Nathan Paul Edser has submitted a foundation portfolio for a media course. The portfolio includes a preliminary exercise to design the front cover and contents page of a new school/college magazine. Nathan analyzed conventions for magazine covers such as including the masthead, central image, and plugs. He also examined conventions for contents pages like subheadings, previews, and contact information. Nathan designed mockups for the front cover of "Sponne Weekly" featuring a photo of Bruno Mars and for the contents page laying out article topics and page numbers. He discussed representations in the central image and choices of fonts, layouts, and color schemes.

1. G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media
Nathan Paul Edser
Candidate number: 2068
Centre number: 27258

2. Chosen Set Brief
• Print – Preliminary exercise: using DTP and an image manipulation programme, produce the front page of
a new School/college magazine, featuring a photograph of a student in a 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. https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/M39HRG9

3. Target Audience

5. Results

10. Mind Map

11. Features Advertised to Appeal to my
Target Audience
Topic Of Interest Feature Language on the cover
Driving Lessons
Best driving instructors
around
Getting the Grade:
Driving schools A-Z
Universities UK Rankings
University Rankings:
The choice is in your hands
Film James Bond: Spectre
James Bond:
Daniel Craig's advice to the
next James Bond?
Facebook:

12. Generic conventions of magazines front cover
The masthead is usually the name
of the magazine, in bold to be
made to stand out. But because it is
a big American magazine the title
can be hidden a bit and still wont
be a problem.
Price: The price has also been
included on this magazine. But is in
a small font to hide it because it
might be to expensive compared to
other magazines.
Barcode: The barcode has been put
to the side and out the way of the
main image because it isn't to
important to the film but to the
magazine it is.
Main Image: There has been a
picture included of the main actor
in the film, and because he is
famous they probably think that he
might get more people to buy the
magazine. The character also covers
the masthead which could show his
importance in the movie.
Slogan: On this slogan we see that
they have included information
about what is inside the
magazine, which is going to draw
the reader in to want to buy it.
Sky Line: This is the line that runs
across the top of the page, this is
basically the slogan.
Colour Scheme: It is simple, and is
trying to relate to the film and
bring out the main image in the
middle.
Layout: Usually quite formal and
professional. As we can see from
this magazine it gets straight to
the point with an image in the
middle, and then more
information around the edge
about the rest of the magazine, to
attract the reader.
Sell line: This is what attracts the
target audience, they always go
along with what is on the page
and giveaway some information
about the rest of the magazine,
attracting buyers.

13. Generic conventions of magazines contents page
Subheadings: These headings are
used to tell the reader what is
included in the magazine, they
might not have much to do with the
article, but once you have read what
is below you will understand.
Reviews: The reviews section of the
magazine is a selection of reviews
about some of the latest film and Tv
shows that are on TV. Mainly well-
known and popular movies.
Date: The date is very small and usually
in a corner of the page. This is because
its not that important compared to the
rest of what is on the page.
Text/Colour scheme: On the contents
page the colours have to be more
sensible and less vibrant because its not
trying to attract someone anymore.
This is because it is going to be easier
for the reader to understand what they
are reading. The text/font also has to be
simple so that the reader can once
again easily read what has been
included in the magazine.
Features: This part of the contents
page contains a list of the articles
and images that’s going to feature in
the magazine. Also allows the
reader to go straight to the page
they want to.
Page Numbers: These are included
in every contents as they are the
most important, this is what allows
the reader to know what page they
need to go to, so they can find what
they want to read.
Competitions: These aren't included
on every contents page, but this
allows the reader to know that
there is a page for this topic. It also
allows the reader to have a chance
to get something back, and interact
more with the publishers of the
magazine.
Article Preview: This is the article that
stands out most on the page, but in this
magazine they have implemented many
different pictures of the movies that are
popular to show what they are
including. There are usually page
numbers near them so you can go
straight to the page its on.
Contact: At the bottom of the page they have included
a way to contact them on all social media and over
phone, so you can join in with the competitions and
give your opinion. An example of giving your opinion
would be the text at the bottom telling you to tweet
them about something, which they might include in
their next issue.

14. Preliminary task: Sponne Weekly

15. Music Questionnaire

22. Contents
Masthead
Direct mode
of address
Central Image
Main Cover Line
Date, Price, Website
Barcode
Plug
Issue Number

23. Left side third: A
lot of the
important
information that
is designed to
attract readers
that is put on
magazine covers
and is usually
placed on the left
hand side. This is
in case the
magazine is
displayed in a
horizontal
shelving system
rather than a
vertical one.

