FRONT COVER

CONTENTS PAGE

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

EVALUATION QUESTION 1

1. In what ways does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and conventions of real media products?

EVALUATION QUESTION 2

2. How does your media product represent particular social groups?

EVALUATION QUESTION 3

3. What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why?

EVALUATION QUESTION 4

4. Who would be the audience for your media product?

I asked a 16 year old girl the question, who do you think would be the audience for my magazine?  I gave her a visual copy of my front cover, contents page and double page spread to refer to.  I also asked her what attracts her the most about the pages, this was her response: 

 

I then asked her what her opinion was about the magazines colour scheme.  This was her response:

 



READER PROFILE

AGE: 15-25
GENDER: Male and Female
GENRE OF MUSIC: R&B
POPULAR ARTISTS: Beyoncé, Rihanna, Chris Brown, Justin Timberlake, Kanye West, Jason Derulo, Jay Z and Usher.  

EVALUATION QUESTION 5

5. How did you attract/address your audience?

 

MODEL By me using a young female model this will attract a wide audience.  This is because she will attract the same sex as they can relate to her and look up to her as a role model.  She may also catch the eye of the opposite sex. 

 

COMPETITION By including competitions into my magazine this will attract the audience as its free.  If the competition is valued in the 'teen music world', as festivals are an event, people are more likely to enter and buy the magazine.  I have put the competition in bold so it stands out to the reader.  I have also backed the white writing with black banners which also pop out to the reader. This information is also placed on my front cover which is in 3D effect text so that it attracts the reader as it is in the bottom right hand corner.
 

 

WEEKLY PAGES Weekly pages such as Wireless top 10 persuade the audience to buy the magazine every week.  This is because they know that in every issue they will get this information that they may enjoy reading every week.    

 

KEY WORDS Key words such as pull quotes are useful to draw the audience into the article.  By using a key word or sentence from the interview makes the audience want to read the interview to find out more.  Also by using key information like single releases, album releases or tour dates is very useful to catch the reader's attention.  The pull quote also addresses the reader on what is within the interview. 

 

PRICE The price of a magazine is very important as it can attract different audiences.  You want to appeal to a wider audience therefore you have to have a reasonable price.  By having the price of the magazine on the front cover next to the bar code, it addresses the reader accordingly as it's easy to find. 

 

EVALUATION QUESTION 6

6. What have you learnt about technologies from the progress of constructing this product?

EVALUATION QUESTION 7

7. Looking back at your preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it to the full product?

Cast

I chose this model for my R&B magazine because she has a slim figure which shows that she is fit for the athletic lifestyle.  My  model also has bleached dipdyed hair which is on trend at the moment, which means she is current.  The firey tone of the hair stands out as a fashionable trend.  The type of clothing i wanted my  model to wear, which fits the genre, is tightly fitting, cropped clothing which suits her figure well.  The audience of my magazine will be of a simular age so the audience will feel more of a relation with the model used.  As the model is female it will attract a widwer audience as the female audience will relate to her and the male audience may also be drawn in.         

Video questionnaire

Photoshop techniques

These are the Photoshop techniques I used on my front cover, contents page and my double page spread:

Top bar tools:

• EDIT

FREE TRANSFORM - By using this tool it allows you to change the shape and size of everything on the page from a photo, the bar code and the sell lines. 
STROKE - I used the stroke tool to put a outlines around some of my photos.  For example on my contents page of have two images at the bottom that are in black and white that I have put a white edge around them.  This makes the photos pop out on the page. 

• SELECT

DESELECT - By using this tool it allows you to deselect what you have selected, for example with the quick selection tool, if you have made a mistake. 

• By changing the layers on the right hand side you can make pictures and text go on top of each other or behind each other.  This is useful when wanting to put text over a photo.  In my case I used the layers to put text over the top of black banners on my front cover.  I used white text on black banners, the black banners made the text stand out and also framed the words.  
• On the right hand side there is also a bin.  This is so you can dispose of any layers you may not want.  All you have to do is select the layer and drag it on top of the bin tool in the bottom right hand corner.   

Step by step double page spread

Firstly, I wanted a edgy urban background, therefore I took a picture of the background seperately, then added the picture of my model onto it.  The photo of my model is set forward so the photo doesnt appear flat, she is also looking towards where the interview is going to be placed.  The word 'EXCLUSIVE' is in a font that I got from Dafont.com as it is worn and urban also as it has the cut out of a city skyline at the bottom of it.  'Tour antics with... Abbie Jackson' is in red as this is the colour scheme from the front cover, therefore the two pages link. 

