Transaction Management in Database Management System
Media assessment
1. Josephine Beer
2096
33435 Aquinas College
AS Media Studies
OCR G321: Foundation Portfolio
Create the front cover, contents
and double page spread for a new
music magazine
4. •
The genre of my magazine is pop/chart music with some influences
of hip-hop. I think this would appeal a teenage market because it is
not just a typical pop magazine because of the sub genres. I think
people aged 14-18 would be most interested in my magazine
because the layout is quite simple but also there isn't too many
colours so it would target this age range when it is on the shelf. I
think 14-18 is the age where you can really discover your own
music taste and explore music properly. My magazine includes both
well known artists and smaller artists, this gives the readers variety
in their preferences in music and allows them to have a wide range
of artists which they like listening to. I think there is a need for my
magazine because all other magazines based round the pop genre
are for young pre-teen girls. It is important to offer a more mature
magazine because it will include a different type of content more
based around the music rather than the gossip and personal lives of
the artists. I aimed to it more mature than the similar magazines in
this genre e.g. TOTP and We Love Pop because I think there is a gap
in the market for a pop magazine for people in their teens. I also
think my magazine would be aimed more towards females because
they are mostly interested in this type of music, although, some
males may enjoy the hip-hop side of my magazine. The titles of
these magazines both include the word ‘pop’ which is just
narrowing the magazine down to one genre, my magazine differs
from this because I wanted to begin to explore other genres. Some
artists I include like Rizzle Kicks and Mikill Pane ensure to keep my
magazine fresh and interesting because they are very up to date
and modern, they are in the public eye and are young, these would
be good role models for the readers of my magazine because they
have come from normal backgrounds similar to the readers.
5. On my mood board, I included some of the artists which
I would feature in my magazine like Rizzle Kicks, Ed
Sheeran, Labrinth and Beyoncé. Most of them are well
known and artists from the UK and America. The US and
the UK are well known for their music and it is played
on popular radio stations like capital. This would mean
that my magazine would appeal to a wide range of
people because many people listen to this type of radio
station. Most of the artists in my magazine would be in
the charts so they would be played on Radio One’s chart
show. This is the biggest station in the UK so a lot of
people listen to it and therefore would know the
majority of artists featured in my magazine. There is also
an element of acoustic music in my genre of magazine
for example Ed Sheeran. He fits into the Pop/Indie genre
which shows that my magazine has some other small
influences of different genres like hip-hop and R&B
which makes it unique because it is not just a pop
magazine. Artists which feature in my magazine would
sometimes be on music channels like MTV, this is a
channel which can be accessed all over the
world, particularly in the US and UK so if music is
popular world wide then more people would want to
access my magazine because they would be interested in
the music.
6. • These kind of artists also do a range of big arena
tours to small intimate venues. It is good that there
is different levels of fame throughout my magazine
and it would therefore hopefully include something
for everyone. Small venues also cost a lot less
money to get tickets for so people can still
experience gigs but on a smaller scale. Venues like
the Academy and HMV Ritz are good for more
undiscovered artists but they also often have a
better atmosphere. This links to the title of my
magazine because I think the atmosphere at a gig is
really important. And it’s not necessary for
someone to particularly like that artist, if they can
put on a good show and the atmosphere is good
then it will be enjoyable and memorable. My tag
line is ‘Music is nothing without Atmosphere’ I used
this because I think its necessary for artists to be
able to put on a good show and if they cant perform
live then it is disappointing and shows that they
aren’t of a high quality.
7. 2)How does your media product
represent particular social groups?
8. •
•
•
The cover star on my magazine represents my
particular social group because my model is
similar to the type of people who would read my
magazine. The type of clothes she is wearing are
very current and girly but they are also individual.
The leather jacket and the shoes link back to the
idea of hip-hop influences and ensure that she is
up to date and unique. Lucie also compares to
other pop artists who are currently popular, they
would have a similar dress sense.
The style of Lucie’s hair goes well with the genre
because the bright red makes her stand out and
re-enforces her unique style. Lucie’s hair is a
similar colour and style to Rihanna, she has a big
influence on teenage girls in the UK and this
shows that the model on the cover of my
magazine would too.
