This log book details the research and planning done by the student for their music magazine preliminary task. It includes genre research on established music magazines, analysis of conventions like mastheads and cover lines. The target audience is identified as fans of hip hop and the cover star, aiming to fulfill social and diversion needs. The unique selling point discussed is the use of exclusive interviews and headlines to pique reader interest. Research on publishers is also included. The log book documents the process of understanding magazine conventions in preparation for the preliminary task.

1. OCR Media Studies – AS Level
Unit G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media
Preliminary Task, Log Book and Evaluation
Name: Joseph Ellison
Candidate Number: 6636
Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic College
Center Number: 64770
Set Brief - Print
Music Magazine – Production
Preliminary Task Progression, Log Book and
Evaluation

2. Preliminary Task Progression–
Evidence
Front Cover
Step-by-step
When beginning the production
process of my preliminary task I was
able to think of a template, which
was the two default school colours.
After I then had to think of a name
for the magazine. I felt that the best
suited name was The Transition, this
is because my magazine was aimed
at year 11 students making the
transition into year 12 whether it be
sixth form or college.
After I had thought of the headline
for the school magazine, based on a
previous event that took place I was
able to use this as inspiration and
also inject a sense of realism into my
magazine.
Because the event was recent it will
intrigue and engage readers and
they will want to recap over the
event

3. The next progression was
my strapline, adding the
barcode and also the web
address for my magazine.
My strapline explains who
my magazine is aimed at.
I decided to place the
strapline under the
masthead so it is easy to
see and read and also the
web address next to the
barcode again so it is
noticeable.
The next step was adding
the social networking links
for the readers.
This would introduce
convergence.
I also introduced this also
because it makes it easier
for the readers to access
more information on the
magazine and this issue.
The finished version of my
preliminary tasks front cover
contained a background image
which covers the whole
background.
I changed the structure of the
magazine by adding removing
cover lines and adding them to
the contents page and also
moving the strapline,
masthead and magazine logo
to enhance the image.

4. Preliminary Task Progression–
Evidence
Contents Page
Step-by-step
When I began to create the
contents page I used the
same template that I used
for the front cover, this
introduced a sense of
‘repetition’ (Steve Neale).
I then also added the
Contents Page title and
made it big and bold so it is
clear for readers to identify
the page.
Next, I began to add thought to
what my main page numbers
would be, these page numbers
would feature the main stories
in this magazine. I decided to
have the magazine pages go up
in 2s and the main features will
feature this way in order to
grab the readers attention
instead of them flicking through
many pages.

5. After I made the page
numbers, I decided to
add the main stories my
magazine will cover.
It took a lot of thought to
come up with these
stories because I wanted
to make them interesting
so it will grab the readers
attention straight away
and make them engaged.
Next, I then made my
editorial message to my
readers, I wanted to make
sure it was clear that I
was addressing my
readers and I wanted to
do this by adding words
like ‘you’ in order to make
them understand they are
being addressed and to
make them feel apart of
the magazine and show
we care about our
readers.
Lastly, I added colour to my
contents page to allow it to
attract more audience. I
also changed up the style of
the contents page, I did this
by putting the cover stories
on one side of the magazine
instead of having them
separated. I also added a
image of sixth form looking
relaxed to link it to my page
6 ‘How to avoid exam stress’
story.

6. Section 1) – Log Book

7. Music Magazine
Genre Research
Genre Research
Music magazines
generally include photo
shots with stars, exclusive
interviews, latest news
and information on the
type of music mag
whether it be hip hop,
rock etc.
Billboard magazine was the
first issued magazine which
was in 1894.
XXL is an American
hip hop magazine
founded in 1997.
Bauer Media had a
Total average circulation
per issue of 4.17m.
Q is the UK’s best selling
music magazine and excels
in the Rock n Roll genre of
music.

8. Established Magazine for my Research
Masthead:
The masthead is the title
of the magazine. It
attracts readers by
allowing them to
understand whose brand
the magazine is.
Main Image:
This is the main image
or cover star of the
magazine, according to
Laura Mulvey, this is the
use of ‘Female Gaze’
using a male cover star
in order to create
attraction from the
opposite sex.
Cover Lines:
This is an insight to what
the issue will feature, who
the stories will be about
or what they will be
about.
Headline:
The headline is the main
attraction of the magazine,
its function is to enable the
consumer to feel engaged
and want to read more just
based on a few words
Barcode:
The barcode contains the
price of the magazine and
in most cases the issue
number and date of the
magazine.

9. Established Magazine for my Research
Editor in Chief – Vanessa Satten
Category – Music Magazine
Publisher – Harris Publications
First Issue – 1997
Country – America
Based in – New York City
Language – English
Website – www.XXLMag.com
XXL Freshmen:
XXL also releases an annual Top 10 Freshmen list.
The issue features the ten picks of whom to watch
out for, and on the cover of the magazine and
showcases new rappers that aren't well known,
but are considered to be on the rise. The list has
become known to create buzz and is credited for
giving many artists their first taste of fame.
XXL Magazine is an American magazine founded in
1997, it is solely based on hip hop and represents the
urban culture extremely well by adding in exclusive
interviews, news and information on the biggest stars
in hip hop and also the hip hop scene itself.