I added black boxes behind the text in red as I wanted them to standout as the background chnged from white to green.  I added the website along the side of the page so that it was clear on how the reader could get in contact with us and it also indicates that related information of the artist will be on there.  To back the interview I addd a faded letter'W'.  This symbolises the name of the magazine which is 'Wireless'.  If someone takes a photo of the interview out stamp will remain on it.  I added page numbers at the bottom corners of each page so that the reader can easily navigate their way arounfd the magazine and find the interview on the contents page.     

Then I typed up the inrtroductory part of the intervew.  This includes basic information about the artist and about the tour that we are going to focus on within the interview.  I used the large dropped initial capital letter at the start of my paragraph to symbolise the interview stating.  I put the 'I' in red as this is the magazine's colour scheme and it contrasts with the black text so that it stands out. 

 

Then I typed up my interview.  I structured my interview in columbs and left two spaces for a pull quote and an image.  I highlighted some key information in red so this stanmds out to the reader and drwas them in to read it.   

 

Finally I added two pull quotes and an image into my interview.  For the image I added a humouas twist.  I did this as it may draw readers in to be more comforable with the whole vibe of the magazine anf the artist we are interviewing.  It turns the interview into more of a chat.  For the pull quotes I added information from the interview that I thought would catch the readers eye.  I lined the pull quotes with yellow as this makes them pop out. 

Step by step contents page

 

I started off with a plain white background.  I then added a metal effect background the one half to seperate the page up.  I chose this background as it ties in with the urban feel of the magazine.  I then used the easer to sofen the egde of the backdround so it was more gradient.  I also used a black gradience effect form the bottom of the page to join both backdrounds up.  For the title of 'CONTENTS' I just wanted it simple and bold as I knew a lot would be going on on the page.   

  

 

I added the website of the magazine at the top of the page in red.  This is the magazine's colour scheme and I wanted it at the top of the page as this is the main other sourse to find content.  Underneath the title I added the magazine's masthead so that the two pages linked together.       

  

After that I added the issue number and the date.  I had put this in red as it stands out as inportant information to the reader.  As it's small too it pops out to the resder if its in a different colour.  Red is also the magazine's colour scheme. 

 

I then added the subheadings of the content.  This includes 'NEWS', 'FEATURES' and 'COMPETITION'.  I backed the subheading on white as this contrast with the black boxes and makes them stand out as a subheading.     

 

 

I decided to back my contents with black banners.  I chose to do this as all of the banners are out of place which can create a messy/careless look which links into the rebellious side to the genre of R&B.   

 

I then added the text to my contents.  I put the text in white as this stands out most on the black banners.  I put names of artists that were involved in this weeks issure in red as the reader can easily identify who they are interested in and what page they feature on.   

For the competition subheading I put the text in bold as I wanted this bit of information to stand out the most.  I wanted this as it's the competition, this is a factor that draws the reader in as it's free and they could win something they are highly interested in. 

 

I then added two small photos at the bottom of the page.  This is to show other photo-shoots/artists involved within the magazine.  Having photos on the contents also separates the text up.  The photos are black and white and are youthful and rebellious, this ties in with the R&B genre.  I lined the photos with white using the stroke tool, this is so they have a border and stand out from the background.      

 

I then added a little icon of the front cover on the left hand side,  I did this so the two pages were linked and the cover star is identified.  I put the icon on a ripped paper background.  I did this as it has a careless feel and looks thrown together. 

Finally I added a photo of the cover star in the background of the contents page.  I did this as she is in the background and the reader is reminded who the main artist focus is on in this particular issue. 

Step by step front cover

 

This is the front cover of my R&B magazine.  For the background I took it separately from my photo of my model.  I did this as I wanted my background to tie in with the genre of music I had picked.  I added behind the model a worn brick wall with some graffiti on it.  I chose this as it has an urban, edgy look rather than just having a plain background.  For my model I dressed her in the clothes I had researched.  The clothes fit the genre as they are street and stylish.  For my masthead I wanted the worn look again as it has an effortless fell.  I got my masthead font off the website dafont.com.  I have chosen one in capital letters so its bold and stands out as the masthead.       