The leather jacket and denim shorts are edgy and
on trend. They are similar to Rita Ora’s outfits.
This shows that my model is right for the genre of
music. The pose of the model is also similar
which means it would be suitable for my
magazine and genre.
9. •
•
•
My cover star is someone who my readers should
aspire to be like. Lucie is a similar age to the age of
the readers my magazine is aimed at and therefore
Lucie would be a positive role model. My magazine
is mainly pop genre and this has the connotations of
innocence and fun. A slight contrast to this is the
hip-hop sub genre. This is more edgy and rebellious
and this is shown through Lucies clothes. There is
nothing in the interview which would badly
influence the readers because they are fairly young
and my magazine would aim to have a positive
influence on everyone who reads it.
Therefore, anything that is included in my magazine
would try to inspire the reader.
All of my images of Lucie are natural and not too
staged. This is good because it links back to the idea
that my star is someone who the reader can aspire
to be like and anything that is too posed or
airbrushed will be impossible for them to achieve.
Using airbrushed pictures would give my readers a
false view of the cover star and because my
magazine is aimed at teenage females, it is
important that the model is not made to look
perfect because no one actually looks like that in
real life.
All of the images I took of Lucie display innocence
and fun. It is important that I put across this tone on
the cover and throughout because that is what pop
music is all about, it is not serious so obviously I
want to set this tone for my magazine. Lucie also
looks very natural and not too posed or staged. Eye
contact with the camera is important because it
connects with the reader.
10. Rihanna is an example of one of the artists which
would feature in my magazine. It is easy for stars
to be portrayed negatively because everything
they do is in the public eye and there will always
be people trying to make them look bad. These
two pictures of Rihanna show how different an
artist can be. On the left she is moody and
wearing dark clothes. This is during a time when
she is not expected to be pictured so she is not
dressed up and is casual. In contrast to this, on
the right she is on the red carpet, this is a time
where a lot of people across the world will see
her so she has to portray her image in a positive
way. There is always a lot of bad press around
Rihanna saying she is a bad role model but this is
due to how she acts in her free time. When
Rihanna is in the public eye she changes how she
acts and what clothes she wears. Rihanna has also
been in the public eye since she was a teenager, it
is obvious that she has changed since then and it
must be difficult for her to take away the innocent
and sweet label which she was previously given.
Rihanna’s music has also changed and got more
rebellious, this could be her way of showing
everyone that she has grown up. Rihanna can get
away with a lot of things because the majority of
people like her and respect her music.
11. 3) What kind of media institution
might distribute your media product
and why?
12. •
•
I feel that my magazine is fairly unique in its
genre, it is a pop magazine yet it is more grown up.
although it is similar to Top Of The Pops and We
Love Pop, it is a mature version and also explores a
few other genres rather than only focusing on pop.
I think my magazine would be good for people to
read once they have grown out of TOTP and we
love pop. My magazine would help reader to
explore music even further and possibly discover
some more unknown artists rather than those who
are currently in the spotlight.
I wouldn’t say that my magazine would be in
competition with TOTP or We Love Pop because I
think the age at which they are aimed at is
different. Also, my magazine would be priced at
£1.99 which is £1 cheaper than top of the pops
magazine. The lower price should appeal to a
reader because my magazine is also more frequent
than top of the pops. My magazine is published
weekly and TOTP is published monthly, it is more
sensible to charge less for a more frequent
magazine because it makes it easier for the reader
to buy every issue and this gains loyalty from the
readers.
13. Publishing my magazine weekly means that it
will include the most modern and up to date
news, this would be appealing to a reader
because any features in the magazine will
never be more than a week old so obviously
the readers will want to buy the magazine as
they can keep up and feel like they have the
latest information.
My magazine is also newer than TOTP
magazine so it would be good if someone
wants to try something new. Top Of The Pops
is an established well known brand so it
would be a bad idea trying to directly
compete with it as it would have a lot of loyal
readers. By offering something slightly
different, I am aiming my magazine at a more
specific audience rather than those who
follow just the pop genre. There has been
245 issues of Top Of The Pops magazine so it
will be more exciting to try a new magazine.
