2. • I ensured my main cover-line was large and centered to link with Time
Out and ES magazine. This is so that audiences can recognise the
words and respond to that by picking it up to get a closer look. I also
used bright red letters with a white outline, to reflect the St George's
cross but also to catch audience's attention. Centering the letters
means that it is also a focal point for the readers, and goes with the
typical convention of a magazine. Using catchy phrases and the artists
name, audiences are drawn to that which they familiarise with and
are subliminally subjected too each and every day. Using bold letters
means audiences are generally more likely to read the word. Using
exclamatory punctuation, audiences are understanding of the
inflection given but also universally perceive the sentence as exciting
and new. This applies to typical magazine conventions because it
entices the reader and makes them want to be informed as to what's
so exciting about it.
3. • Magazines will typically have an image that will take up the whole of the magazine. I
decided that taking three separate images and putting them together would create a
version of London that would suit the target audience's perception of the region. Using
two females meant that I took in the feedback from my target audience and applied it
too my work. This takes in the conventional element of females as powerful beings and
not just objects, going against Mulvey’s theory of ‘the male gaze,’ by creating an artist,
that although is urban is fully clothed and respectful, shown powerful not passive and
partially aggressive but not de-womanised. However I am also going against specific
stereotypes, such as Bell Hook’s ‘commodified blackness’ theory, that black women are
objectified and sexualised keeping my artist fully clothed, using black as a form of
power and status and the beige coat as a form of etiquitte and mystery. By using the
image of the London eye, I was also able to use the iconography of London that is
visually familiar to a range of different people meaning my audience will identify better
with my magazine. Centering the two images is a typical convention for a regional
magazine, but using two models instead of one is not. This is so that the audience are
drawn to and understand that these people are the main topic within the magazine,
and main item of interest. Compared to magazine's such as Time Out, my main image
reflects the same type of representation of London as a lively place using celebrities to
entice the audience, but appealing to my target audience by using younger models and
hybridizing my magazine to fit with regional and gossip. This links in with theorist Steve
Neale that says 'difference is essential to genre' and I took this theory and applied it so
that I could appeal to a target audience of Mainstreamers and Aspirers according to
'Young and Rubicam's' audience reception theory.
4. • Placing my masthead in the upper left hand corner is a typical magazine convention.
Because it is big and bold and stands out from the other words on the front cover
audiences are automatically drawn to it, but placing it in the specific and universally
known corner means that the magazine sticks to typical conventions. My masthead
going over the main image is not a typical convention as it shows that my magazine is
not as well established as other because audiences will not recognise it unless it is
fully visible. Sticking with the house style but inverting it with my cover lines,
audiences then understand the difference between the masthead and cover-lines but
also see the contrast between the two, this makes my magazine more colourful but
sticks with the colour scheme and does not bombard the reader with too many
clashing colours. Similar to this, the date and website details of the magazine are
placed oppositely in the top right hand corner to announce to readers that this
information is just as important. Using a date lets readers know what issue the
magazine is so they feel up to date, but also including a website address means my
magazine is contemporary and appeals to a younger audience, this also shows that
audience’s have a choice and can participate in the creation of the magazine, linking
to David Guantlett’s theory of participatory culture. This way I do not alienate my
readers but rather include them.
5. • I then put an advert on the bottom length of the magazine, taking inspiration
from Time Out London to tempt the audience, and get them to want to read
more, and find out more information on what's inside. This also begins to show
my magazine as unconventional through the convention of a ‘freebie’ because I
am using a sports person that is not specifically linked to a sports team (so as not
in implicate my magazine in any favouritism or false advertising) and introducing
this person in a positive light. This is where my magazine begins to become a
hybrid of sports and region, and it demonstrates to he ‘Quirky/Individualists’ that
this magazine is something that can also appeal to them as it does not follow
typical ‘mainstream’ magazine conventions. This also means, from the feedback I
received post production, that my audience feels listened to and not alienated as
the anomaly I experimented with found the additional sports aspect of the
magazine ‘refreshing’ but ‘not trying too hard,’ and makes audiences want to
read inside the magazine to find out more. I also wanted to appeal to the geo-
graphic stereotype of London as a ‘greedy’ place full of ‘aspiring’ people, so using
a celebrity to endorse better skills, means that I would appeal better to my target
audience, especially as they are young and still developing.
