1. Idea Generation Report
The map I created includes the first ideas for what my newspaper will look like and entail.
I came up with several story ideas which ranged from articles which contain debates on certain
issues and subjects such as the riots of 2011, political decisions or about less serious subjects like
fashion or celebrities. The main story could focus on the latest sport news or it could centre on
English or international news. I have considered the way the article could be presented as either a
debate or a full story just from one point of view. I think the debate would appeal more to the
audience especially if it was on a subject that divides the public so this is my favourite option so far
for my story idea.
The genre of my newspaper will either be tabloid or broadsheet and I will decide this based on the
results from my market research questionnaire. If the news story I decide to do is more focused on
international or serious news then I will make it a broadsheet. However, if it is more light-hearted
and about celebrities rather than usual people I will make a tabloid. Depending on the type of
newspaper I make I will base my layout on this. A tabloid newspaper will follow the usual
conventions of tabloid newspaper layouts such as having a large image spread across the front page
with only one main headline, the background of this would be the main image and the text would
have to be either a bold black or a bright colour to stand out. A broadsheet will follow the usual
conventions also and consist of a smaller main story with other stories down the side detailed in
puffs, the background will mostly be white with black text but maybe colour such as red, yellow or
blue to make the cover a little more interesting. The design of the masthead for either one I choose
will be sans serif or serif font and will be large and bold.
The photography I am likely to use will be portrait for the main image but landscape images along
the side for the puffs. The photography will be shot in whichever lighting and location is specific to
the type of story I will do.
I will use the Guttenberg design principle as this will mean the most important things on my
newspaper will be highlighted in these areas as they will be the first thing the audience will see and
will make them interested in the paper.
There will be editing on the images if they are relating to an article about a specific person or thing
such as if there is a celebrity on the front page then the editing techniques I might use will be
airbrushing for the faces of the person and possibly making the background transparent.If the article
is of something that happened or a situation then the image will not be edited as it will be more
likely be of an area rather than a person.
The words I will use in my article will always be directed towards the reader to make them feel like
they are personally being addressed. However the language used will depend on the style of
newspaper; if the newspaper is a tabloid then informal language will be used and the feel of the
newspaper will be less serious. Whereas if the newspaper is broadsheet the language used will be
more formal and the feel of the newspaper will be serious.
The ideas I came up with for iconography is using famous celebrities from Manchester such as The
Gallagher’s, Nick Grimshaw or Karl Pilkington on the front page as they will resignate with the
audience as icons of Manchester. I could also have political figures on the front or down the side by
the puffs; these are public figures which the audiences would also be able to easily recognise as
icons of certain areas.