14. •
•
The main way for people to find my magazine is via social
media. The main ones being twitter, Instagram and
Youtube. Twitter is the most popular social networking
website used currently and it is a really simple and easy
way to promote my magazine. The use of hash tags can
spread ideas in a matter of minutes. The more readers my
magazine has, the easier it is to get something trending on
twitter and therefore more people will see it. If there was
going to be any competitions in my magazine I would use
twitter as a way of entering it because it means that their
followers will learn about the magazine so it is a cheap way
to advertise. Twitter is also used by most people aged 1418 and that is who my magazine is targeted at. Twitter is
also a way for people to contact celebrities. It is unusual to
find a type of social media which allows readers and artists
to interact with each other which makes twitter so
successful. Having a twitter account dedicated to my
magazine allows readers to get to see everything on a more
personal level and offers them even more exclusive things
than the magazine does.
Instagram is a more interactive, visual way of connecting
with readers. It allows people to post pictures and follow
other users, this is a more behind the scenes view into the
magazine. If readers of the magazine follow the Instagram
page then it helps to build a fan base and therefore it is a
more casual and informal relationship.
15. •
Icon for my app
•
YouTube is more of an unusual way of promoting my
magazine but I think it is important to remember
that it is a music publication. YouTube is used all the
time to promote new songs or music videos so it is
important that my magazine addresses this. YouTube
is also a good way to post videos of footage around
the magazine, this could include some of the artists
who feature in each issue. YouTube videos get
spread around really quickly so if there are any
particularly successful or popular ones then it is
likely that a lot of people are going to see it. A
YouTube page dedicated to my magazine allows
people to post video responses and get involved
themselves. Online competitions or features will be
popular because the internet is used so much and it
is so easy for readers to get involved on the web due
to computers, tablets and smart phones.
Having an app for my magazine would be a good way
to share extra things with loyal readers. A free app
would be available for everyone with basic features
but a small cost could be charged to access more
complex features. This would distinguish who were
the loyal readers and therefore offer more rewards
to them. My app could include
videos, pictures, unseen features and it could allow
users to write comments and put across their views
which would help to make the magazine as good as
it could be because they can cater to audiences
needs. Apps are really easy to download on a
Smartphone and tablet which the majority of
teenagers have. Apps can also be accessed anywhere
so if someone can’t buy a magazine then they could
just download this issue on the app.
16. 4) In what ways does your media
product use, develop or challenge forms
and conventions of real media products?
19. On the cover of these real media products they are all pop related and have one female
soloist taking up most of the frame. The main image is looking direct to camera and they
are all medium close up shots. The colour scheme of the magazines are bright girly
colours and the text is bold and stands out. There is an element of fun in all these, they
all have an element of gossip and secrets in them. The mast head on each magazine is
bold and recognisable so this manages to create a house style throughout each issue of
the magazine. Even simple things like slanted text or features add another dimension
which I have tried to recreate in my magazine. Auto shapes are used a lot to add extra
information and to not overwhelm the reader with too much text. Auto shapes ensure
that an important piece of information can easily stand out.
20. This is a row of smaller images of one
artist, this shows that they have put a lot
of focus into Lady Gaga and anyone who
likes her should buy this magazine. The
different images show all different sides
to lady gaga and this would suggest that
in the magazine they are exploring all
about her. I have done the same kind of
thing on my magazine, the small images
all work well together because they are
similar colours and also the sub heading
of ‘Rizzle Kicks’ fits nicely with this.
Anyone who likes Rizzle Kicks would
enjoy this feature in my magazine. The
images show them playing live music
which is exciting and shows they are
producing real music rather than just
manufactured auto tuning.
In top of the pops magazine, this section makes the
audience think that they will find something out that noone else knows. The word ‘secrets’ is intriguing and will
make the reader want to reveal what it is. Similarly, I
have included a secret feature in my magazine. I think
this works within my genre of pop because it would be
aimed at an audience who may be interested in a star’s
secret life, as well as the music.