 

I then added a sky line.  In the sky line I added the magazine's website, Twitter and Facebook.  By having this information at the top it's clear to see and lets the audience get in tough with us.  I kept to my colour scheme of red.     

 

Then I added slogan to the magazine so that when the audience se or hear the slogan they will instantly think of the magazine.  It also tells the audience the genre of the magazine. 

 

I then added the date so that the audience know whether the magazine is current on the shelves or what issue it is if they are a regular customer.   

 

I then added all the sell lines.  The sell lines tell all the stories/head lines that are inside the magazine.  If the sell lines are to the point or catchy this will draw the audience in as they will wasn't to buy it to read the stories inside.  If the sell line is to the point it will tell the audience who is involved and an important quote from the article inside.  I used different fonts, colours and sizes to catch the audience's eye and to make certain points stand out.  I also made the competition details at the bottom of the page a 3D effect as this makes the text stand out and is also a key point to draw the audience in.  I put 'WIRELESS TOP 10' in white as I wanted the text to appear different from the rest as it is a monthly feature of every magazine issue.  It is also personal to the magazine.       

 

To make the main sell line about the interview including Abbie Jackson, I highlighted her name.  I did this as she is also the front cover and contents page star.  I highlighted the name in yellow as it contrasts with the other colours used and it is a bright colour to make it pop out.  I also put black boxes behind the sell line of 'WIRELESS TOP 10' to make the white writing stand out from the brick backdrop.  It also makes the text sharper.  I used two yellow crosses to act as bullet points to separate the two smaller sell lines on the cover.      

 

One of the most important parts of the magazine is the cost of the magazine.  The cost can decipher whether the customer buys the magazine or not.  I chose £1.50 as I had previously done a questionnaire on the subject.  I also added a bar code so that the magazine could be bought in shops.  These go with the date at the bottom left hand side of the cover.    

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

What do you want to know most about your favourite artist?

QUESTIONNAIRE

 

 

I asked 100 people what they wanted to know most about their favourite artist.  My results show that backstage antics was the most popular answer.  This could be that we as the general public are intrigued to the life of a celebrity singer.  It could mean that we are just have a passion for our favourite artist and want to know as much as we can about them.  As this questionnaire has shown we want to find out the things that we don't have access to easily.  For example, the results show that they aren't as needy to find out when music is being released, this may be because they already know from social networking sites or iTunes.  Another high amount is what is to expect next.  This may because they want more from their idols or want a new tour or album that hasn't been suggested or leaked yet.  The results that came low within the questionnaire are personal interests and what music they personally listen to.  This may be because these answers are already known or commonly asked or just trivial, low key questions.  How they got into the industry and their love life are also high flyers.  The first out of the two may be because so many young people want to make it into the industry and get noticed.  When asked, a popular answer for children is that they say they want to be a celebrity when they are older, this may be because they earn good money or that they are in the spotlight and it is seen to be a 'cool' job with lots of exciting thing involved.  Many young people want their talents noticed and will do anything to achieve success and be just like their idols.  A celebrity singer's love life attracts the attention of many people.  Whether you take a fancy to them or they are seen as a worldwide sex symbol.  My questionnaire has proved that it interests many people.         

The little things matter...

These are some aspects of your magazine that are important to catch the buyers eye...

FRONT COVER

1. Sell lines are very important as this may be the only element that entices the buyer in.  For example, they may not be interested in the cover star at all but if the sell lines are catchy, have the key words that are of interest of the buyer they may pick your magazine up for that reason.  A good idea is to have certain key words in bold or a different vibrant colour.  These words will most likely  be the first thing that the buyer sees so they have to be appealing.  For example, names of artists or events.  
2. competitions/free gifts also make your magazine more appealing.  If the competition you are holding is exciting, not easy to get hold of, expensive originally, and different people will be interested.  If you like the competition and you are into the genre of your magazine more than likely other buyers will be interested in the competition too.
3. The price of your magazine has to be affordable and appropriate for the content you put in your magazine.  If you have good, up to date/current content which is worldwide your magazine will be more up market.  You can put out a questionnaire just like what I have to find out what the public think and would pay for an average music magazine.       
4. Interviews/the front cover artist have to what you think are going to appeal to your genre of magazine.  For example, you wouldn't want a typical pop, teen boy band on the front of your R&B magazine because they are two different genres and audiences.  everything from costume, makeup, props and setting all have to be linked and be the style of your genre.  I have done research for all of there, including a Prezi and mood board.     
5. The overall mise-en-scene of your magazine has to be correct according to your genre.  Your magazine can have a colour scheme, mine is red.  I picked red as it was bold and edgy, usually associated with passion.  The font of your text is also Important as you wouldn't put a swirly, girly font on a genre of rap magazine.  You can use lots of different fonts on your front cover as this brings attention to certain pieces of text and varies the appearance of your magazine to create more interest and is less boring for the eye. 

