AS Media Coursework

1. The ‘Q’ masthead is in the top left The colour scheme consists of red, black and white and this scheme is
corner of the magazine. The masthead traditional used in Q magazine. These are bold colours which stand out well
uses a square red background and has to the reader. The image used on the front is of Noel Gallagher wearing a
the Q in white, this makes the Black jacket and grey jeans contrast well with the red and black text and also
magazine appealing to readers. But with the off-white background.
this being a mainstream music
magazine the logo is easily recognised. The cover lines on the right hand
Underneath the ‘Q’ logo is the side of the cover show what else
magazine slogan which says, ‘The features in the magazine. They
worlds greatest Music magazine’, this go in a black-red-black-red
also makes it more appealing to pattern which contrast well to
readers. make the cover stand out more.
The headline says ‘Noel’ which is in The main image on the front is of
bold black writing and is larger than Noel Gallagher who fits into the
any other text on the page apart from indie rock genre of Q magazine.
the masthead. This gets the readers The image is an low angled long
concentration straight away which shot. The image is of Noel
what the headline is meant to do as it Gallagher who is looking down at
the magazine featured article. then reader. From the point of
The tag line, ‘How he did it his way’ is view of the reader the image
what the feature article is about. The suggest that he’s a confident
tag line is in red which stands out and person, with his arm crossed
shows the reader what the main and his facial expression it seems
feature is about. The barcode is positioned in the like he can do anything.
bottom left corner of the magazine.
The positioning and colour scheme
helps the barcode not stand out. I
need to take this under consideration
when making my magazine cover.

2. The masthead is displaying the The colour scheme consist of red, white and black. This is a quite simple
magazine name, ‘NME’. As NME is a colour scheme. The text varies between red and white, the red attracts the
well established magazine the image readers to the magazine. ‘Damon’ and ‘Gorillaz’ are apart of the main cover
on the front can slightly covers the line are both In red bold text, this is because the readers can recognise the
masthead this is because it’s an names.
easily recognizable magazine.
The masthead is in the conventional The main cover line is about the
top half of the magazine, in the top Gorillaz and Damon Albarn who
left hand corner, similar to ‘Q’ created Gorillaz. The main cover
magazine. Underneath the line attracts the readers instantly as
masthead is the full name of the is the largest text on the cover.
magazine, ‘New Musical Express’, The fist line, ‘Reality Blurs!’ is a play
and next to that is the price of the on words as Damon Albarn is also
magazine. the lead singer of the band Blur.
The other cover lines are at the top, The main image is a mid shot of
above the masthead and at the Damon Albarn who created Gorillaz,
bottom. There are also three other with the two of the four fictional
cover lines that border around the band members of Gorillaz, Murdoc
main image. The cover lines are all Niccals(left) and Noodle(right). The
about bands and artist with the facial expression of Damon Albarn
exception of one. They are all similar looks as if he’s tired/annoyed with
in size and some are slightly larger to with the two. This could be that
The barcode is positioned in the
emphasis their importance. Noodle (left) is grabbing his lips. The
bottom left corner of the magazine.
facial expressions of the two
The positioning and colour scheme
fictional characters reflect their
helps the barcode not stand out. I
character personalities created by
need to take this under consideration
Albarn.
when making my magazine cover.

3. The is the cover of Clash magazine. This The main cover line, ‘reunion’ is in it’s own font which makes its stand out
has a very simple layout with not a lot and attracts the reader to the magazine as it’s a different font to any other
of text, but the use of the colours and text on the cover . The lines underneath this read, ‘the XX on love, loyalty
the simple layout makes it I think very and understanding’, this gives the reader an insight what the article on The
effective. XX is about.
The plain white bold masthead The main image is a mid shot of
contrast well with the black the member of ‘The XX’. They all
background. The masthead is in the look serious and this reflects what
conventional place with it spreading the article on them could be
across the the top of the magazine. about. The 3 band members are all
wearing black clothing which
matches the black background and
The cover lines are underneath the has a good effect on the cover.
masthead is smaller text and again Their faces have been tinted blue
the white text go well with the black and this contrast well with the
background to make the text stand black and white color scheme. The
out. positioning of the three is very
interesting as it makes none of
them stand out. Typically when a
The colour scheme consist of black,
band is on a front of a magazine
white and blue. The main colours are
the readers can clearly see who
black (background) and white (text),
the front man because they are in
the blue gives the cover a really nice
the middle and are in front of the
contrast and makes it appealing to
rest, but in this it seems as if they
the readers of the magazine
they all are important as each
The barcode is position in the bottom
other. This again probably relates
right hand side of the magazine and has
to the the cover line, ‘the XX on
the price above it
love, loyalty and understanding’.