6. Main image.
Celebrities with
blank or
expressionless
faces. Controversy
using two models
instead of one, and
both models of
different class and
race in comparison
to David Tenant.
Central image.
Controversial using
a background in
comparison to the
plain background
of Time Out.
Date shown to make obvious what edition it is, but also that the magazine is delivered weekly.
Website address so audiences feel included in the making of the magazine. Positioned in the
upper left corner as this is a conventional placing for audiences to recognise.
Positioning
the name of
the magazine
in the upper
left hand
corner, as that
is a
stereotypical
placing of
titles. The
Masthead
going over the
image as the
magazine is
not
established
yet.
Cover lines.
Used big
and bold,
mostly not
covering the
image.
Eye
catching,
and in line
with the
colour
scheme.
Naming the
celebrity
with catchy
phrases.
Punctuation
to show
inflection.
Advert at the bottom to reflect something within the magazine, use of ‘freebie’ to attract audiences and appeal to the
‘greedy’ nature of London culture. Bright and bold but in line with the colour scheme.
8. • Most magazines have a number of different images on their contents page. I decided to
go against this specific convention, as I did not want to bombard my readers with too
many pictures. Although t is a good way f introducing readers too the magazine, I
decided I wanted a magazine that readers delved almost straight into rather than one
where the contents page was more interesting than the contents of the magazine itself
(this was a problem I had with certain magazines.) Using these images I was able to
reflect the element of my magazine, making the main image the young white educated
male, this meant that my magazine gave off the educational vibe as another hybrid
convention. Depicting him in a shirt and chino’s so that he is viewed in a ‘smart casual’
formal/informal dress, so as not to alienate my target audience and appeal to all types
of social classes. But also including the landmark of Big Ben as a regional icon, so that
my audience understand that this is still a regional magazine and to create a feeling of
identity within the magazine so that the audience familiarise with the sight of the
landmark. By also including the image of the young black female on the front cover, I
also add a sense of diversity to the magazine and create the link from the front cover to
the contents page. By making the magazine editor black as well links in with this idea,
and including her smiling, means that my audience feel welcomed and invited to read
what is inside of the magazine. I decided not to number the images as I did not feel it
was needed and instead put the images next to the articles that they apply too so that
my audience did not feel ‘babied,’ but also had the choice of filtering through the
magazine to find what they are looking for.
9. • I created a house style that I could separate my different columns and topics within the
magazine, but also so that my magazine became recognisable for it colour scheme as
well. By including the information of the article and the page numbers, I am able to
communicate to my audience what is happening within the magazine, and direct them
to specific places within the magazine so that they understand what the main topics of
discussion are. Selecting different terms such as ‘Gossip’ to hybridise my magazine and
‘travel’ to link to the original genre, I am also able to include a range of different types
of audiences such as ‘mainstreamers’ and ‘aspirers.’ Putting the editors notes at the top
of the page next to my main image, I am also able to introduce my readers to the
magazine and the contents which is inside, and make more known to the audience
what they are to be expecting.
• I also kept the editors note as a conversational tone to invite my audience to want to
read the information within but also to inform them of what is to come within the
magazine, this also makes the audience feel the magazine is more personal and
applicable to them and includes them within the community.
• I have used these conventions so that my I do not stray far from the genre of the
magazine and do not distance my ‘mainstream’ audience from the magazine as they
are the larger subset. This also means that I do not set myself against the feedback I
received from my target audience, and take into account what they have said.
10. Use of heading to show the audience what they are reading and masthead because
my magazine is not yet that established. Main image large so the audience
understand that it is the main article within the magazine.
Subheadings/article
names to attract and
direct the audience to
specific articles.
Pictures that
apply to
certain texts
and appeal to
audiences. I
put mine next
to the articles
instead of
numbering
them so the
audience do
not get
distracted by
images.
Credits notes so that the audience can find further information on the creation of the magazine. Contact
information so the audience can take part in the creation of the magazine.
House style so
audiences know
what magazine
the contents
page belongs to
and what page
the are on.
Numbered articles so
the audience know
what page to look at
for the article.
