The document provides information on the typical conventions and elements found on magazine covers and inside pages such as mastheads, barcodes, images, headlines, and columns of text. It also shows examples of a preliminary magazine cover and contents page created by the author and discusses what they learned about improving their magazine through the process of research and development.

1. Year 12 Media studies
Saskia Beatty

2. In what way does your media product, use develop or challenge
forms and conventions of real media products?
Skyline- This usually
gives information on
the competitions taking
place or the offers
available.
Price-This tells the buyer
how expensive the
magazine will be. The size
of the price depends
upon how expensive the
magazine is.
Barcode- This is usually placed in the right
hand corner and is there so the magazines
can be scanned at checkout.
Main image- This is the
main focus of the
magazine. This will get
peoples attention and
attract readers.
Anchorage text- This
is writing that relates
to the main image it
indicates what the
main picture is about.
Sell lines-This is writing
that is used to attract
the reader, the give an
insight of what is
written in the
magazine. They tend to
be at the bottom or
down the sides
Masthead- name of
magazine. Normally in
the top right corner. It is
normally the main
feature to publicize the
magazine.
As you can see here the text is
justified to the edges. I have
also done this with my updated
front cover as you will see on
slide 17. This is done to make
the front cover neater and
more professional. If a
magazine looks as though it is
professionally done you are
more likely to buy it.

3. Front cover:
Masthead- This is the
title of the magazine, It
is the largest section of
the magazine as it is
then recognizable for
readers and will attract
previous readers back.
Puff- Gives information on
the content and things
available. I have added
there will be a free CD as
a persuasive technique so
people will be more
interested in buying the
magazine.
Anchorage text- This
is writing related to
the main image and
gives an idea of the
context inside.
Main image- This is the
main image which shows
the main focus of the
magazine, and gives an
idea of what is written
about inside.
Bar code- I have placed my barcode
in the right hand corner which
follows the conventions of a
magazines as it is usual for the
conventions of a magazine. This is
also used so it can be scanned in
shops.
Sell lines- These tend to be down the
bottom or at the sides. They tell the
reader what will be inside the magazine, I
have used the headlines of artists names
to attract readers assuming they will want
to know more about the artists.
Date& price- The date is important as it tells
the readers if the new events in the
magazines are recent.
Price- The price is usually near to
the barcode also the size of the
price usually depends on the price
of the magazine itself.
Updated front
cover

4. The magazine on the left hand side was published in the 1920s when jazz music was started
and became big. I thought it would have been good to view magazines from this time to get
ideas for my electro-swing magazine, as jazz is a big part of electro-swing. Due to drastic
advances in technology there is now a lot more possible to do for a magazine, meaning the
magazine I have created will have many differences than the magazines produced in this time.
However the similarities my magazine does have are the fonts included, as the fonts of the
1920s are very distinctive so I took time to find suitable fonts for this, that will fit the theme.
Not only this but as you can see by the magazine cover on the left it is very simplistic and I
have also purposefully kept mine very simplistic with a black and white color scheme and not
an over the top amount of pictures or text. Finally I looked through images of front covers
from the 1920s and the outfits are very formal with women mainly in dresses and men mainly
in suits, therefore I got my model to wear a long formal dress and a fur coat. This works with
the jazz theme and what you would expect of a magazine from the 1920s.
New front cover

5. The plain ground is
there so that Kanye
West is the main
attraction to the page
and therefore it doesn’t
steal too much of the
attention.
The use of the red heart
and Kanye’s composed cool
facial expression adds an
element of interest to the
page. It will attract and
draw the reader in to
possible read further on
about Kanye.
As vibe not only focuses on
music but fashion it works
well that Kanye is well
dressed as it represents the
magazine in a good way.
The fact that the page numbers are in
bold is effective as it is easier for people
to see.
A classy stylish font has been
used for this title. This sets a
theme for the magazine and
could therefore attract
further buyers. Also as
different fonts have been
used but organised well the
magazine looks formal and
professional.
The title is written in black which
over powers the rest f the light back-
ground and smaller fonts and
therefore helps the title to stand
out. The fact that it is spread out
over the three lines creates a
disjinted look and leaves the
impression of a classy cool
magazine.
The ‘v’ has been used
to represent the title
vibe, even though this
is not the cover. This
is very good for
branding.
Contents
The purpose of a contents page
is to give the reader an idea of
the information within the
magazine and also to make the
information easy to locate with
page numbers. It should also be
easy to read and follow for the
reader.