This image of Rihanna is not
serious and has a fun
element to it, this is relevant
to a pop magazine because
most pop artists focus on
putting on a good show with
dance routines and a visual
experience. The fact that my
image was taken outside
shows that it wasn’t too
staged and the image shows
a soft side to the model. If my
genre was something like
heavy metal then my image
would have to be a lot
stronger. The soft sides
shows how the artist is as a
person and gives the reader
more insight into them.
One way in which my magazine differs from the
professional ones is that mine does not have a
white background. It is set outside. I think this
makes my image more edgy and adds more
depth to it rather than having a plain
background. One similarity is that both of these
magazines have a ‘+’ sign which offers more
information about what is to be included in the
magazine. This will maximise readers because
there is a higher chance that they will see an
artist which they like.
21. These contents pages both have a selection of different images on them. This helps the reader to
visualise what will be included in the magazine. They also both include small auto shapes with extra
details. All of these contents pages have simple colour schemes and the layout is very blocked and
easy to follow. My contents page is slightly different from the professional ones because I have
separated the regular features and the ones exclusive to this issue. This is a positive thing because it
makes it easy for the reader to distinguish between the two and it ensures that their favourite feature
will be included in each issue. One similarity between my magazine and the others is that white is the
predominant colour of the background and the text is mostly black with one other colour. This makes
my magazine look more professional and shows it is working like other magazines on the market.
22. I have included an editors letter in
my magazine to explain some of the
features inside this months issue.
Talking about the magazine by using
words like ‘we’ and ‘you’ makes the
editors letter more casual and less
formal. This forms a bond with the
reader and makes them feel valued
and important. One way my editors
letter differs to the professional one
is that I have put pages numbers in
mine. I like the idea of having page
numbers because if someone likes
the sound of a specific issue then
they can easily find it without having
to read the rest of the contents.
Chronology is something which is expected on a contents
page because it makes it quick and easy to read. The
blocked format of the page makes it simple to follow and it
is not strenuous and difficult to find where it starts and
ends. My contents is different from the ‘we love pop’ one
because I have done a small explanation under the features.
I like this idea because it offers the reader extra information
and they can see whether this feature would appeal to
them or not. Both of these contents pages have a contrast
in 2 colours. The black makes the magazine more slick and
professional where as the other colour adds more of a pop
element to the page. Which is necessary for this genre.
Both my magazine and the professional one have a collage of
images on the contents page. The use of a collage makes it easy to
visually show the reader what will be included in the magazine.
Each picture relates to a different feature and if anyone is
interested in a specific artist then it is easy for them to find them in
the rest of the magazine because of the page numbers. My
magazine and the professional one both include page numbers
because some of the images don’t need to be explained, for
example the Ed Sheeran tour picture. This creates ease for the
reader and they can instantly find what they are looking for.
23. Most double page spreads in profession pop magazines follow the same kind of layout. They have one
main image and then an interview with questions and answers. These are very simple but effective
because they are easy to follow and a white background really makes the image stand out. They also
include a small box saying who wrote the article and took the images, this gives credit to anyone who
was involved . Blocked questions and answers makes it clear to see who is saying what and by using
two different colours distinguishes the difference visually.
24. Both of these images are of a solo female artist. Having one
image on the double page spread keeps it simple and ensures
that all the focus is drawn to there. The image from the ‘we
love pop’ magazine is very staged and is facing the camera
with a prop. This contrasts with my image because it is more
natural and looks less posed. One similarity between the
images is that they are both medium shots rather than
medium close ups like on the cover. The medium shots show
more of the artist and there is more space on a double page
spread to not cram everything on. The prop of a camera is
quite cheeky and fits well with a pop genre.
Having a pull quote on the double page spread gives an insight
into style and mood of the interview. These quotes are both
similar because they are quite dramatic and would persuade
someone to read this interview even if they weren’t planning
on it. The words ‘I’ and ‘I’m’ give off the impression that the
whole interview is from the artists perspective which would
make a reader think that they are getting an insight into their
life and it will be interesting to read.
