This document outlines the coursework requirements for a Media Studies course. It includes: 1) Students will create a blog to track their progress on a creative project to produce a music magazine cover, contents page, and double page spread. The blog should include a variety of media like videos and images. 2) 50% of the course grade depends on coursework, including planning research presented on their blog, the creative project, and a written evaluation. 3) Students are instructed to deconstruct example magazine covers, contents pages, and spreads using templates to analyze design elements for their own project. Homework includes continuing blog work and initial research proposal.

1. Media Studies
Week One:
Production Portfolio

2. Mini whiteboards
• Institution quiz

3. • International Publishing Company
• NME
• Bauer
• Q, Kerrange, Mojo
• Split up and sold

4. Today’s menu
• Starter
• Student Friendly SoW
• Email me your blog links
• Explore evaluation questions
• Blogger checklist

5. Coursework Breakdown
• 50% of overall mark
• Step 1: Research and planning of project (presented
electronically via your blog)
• Step 2: Creative Project
• Produce a front cover, a contents page and a DPS of a new music
magazine
• Step 3: Evaluation of your project (presented electronically)

6. Your Blog
• This is a crucial component of your coursework
• Your blog should meticulously track your progress from week
one, to delivering and evaluating the finished product
• The examiner will want to see evidence of how you have
researched and planned your project – it should be a journey
through your development as a student of media
•What makes a good blog?
• Discuss this within your group and mind map some ideas of what
you think will help make your blog stand out

7. What makes a good blog?
• Volume – the number of blog posts will usually reflect the
time and effort spent on your coursework
• Consistent modification – not last minute desperate posting
• All progression clearly highlighted – activities in an out of class
reviewed, with evidence and consideration of how this has
helped you develop (do not leave things out!)
• Use a variety of mediums – your blog should show your
awareness of a wide range of electronic platforms and a
creative approach

8. Blog Ideas
• Embedded videos (e.g. Interviews, talking heads etc)
• Powerpoint/Prezzi
• Hyperlinks to relevant sites/webpages
• Test shots/experiments/drafts to show progress
• Audio commentaries or animated storyboards
• Scans/photographs
• You should use a variety of mediums and try to present creatively
(e.g. a moving video showing the progression/development of your
cover might be a nice addition to just plain development shots)
• This is an ongoing project that should be worked on in your own
time – you will complete tasks in class time but in order to gain high
grades it is up to you to work in addition to this adding the touches
that will improve your blog

9. Bunting
• Everyone must write down at least one idea for a media rich
presentation/format for Blogger

11. Looking at Magazines
• Now think about the significance of the cover:
• Who is the target audience?
• How is this cover maximising the magazine’s appeal to this
audience?
• What has most impact? Why is this the case, and how?
• What message is the magazine trying to convey about modern
men?

12. Cover Deconstruction Task
• Research online and find a suitable magazine cover (hi-res
image/full cover) – save the image to your account/USB
• Study the cover and deconstruct with the help of the supplied
template
• Once complete, use the template to construct a short essay
piece deconstructing the cover
• Repeat until you have completed three deconstructions – one
of these should be of a music magazine in preparation for your
main task

14. Contents Page Deconstruction
• Research through the available materials (or use your own) –
remember any hard copy materials must be scanned by
yourself and kept in electronic format for blog use
• Study the cover and deconstruct with the help of the supplied
template
• Once complete, use the template to construct a short essay
piece deconstructing the cover
• Repeat until you have completed three deconstructions – one
of these should be of a music magazine in preparation for your
main task

16. Double Page Spread Deconstruction
• Research through the available materials (or use your own) –
remember any hard copy materials must be scanned by
yourself and kept in electronic format for blog use
• Study the cover and deconstruct with the help of the supplied
template
• Once complete, use the template to construct a short essay
piece deconstructing the cover
• Repeat until you have completed three deconstructions – one
of these should be of a music magazine in preparation for your
main task

17. Homework
• Continue to work on Blogger, perhaps deconstructions or
organise blog with tabs.
Next Week:
• Initial research and proposal
• Initial Proposal Form
• Explaining your vision and choices
• This information should be presented on your blog –
remember think creatively (e.g. can you present the
information as text, or video, or presentation, audio
commentary)