3. Q1
I started to develop my knowledge of typical music magazine
conventions through work in lesson
http://stevesasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/search?updated-
max=2014-09-21T21:37:00%2B01:00&max-
results=7&start=56&by-date=false and then developed them
further with a number of tasks as well as my research into music
magazines
http://stevesasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/10/drafting-and-
planning-codes-and.html this task allowed me to gain a greater
understanding of which conventions to use and where to use
them, for example, main cover star overlapping the masthead
and anchorage text being smaller than the cover lines and
appearing just under them so that they link. I also replicated
many other typical conventions like a bold masthead and large
cover lines
In my research I started to look for music
magazines that were mainstream but often
featured rock or indie rock artists and found that I
admired Q and NME the most. From my research I
learned that conventions like pugs, sky lines and
house colours were commonly used and so I was
able to practise with and develop these
conventions in my drafting and planning for my
own product in my drafting and planning
http://stevesasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/draf
ting-and-planning_5.html
4. Q1
Looking at my end product I think there are distinct
conventional similarities between mine and other
music magazines like NME such as the use of a large
masthead with a bold edgy font which makes the
brand of the magazine distinct and I also positioned
the main cover star over the masthead to emphasize
their importance which is another convention used
by NME. On top of this I included a standard barcode
in the bottom right corner and a selling line which is
usually positioned below the masthead.
I also used a large and bold font for my main cover
line to emphasize the importance of the main
features As well as a pug in a circular form which Is
another typical convention. Other similar
conventions include cover lines in which the names
of the bands are made distinct by a different colour
or bolder font. The final conventions are anchorgae
text positioned below main cover line to give
additional information and the most important, the
main image of the cover stars which I made similar by
using direct mode of address and ensuring the image
was a mid shot that fits all band members into the
frame
5. Q1
I didn’t challenge or develop many of the conventions used in the likes of NME
because I wanted it to be as realistic and therefore as similar to other music
magazines as possible so that it looks believable and doesn’t look like a niche
magazine
I was able to develop two of the
most important conventions, cover
lines and anchorage text, through
a typography task we did in lesson
and from this I learned to use fonts
and text size that best suited the
image and this helped me with my
front cover as I was able to apply a
serious font to comply with the
serious style of my magazine and
the serious image portrayed by the
main cover stars
6. Q1
I was able to expand my knowledge on contents pages with
my research into my influences NME and Q
convenionshttp://stevesasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/res
earch-into-similar-products.html
From this I learnt that both use typical conventions like sub-
headings which are made distinct by using dark colours like
red or black and they also have a main image in the centre to
advertise their biggest feature, both also are consistent with
their front cover by using their masthead in the left-third
position as well as using distinct page numbers and well sized
and positoined contents on the sides
I started early development of my contents page
through drafting and planning where I created a basic
layout that was simple and easy to follow and navigate
through. I did this through conventions like images
which are separated into their own sections which
come accompanied with other conventions like text and
page numbers so that they link and then the readers
can easily read about and then go to the page about
that band/ artist.
7. Q1
Here I have highlighted some of the distinct similarities
between my contents page and my influence’s NME’s. I
included a left-third masthead like NME to create
consistency and brand my magazine name. I also included a
large centre image like NME to communicate them as the
main feature so that readers are instantly drawn to it and
can read about them straight away through a title below
that links the image with its information which is another
convention that is similar, particularly since I made the title
bold to emphasize its importance over the rest of the text.
The final key convention that is similar is the use of sub-
headings on the right side to formalise categories so that
the readers can instantly find the content they are most
interested in and then go to it through the bold page
numbers .
However I challenged some of the typical conventions used
in NME by not including an index list which NME use on the
left. This is because I wanted the layout of my magazine to
be even more simplistic, just sub-headings, images and
text. I wanted to do this so I could better target a younger
demographic by making it as simple and coherent as
possible
8. Q1
For my double page spread I began drafting a
basic layout which featured typical conventions
like a main image, a title and a sub-heading. I also
drafted the type of article text I was going to use
and through my research
http://stevesasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/res
earch-into-similar-products_25.html I decided to
use a Q & A style which I also drafted using
conventions like question boxes and also the use
of a pull quote.
