Brenda Bokoe completed the preliminary task, log book, and evaluation for her music magazine production unit. She chose the name "St. Paul's Vibe" as the masthead as it represents giving out the feeling of St. Paul's students and teachers. For her front cover, she took a step-by-step approach over 11 steps to design the layout and integrate the images, text, and other elements. Her contents page followed a similar process over 9 steps. In her log book, she researched the genres, target audience, and conventions of established music magazines to inform her own production.

1. OCR Media Studies – AS Level
Unit G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media
Preliminary Task, Log Book and Evaluation
Name: Brenda Bokoe
Candidate Number: 7483
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
Set Brief - Print
Music Magazine – Production
Preliminary Task Progression, Log Book and
Evaluation

2. DA INCREDIBLE
ST.PAUL’S
SP VIBES
ST.PAUL’S VIBE
LISTEN
SP SAINTS
ST PAUL’S VIBE
This name was suitable
for my school magazine
because the word vibe
means to transmit or
give out ( a feeling or
atmosphere) so I
decided St Pauls vibe
will be the mast head of
my magazine as it
stands for giving out St
Paul's students or
teachers.

3. Preliminary Task Progression–
Evidence
Front Cover
Step-by-step

4. I started with a normal photo shop page,
and drew gridlines across to guide me
through. I also added the school maroon
and blue color to keep the magazine
unique and show that it’s a St. Paul’s
school magazine.
Step 1

5. I then added a background
color which is white using the
‘Paint Bucket tool’ (G).
Step2

6. I went onto “dafont.com” to choose a font style
and then saved it to the available font styles in
my photo shop page. Then I wrote my mast
head in a good size which could be easily read
across the whole page.
Step 3

7. I then added my barcodes and the
magazine’s social media sites next to it in
order to broaden the appeal of the
magazine to the target readership.
Step 4

8. I added my strap line
at the left top of the
page.
The verbal code
‘Written by you, for
you’ connotes that the
magazine contains
information for the
students on what is
going on in the school
and gossips from the
staffs and students
Step 5

9. I added St. Paul's log at the top of
the page to make the magazine
seem more official.
I added my main image but made
sure I used the ‘Quick Selection
Tool’ (W) to select and then inverse
the areas not wanted. I also used
the refine edge tool to touch up
the image and place it in front of
the masthead, which I noticed was
conventional in other magazines.
Step 6

10. I then added my main headline and the name
of the person in the main image, which is a
well known and respected student in the
school that people would be interested to read
about.
Step 7

11. I then added my promotion and my
magazine issue number.
The offer should act as a further tool
To help entice the readers to purchase the
magazine.
Step 8

12. I added two important cover stories
linking with the themes of life at school.
These were carefully positioned around
the main image using the ‘Pen tool’ (P).
Step 9

13. I added more cover stories at the left
side, again using the pen tool to
carefully integrate the text around
the images.
Step 10

14. I added a handprint on
the right side to make
the magazine standout
and look eye catching.
The handprint says “we
are 99%” boosting out
the magazine ‘s USP
(unique selling point)
I realized that the right
side was empty so
decided to add more
cover stories.
Step 11

15. Lastly, I duplicated my mast head
using “CMD - J” and resized it then
dragged it down to the right bottom
of the page.
Step1

16. Preliminary Task Progression–
Evidence
Contents Page
Step-by-step

17. I started my contents page by inserting most of
the shapes I am going to need to indicate where
certain conventions are going to be placed. I
used the shape tool to be able to complete this
task.
Step 1

18. I then added the grey shape color
which will be used for my cover
lines and features to appear in the
first issue.
Step 2

19. I added the contents’ heading and
duplicated the name of my
magazine at the side in order to
increase the brand identity of the
magazine for the readership.
Step3

20. I then added my
general
headlines, an
“SP” text next to
St. Paul's vibe
and my
signature at the
bottom of the
page.
I also added the
page number at
the bottom of
the page.
Step 4

21. I added my editorial and my
image next to it.
The editorial was carefully
positioned around the
image using the ‘Pen tool’
(P).
Step 5

22. I inserted images
of some students
who will featuring
in the magazine.
Step 6

23. I inserted social media
websites, the magazine
website and also the link of
my editorial page in order
to increase the awareness
of the magazine across the
media platforms.
Step 7

24. I added the St. Paul's
logo at the left side top
of the page.
I also added my main
image and manipulated it
using the ‘Quick Selection
Tool’ (W) and ‘Quick Mask
Mode’ (Q) to inverse the
selection and remove the
background.
Step 8

25. I added my main cover
stories, the pages where
they could be found and
my promotion.
Step 9

26. Last but not the least, I added
the rest of my secondary stories
at the left side which brought be
to the completion of my
contents page.

27. Log Book

28. Music Magazine – Genre research
The image clearly shows the different genres of music that are involved in the magazine, we see that it isn’t just
one genre that is mainly focused on but a variety. This Is very effective and widens the target audience of the
magazine by them dealing with a wide range of artists.
From other secondary research completed, I have seen that young adults are the target audience of Q
magazine. They are doing everything possible to keep them interested such as getting their favorite bands and
artists involved. For instance at the right hand side of this magazine, Rihanna the famous celebrity who is so
loved by younger music fans has been included in the magazine photo. This is to connote that Q magazine is
trying its best to get everyone involved in the magazine across a variety of demographics and music fans.

