Planning and Drafts

Hand drawn drafts

This contents page from NME is only slightly different from the others. It contains a title, although not called Contents but NME this week which obviously tells us that this magazine is weekly.

The contents are split into sections: News, Studio News, Reviews and Band Index. We have images of more important stories or articles featured on this page, just like in the other two contents pages.

The colour scheme is mainly green, white and navy with the exception of the red NME logo.

Kerrang! Contents Page Analysis

This contents page, taken from Kerrang! is much like the page from DRUMMER.
It has the obvious article page numbers and the title 'contents'.

Just like in DRUMMER, the page has a colour theme. This colour theme differs slightly with yellow, black and white. This keeps it simple and modern.

Again, just like with the other magazine, there are images which link to articles, and the bigger the image the more important the article.

The only significant difference in this magazine to the last is the quote from Corey Taylor from SlipKnot at the top and the editors note. However, the editors note is often seen in a magazine.

Thanks to http://amizzle69.blogspot.com/2008/11/production-task-research-analysis_07.html for the image.

Contents page analysis

This contents page, taken from DRUMMER magazine is set out, as I would expect most magazine contents pages.
Of course, all contents pages must provide the page number to each article, but it is not uncommon to find images linking to articles, and the features split up (there is a regular column).

This magazine keeps it simple with a theme or red-orange, white and black which is just like any page in a magazine; Each page or double page spread will have a colour theme.

The images in this contents page are also listed in the 'features' bit, so it seems that these articles are the most important or at least the most attractive. The bigger the picture, the more important.

Like you'd expect, the title is 'contents' but the date is not always shown on the contents page.

Thanks to http://beauchampcollegemedia.files.wordpress.com/2009/02/drummer20-20contents20-20jan2007.jpg for the contents page image.

Another double page spread from NME

This double page spread is very much like the one on the Artic Moneky's band member. It has the main image at the left side, which domiates the whole page.
The right page then has, again like in the other, a main title, which is big, bold and themed. The text is columned, and also has the brief sypnosis of the full article.
The title is also catchy and easily recognisable to a fan of the band. The main image is also trying to attract you and grab your attention.
It seems to me that even within the double page spread, the magazine wants you to read the article and will put a lot of effort into making you want to.
The theme is also important in the double page spread. Graphically, it has to look good and cool. Too many colours and it will look stupid, and too little will look boring. In this, they have used the simple black and white but revived it, to look retro and hip.

This double page spread, from NME again, is dominated by the image of MUSE

The WARNING has the two lines, one above and one below which is exactly what the Muse logo looks like. It looks effective and adds importance to Muse.

The large image of the Band shows them looking at the camera, maybe slightly looking down to show power too. The room shows many guitars, cables and normal touring equipment. The electric guitars are probably on show because one, they are a rock band, two, because two of band members are said to be fantastic guitarists and three, because it looks so cool! Which is what NME want to get across; Muse are cool, rock music (and alternative) is cool, and that's why they are featured in NME because that is their ideology - to make rock and alternative appear cool.

The text isn't in columns, but that could be because there is little text. The page number is present and so is a main title, picture and brief description which sums up the title.

Double Page Spreads

This double page spread is from NME magazine. The style, or theme of the page is like an old newspaper. Yorkshire is seen as old and still traditional and this could be emphasise that this Artic monkeys band member is from the small, old region of Yorkshire (actually sheffield). NME are trying to represent Alex Turner as a Yorkshire boy who has made it big (NewYork is seen to be a big place, big apple). The title also emphasises how big New York is, with the tall lettering and stand-out colour.

The double page spread has a rather large image of Alex Turner, which is eye catching and and the main focus point of the pages. The large image provides an instantaneous knowledge to the reader what the pages are about: Alex Turner. It also emphasises that he is important.

Most magazine content is presented in columns and this is no different. The title, as usual, is at the top too. There is also, underneath the title, a small description of the article which usually tries to get you to read it. All three of these things are so common in magazines, they are conventions.

Things are common within a double page spread:

• The first letter of the article to be big and bold.
• Page number is shown
• A brief description of the article is shown. Possibly to attract people to read it, especially if they are just 'flicking through'.
• The main title. This consists of something catchy, remorable and sometimes funny to make you want to read it.
• A main picture. This makes it easier to understand what the article is about and again it's used to attract you to read it. If it's someone you like, or a band you like, then you're more likely to read it.

NME - Magazine Reasearch

NME magazine, just like with Uncut and Q has the basic ingredients of a magazine: The Masthead NME, main coverline 'Florence takes America', smaller coverlines such as 'Pete on life support' and 'Jack White, Gerard Way... Joe Lean?". There is a barcode, price for the magazine, date and issue number.