6. Contents:
I have used a different
font for the title contents
so that it stands out and
is easy for others to see. I
have also used a
different font so that it
stands out over the rest
of the fonts.
I have made the
numbers of the pages
a different colour, blue
so that they stand out
for people and it is
easy to locate the
pages.
I have used a completely
black background, so that
my main image being the
model stand out. Not only
this but as there is a light
facing towards the models
face he then looks light
and golden over the dark
background.
My model is wearing a
suit to to fit the 1920s
jazz theme as in the
magazines I had looked
through the men wore
mainly suits.
I used this image as an
article involved in the
magazine is supposedly on
this model and therefore I
thought it would work if she
was present in the contents
page.
I have used a black and
white colour theme to
set a sophisticated font
to represent the theme
of the magazine and
music well.
A variety of fonts have been
used to add an element of
interest to the page and to
create a more interesting
page. Also I wanted the
subheadings to stand out.

7. This image takes up the whole
page making it the main focus of
the spread. This is very
appealing for readers and it will
catch their eyes straight away.
Always it states straight way
that Lady Gaga is the main focus
of the pieces.
The italics used makes the
page look sophisticated and
creates an element of class.
This could create a more
mature look and therefore
attract people to read the
magazine.
As there is a lot of writing to digest it
is helpful that the writing has been
split into three columns. Not only
this but the fact that it is in columns
makes the piece look organised and
and a lot less over-powering.
The first letters
of each
Paragraph are
emphasized by
using ‘drop caps.’
This can be used
to help entice
the reader to
read on further.
This could be
seen as
symbolizing
Lady Gaga
herself as she
aims to stand
out and be
different and
this is what the
letter L does as
it is vibrant and
stands out over
the blank and
white theme.
Double page spread:

8. Double page spread:
Large title to
attract the
readers
attention.
Also I was
careful with
the font used,
I made sure it
suited the
theme as this
sets the tone
for the reader.
I used sub-headings so that
the questions were clear
and the reader was able to
understand. Also this
helped to break up the text.
I used page
numbers so that
the reader could
use the
contents page
effectively.
I stuck to my
black and
white theme
to give the
magazine a
sophisticated
and
organised
feel.
It is based upon a two collumn grid
which helps break up the text.

9. How does your media product
represent particular social groups?
As this magazines is based upon electro-swing I am not only representing
the people now-a-days who create this new genre of music but in many
ways I am representing the people of the 1920s where jazz originated from.
My product represents the artists in this genre of music as firstly classy as
they are pictured in smart vintage outfits. For example in my double page
spread I have used an image of the two ‘artists’ dancing together. Here you
are able to guess there is an intimate relationship between the two from
their body contact but also through the further questions answered. In this
image they are both laughing this represents the artists in this industry as
vibrant and fun not only this but it creates the perception that the music is
fun and exciting and therefore results in dancing. This could lead to the
audiences of this music being pictured in a positive happy light. Here the
magazine is fighting stereotypes as you see two younger people involved in
an older genre of music. The polka dot dress and the sharp suit and hat
work well with the 1920s vintage theme I was aiming for.

10. What kind of media institution might
distribute your media product and
why?
During my research period I found many media institutions all of which published
different audience targeted magazines. The companies I found; melody maker’s,
Seymour, The Wire etc. Personally the distributor I think would have been best for me
would be something like The Wire. I believe the wire would be best for me because it
covers a wide range of alternative underground and non-mainstream music. It also
celebrates not only old but new music, this would be perfect for me as my theme of
music being electro-swing is a mixture of the two. As electro-swing is such a new
genre of music I could possible need a well known publisher so that there is more
publicity for not only the magazine but the genre of music. The wire publishes a jass
magazine called the wire so the second magazine they would be publishing would be
swing-sound. I have also gone on to look at magazine publishers. I believe IPC Media
would be a great publisher to use as it’s UK’s largest magazine publisher by circulation,
with more than sixty iconic brands IPC creates content for multiple platforms.
Therefore I believe it has a large enough following for my magazine to find a large
target audience within. Another publisher I have looked at is The New Musical Express
known as NME. This is a music publication in the UK, it was the first British paper to
include a singles chart. I feel as though this magazine is very influencial and as it has
been around for so long it is also well trusted by it’s audience. Therefore I believe this
also could be a good publisher to go with.

