and image.


Choosing a cover photo...This close up shot makes the star seem rude and ignorant as their is no engagement with the reader.

I felt that the photo where the star is looking directly into the camera works better because it would portray her personality better and make the audience feel engaged through the direct mode of address.


MUSIC MAGAZINE CONTENTS PAGE

I anchored the text by shaping it around the image. Also, the page numbers are in a different colour to make the information clear.

I incorporated the Individual house style in my contents page and linked it with the colour scheme by adding the masthead at the top left corner of the page.

I also added links at the bottom of the page to show where more information can be found on twitter, facebook . Instagram and the magazines own website.


FINAL FRONT COVERMASTHEAD- Strong bold dark title with a white background, which fits the colour scheme.

Features that will appeal to my audience. The word “win” is emphasised in size and colour to make it stand out.


Pug that will stand out and shows a feature that will appeal to the audience.

The page reference creates easy navigation to the desired feature.


FINAL CONTENTS PAGELarge bold title makes it clear what page the reader is on...

Appropriate and suitable images are used with page numbers to show what features are inside and where to find them.

The contents of the magazine are put under different categories to make it easier for the reader to find what they are looking for.

Editors letter is used to give a little more information about the magazine and explains why the magazine was written.

Date post:	05-Dec-2014
Category:	Education
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Education