Editors notes
and
information
to make the
audience feel
connected to
the magazine
and included
in the
creation of it
12. • The mode of address within my article is meant to invite the reader and make them feel as
though they are a part of the interview. I have decided to use the interview type of address so
that my audience get more information and actual quotes from the celebrity instead of having
a biased recount of what a journalist might think of this celebrity. Doing this means that my
audience are able to decide for themselves what they feel about this person which in turn
would make them feel empowered and a part of the magazine. Keeping the interview informal
also means the audience begin to understand how the celebrity speaks and how they would
come across in a conversation meaning the audience feels closer too the celebrity and are not
ostracised from the magazine.
• When introducing my article I also wanted to make the audience feel as though they were
being drafted to read this, so by using a ‘advert-like’ tone I was able to advertise the article to
the audience so they themselves were interested in reading it and not pushed into reading it. I
wanted to make the article sound appealing as most teenagers do not find education appealing
and also petition to the male and female subset of my target audience instead of just enticing
them with pictures. I made it obvious that this is the introduction by using a slightly bigger font
and bolder text so that the audience understood it was not a subheading.
• The article itself depicts the celebrity in a positive light, going against the stereotype of young
teenage boys as ‘hoodlums’ or ‘rebels without a cause,’ but also the stereotype of boxers being
mainly from the black community. This also goes with Laura Mulvey’s theory of ‘The female
gaze,’ using a well built young male as a prop for commercial use and making my magazine
slightly controversial due to the subversion of male and females being objectified. However
using this article as a “feel good” story depicts the region as a lively but well educated place.
Along with this the term “Books and Boxers” subverts stereotypes of athletes as uneducated
and creates a new identity for the audience to recognise and identify with as it shows the
celebrity as ‘human’ instead of idolising them.
13. • Using columns is a convention the audience chose. When I took information from
my questionnaire, I discovered audiences found it easier to read information
through columns as it seems like less work. By doing this I am appealing to the
target audience but also making sure I do not make readers feel uncomfortable or
‘attacked’ by the amount of information they are being given. I also used a drop
cap so that the audience knew where the article began and could find their way
through the rest on their own. This way the audience do not feel confused or
disorientated, but also so that they are able to understand the layout of the
magazine and its article. This is a typical convention in terms of most magazines
so that audiences can find their way through articles.
• Using a pull-quote is a way of interesting the reader in the article. The
inspirational words are something audiences can relate too or identify with, but
also so that they recognise it as something the celebrity would say. Using this
convention also means that I am able to attract audiences with something big
and bold. Catchy words and large writing is a convention that always attracts the
eye of the audience, and in doing so I can attract audiences with inspirational
quotes that portray the celebrity in a positive light and goes against typical
conventions
14. • The images I used within the magazine are all supposed to present the model as a passive but
humble character, someone who cares for the community and is not fraught with all the gossip
and ‘turf’ wars. This is supposed to present a young person in a positive light and is a contrast
from the front cover because it is not gossip and rumours. This is also supposed to be a
juxtaposition because the celebrity is known for violence but promoting passive thought.
• Keeping him in a formal/informal dress means demonstrates to the audience that he is
‘human’ or ‘just like them’ so they feel better about themselves. Using a white male links in
with Stuart Hall’s idea of the media presenting a ‘western culture’ but also subverting it as
‘white’ boxers are a minority within that culture. I wanted to use this to show diversity within
my magazine and also to portray London as a cultural place. Along with this I am going against
typical media conventions and hybridising my work to become a sports magazine as well as a
regional magazine.
• Placing the main image as a medium portfolio shot in the top left hand corner, means the
audience are able to receive the model full on. This mainly applies to the female subset, but
males that idolise the celebrity as well. This image in large is a means to attract the audience.
Then placing further images at the bottom of the page means that I am able to show the
celebrity doing this work and looking as though he is having fun doing so, therefore
encouraging children to read more as they aspire to be like him.
• Further analysing this work, I realise there are no children within the article, but that was hard
to require given my time and resources and therefore I was not able too, along with this,
finding younger students and getting permission from their parents would be something I am
willing to change if I ever got a chance to improve my work.
15. Headline – catchy and appealing to entice audience to read what is inside.
Subheadings to summarise what the article is about.
Main
image to
appeal to
audiences
and
attract
them to
enquire
what is
inside the
article.
Sub-images to make the audience understand what is inside the article and appeal better to
them. Using images of the model I made mine appeal to the audience and the article, but
also look promotional for what he is doing.
House style
so audiences
understand
the article is
a part of the
magazine as
well as know
what page it
is. Masthead
because my
magazine is
not yet
established,
used as a
typical
magazine
convention
Question in
bold point
and answer
in plain text
so that the
audience
can
differentiate
the two.