I found a consistent use of many typical
conventions throughout NME magazines like
newspaper article structured text on the right as
well as bolder pull quotes and a large image of
the band/artist on the left who link directly to
the title and to the text. I also found many other
typical conventions like sub-heading/
introductory text and direct mode of address
coming form the band
9. Q1
In my end product my double page spread carries
many similarities to NME like the main feature being
positioned on the left and the article text appearing on
the right. There is also the similarity between the two
titles as I also used a big bold font to emphasize the
importance of the main feature. I also replicated the
convention of the sub-heading to introduce the article
and link it with the title to make it more coherent and
realistic. Another similarity could also be the house
colours, Although NME may use different colours I
used the convention of only using three colours which
helps add to the consistency of the magazine as these
house colours are used throughout each one.
However I developed certain conventions like the
masthead by also including this in my DPS to add to
the consistency of the magazine and I also developed
the content of the double page spread by including a
separate box promoting my magazines website.
I challenged the convention of article text by using a
Q&A style howevr because this is rarely used by NME
but I think it is more appealing to read especially for a
younger demographic
11. Q2
However My band and main cover stars ‘the
desperados’ are a cool, rebellious, indie rock band and
so they represent the young male social groups who
are stereotypically rebellious and listen to more serious
genres of music like rock and indie rock. However My
band originated from a lower background which is how
they came about as a band and were able to create
such passionate but dark and serious music to reflect
their upbringing and so could be seen to represent the
lower or middle class social groups . However as my
band and many other bands and artists in my magazine
are predominately white, they could also represent the
white social groups who are stereotypically into indie
rock music and don’t listen to much else
My music magazine appeals to different social
groups through the use of different bands and
artists from different music genres
however it is stereotypically male dominated. I did
this because males stereotypically are more
interested in more dangerous, rebellious looking
bands and magazines whereas women are
stereotypically more passive and into more light
hearted music genre
12. Q2
However one of my support artists ‘Jessica Rose’
represents a stereotypically passive female social group
because she is a pretty pop artist who young females
would aspire to be, especially since a lot of girls are
stereotypically obsessive with their looks. However due
to Jessica Rose’s darker more provocative side she does
also represent other female social groups who are more
rebellious and outgoing – those who don’t conform
with the stereotype of most women. This is particularly
shown with her pretty but dark clothing and her pretty
but devious facial expression
My support band, ‘renegade’, also represent a
social group as they would represent generic rock
music fans of a slightly older age as they are more
mature both in their attitude and with their music,
although they still uphold a cool image as shown
by the sunglasses and a modern bass guitar
14. Q3
I think that ‘IPC Media’ would be the company that would
distribute my magazine. ‘IPC Media’ distribute many
popular magazines like ‘NME’, ‘Photographer’ and ‘Nuts’.
However ‘Bauer media’ also distribute popular but bigger
magazines like ‘Q’, ‘Kerrang’ and ‘Empire’. Meanwhile
there are smaller independent distribution companies
who distribute smaller, niche magazines like axel springer
who distribute ‘Metal Hammer’.
I think IPC media would be the best choice because they
are not as big as ‘Bauer media’ who distribute massively
popular, more mainstream magazines, whereas ‘IPC’, I
think, would be more interested in a smaller magazine but
still has potential to become one of the most popular like
NME. This is the same reason why a smaller company
wouldn’t distribute it because it isn't that niche
http://www.axelspringer.de/en/index.html
http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/
http://www.timeincuk.com/
16. Q4
I started to target my audience through my own online survey through a website called ‘Survey
Monkey’
My magazine features bands and artists of both
genders therefore appealing to male and female
readers however it is stereotypically male dominated.
I did this because NME also have male-dominated
features in almost all their magazines and this is more
than likely because in the popular indie rock/ rock
genre most bands consist of males.
www.surveymonkey.com/s/B3D9B5M
From the results I was able to discover that my target audience would be mostly
of a younger demographic as most responses from younger people stated that
they enjoyed rock/ indie rock music and a lot some said it was their favourite
genre of music which helps as my magazine is similar to NME in that it features
the most popular bands and artists that are usually of the rock or indie rock
genre.
17. Q4
http://stevesasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/as-i-am-using-nme-magazine-
as-influence.html
This is a link to a blog where I researched into ‘NME’s’
target audience and found that their target audience is
also focused on a young demographic. This is evident in
many of their magazines as they tend to use bright colours,
slightly immature or colloquial language as well as easy to
read text and cover lines, shown by the image on the right.
Using this information, I was able to confirm that my
magazine would definitely target an audience of people
aged 16-24 however my research into NME and my
survey did highlight that some older more mature
demographics would be interested in my kind of
magazine like people aged 25-30 so not all elements
should be targeted at younger people
19. Q5
I attracted my audience with my masthead because ‘ignite’ is
short and generally simple and easy to read and so it
becomes catchy. I added to this by using a bold edgy font so
overall it becomes easily recognisable.