Alternating colours on the double
page spread makes it really
simple and easy to read. The
questions are in blue and the
answers are in black. Because
there is quite a lot of text on one
page it can seem daunting for the
reader but this layout makes it
simple to follow and you can
clearly see who is saying which
thing. Obviously not all double
page spread features will be
interviews but they are often
found in pop magazines because
the audience may be younger
because of the genre of music.
27. •
•
•
The first thing that attracts the audience to my
magazine is the bold title. This would catch
someone’s eye because it is in capitals and is in a
bright colour. The other text on my page is mainly
black so my title is eye catching and is the first
thing that someone would see as they look at the
page. The title of my magazine is also the logo so
it would become instantly recognisable to anyone
who looks at it and also it is good that my logo is
the same as my title because it means people will
remember the name of the magazine.
The image I have used would attract the
audience because of the use of eye contact. My
model is looking directly at the camera so it
instantly connects with the audience and her
pose is natural so it is interesting and easy to look
at.
Another thing that would attract people would
be the fact that it looks professional, the use of
codes and conventions makes it look like a real
magazine. For example, the barcode, date and
issue number are all things which are expected to
be included on a real magazine and as soon as
you look at my cover these are dominant in the
frame.
28. •
•
•
The colour scheme of my cover is
continual throughout my magazine and
I have tried to stick to a minimal
amount of colours, this would attract
the audience because although the
colours stand out they are not too
bright and all work well together. The
blues and purples are not specific to
one gender and even though my
magazine is aimed mainly at
females, males may also enjoy it.
The list of artists at the bottom of my
cover would attract the audience
because there is more of a chance that
they will see an artist they like. They
will become interested in the magazine
and therefore want to buy it if they
weren’t already intending on it.
Free posters and the chance to win
prizes would attract the audience
because everyone likes to get things
without having to pay for them. If
someone does not buy the magazine
then they will feel like they are missing
out on the chance to win things which
may interest them. If competitions are
a regular feature in my magazine then
this will create loyal readers.
30. •
•
•
•
The first thing that would attract readers about my
contents page would be the clear logo and heading.
Reading a magazine shouldn’t be hard work so having a
bold title that stands out and tells you exactly what it is
would be appealing for the reader. The colours of this page
are also continued from the cover so this creates a house
style and ensures that the magazine works well as one. The
colour of the bar across the top is similar to the colours in
the images so this ties the page together and makes it look
complete.
The editors letter would attract the audience because it is
short yet it contains all the information it needs to. The use
of page numbers in the letter is good because the different
colour makes them stand out and therefore makes the
articles stand out. Direct address using the word ‘you’ is
talking directly to the reader and makes it casual and
friendly. The editors letter also gives a more behind the
scenes feel rather than just showing the readers from the
outside it gives them slightly more insight into the
magazine.
The small explanation of the features would attract readers
because it offers them slightly more and helps them to
decide which articles to read. The contrast in colours also
separates out the features and makes it less daunting and a
smaller chunk of text.
The images I have included on my contents page would
attract the reader because they are all from live concerts
which I have been to. This links to the title of my magazine
because it obviously shows some relevance to the word
‘atmosphere’ like at a concert. Live music is also enjoyable
because many pop artists put on a show rather than just
singing which means it is a well known genre.
32. •
•
•
•
•
The first thing that would attract the audience on
my double page spread is the image. It is striking
and takes up a lot of the page. It instantly grabs the
readers attention and draws them in. The natural
pose works well with the article because it shows
the models innocence and that she is individual
and doesn’t follow the crowd.
Another thing that would attract the reader is the
pull quote, this gives a little snippet of the
interview and sets the tone. The main pull quote is
interesting to intrigue the reader and it is large on
the page so therefore is easy to read. The font I
have used is like handwriting, this makes it more
personal.
The stand first would attract the reader because it
introduces the interview but doesn’t give too
much away and therefore would make someone
want to read on. The word ‘newcomer’ shows that
the artist is fresh and young which is interesting
and would intrigue the readers.