CONTENTS PAGE

1. The layout of your contents page is important as it can get cluttered.  You need to have your contents listed, this way its easy for the customer to read and find out in order what in included in this particular issue of your magazine.  The ratio of text to images have to be balanced, if the contents is swamped by too much text, it can be off putting and hard for the customer to find what they want.  
2. Little images can be eye catching amongst the text.  For example you can put an image in a shape, a circle or a star for example.  This was it adds different shapes and structure to your page that different from the usual square shaped structure.  have images that aren't just black and white.  Pops of colour can uplift any page of a magazine.    
3. The features of the issue need to be current.  News from a year ago are necessarily going to interest the customers now.  Having certain bits of your features in bold, italics, different font or colour can draw attention to popular current events of certain artists which may interest the public.    

DOUBLE PAGE SPREAD

1. Relevant/interesting questions in your interviews are vital.  If the interview is boring or has no questions the public are urging to be answered, for example single/album releases or what is to be expected next from the artist, the customer will easily lose interest.  Information like backstage antics and incites to the artist's day to day life, which most people won't admit but are interested to read, are good things to include as we don't see it as the public.  Research into what people want to know about their favourite artist could be a good idea, for example, a questionnaire.    
2. Their needs to be a theme for your colour on your double page spread accept little points you want to stand out therefore they can be vibrant and a different colour.  The colour has to be appealing as your double page spread Is a large aspect to your magazine.  It needs to link into your genre and link into your setting, props, costume and makeup.  This will lead to a successful photo-shoot if all aspects link together.  The colour, costume/makeup, props and setting can all link into the artists personality.     
3. A main pull quote can be added onto your double page spread.  Adding this will pull a funny/main talking point out of your interview.  The pull quote will encourage people to read the interview if its is appealing. 
4. The main image has to be positioned correct on the page.  It can either be on the left of the page or the right.  You can put text over the image to merge then both together (making sure the text is readable) or you can leave both separate on two different pages.  You could place your pull quote on top of the image as this shows that the artist themselves said the quote not the interviewer.  The angle of the shot has to be correct.  For example, if the model if stood upright against the backdrop the image will look flat.  Movement can be added to the image which creates interest.  The face of the artist needs to be visible so that the customer can see who the interview is about if they aren't familiar with them.     

Double page spread draft

This is a draft of my double page spread.  I am going to develop colour, font,  and the layout by getting inspiration from my research.

Contents page draft

This is a draft of my contents page.  I will adapt this page by changing colour, layout and text/images.  I will find inspiration from my research.

Front cover draft

This is my R&B front cover draft.  I did this to develop my ideas of how I want my front cover to look.  I came up with my own eye catching sell lines and did my own photo-shoot.  In terms of mise-en-scene, I used red as my colour scheme because I thought that red was an edgy colour which represented fire and fire can be conveyed as fierce.  Red is also a very bold colour which I put certain sell lines in to stand out.  I stuck to my plans of the costume using the style I wanted.  I used a brick wall as the background to my photo-shoot as its urban which ties in with the R&B theme.  I also used different fonts to separate the text on the page and so they vary so the front cover isn't boring to look at for the customer.         

Photo mood board from the front cover photoshoot

This is my mood board for my R&B music magazine.  I took all of these photos myself.  I chose the location with a background of a brick wall as I thought it would give the photo-shoot an urban feel.  I changed it up a bit by trying a wooden background but I didn't think it was as effective and edgy as the brick wall.  Also the model stands out better in front of the brick wall.  I stuck to my plan of the style of the costume using chunky heels, skinny black hot pants, a crop top and a snapback/beanie.  I changed up the position of the model to get different angles to see which looks best, as I didn't want the photo to look flat (up against the wall).  I also changed the zoom of the photo, capturing wide shots (full body) and mid shots.   