Most imprtantly, there is the main image. This particular image is of Florence from Florence and the machines. This makes the magazine attractive, especially is you like Florence from Florence and the machines. Whether you like them or not, they are well known and very new and cool.

The yellow cab she is exiting from works with the title 'Florence takes on America' because a yellow cab represents in a way, America, more specifically, New York. NME are representing America through the yellow cabs.

Florence's pose, is set to look a little weird. The bottom part of her body, which also emphasises her fantastic legs, makes her legs look a little bit drunk and weak. The top half of her body s pushing out of the cab and she appears determined. The whole pose looks rather sexy, but I think NME magazine is having a joke; I think they are trying to say 'she can try, but I doubt she'll succeed'.

This is Q magazine. It has the normal language that a typical magazine will have: bar code, masthead, coverlines and a main coverline.

The main image, of Matt Bellamy from Muse, is a medium shot of him smashing his guitar on the Q logo. It's rather effective because it shows Matt as a rebel and it's quite cliché because it's well-known for people to smash their guitars - especially if you're a rocker. Q magazine represents Matt as rocker this way. It makes him seem cool and a hardcore angry musician. This fits in with Q's ideology; to make rock and alternative seem cool and important.

The main coverline relies on the fact that people like and want to read about Muse. Then the smaller part of the main coverline says, "I bought 50 tins of beans and an axe." For me, personally, that is a little bit weird and intriguing. I would want to know more and I'm sure others would too.

'200 things you didn't know about The Beatles' is very attracting for the reader because if you like the Beatles (which many do) you'd want to read it, and two hundred things is a rather big number, and quite surprising. This might also be why it's in red; to make the reader see the 200 first and think 'wow - 200?'

The selling line 'The UK's biggest music magazine,' is very attractive for a buyer. If it's the UK's biggest music magazine, then it's value for money.

Music Magazine research - Uncut

The magazine, Uncut, had the normal ingredients: a coverline !I'm a survivor. Paul Weller", smaller coverlines such as, "Fleetwood Mac Reunited! The band reveal all." The selling point being the free CD in the front. Then, there's a barcode, date, issue and website.

The ideology behind Uncut magazine is that rock, particularly older rock, is important and therefore, it's audience is older people (twenties to thirties). Possibly because when these artists were younger, especially Paul Weller when he was in The Jam, the audience will have been younger too and the music would have been "cooler" back then.
However, it's not just 'older' rock either. Uncut features newer bands like The Arctic Monkeys which keep the magazine new and fresh.

The main image, of Paul Weller, is a medium close up. He's not that young anymore(actually in his early fifties) and this represents the audience that will read this. But, they still make him appear cool. He's wearing sunglasses and has his shirt unbuttoned showing a bit of chest hair. I think this comes back to ideology; they are presenting old rock stars as cool, as if they are trying to reinvent old rock, which could be one of it's purposes.

The institution, Uncut, appears to be owned by the corporation IPC IGNITE, which only a few years back was called IPC MEDIA. This could suggest a possible merge. The Institution relies on money from people buying the magazine and advertisements within it.

Apart from the main image, the rest of the front cover has to attract buyers. The masthead is bold and red which also happens to be the colour of the main coverline. Both are huge selling points and therefore are made to stand out. Sometimes the masthead is covered by a model perhaps. This usually tells the audience that they are so well-known that only part of the masthead has to be shown because people will still recognise the magazine. Uncut doesn't do this, possibly because it is not that well known.

The Main Task

Main Task:
The front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine. All images and text used must be original, produced by you - minimum of four images.

Evaluation

Evaluation.

