My A Level media Log Book and Evaluation.

1. OCR Media Studies – AS Level
Unit G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media
Preliminary Task, Log Book and Evaluation
Name:
Candidate Number: Alex Tate
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 7985
Set Brief - Print
Music Magazine – Production
Preliminary Task Progression, Log Book and
Evaluation

2. Preliminary Task Evidence
Front Cover
This is my preliminary front cover. I kept to the
school colours because I thought that it matched the
colour scheme being a school based magazine. I
started with a simple lay out in my headed and
added lesson by lesson.
My main progression was my main image originally
it was dark and moody, but after some feedback I
decided it will be much better and relaxing if I used
lighting to make the photo look crisper.

3. Preliminary Task Progression–
Evidence
Contents Page
Step-by-step
As you can see with my contents page I added a lot more text, added the main image and
Lastly a web address. I added all of these because it finished of the simple look that I wanted
To create, the reason I added the web address to the bottom center is because it creates a
Professional look and feel.

4. Section 1) – Log Book

5. Music Magazine – Genre research
Country Music.
Country music as a genre is massive in America and
extremely fast growing in Europe and The United
Kingdom. In America Texas is the state with the
highest amount of country music listeners there is
61 radio stations that are dedicated to country
music. Secondly only the main country music
website ‘countrymusiclife.com’ Texas is the area
which visits the site the most with 53,761 people
visiting the website annually.

6. Established Magazine for my Research
Masthead
Main headline
The convergence is
the top right where
there is the website
URL.
Cover
line
Main image
usually dennotates
star appeal which
in this case is Kings
Of Leon

7. Ta
The target audience of ‘ rolling stone’ is music lovers from all music types
because they usally coverall types of music. This is katz theory because the
reader can manipulate what they read and choose what they want to read,
nothing is forced at them. People also feel influenced to buy the magazine
because they feel as if they need to buy the magazine to remain a god loyal
fan to the star appeal.
I think the USP of this magazine is that they re bi weekly magazine this means
they change who the main story is about, this is unique because it allows
more magazines to be sold because more people feel as if they can buy it.

8. Publisher research
The publisher of ‘ rolling stone’ magazine is Jann Wenner, he is the co
founder of ‘rolling stone’ magazine. he started the magazine in 1967, he
had to borrow £7500 of family members to take it of the ground.

9. Conventions of a Music Magazine
The subgenre music magazine im going to look at is
‘ classic rock’. I choose Classic Rock magazine
because in country classic rock has had a large
influence through out the years with regards to the
music behind the lyrics. The unique selling point
for Classic Rock is that they only focus on one
genre. This is benfitail because their readers know
that they will always be buying and reading what
interests them. They use convergents such as
barcodes and social media logos to indicate to the
reader that they are in fact on social media
platforms. They use a photo of Axl from Guns n
Roses on the front because he is the main star
appeal which will attract the fans naturally and
may start to attract new readers and of course
attract weekly readers.

10. The denotation of my target audience stereotypically is a southern accent
farmer in America wearing a checkered shirt. This is because country music
originated from the southern states of America where a large amounts of
farmers are based due to its open areas. The southern twang in the voice
also really complete the songs.
From the research I took out my my magazines USP is two things. The first
unique selling point is that my magazine attracts all ages. This is due to the
fact I cover all types of country and also older artists who older generations
may have grown up around. My second unique selling point is that I don’t
only cover artists from the united states, I aim to cover artists from other
areas of the world such as the united states and also places like Australia.

11. Publisher research
My magazine of inspiration is published by the publishing group called American
Media, Which published from 1972 till 2003 although it still publishes the magazine
‘Country Weekly’.
The target readership is a large verity of readers. This is because American Media
publish magazines about health and fitness, celebrity gossip and also music of
various genres. The readers of Country Weekly fit into the ‘esteem’ level of mazlows
hierachy. This is because they respect others such as other readers and also the
artists and lastly they get a self of achievement from reading the magazine because
they done something for themselves.
• Then, visit their website and deconstruct the information you can find about the
target readership in terms of socio-economic needs, circulation etc.