Drop cap to
show
audiences
where the
article begins.
Pull quote to
attract
audiences and
make them
feel they are
being spoken
too.
Personal idiolect so
the audience feel
spoken too and not
at and so the article
does not show a bias
opinion.
17. • In terms of my advert, this does not usually follow the typical advert conventions of a regional
magazine. This is because most adverts in the regional magazines I have read, included cars,
children in need or regional ads specific to a certain borough. My advert follows the local
regional magazine type because of the use of a specific character and the fact that it would
apply to only one gym.
• Creating this character meant that I had to keep my magazine completely neutral so that it was
not specific to any team and did not show support or favouritism too a team. I did this by
keeping with the colours of the magazine and using blank and plain clothes, this meant I was
able to achieve a neutral ground. Making sure to keep my model in football clothes, I also
added the use of a football to make more obvious that he is a footballer and put him in a field
to make obvious to the audience that this is his comfort zone and this is a football advert.
Putting him in clothes that show off his physique also makes audiences aspire to be like him by
working out. This entices them to join the gym and sells the idea of a celebrity taking interest in
them making the audience feel invited and welcome, but also makes the magazine look
communal and also fun. This produces the idea that London is a lively place with great
opportunities and using an Asian model, it also portrays it as culturally diverse and different.
• Using other images that show off the sports centre also means that audience do not feel like
they are running blindly into this and have more information on what it is they are being sold.
By adding in people, showing them having fun and using the equipment, the audience are able
to feel connected to what they are viewing and are able to picture themselves using this
equipment.
• By also adding in a borough tag, the audience feel as though the magazine is part of the
community and therefore feel better connected to the advert and the celebrity.
18. • The text on the advert is there to attract the audience and inform them of what is being
sold too them. I did not want to bombard my audience with information as it is an
advert and not an article. By putting in key information I am able to appeal to my target
audience as they are the ‘impatient’ generation, and therefore do not want to have to
weed through paragraphs of text in order to get the information they need. Using a
slogan ‘walk, run, play’ I am interesting the audience I am aiming for. This advert
especially is aimed at ‘aspirers’ or those who want to better themselves. Using this
slogan means that they feel invited and using the word ‘play,’ although it can be seen in
a childish sense, is there to invite them to play with the celebrity included. ‘State of the
art equipment,’ and ‘newest’ also means that it is brand new which will interest
audiences because they prefer to be ‘the first’ for everything.
• I also decided that adding in contact information that includes a website and email
address, means that this generation feel better connected to the advert as they are able
to find out information on their own, giving them a sense of independence, which is a
quality all teenagers want to have. Using the word ‘free’ as a way to entice the
audience, I also give them an incentive and chance to be ‘the first’ by giving a specific
quota of the ‘freebie.’ The word ‘youth’ also means that they do not feel like children
but still this still has a ‘young’ feeling to it that will appeal to the target audience.
19. • This shows how adverts are used within regional magazines as they are able to
sell not only products but people and places as well. This means that adverts can
appeal to target audiences and also make magazines connect with those target
audiences. This also means that the audience is more likely to read the magazine
more in hopes of finding more ‘freebies’ and more information on subjects that
matter to and include them.
• If I was to have the opportunity to alter my advert, I would probably include
better text and pictures that included close up shots of people from the target
audience using the facilities. This is so that the audience would feel better
connected to what they are being sold, and are more likely to enquire. I would
also include more social addresses such as twitter, Facebook or Instagram so that
the advert includes the target audience more and they can find information
through what is familiar to them.
20. Large title.
Attracts
audiences and
makes them
want to read
the advert.
Catchy slogan
– entices
audiences to
want to
participate.
Additional pictures – to advertise to the audience what they can be doing.
My use of sporadic pictures at angles to appeal to ‘quirky’ audiences
Main image to attract audiences to the advert. My use of a celebrity to entice the audience
to take the offer.
Additional
information to
let the audience
know what is
being
advertised.
Contact
information so
the audience
can find out
more
information
about what is
being
advertised.
Promotion
al text so
that
audiences
are more
drawn to
what is
being
advertised.
Name of the
sponsor/
company so the
audience are
able to trust the
information
given.
Additional
borough
logo, so the
audience
understand
it is a
regional
advert that
applies
specifically
to them.