The layout of the article would also attract
someone because it is easy to follow and the
separation between questions and answers makes
it simple. Interviews like this are common in pop
magazines because they usually have a younger
audience.
The white background makes the page look clean
and the blue colour is continued from the cover
and the contents page. The house style would
attract the reader because it enhances how
professional the magazine is and the blue and
white colours work well together.
33. •
•
•
My magazine addresses the audience in a
friendly way, I aim not to talk down to people but
to form a bond with the readers. It is easy to do
this via the means of social
networking, especially twitter. Twitter is an
informal way of socialising and interacting
between the magazine and the readers.
My editors letter displays this sort of informality
by using direct address, referring to the magazine
as ‘we’ and ‘us’ and the reader as ‘you’. This is
probably the most informal part of my magazine
and it is right at the beginning on the contents
page so it eases the reader into the style and lets
them know what to expect.
Visually, my magazine is appealing because of the
natural cover star and her expression, it is
welcoming and inviting which is what a pop
magazine should be. The colours I used are bright
enough to catch someone’s attention but I have
tried to stick to a small amount because I think it
looks like a more professional publication this
way. Too many bright colours would make it look
cheap and therefore like it will not be of a high
quality.
34. •
•
•
When choosing my fonts, I liked the idea of having
a bold, easy to read heading but a more subtle pull
quote. The pull quote looks almost like handwriting
and I think this is very personal and could be
coming directly from the artist themselves. This
would address the reader because they would
want inside information which has not been
twisted or changed by the magazine. The font I
have used for my features are clear and simple so
it is easy to read and gets across the information
necessary. The font I used for ‘Rizzle Kicks’ looks
like their logo. This would make it instantly
recognisable and shows that the interview is
legitimate.
From my cover, contents page and double page
spread, I think it is clear that the values of my
magazine are warm and welcoming. In contrast to
this, I think it does have a some elements of a
rebellious feel to it due to the individuality of the
cover star and the clothes she is wearing. It is
necessary because being ‘nice’ and ‘happy’ isn’t
always the best way of catching someone's
attention, it has to display a few different
emotions.
The front cover of my magazine would make
readers aspire to be like my star because she is
young and stylish. She is slightly older than the age
of my readers so it is important for them to look up
to her for my cover star to be an inspiration to
them. The interview I included also has to work
with the style of the cover star and the words have
to fit with the images.
35. 6) What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing this product?
36. • Before creating my music magazine I had
to take a range of images, I took these on a
Canon camera in various different
settings, whilst practicing I took some on a
green screen and with a white background.
These plain backgrounds make editing an
image easier because you can simply
remove the background. I could have used
one of these images for the main image on
the cover of my magazine but I liked the
idea of taking the image outside because
the lighting was more natural and the
background was more interesting. The
camera I used was of a really high quality
and this is necessary to ensure that the
image I get is clear, therefore making the
image look as professional as possible.
37. •
To track my progress I used a website called Weebly. This allowed me to upload
each stage of the process and also analyse everything I had done. I uploaded my
preliminary task before starting my music magazine, having everything on my blog
makes it easy to see if I’ve progressed and how my style of work has changed. I
could also upload any images I had taken during the coursework and it was easy to
keep all my work in one place. I also like using Weebly because it allows me to
personalise my blog, choosing my own header and how I lay things out. The online
blog is also easier for me to access from home rather than printing all my work
out. My Weebly page can also be accessed by anyone so people can suggest
improvements on my work or analysis.
38. •
I did the majority of my magazine on Microsoft publisher because I find this the
easiest to use. I edited my images on Photoshop and the most I had to do was
remove the background on the image for my double page spread. I did this by
opening the image and then using the quick selection tool to remove any of the
background. After this I went round some areas with a soft rubber to smooth out
the edges and to make it look like there was never a background in the first place. I
then added this edited image into my publisher document. The white background
allowed me to put text around the image and made the model stand out more.
39. • To do the white banner on my front cover I had to layer the images.