29. Publisher research
http://miaspicerx.wordpress.com/2012/11/22/existing-
target-audience-q-magazine/
Gender: As shown above , 75% of Q magazine readers are males and the rest of the 25% are females, which
implies that their main target are the male gender.
Age: Although Q magazine fan base is between a wide range of ages, it connotes that the target audience of
younger generations more than elderly. Putting this into consideration, it is clear that this magazine is aimed
at people aged 15-24
It is also clear that the circulation of the magazine is broad and it is stated above as the UK’s biggest
magazine with 88,420 so we know from the huge amount of number that this is very popular magazine

30. Established Magazine for my Research
• The use of social media such as Facebook and twitter should be introduced as this will help promote
the magazine.
• Also a website could be very helpful especially for their target audience to look up their new
activities
Mast head
Main image consists of
different artist which drops a
hint that the magazine
includes hip-hop, rap and
rock or country music.
Cover lines which makes the
magazine interesting and
helps sells the magazine
The image also oozes ‘star appeal’
(Richard Dyer) for the readers and
is clearly going to attract a mass
readership by itself as they are
some of the biggest names across
the music industry.
The Strap line
used are
interesting as
people will want
to know who are
the most
exciting people
in music are
now so that
promotes the
magazine

31. Target Audience –
Age “ Hartley’s seven subjectivities” - The target audience for Q magazine are young adults. Q
magazine do every thing they can to keep them interested such as getting their favorite bands and artist
involved.
Survivors “Maslow’s hierarchy of needs” - Q magazine ensure they included concert dates as well as
the artist personal lives/music life in order to feed this demographics need for security in knowing the
latest and most important information to do with their favorite acts/ artists.
“Katz’ Uses & gratification theory“ - Q magazine advertise opportunities for readers to get involved and
they sometimes use representation of people who may reflect us and how we are. So they use ‘personal
identification’ so that we can relate to the people on the cover or double page spread.
What is the USP of this magazine?
From research into a series of Q front covers, the unique selling point is the powerful
main image, ‘star appeal’ and the Main headline which is used perfectly to describe the image
representing the story. They use good color for the font and keep the background less busy, as that is
plain or fewer things in the way of the image and cover line stories. For example looking at the
magazine cover at the right side of his page , they placed black cats around the main image and used this
to describe her as “sexy beast Lily Allen and her wicked ways”. This already passes a lot of information to
the main readers and pulls their attention as they will want to know what Lily has done or what wicked
ways she has.

32. After researching an established and eclectic music magazine, I have decided to research and
produce a 4-page spread for a new Hip-Hop magazine. These are some examples of Hip-Hop
magazines who have more of a niche following compared to Q magazine.

33. Conventions of a Music Magazine
• . Main Image - Well known sexy
celebrity Ciara Harris. The posture and
the style of the image attracts more
people to buy it especially the male
gender as she encourages a ‘male gaze’
(Laura Mulvey).
The Strapline at the top of the mast head
brings out something striking, with verbal
code “illest” a slang term commonly used
amongst rappers in the genre.
Secondary cover lines help sell the
magazine
The verbal code below the Main
Headline describes the picture so
drops a hint of the diva celebrity.
Magazines brings out humor, telling
the audience that there is some
interesting information and makes it
more fun
Her clothing and the lollipop looks quite
provocative which matches her personality
and she has a provocative stage present and
everyone knows her as a sexy performer

34. Publisher research
The publisher of VIBE magazine is Len Burnett
The magazine’s target demographic is predominantly young, urban followers of hip-hop. It is now
issued every other month with double covers, with a larger online presence.
VIBE records the celebrities, sounds, fashion, lifestyle, new media, and business born from urban
music. As an authoritative voice, VIBE creates trends as much as it records them. It covers music,
educates its readers, and gives back to the community. VIBE serves as a gateway to a growing young,
trendsetting, multicultural audience. As excellent journalists and innovative marketers, VIBE is the
voice of urban music and culture. VIBE provides a democratic digital experience where users are
encouraged to provide content. At VIBE print and online will seamlessly relate.
Circulation of VIBE magazine
VIBE lifestyle network represents over 25 sites and reaches over 19 million unique users per month.
The new vibe is the premier destination for urban music, entertainment, culture and lifestyle for 16+

35. Target Audience –
Vibe is an entertainment music magazine
The magazine has a total audience of around 2.4 million people, 55% of which are male 45% are
female. Personal identification(Katz) because readers will want to have the same clothing or
items as their desired artist and the. Age(Hartley) would be strictly for readers above the age 18 –
34 years old due to the content inside such as strong language or artists wearing revealing
clothing. Social climbers(Maslow) reading the magazine will be attracted to information regarding
their favorite artists allowing them to increase their social status.
What is the USP of this magazine?
From the research completed into this media product, I think the USP is the layout of the magazine. The
font on the magazine cover is immediately and noticeably Bold. It is also a Serif Font. The peripheral text
surrounding the image also appears to be very important and informative for this reason. The font is
quite modern due to its bold aesthetics and size. The font is intentionally large. This is because the
image on the cover is also large and it would be easy for the image to detract from the surrounding sub-
heading, which obviously are important for the reader to read, firstly to become interested in the
magazine and therefore buy it. Due to this the font is large and bold to serve its purpose to advertise
the inside stories. Its serif font, get the point across quickly and efficiently with little fuss.

36. Non stop
• Frankie
DOPE!I chose dope because it means excellent, cool, outstanding or awesome. The reason I chose
this name is because after carrying out my research like survey and questionnaire, I realized
that the other ideas of names were not very outstanding and did not really match the type
of magazine. So I did some brainstorming and realized that dope best defines my magazine
as it brings out how special or excellent the magazine is and what it is bringing to the
audience.
Replay
Tuned up
DTB
Brainstorming names for my magazine