24. Date, issue number and barcode
are at the bottom left and is
small as it doesn’t have high
importance to the magazine.
Masthead is bold and across
the top of the magazine. The
model in the middle overlaps
the masthead to show his
importance, and that he
dominates the front cover.
Celebrity's face is never
covered by any text to show
that he is the main image.
Very popular music artist
usually on well known
magazines, will attract readers
because they know who it is.
Information is arranged and
layered to fit around the model
in the middle.

25. There is a range of different font
sizes and colours of the font to
differentiate the magazine.
The colour scheme/theme is
maintained the whole way
through sticking with the title
colours. (Blue, Yellow and White).
The magazine is consistent the
whole way through, staying with
the same idea throughout all
billboard magazines.
Photograph of Bruno Mars sticks
with the main feature of the
magazine.
The mise-end-scene of Bruno
Mars represents him as being
confident, wealthy and broad.

26. RepresentationCostume: Fully black tank top
(possibly to show his tattoos),
suggests he is trying to show
his body and intimidate us,
and try to make us feel
patronised by him. This tank
top is used to take away the
attention of the reader and to
focus on his tattoos. Silver
cross necklace suggests
wealth. Tank top, makes his
arms fully exposed suggesting
that he is conventional
towards gangs/gangsters.
Direct mode of address:
Eminem uses a direct mode
of address in the image too
show his serious facial
expression. The direct
approach singles out the
viewer/reader of the
magazine/ which invites
them further into the
magazine.
Framing: Medium shot gives
attention to not only the
models face but his arms that
are filled with tattoos,
making the picture seem
more intimidating.
Pose: Arms crossed
suggests that he is trying
to create a barrier from
other people, or trying to
protect himself. Another
reason for this could be to
show off his tattoos on his
wrists, as usually you
wouldn’t be able to see
them.
Props: The only use of props in
this picture would be the silver
necklace, possibly showing
that he is religious and
wealthy.

27. Representation
Costume: The main image
of the guy in the middle is
wearing a white hoodie
with the hood up. This
could suggest secrecy and
doesn’t want people to
see who he is. The other
two people are wearing
black tops which is a very
plain and dark colour.
Framing: Medium shot of the
3 people suggests that they
are trying to focus on what
the people are wearing and
also the pose that the guy is
doing in the white hoodie,
the main guy in the middle is
also the biggest and is
layered over the top of the
other two people suggests
that he is the most
important.
Pose: The hand over his
mouth suggests that he is
thinking about something,
he is also looking down a
bit as well which creates a
shadow below his eyes,
making you feel
intimidated by him.
Facial expression: Appears
serious and confident. Guy
in the middle is looking
directly at the camera &
inviting the reader to look
at him.
Features: They all have long hair
with beards which could suggest
that they don’t care about their
appearance and what people think
about them.

28. I have chosen the masthead to be
Undivided, Unified or Charts to fit
with the idea of the new biggest hits
Depends what the title I chose is
Win tickets to the biggest music
festival this year
Ben Kerrison releases his new biggest
single yet
Picture of Adele
Ben Kerrisons new hit single
Quote from interview

29. Jersey m54
Deadhead
rough font
Life Savers Font Family
Mandatory Font

30. Page Numbers, so
that people can
quickly flick to the
page they want and
need
Subheadings, so
that people will be
able to find the
topic that they want
and then go to the
page that they need
Pictures of musicians,
convention because
they want to show
who is singing the
songs and to give the
reader extra
information about
them.
Plain colour
scheme, to make
the writing on the
page stand out
and to make it
more simple for
the reader,
meaning it is clear
cut.
Title of Magazine, this
would be here to re-
inforce the brand
image so that people
will know who they are
Bold fonts have been used
to attract the reader and
make the reader want to
carry on reading throughout
the whole magazine.
Captions, to inform
the reader what is
happening in the
picture and have
provided page
numbers, so they
know where to go.

33. Fonts I used and using as well
Cardigan Titling
Abel Font
Chelsea Market Font
Esquisito Font
Mixolydian
Instant Nirvana Font
Hello Finland Font
Acme Font
Jo wrote a lovesong Font
Fira Sans Condensed Font Family