I started off with a white rectangular auto shape, I then tilted it to
add a different dimension to my cover. Once I had done this I added
3 images which all fitted together. In the remaining space I added
text. The fonts are very clear and the colours are similar to the ones
in the images. I like the way this looks because it breaks up the
cover a bit and adds another thing to look at and interest the
reader.
45. Aquinas Cover using the same fonts on the cover of my
Analysis
• I tried to keep
•
•
magazine, this helped to create a house style for my
magazine and made it more professional. I made my
headline the largest on the page and also the brightest
because it is the most important text on the magazine. The
font is also clear and would be recognisable as a logo. The
red font fits in with the Aquinas theme and also links with
what my cover star is wearing so it doesn't clash. The black
is quite minimal and next time I would probably try out
some different colour to make it more exciting.
In my main image the cover star is slightly off centre which
makes it a bit different and allows me to put most of my
cover features down the left hand side. I have also put one
down the right hand side to fill the blank space. The main
headline could include more information but it is a big font
so it is noticeable. All of my cover features link back to my
research and the pie charts helped me to decide which
features to include.
I would probably change the title if I did this magazine
again, I could make it more exciting but it is obvious that it
is a college magazine which is the main purpose of the title.
I am happy with the over all look of my magazine and think
the image is the correct size and positioning but if I was
going to do it again then I would think of a new title and try
using more colours to make it stand out. I would also make
the Aquinas logo bolder so it stands out more. I might try
and include a couple more cover features to fill the space a
bit more.
46. Atmosphere Cover Analysis
• I used this image of my cover star because I
thought it linked well with the genre of my
magazine. My cover star looks happy and
natural which is what I wanted to gain and
the background makes it look professional
and it also links to the current weather which
shows that my magazine is up to date and
that my readers will be getting the most
recent information.
• The clothes my cover star is wearing are
quite edgy and quirky which is what my
magazine is about and her trainers link with
the idea of hip hop. The Adidas brand is well
known and many of the readers my magazine
is aimed at would wear clothes similar to
this.
47. Atmosphere Cover the white banner to break up
Analysis
• I chose to use
•
the page and offer another dimension to the
cover. The smaller images of Rizzle kicks
show them playing a live gig which is good
because it suggests that my magazines
focuses on live music and real artists as well
as the more generic pop genre. The images
also have the same colour scheme running
throughout them which makes them fit
together well and look like they are all part of
the same thing. I have also used this same
colour for the Rizzle Kicks title which shows
that this text is talking about the images.
The font I have used is also similar to the
Rizzle Kicks logo and therefore should be
instantly recognisable as soon as someone
sees it. The bold 'Harley and Jordan' text
stands out a lot which is good because it is
focusing on Rizzle kicks as people, as well as
them as artists. This offers something extra to
the reader and makes a more interesting
feature in my magazine. I have used the same
font for each feature of my magazine which
ties them all together and helps to develop a
house style, This font I have used is quite
simple but still stands out and is clear enough
for someone to read.
48. • The main difference between my
college magazine and my music
magazine is how simple my college
one was. I have developed my skills
a lot and made my music one look
like more of a professional
publication, there is a lot less white
space on my magazine cover and
the white banner is a good way to
add extra information.
• The clothes that my model is
wearing differ because of the genre
of magazine. On my college
magazine my model is wearing
smart clothes and on my music
magazine she is wearing more
stylish, edgy clothes. It is important
to distinguish between the two
because otherwise my magazines
will not stand out on the shelf. I
continued to use a small selection of
colour on both of my covers because
this is more professional.
49. Medium close up
Medium Shot
• The actual layout of the image and
features on the page is very similar on
both magazines. The image is slightly off
centre to the right, I like this because it
adds more depth and makes it more
interesting to look at if it’s not dead
centre. The main features are dotted
around the image rather than covering it
up, this keeps the attention on the cover
star.
• One difference in my two covers is that I
have included some smaller images on
my music magazine. These smaller
images give a better idea of what to
expect in the magazine and adds more
variety to the cover, using images from
concerts links back to the idea that it is a
music magazine and therefore this
should be shown. The image on my
college magazine is a medium close up
and the one on my music magazine is a
medium shot. Although they are different
types of shots, they both have eye
contact looking directly in the
camera, this helps to connect with the
reader.