Social class and demographics

What social class is my magazine aimed at:
The price of my magazine reflects the social class which is a wide range as the price isn't high, its affordable.  Therefore I am allowing my magazine to have a wider audience.   

How am I going to address their needs:
I will address their needs by including current, relevant content which matches the genre of my magazine, which is R&B.  This is the purpose of my magazine, to interest the reader.  I will include content such as, interviews, festival information, bands and updates about the current charts.   

What is the price of my magazine:
The price of my magazine is £1.50.  I chose this price as the results to my questionnaire where positive towards this price.  Not many people will pay over £1.50 for a music magazine (from my results).  The price is also affordable and acceptable for good content.   

Gifts/prizes they would like:
I have offered free headphones with my magazine.  They are small travel sized ones (just like the ones you get with your phone)so you can fit them easily in your pocket or your bag.  You can never get enough small headphones as they can brake or be lost easily.  I also offer competitions inside my magazine to enter.  The competition winner will receive FREE tickets to wireless festival.  This is because we are sponsored by Wireless and our magazine is called after that.  I think the customer will benefit from this competition prize as everyone wants to see live music, if you are interested in music, and its enjoyable, so is the whole experience and atmosphere of a festival.  Also their favourite artist might be playing which is an even better prize.  In my questionnaire I asked what they would expect to see inside a music magazine and the results told me that the second highest result was festival information, so this tells me that a high number of people are interested in going to a live music festival like wireless.       

Reader profile research

Why do magazines do such research?  How does it help them to make the magazine?

The magazine have to be right for their target audience.  If the magazine doesn't appeal to their target audience, who are they making it for?  Magazines do research so that it does appeal to their target audience   For example, they have to have the right genre of music throughout the magazine, the right clothing, makeup, props, colour scheme, mast head and appropriate language for their target age/gender of their audience within the sell lines.  
They also do research to find the conventions for their magazine.  Where to place them/layout, the sell lines included, the cost and any competitions included.  The magazine needs to be eye catching whether the target audience is young teenager or elders.  The magazine needs to be current so that appeals to people today, to sell well.  The magazine needs to include people in the industry today, this will make the magazine more current.
If research is done, slip ups are less likely to accrue and its more likely to be successful and appropriate for your target audience. 
Social media is a big part of today's world.  Social media is a big platform for an up and coming magazine if it gain followers/views.  The younger generation, in particular, are very forth coming when it comes to social media sites like, Twitter and Facebook.  The teenage generation are the target audience of social media.  Teenagers today would rather have a quick look on their phone then go out and buy a hard copy as its easy and Free, unless you chose to subscribe to a magazine online.          

 

 

This is the model I have chosen for my R&B magazine.  She is female teenager.  The clothing I have picked is edgy and street inspired.  The tight hot pants and crop top are very figure hugging which shows a careless, confident attitude which fits in with the genre of R&B.  I have put her hat on backwards so a street vibe which may come across as being cool and shows her rebellious side against how it was made to be worn.  The bleached hair also edgy as it looks like fire, this also shows a careless side as bleach is very damaging for the hair.  It shows that she is willing to try new things with her image that may inspire other teens, which draws them into the magazine.   I put my model in chunky, heeled boots instead of flat shoes, as this shows a grown up look as my target audience is from 15-25.     

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS PAGE current research

These are some examples of current market RnB contents pages.  The similar themes throughout are:

1. minimum/dull colouring, mainly one colour throughout.

2. Emotionless faces by the models involved, which is total different from pop for example, as they have smiley inviting faces with pops of colour all over the page.
3. Bold title with small information at the sides.  The contents information is considerably smaller than the title and is places around the main image to frame the photo. 
4. One main image, normally a famous artist as this will invite customers in (one has three other smaller images (artists that are included within the magazine).
5. The contents pages range from the dress code of a suit to casual to an edgy style of statement jewellery and tattoos on show.  
                           

                            The conventions

The conventions that these contents have are:
1. page numbers
2. main images
3. smaller images
4. sub lines
5. title
6.competitions

The last three examples of current R&B music contents pages all have the contents information on the right hand side of the page.  This makes the text easily visible as soon as the page is turned making it is easier for the reader to hold the magazine as you dont have to bend the spine of the magazine.