12. Section 2) – Evaluation

13. Photography Planning – Front Cover
I personally took these three photos
when my team stayed in Torquay
Cornwall. I like these photos because
they look relaxing and very natural. This
creates a good background It matches
the mood of not only my magazine but
secondly country music as a genre.
I choose the photo ( which is stared) as
my photo of tom is standing so I need
the floor to be slightly raised to create
the visual effect that Tom was in fact on
the cliff, secondly the sea created good
depth into the photo especially with
the waves cracking in the background.
Lastly the natural occurring rainbow
real finishes the photo of in my eyes
because it almost adds grace to the
reputation towards my star appeal.

14. I found two photos that I wanted to
use for my personal photo at the
bottom of the contents to welcome
the readers.
I choose the one of me in the suit
which I later edited. I choose the
photo of me in the suit because as
editor I have to look professional
and also smart. If the reader saw a
photo of me in my kit welcoming
them to the magazine they may not
take it as serious.

15. Photography Planning - Interview
The reason I choose this photo is because
Tom is wearing a stereotypical
Country artist outfit, this consisted of a plain
But small square checked shirt undone with
A simple plain white t shirt underneath with black
Jeans and boots which are not on show because
We used a medium close up shot.
I used the caption ‘ Laid back Luke’, I think this
Photo backs up the caption because Tom looks
Calm and relaxed with a happy and joyful look
On his face.
I decide that Tom should look away from the
Camera because it looks more of a natural photo
Compared to tom looking directly at the camera
which makes It feel a little forced and
unprofessional.

16. On the border of the text
I used the eraser tool in order
to create a rustic but also old
fashioned feel which attracts
the country music fans
I used a text which looks
like the type of writing that is
Scene on signs and buildings
In the southern states of America.
I choose this font because it will
Attract country music fans.
I used convergence in order to
Make the reader aware that they
Can keep up with news. This also attracts
A younger audience because younger people
Use social media much more than the older generations
My main image is my star appeal,
My star is my friend posing as Luke
Bryan who is my main star appeal
so he is in the middle of the front
cover.

17. Analysing my Contents Page
Around my boarders I used the
Eraser tool in order to create
The rustic theme which suits
Country music.
I used PUF
media in order
To show I am
on social media
for the
Fans to keep up
to date.
The use of page
numbers allows
readers to easily
navigate through the
magazine.
I kept the lay out very
Simple. This is
because if its overly
complicated readers
will find it hard to see
what there reading
and where what
articles are on what
pages.
I had a welcome
section
Which was fairly
short,
This is because the
reader Wants to
read about the
music
No my life.
Also it makes the
reader feel
welcome.
2

18. The use of convergence
And PUFF creates
attention.
This is because readers
become aware
That we are on social
media but
Secondly the use of
PUFF creates customer
relationship
Because they fell like we
are giving back to them
I used a simple but effective colour scheme.I used red and blue because they are the colours on
the American flag. a large amount ofCountry fans are very patriotic so the colour scheme will
attract them.
The double page spread is on Luke Bryan so I used a photo
I took of my friend tom who is acting as him. I put it where it
Is because it breaks up the text nicely and is central so the reader
Can see who they are reading about.

19. Looking back at your Preliminary task,
what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to the full product?
From the preliminary task I feel that I have really learned how to manipulate the eraser tool for
numerous reason such as; I have learned that I can edit the unwanted sections of photo,
secondly I can now manipulate the shape of an individual if some one was to round I could
neatly trim them down to look more healthy and have a more natural body.
There is evidence of progression that I feel particularly demonstrates how I met the demands of the
production process is one of which I edited someone’s body shape, the photo made them look
like they have larger hips than they actually do so I just used the eraser tool to crop and shape
the individual.