50. • On both of my magazines, the colours I
have used also work with my cover stars
clothes, this ties the cover together and
shows that each issue of the magazine
will be slightly different depending on the
cover star. The barcode and issue number
are positioned in the same place because
this is one of the conventions of a
magazine and it is necessary to position
them correctly.
• My music magazine offers a lot more in
content, the list of artists at the bottom
shows the reader what to expect in the
magazine and the ‘+’ sign is universally
known, without having to write anything
the reader knows exactly what it
represents. This contrasts with my
Aquinas magazine because I have listed
things available to win, this is done in a
boring way at the bottom of the page and
this is one thing that I learnt from my
preliminary college magazine, I've tried to
make everything else on my music
magazine more visually appealing and
exciting. so I improved it.
51. • On both of my covers I have tried to focus
on social networking. Both of my
magazines are claimed at teenagers and
therefore the majority of my readers
would use social networking. By putting
this on the cover, I am instantly involving
them and trying to attract readers
because it is something they enjoy using
and it is very easy to just download an app
or follow a twitter account/
• I have made the pull quote on my music
magazine a lot bigger, rather than just
under one of my features. This would
excite the reader because it is an insight
into the magazine, it is also a quote about
Rizzle Kicks’ tour which is something that
most of my readers would be really
looking forward to and they would want
to read the article. It was a good idea to
make the pull quote more dominant
because it lets the reader know the tone
of the magazine just by looking at one
quote on the cover.
52. •
•
•
The biggest contrast between my contents
pages is that one is a double page spread and
one is just a single page. I did this because
there was a lot of empty space on my Aquinas
one so it is better to use all the space on one
page. I liked the idea of having a white
background because it keeps it clean and easy
to follow, it also makes the features and
images stand out more.
I also think it is better to have a white
background when my cover has the
background to the image on it, it creates a nice
contrast between my pages. Both of my
contents pages include a lot of images, this is
good because it allows readers to know what
to expect and enables them to see what is
coming throughout the rest of the magazine
because I put page numbers next to the image
to make it easy for readers.
I made my editors letter a lot smaller on my
music magazine because it leaves space for
more features and images, although the
editors letter is important and friendly, it is not
necessary for it to take up half of the page.
53. •
•
•
I didn’t use any pull quotes on my
music magazine because I used them
a lot on both my cover and double
page spread. I don’t want to give away
too much of the articles before people
have read them.
I added a bright strap line to the top of
my contents page because it makes it
stand out and also is a similar colour
to the one I used on my cover, creating
a house style and brand identity. I put
the date in the strap line because it is
a weekly magazine so if loyal readers
want to collect copies of the magazine
then they can order them and keep
them all together.
One similarity between my contents
pages is the alternate colours for the
features and the explanations, I liked
this because it breaks the text up and
shows clear distinction between each
feature. Explaining each feature would
intrigue the reader and make them
want to read the full article.
54. I feel that the quality of my work has definitely progressed
from my college magazine to my music magazine. The
quality of the content is a lot higher because I tried to make
my magazine more exciting and tried take more risks. I
think the risks paid off because my music magazine ended
up looking more professional and I have learnt a lot about
the theory behind magazines.
Synergy between the magazine and social media websites
is an important aspect because social media helps to
advertise the magazine and also makes readers want to get
involved and participate in competitions. I have also learnt
that competitions and free gifts are important aspects to
any magazine because it offers the readers something
different that they cant get elsewhere and also makes them
think that they are getting something more than they paid
for.
Although college magazines and music magazines are
different genres and have different audiences, they both
follow the same kind of process and it is important that
they are professional because someone wouldn’t want to
spend money on an amateur publication.
The visual look of the magazines has to stand out to
someone on the shelf with a bold, bright mast head and a
striking image. I had to take into consideration that my
music magazine would be in competition with other
magazines and therefore I had to ensure that I made it just
as professional as We love Pop and Top Of The Pops
magazine.
