3. Masthead
Large bold white (contrasts with the black background)
masthead - in san serif font. Simple and at the top of the
page - behind the artists image - eye catching creates
brand awareness. Existing media that use and conform to
this:NME
Kerrang
CLASH
Q magazine
4. Main Image
Long shot image - direct mode of address (creates personal relationship with the
audience) - mise-en-scene agrees with the colour scheme (black white and navy)-
chiaroscuro lighting (unconventional as I wanted to create binary oppositions which
reflected my genre pop and hip-hop – opposing genres (pop is conventionally
perceived as light whereas hip-hop can have darker connotations)) - woman
(unconventional but my target audience is 16-24 years old - both genders and all
ethnicities), powerful facial expression. Existing media that use and conform to this:
CLASH Q magazine
5. House Style
Black, white and navy – goes against conventions as the usual house
style is white red and black - but I wanted to create an unconventional
yet still powerful house style to reach niche audiences - gender neutral
colours (conveys my target audience). Existing media that contrasts
with conventional house style (which conforms with my production):
6. AnchorText
Artists name – bold, eye-catching (stands out against the background) -
just the name fulfils social integrative needs and cognitive needs for my
target audience (uses and gratification theory) - overlaps the image.
Existing media that use and conform to this:
Kerrang
Q magazine CLASH
7. Pull Quote
Pull quote – powerful statement – conventional amongst music
magazines- creates narrative tension - entices the readers -
contrasts with the background. Existing media that use and
conform to this:
NME
Q magazine
Kerrang
8. Sell Line
I used the conventional sell line – introduces/informs the reader to
the magazine (uses and gratification theory) - stands out against the
background - unconventionally above the masthead as in Kerrang
(below) to appeal to a younger audience in contrast to Q magazine.
Unconventional sell lines like mine:
Conventional sell lines:
9. FeaturesInsight into features included – informative (uses and gratification
theory) – entice audience – house style link – contrast to background –
sideways on the right (unconventional) – smaller font – not the main
cover line
Magazines that conform to this:
CLASH:
Magazines that use a conventional style (both sides of the
page): Q magazine: NME:
11. Masthead
Q magazine:
NME:
Kerrang:
Large bold title, attracts the readers eye, colour agrees with the
colour scheme - lies at the top of the page – conventional. Lower
case title is unconventional is most magazines except Q magazine - I
used this to give a professional appearance.
Existing media that uses and conform to this:
12. Numbering
Kerrang:
NME:
Q
magazine:
Organises the contents for the reader - makes it
easier to find specific pages - numbers lay on the left
side of the text and it is organised into columns.
Informs the readers (uses and gratification theory)
Existing media that uses and conforms to this:
13. Rows and Columns
Q magazine:
The contents has been sorted into columns and
rows -
simplistic layout - easier to read and locate
specific pages - bars are unconventionally bigger
as I wanted to use different coloured font
consisting with the colour scheme.
Existing media that uses and conforms to this:
14. Images
Long shot that takes up half the page – conventional in
Kerrang –Chiaroscuro lighting is unconventional as I
wanted to create a dramatic image which agrees the
front cover and represents the contrast between my two
genres (pop/hip-hop). Close-up shots also are in
chiaroscuro lighting - close-up is conventional in NME
contents pages.
Existing media that uses and conforms to this:
Kerrang:
NME:
Q magazine:
15. Font and Features
Kerrang:
NME:
Q magazine:
Short description of the information in the magazine -
informing the reader (uses and gratification theory) - breaks
down the magazine, altercation in colours – sans serif font –
for eye-catching and separating needs. Unconventional
social media links - consists with my target audiences
preferences - competitions are also unconventional however
this is a good way to attract regular readers and to sell more
issues (my focus group thought this was a good idea)
Existing media that uses and conforms to this:
17. Layout
Q magazine uses a similar layout:
I used the convention of having the
image take up a page on its own -
with the text being on the right.
The image is very powerful -
therefore I wanted it to be large
enough to be eye-catching.The
name of the artist is bold also -
therefore a lot attention is given to
the article just through the image
and title - attracting readers. I used
a large letter behind the text which
conforms with my colour scheme -
looks very eye-catching but faint
enough to read the text.
18. Image
Q
magazine:
Spin:
NME:
I used the convention of a monochrome medium close-
up of a female artist - the facial expression is very
powerful and the direct mode of address creates
personal relationships with the reader (uses and
gratification theory).
Existing media that uses and conforms to this:
19. AnchorText andText
Kerrang:
NME:
Q magazine:
Sans serif font – conventional with target
audiences preferences, easier to read, large
bold anchor text of the artist’s name (fulfils
social integrative needs), lies at the top of
the page (informative – uses and
gratification theory), conforms with colour
scheme.
Existing media that uses and conforms to
this:
20. Pull out quote and Page numbers
Q magazine:
NME:
Kerrang:
Large font – eye-catching to the reader –
informs them of the contents of the article
(uses and gratification theory) – conforms with
the colour scheme – lies outside the columns
of text – conventional
Existing media that uses and conforms to this: