2. My magazine uses similar forms and
conventions of real magazines of the same
type. I have included colours and fonts typical
to magazines of my chosen genre. I have used
a range of three fonts, and these are all sans
serif, giving a modern, colloquial impression to
the magazine - I noticed this was a key aspect
in magazines of this type from my research. I
have used colours that are gender neutral too,
another factor evidently used in the magazines
from my research. The layout of my magazine
pages is also the same as existing products,
with a large masthead at the top of my front
cover, with headlines arranged appropriately to
follow the line of sight. My content page is
arranged into categories, which is also used in
existing magazines. My double page spread
has the same layout as other real magazines,
with one page taken up by a large image and
the second page filled with text.
3. Though it is not stated on my magazine that it is
specifically a ‘pop magazine’, it would appeal to people
interested in this genre due to the style of music
displayed, the approach to presenting it and the other
content that is featured. I have deliberately made my
magazine so that it doesn’t stereotype one particular
social group or restrict it’s audience by having an
appeal to only one social group. Despite this, however,
the fresh colours and modern feel to the magazine
mean that it would be suited to people with an interest
in modern, mainstream music. The main artist I have
featured is wearing modern, fashionable clothing, so
again this would mean my magazine would appeal to a
social group with an interest in image. My magazine,
unlike a rock or heavy metal magazine, is quite clean
and organised. It doesn’t use inappropriate slang or
language, so wouldn’t appeal to rebellious social
groups, but rather just people with an interest in the
music and artists featured.
This cover page is quite
disorganised and chaotic,
appealing to a lively
audience. It’s bright colours
also enhance this appeal.
Though my magazine
follows a similar layout, it
has a contrasting style.
4. Music magazines are a highly popular type
of print, so my magazine would be most
likely distributed by a mainstream publisher
such as IPC or Bauer. Both of these
institutions publish music magazines
already, so have knowledge of how it
should be delivered. Despite both
institutions distributing music magazines, Music magazines by Bauer media
neither of them have a magazine of the
genre I have chosen, so my magazine
would also make a suitable addition to
either of the institutions.
The use of a successful institution such as
either of these would mean that my
magazine will reach a larger audience.
Another benefit is that the large companies
will have the ability to use synergy to
promote my magazine further, meaning Music magazines by IPC media
higher revenue.
5. My magazine is aimed at 14-17 year olds of both
genders. To make this appeal, I made my
magazine’s mode of address colloquial and
included content my audience would be most
likely able to relate to – for example, ‘Ready,
Steady, Stage!’ is a spin on a common, everyday
phrase. The language is colloquial yet not
entirely informal as I didn’t want to create a non- A lot of magazines use the method of showing an artists name, then
a quote from the article in which they are featured. This draws the
professional impression. I also gave it a low readers interest and provokes curiosity, so I chose to use the
technique in my magazine. The headline I used is a personal one,
price (£1.99) as the section of the population the which is something my audience wanted in a music magazine.
magazine is aimed towards is not on high
income. The people featured in my magazine are
all of ages that my target audience would have
interest in, using them as a role model. From my
previous target audience research, I established
that my potential readers most want to read
information regarding a particular artist, I liked how Adele’s article was displayed on Q magazine’s front
cover, so incorporated this into my own magazine. The quotation
especially ‘exclusive’ information, so that they used is a personal line from the artist, again something I found out
my target audience want. The name in bold draws attention to the
feel involved and slightly personal with this artist. headline, and also the larger font represents the impact the artist
has.
Because of this, I incorporated headlines that
weren’t just about music, but also about an artist. The word ‘exclusive’ immediately
draws the reader in as it feels
like they will be getting
information no one else has
access to. My target audience
specifically said that this is
something they find appealing in
music magazine.
6. In making my magazine I learnt about different
technologies. Firstly I learnt how different camera
angles and effects affect the outcome of my image,
enabling me to get the best results I could. I also
developed my Photoshop knowledge – for
example, my masking methods, which are evident
on all pages my models appear on a blank
background. I also learnt how to airbrush my I used masking to clean the
background from this image,
models effectively, a technique which is frequently so it appears she is in front of
a white space.
used in the media industry on photos of people to
give them a clean look. Though not visible in my
final pieces, I also learnt how guides can be useful
in making my magazine, so that I can keep it
neatly arranged and aligned correctly. For
example, on my front page I used guides to keep
headlines aligned with one another.
Using guides in
Photoshop to keep my
work aligned neatly.
7. Looking back on my preliminary task I noticed that there are a few things I would like to change, based on what I learnt from completing my
main task, and that there are things I have learnt through my main task completion. I can see that some of the fonts I have used in my
preliminary piece are too similar to one another and look more decorative as opposed to being functional. I would like to change these so
the page looks less cluttered. My preliminary task also helped to prepare me for my main task too, as I learnt how to use the space
effectively and arrange things to follow the line of sight. This made my magazine look more professional and effective.
In my final magazine I used clearer
fonts and made them suitable sizes to
both fill the space and make more
important headlines stand out.
I learnt how camera angle and shot
type affects the appearance of my
magazine
I also improved on my use of colour –
my final magazine has a lot brighter
colours and so stands out a lot more
than my magazine from the preliminary
task
My preliminary task made me aware of my
target market’s perception of my magazine
and how to appeal to my audience – my
preliminary task would mostly appeal to a
younger reader due to the fonts, colours and
images I have used, whereas my main task
magazine would appeal to older teenagers,
again due to the content.
