4. Common Conventions – Front Cover One thing that I did to my magazine, to mirror a published magazine, is making sure the model is slightly on top of the name of the magazine. This makes the model stand out to the reader.
5. Common Conventions – Front Cover Another way that my music magazine follows common conventions is the fact that I have used a bar across the bottom of the page with a list of features that is in the magazine.
6. Common Conventions – Front Cover I also had to make sure that my magazine had a barcode and an issue number. Just like on the front cover of ‘Kerrang’ in the opposite image.
7. More Common Conventions – Front Cover Price. - Using the word ‘only’, emphasises that my magazine is cheap. (only 50p because it is a college magazine and so students would pay every issue. Main story/article – I have put a black boxed background around my main interview to make it stand out to the audience Musical Instrument - I used a guitar to show my audience that it was a musical artist Interviews that are of interest to my audience but that aren’t the main story.
8. Common Conventions – Contents Page On the contents page I started with a feature that I really liked; the heading (title-this week) Another feature that I really liked was the band index. Down the left hand side of the page.
9. Common Conventions – Contents Page Also, I have the list of page numbers and articles in the centre of the page. I really liked the idea of having an image of the main band/singer on the contents page, so I put ‘Mia Heart’ on a photograph and put the image onto this page.
10. More Common Conventions – Contents Page Exclusive Interview - I have used the phrase ‘exclusive interview’ to show the audience that it was Mia Hearts first ever interview. Offers - I have given a discount to music lessons here. Most magazines offer a discount coupon, usually for music stores, but because this is a college magazine, I decided to have a discount on music lessons within college. ‘Don’t Miss!’ - I have added a don’t miss section that is telling the audience were the gig guide is as I feel that this would be of interest.
11. Common Conventions – Double Page Spread One thing that I have taken from published magazines, and put onto my double page spread is the use of quotations around the main article.
12. Common Conventions – Double Page Spread I had to make sure that the name of the main artist of my article stood out, just like the ‘Jamelia’ in this magazine.
13. Common Conventions – Double Page Spread Although it isn’t a music magazine, this Daniel Radcliffe interview is a great example of making the questions stand out. The questions are bolder than the answers so it makes it clear, just as I have put my questions in red.
14. Common Conventions – Double Page Spread I had to make sure that I had a big image of the artist on my double page spread to make it clear to the audience who ‘Mia Heart’ is. Just like the full length image of Taylor Swift.
15. More Common Conventions – Double Page Spread Magazine name – I have used the magazine name and font in my article. Fun Box – I have done a quick fire questions section, and changed the font of the answers to make it look like Mia Hearts handwriting. It is something a bit different that the audience may like Page number
16. Who Is My Target Audience? My magazine is aimed at teenage, college girls, aged 16-19. Also, mostly middle class students would read this magazine as they would be able to afford the musical instruments, therefore, would be more interested in this magazine.
17. Who Would Sell My Magazine? I think that ‘IPC Media’ could sell my magazine because it produces over 60 iconic media brands, to about 26 million people in the UK, every month. The magazine would be sold in colleges or in education centres.
18. Appearance Of My Magazine The colours that I have used are black, white and red. The black and whites are quite neutral colours so the red stands outs. The red colouring gives connotations of power and talent so the students are more likely to pick up my magazine. I have also used hints of yellow to make some things stand out even more...
19. Things I Have Learnt. Whilst designing my magazine, I have learnt a lot more about Photoshop. For example, using the grids and rulers... This will come in useful next time I use this program.
24. Final Evaluation ... I believe that this task was a lot stronger than my preliminary task. I have taken a lot more on board about what goes onto a published magazine with all of the common conventions. However, I think that I could have put more images on my double page spread, maybe an image of ‘Mia Heart’ on stage/in concert, too add more information about her. But all in all, I am happy about the way my magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread have turned out.