My audience for Aspire could have been one of two; The more sociable students or the more academic. The more sociable and party-loving audience would want articles, images and cover lines based on outside activities such as the Wyke Halloween party. The more academic students would like things such as enrichment course information and possibly tips on how to write essays. So, to decide, I did a survey. The results were close and therefore I couldn’t risk only targeting one audience. If the magazine was to be real and distributed, only half or so would find it interesting. Therefore, I tried to create a balance. The main cover line is ‘All work and no play?” which is to advertise fun things within the college and the first cover line is the Wyke Halloween party. Then, there are the cover lines for organisation and information about NUS extra. Two cover lines for each audience to create the balance.
The main image is a happy student with a folder. I picked the model to be smiling, not just to make the magazine not seem depressing, but to show that Wyke is a happy, great and enjoyable place to be. The folder is important because it makes the student appear academic, intelligent and organised. Something that makes the college look good too. My model is wearing a black hoodie (although the hood is not visible) which most people associate with ‘ASBO teens’ and troublemakers. I wanted to show that my model is successful, bright and happy and that just because she is wearing a hoodie doesn’t mean she makes trouble. Plus, the casual dress represents teen.
My magazine isn’t so different from the ones I researched. Ridgewater magazine and College are two very different magazines, but I think I’ve managed to find an equilibrium between both. I found both had the normal ingredients: top-left masthead, plenty of cover lines, one main cover line and a smiling student on the front. I used these ingredients in my magazine.
I, personally, think I used my time wisely. I took my photos a week before the due date giving me plenty of time to create the magazine. Before that, I did a plan, and IT draft, a survey and a spider diagram. The survey enabled me to see what people wanted in the magazine. The drafts made it quicker for me to create the magazine because I didn’t have to spend ages choosing what it was going to look like when I was manipulating the photo. The only thing I would have changed is the font of the title. I didn’t have much time to choose, and I don’t particularly like it. I chose that one because it appears modern which is definitely what I wanted my magazine to be. Once the magazine was done, I had a whole day to do the evaluation and upload my images to Blogger. However, I would have preferred to have more time to write this evaluation, so it is something I will remember when creating my Music magazine – finish the magazine even earlier.
In all, I’m rather proud of my magazine. It has all of the ingredients of a magazine, and it even looks like one. I think my time management was good too; especially since I spent many hours at home in bed from flu.

Other unused Photos

The rest of the photographs that didn't make it.

Finished Magazine

My finished College Magazine.

Contents page.

Basic Spider Diagram

This is my plan, thoughts and decision making.

Draft

My hand drawn draft.

My survey.

IT Draft

First IT Draft.

Mood Board

My mood board. The main things are stationary because my magazine is based on the more academic side of college. However, I also think that I should include social activities which are taking place, to appeal to everyone.

More research into Magazines

The magazine has the normal ingredients of a magazine; a masthead, main image, date, issue number and sub-headings.

The main image is of a pretty girl smiling, in a pair of shorts and sports t-shirt. Something that will appeal to male audiences. The medium shot is focused on the girl. The background is blurred to make her stand out further. She is smiling and happy, she's obviously a student, so college must be a great place?

The red of the masthead and the girls top stand out in red; possibly intended to be the first thing you notice.

The sub-headings are short, snappy and they try to sound interesting, with a less bold, short description at the bottom.

The magazine is not purely focused on the college, but the social activities outside of it.

The audience that this magazine will attract are the more sociable students. It is represnting the college students who like to socialize out of college and have fun, unlike the Ridgewater Magazine which represents hard-working, less sociable students.

Research into Magazines

This college Magazine has the ingredients of a cover design.

The masthead is clearly visible and stands out. It's placed at the top of the magazine. It has become a convention that the title is placed at the top. Plus. if the magazine is stacked anywhere, the title will usually be visible because of where it is located.

The main image is a single image, which draws in your attention. The image is focused on the face of the female, which is happy. Her pose is relaxed and worry-free. This gives the reader the feeling that the college is welcoming and a happy place to be. The girl is also in a room with a globe and a comfy looking chairs which could give the impression that she is actually in the college.

The model credit in this magazine says, 'Ridgewater Student (and Myanmar native)' is a great way to say that everyone is welcome.

The main cover title stands out. They've used shadowed white text on a fairly dull background to give maximum standout.

There is no barcode or selling line which could mean that the magazine is free.

This is Assumption magazine. This magazine not like the others, but some ingredients are the same.

The masthead is at the top, just like with Ridgewater College and most other magazines.

It's simple; the main image isn't of a person but of a lamp and cross which adds emphasis to the main cover line. 'Catholic' and 'tradition' are shown in the image with the cross and lamp with have a hint of nostalgia.

However, the magazine still looks modern. The thin font and few colours are very up-to-date.

This is the same with other Assumption magazines.

Key Concepts

These five concepts will help me create a successful Media Production Portfolio:

Language:
The correct/specific terminology that is used when describing media texts.

Institution:
An organisation that creates a media text.

Ideology:
The way something is represented. A system of beliefs we all share. E.g The Good guy beats the Bad guy.

Audience:
Comsumers of Media.
How the audience comsume media and how an institution markets media to the audience.

Representation:
Sterotyping. Social groups. Representating society back at us.

The Brief

Preliminary exercise:
Using DTP and an image manipulation program, produce the front page of a new school/college magazine featuring a photograph of a student in a medium close-up plus some appropriately laid-out text and a masthead. Additionally you must produce a mock-up of the layout of the contents page to demonstrate their grasp of DTP.

Main Task:
The front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine. All images and text used must be original, produced by you - minimum of four images.