Victoria Pollard Candidate Number: 2149 Centre Number: 27258 AS Level Media Coursework

1. G321 Foundation Portfolio in Media
Victoria Pollard
Candidate number: 2149
Centre number: 27258

2. Navigation
To view my Prelim task, click here:
Prelim task
To view my Main task, click here:
Main task

3. Chosen Set Brief
• Print – preliminary exercise: using DTP and an
image manipulation program, produce the
front page of a new school/ college magazine
featuring a photograph of a student in
medium close-up plus some appropriately laid
out text and a masthead. Additionally,
produce a DTP mock-up of the layout of the
contents page.
PRELIM TASK

4. Research
To find out what people would like to be in my
school magazine, I created a survey on a website
called ‘SurveyMonkey’.
Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/MY2FCMP
PRELIM TASK

5. This is what my survey looked
like. I used lots of different
question types to make sure I
could gather as much
information as I could, so I
could ensure I can create a
magazine which has demand.
The questions are based
around my magazine cover, so
I can see what people would
want to be featured on it, to
ensure I create a product that
will attract customers.
PRELIM TASK

6. Survey results
PRELIM TASK

7. Survey results
From my survey, I have found that my customers would prefer a ‘blue,
white and yellow’ colour scheme. Therefore I will use this on my
school magazine. I also found that they are aged around 16 or 17 years
old. Therefore I will create my magazine so it is appropriate for my
target audience. I found that my customers preferred the name
‘Educated’ for my magazine, therefore I am going to use this name.
Most of the people who responded to my survey said that they would
be willing to pay for a school magazine, and that they would pay
around £1 for it, therefore this is the price I will charge. Also, most
respondents said they would like a new issue to be published weekly,
therefore this is how often I will create a new one. I found that my
customers would want exam help, revision techniques and
competitions, as I got a mix of responses about this, therefore I will
feature all of them.
PRELIM TASK

8. Target audience
Based on the results from my survey, I have
come to some conclusions about my target
audience. I have presented these as a ‘Prezi’.
Link:
http://prezi.com/3rms37vmyqe0/?utm_campaig
n=share&utm_medium=copy&rc=ex0share
PRELIM TASK

9. Generic conventions of a magazine cover
Many magazines use a slogan – it
is used by the header to explain
the magazine content or make it
stand out from its rivals.
The mast head – usually at the top of
the page (this logo/ header also
creates the brand image and makes it
instantly recognisable for the
audience).
The central image: one main
model/ star photographed in either
close up (head and shoulders) or
medium shot.
Usually shot in a studio.
This will be the content of the
feature article of the magazine.
The gaze: is it direct address –
looking at the reader? This is
welcoming and creates a bond
between the magazine and
audience/ reader.
Date and barcode –
provided to entice
audiences to the magazine.
Cover lines/ tag lines – the main
text on the cover. They advertise
the articles within the magazine to
entice the reader.
PRELIM TASK

10. Success criteria for my school
magazine
Looking at the generic conventions of existing magazines, I have created a success
criteria that will allow me to ensure my magazine is successful.
• Colour scheme used throughout
• Barcode
• Correct spelling – professional
• Medium close-up image
• Exciting image – captures attention of potential readers
• Model should be looking at camera – creates a bond between reader and
magazine
• Correct punctuation – makes the magazine seem more professional
• Use an eye-catching but professional-looking font
• Slogan – make my magazine stand out
• Masthead should stand out – easily recognisable
• No background on photo
• Feature article clearly advertised – entice reader
• Appropriate for age range – not too childish but easy to read and exciting
PRELIM TASK

11. Creating my school magazine
I used Publisher to create my school magazine. I used this
program because it is easy to use, but is also possible to
create a relatively professional product using it. I also used
Fireworks to edit my photo (remove the background). To
further edit my image I used PowerPoint, which allowed me to
add an ‘artistic effect’, which I think made my image, and
therefore my magazine, stand out a lot more. I also used a
website called ‘1001 Fonts’ to get the text for my image – it
allows you to type the text you want and insert it into
Publisher with no background, which saved me removing the
background myself. I think using this website made my
magazine look a lot more professional that it would’ve if I had
used the text available in Publisher.
PRELIM TASK

12. Finished magazine cover
This is my finished school
magazine. I have followed
my success criteria and
used my research to create
a magazine that my target
audience would want to
read. I decided not to put a
barcode on it as it will be
sold in schools and colleges
so I thought this would be
unnecessary.
PRELIM TASK

13. Contents page
I have also created a mock-up of
the contents page that would be
featured in my school magazine.
I have included everything that
was featured on the cover of the
magazine, as well as extra
contents that weren't featured
on the cover. I have used the
same colour scheme and font as
the cover of my magazine as I
decided that I would use the
same font throughout the
magazine – this looks more
professional and appealing to the
reader. It also makes it more
recognisable as a brand.
PRELIM TASK

14. Chosen Set Brief
MAIN TASK

15. Research
To find out how the layout of my magazine
should be, I researched existing music
magazines and looked at the generic
conventions of them.