I also attracted my target audience through language, for
example the use of swear words which a younger demographic
would be intrigued by because they are less mature and see
the taboo of swear words as cool and rebellious which they
would enjoy due to their interest in the rebellious style of many
indie rock bands featured in my type of magazine
I could also attract them through my pug because a younger demographic would
be more enticed to win something especially if its for something popular like
concert tickets like ‘Glasto’ which would also appeal to them as it’s a cool slang
word for a popular concert amongst young people
20. Q5
I was able to attract my audience through ‘the
desperados’ because of their ‘attitude’ which I
determined and explained in my blog
http://stevesasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/organisat
ion_18.html .By using dark but fashionable clothing
they admire their cool and rebellious image. Also by
using direct mode of address consistently throughout
the elements it sustains the interaction between the
readers and the bands and makes them feel involved
which helps if the younger demographic are trying to
relate to the band’s rebellious nature
The consistent use of red and black is also
attractive as these colours connote darkness
and danger which reflects the more serious
style of the magazine as well as the serious
rebellious indie rock genre that is represented
by the featured bands
22. Q6
Pain. Net was a useful piece of software as it allowed me to crop
images with ease as well as add effects like brighter lighting
however there was no tool to add text boxes or use different fonts
but I overcame this by importing text which took time, but I got
used to it and it soon became easy
Pageplus was probably the most useful because of big advantages like
having a double page spread template and being able to add elements
like pictures and shapes was very easy and fluent. However it had a
weakness in as much that the size proportions were always fixed but I
overcame this by using paint. Net or Microsoft word to stretch out
images or fonts to fit my needs
Microsoft word was probably the easiest but the least useful as it did
easily allow me to create text and use a range of fonts but limited me
in terms of editing my magazine so I only really used it for text and not
much else.
23. Q6
Photographic choices were also a challenging aspect
that I learned about because once the photo shoot
took place, which I organised in my blog
http://stevesasmedia.blogspot.co.uk/2014/11/organisa
tion_27.html
I had to decide which photos would fit best in my
magazine. ‘Attitude’ was the key in making this
decision, for ‘Jessica Rose’ I felt that her facial
expression was more devious and showed more of a
provocative attitude in the left image than the right
image.
For ‘the desperados’ in the top image, the model on
the left was laughing which defeated the serious and
cool image of the band and showed a lack of attitude. I
also felt that the bottom image was better because the
model on the left had better body language and the
direct mode of address coming from the model in the
middle was more established and more effective
because the glasses were pulled down
24. Q6
I quickly learned that the management of creating the three elements was difficult
because I had to focus on each aspect of the elements to ensure that they were accurate
and realistic whilst also having to complete the pieces within a deadline but by managing
my time well and focusing on different aspects of the elements one at a time I was able to
ensure I made the elements in time without making many errors
I generally found blogger very easy because importing
pictures and adding links was very simple due to a handy tool
bar at the top. It was also very easy to organise my blogs and
re-visit them because of a filter in the top right. I also learned
how to follow other students so I could gain ideas through
their work. However I sometimes struggled to align my text
with my images cohesively but overcame this by adding in
text before the image
26. Q7
The most important thing I’ve learnt through my progression is the layout and size proportions of
my conventions with the magazine template. The masthead, anchorage text and cover lines were
far too big and the layout left far too much negative space but I have learnt to get the sizing and
proportions accurate a long with adequately realistically sized conventions
27. Q7
In terms of my contents page, the most important thing I have learned is to use
text in combination with my images to clrify them as my main features as well
as froming a better structure for my list of other content to make it look more
appealing and more reaistic as with my preliminary task it was too plain and
too spaced out
29. Q8
I feel my end product is very successful in fulfilling the
task because I think my magazine looks very realistic.
This is because I have been able to reflect and
replicate many typical conventions of a music
magazine as well as my bands and artists who
realistically fit in with a magazine that aims to
showcase some of the hottest new artists. I have also
achieved success with my product because of its
consistency with elements such as house colour, fonts,
images and the masthead that all link together across
the three elements to overall form a holistic magazine
that looks professional and similar to other music
magazines. I also think I targeted my audience very
well by using conventions that complied with the
serious style of this kind of magazine and the populous
indie rock genre as well as targeting a younger
demographic through coherent fonts and appealing
language. However I think it could be better if I drew
my focus more towards a technological side of my
magazine, maybe add more emphasis to my
magazine’s website as well as digital content and
twitter/ Facebook logos to show the size and range of
my product