10. Target Audience – Katz, Maslow, Hartley and/or socio-economic needs
The target audience for the XXL magazine varies from young teens to young adults. It attracts a
various range of ages and is appropriate for all genders. The magazine cover I have analyzed is
targeted at mainly Lil Wayne fans, this is because they have used Lil Wayne as the cover star of
the magazine. This is the use of star appeal, (devised by Richard Dyer) attracts a wide range of
fans because Lil Wayne has a big fan base. The magazine also features a list of well known artists
as a replacement for cover lines, this also attracts a range of audience because it targets the fans
of the artists named. They used the theory of Katz use of gratification, they used Lil Wayne as a
male cover star, this will attract both genders because both genders will feel some sort of
attraction, the females will be attracted to the cover star, this is the use of ‘Female Gaze’ – Laura
Mulvey and the male consumers may feel they can relate or share something in common with Lil
Wayne.
What is the USP of this magazine? YOU MUST refer to specific
conventions/stories from you research
The USP – unique selling point of this media product is the cover lines, although
the cover lines are not stories as such, they are just the names of famous and well
known artists with large fan bases. This then will attract the fans of these artists,
resulting in many consumers and a different range of audiences which can range
from male to female, teens to adult. The main image or cover star also fills up
most of the page making it very easy to identify the cover star, this is useful
because the cover star is Lil Wayne who is a worldwide known star and the
headline ‘Nothing to prove’ is also an example of USP as many readers will be
engaged by the headline and wonder what point Lil Wayne is trying to get across.

11. Publisher research
• The publisher of q magazine is called Bauer media
group.
• Bauer media group is a European based media
company that works with magazines, digital
products, radio and also TV stations.
• Bauer media group was founded in 1875.
• Bauer media group has helped Q magazine grow into
one of the best selling magazines.
• Our magazine heritage stretches back to 1953 with
the launch of Angling Times and the acquisition in
1956 of Motor Cycle News, both still iconic brands
within our portfolio.

12. Conventions of a Music Magazine
Masthead:
The masthead is big and bold so the
consumers can clearly identify the brand of
the magazine that’s been published
Main Image:
The main image or cover star attracts the
readers based on the fan base, for this
example the cover star is Drake and he has a
large fan base, including various audiences
such as male, female, teen, adults.
Cover Lines:
The cover line is the side stories
that will feature in the issue, using
words like ‘exclusive’ in the cover
lines will engage readers.
Headline:
The headline attracts the reader by using an
interesting phrase that will peak the readers
interest, for example using hip hop and religion
goes hand in hand because some readers view
hip hop as a religion which will want to make
them want to read the issue

13. Target Audience – Katz, Maslow, Hartley and/or socio-economic needs
The target audience for Vibe magazine can be denoted as fans of hip hop and also
fans of the cover star Drake. The magazine is also aimed at group D in terms of
socio-economic needs, group D are students, or the youth of society who are
aiming to become ‘Social climbers’ – Maslow, in other words climb the social
ladder and raise their popularity status. It can also be aimed at group C, people
who have jobs and are working, they can use Vibe magazine as a source of
‘diversion’ - Katz, diversion from their everyday activities. The magazine can also
be aimed at the female audience, using ‘Female Gaze’ – Laura Mulvey to make the
female readers attracted to Drake purchase the issue.
What is the USP of this magazine? YOU MUST refer to specific
conventions/stories from you research
From the research completed into this media product, I think the USP is the codes
and conventions. Mainly the cover lines, for example the main one, on the
exclusive interview with Chris Brown, using the word ‘exclusive’ enables the
readers interest and engages them because exclusive means the latest, again
introducing Maslow’s theory of ‘Social Climbers’. The headline is also the USP of
this magazine due to the way of wording, many worship hip hop as it is a religion,
so using the headline ‘Drakes hip-hop’s new religion’ will attract the people who
believe hip hop to be a religion.

14. Publisher research
Harris Publications Inc. is an American consumer-magazine publisher in New York City, New
York, that publishes over 75 titles, including Juicy, Dog News, XXL, 0-60, Guns & Weapons
for Law Enforcement, Small Business Opportunities, Exercise & Health, Celebrity Hairstyles,
and many more.
Harris Publications has many titles and media products which fall under these titles. These
titles are, automotive, business, celebrity & lifestyle, comics, firearms & weaponry, music,
quilting and sports and health.
This shows that Harris Publications has a massive range of target audience and also a huge
fan base.
In terms of socio-economic needs, there media products are able to fit its purpose for
many categories. For example, a Category B reader may be attracted to the business or
automotive and even music side of Harris Publications.
Category C,D and E may be attracted to the celebrity & lifestyle and music element of
Harris Publications. This shows how they implemented different ideas of target consumer
and shown how they have taken into account the different types of consumers and made
many titles that appeal to wide range of consumers.