16. Content
Recognisable
masthead
Barcode
Direct mode
of address
Main cover
line
Date and
issue no.
Central image
(usually a
medium shot)
Plug
MAIN TASK

17. Layout
Left-side third: a lot of
important information
designed to attract
potential readers is
placed in the left-hand
side vertical third of the
front cover page. This is
in case the magazine is
displayed in a horizontal
shelving system rather
than a vertical.
MAIN TASK

18. Layout
Masthead
top/top left
of the
magazine
Contents layered over
the main
image/photograph
Celebrity’s
face is never
covered by
the text
MAIN TASK

19. Presentational devices
Mise-en-
scene
represents
Beyoncé as
being unique,
strong and
mysterious
Photograph
of Beyoncé
relates to the
main feature
Maintains the
house style of
Billboard
magazine
Range of fonts
and font sizes
to differentiate
content
MAIN TASK

20. Language
Short and to
the point
Exaggeration
MAIN TASK

21. Research
I also created another survey on
‘SurveyMonkey’ to find out what my customers
would want a music magazine to look like, what
genre it should be, who my target audience is,
etc.
Link:
https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/HJR2S9V
MAIN TASK

22. This is what my survey looked
like. I used lots of different
question types to make sure I
could gather as much
information as I could, so I could
ensure I can create a magazine
which has demand. The
questions are based around my
whole magazine, so I can see
what people would want to be
featured on it, and in it, to
ensure I create a product that
will attract customers. I also
asked what genre people would
want the magazine to be, so I
knew what to base my magazine
on.
MAIN TASK

23. Survey results
MAIN TASK

24. Survey results
From my survey results, I have concluded that people would want an indie
magazine to be created. Therefore I am going to create my magazine to fit a
target audience who would want this genre of magazine. I could not come to
a conclusion for the price of the magazine as people voted equally for the
prices, however as it is a new magazine, I will only charge £1 for it to attract
lots of customers. Most people said that they would want interviews and
reviews to be featured in the magazine, and some also said about
competitions, so I will feature these things in my magazine. I got a lot of
mixed answers to which artists or bands my customers would like to be
featured in the magazine, so I just chose the bands which were most suitable
to the genre which was Radiohead, and I may also feature The Pixies. All of
my respondents chose the colour scheme grey, white, black and red,
therefore I will use this throughout my magazine. When I provided the
respondents with some artists to chose from and pick which they would like
to be featured in the magazine, the most popular were Vampire Weekend and
The Killers, which I will feature because they fit the Indie genre that most
people chose.
MAIN TASK

25. Target audience
Based on the results from my survey, I have
come to some conclusions about my target
audience. I have presented these as a ‘Prezi’.
Link: http://prezi.com/8ubgn0b-
ajhu/?utm_campaign=share&utm_medium=cop
y&rc=ex0share
MAIN TASK

26. Success criteria
• My music magazine should represent the indie genre, and it will fit this
• Barcode and price (£1)
• Include some of the following: interviews, reviews, competitions
• Feature some of the following bands/ artists: Radiohead, The Pixies, Vampire
Weekend or others that come under the indie genre
• Grey, white, black and red colour scheme present throughout
• Good quality photo
• Recognisable masthead
• Plug
• Direct mode of address – model looking into the camera
• Image uses mise-en-scene that promotes the indie genre
• Model’s face not covered by text
• Photo should relate to main cover line
• Main cover line
• Professional but exciting font
MAIN TASK

27. Plan of magazine cover
First of all I created a
basic structure of my
music magazine front
cover to get an idea of
how I am going to
position my features
and images to build up
an image of what my
magazine will look like.
MAIN TASK

28. Creating my magazine
To create the cover of my music magazine I used
Publisher again, as this is a simple, easy to use program
that can create professional-looking products. I used the
‘insert shape’ function to get the structures for my
magazine. Again, I used a website called ‘1001Fonts’ to
insert the text for my magazine. This was really helpful
because it allowed me to insert professional looking text
and not have to remove the background. To get a barcode
on my magazine, I sourced one on Google Images, and
copied and pasted it into my document. To edit the photo
I used Fireworks, and removed the background as well as
using the blur tool to make the edges look less harsh and
therefore more professional.
MAIN TASK

29. Finished magazine cover
This is my finished
magazine cover.
MAIN TASK

30. Review
Comparing my magazine cover plan
and my finished product, I am
happy with the way my magazine
looks. I have followed the results I
got from my research to construct
my magazine to look professional
and be appropriate and desirable to
my customers.
MAIN TASK

31. Generic conventions of a contents
page
Usually set
out in
columns
Page numbers
relate to the
articles in the
magazine so
the reader can
skip to the
articles they are
most interested
in
Name of
magazine
Pictures relate
to articles in
the magazine
and give an
insight to what
is in the
magazine. Also,
they attract the
readers
attention
because they
are tailored to
the target
audience.
Subheadings to
organize
contents so
readers can see
the information
more clearly
MAIN TASK

32. Success criteria
• Branding from cover consistent, and shown on
contents page
• Page numbers so readers can skip to the pages
they are most interested in
• Easy to read
• Advertises all features from cover of
magazine, as well as some that are not
MAIN TASK

33. Creating my contents page
I also used Publisher to create the contents page for
my music magazine because of how easy it is to
use. I used Fireworks again to edit my photo, as this
is an easier to use version of Photoshop. To get the
rectangles on my contents page I used the ‘shapes’
feature on Publisher. I used ‘1001Fonts’ to source
all the fonts I used on my contents page, as these
look professional and are easy to read. I put the
masthead from my cover, so the branding of the
magazine is present throughout.
MAIN TASK

34. Finished contents page
This is my finished
contents page.