11. Who would be the audience for your
media product?
This magazine audience can vary through many different people, there
is not a set stereotype as the music is a blend of music going from 20s
to the 70s. From my research I have found that the starting age to be
interested in my magazine would range from 16 as I know out of the
people I know the interests in electro-swing generally starts at 16
when you start to become more and more understanding of the music
around you. When interviewing a 16 year old girl who loved the music
she stated that ‘her 20 year old sister who was in her last year at
Cardiff university attended many electro-swing clubs which she and
many of her friends loved.’ Electro-swing is aimed towards a niche
market as it is not a well known genre of music. If you listen to
instance Jamie Berry’s music you can see it is a dancing type of music
and therefore the magazine is aimed at people who are interested in
going out and dancing.

12. How did you attract/address your
audience?
In my magazine I tried to address and
attract an audience mainly through my
front cover. I did this through the images
on the front cover, the artists headlined
and also by creating offers like free CDs. I
used the names of popular electro-swing
artists to entice people who are already
interested in this genre of music. The main
image I used for my front cover has my
model facing directly towards the camera
and in-turn making the magazine a more
personal feel for the reader. As the reader
shares eye contact with the protagonist
therefore giving the feel of a more
personal intimate relationship. Not only
this but my model has a half smile draws
you into the magazine and gives the
magazine a more real feel.

13. What have you learnt about
technologies from the process of
constructing this product?
I have learnt how to use such programs like Photoshop and InDesign.
I found this hard at first but after a few attempts I managed to understand the basics.
Such as editing the colours, inserting images and cropping them and inserting them onto
neutral backgrounds, by saving the image as a pdf.
The technologies I used were; Photoshop, InDesign and the cameras we used to take
the pictures. The camera I used was a canon 500D and I had to use knowledge from
the theory side of the media course to get a good picture. I made the model connect
with the audience with the direct eye contact which attracts the audience.
I have no previous experience with Photoshop and I used basic functions to create a
front cover that isn’t cluttered and not to fancy. I learnt how to put in basic
shapes to create structure on the cover.
I learnt how different fonts can impact the presentation. I also had to go
online on dafont.com to find one I liked.

14. Looking back at your preliminary task,
what do you feel you have learnt in the
progression from it to the full product?
The picture to the right is my preliminary front cover. It is very
basic and very dull. Firstly I have learnt how fonts can effect the
magazine and the importance they have. For example with my
preliminary I chose the first font I found where as with my actual
magazine I took time to go onto ‘dafont’ and find suitable fonts
for the theme of the magazine. For example for my title I chose
to use this font as it I feel it suits the
1920s theme and stands out very well to
attract buyers.
Not only this but I have also learnt more about the conventions of a magazine. For
example with my preliminary I have not included any deals or on a magazine known as a
‘puff.’ However through the process of making a magazine I came to realise that parts
like this were needed to make the magazine more professional and interesting.

15. Also with my preliminary I made it very plain as you can see on the picture in the previous slide
there is only one image and minimal text. Through the process of looking through and
evaluating other magazines I came to realised that in order for mine to be a success I would
need to make it more interesting. I then added extra text in different fonts to make the cover
more interesting and full. I also added in a relevant image of an artist I’d be talking about to give
the reader an insight of what would be inside.
Something else I also learnt that needed to be included was the barcode date and price, so it
could be sold in shops. This was not included in my preliminary but I made sure it was included
in my actual cover. Another essential part of the magazine I missed was page numbers which
are obviously needed in order for the reader to work out what they are looking at alongside the
contents page. Therefore I made sure page numbers were included.
Finally I have come to realise how important colour schemes and pictures etc are. For example I
kept to a black and white colour scheme as I thought it suited the electro-swing theme well as it
is sophisticated and overall I think it paid off well.
The first contents page shows just how little I
knew and how little effects got added. For
example I learnt that more than one image
would be needed for the magazine as one
was too little. I also learnt that there were
different headings for the sections of pages
in the magazine ie features etc. Finally I
learnt how to add the different layers so that
the contents page wasn’t too simplistic.

16. Double page spread changes:
Psychedelic Phase...W ill they ever grow out of it ?
Is it hard working with your partner?
aswearetogether themajorityof thetimeit can being
challenging but we respect eachother and understand
there will be times when we need space. T e fact that
we’re so similar also makes thing’s a lot easier as it’s
likeworking with your bestfriend. Although I do worry
sometimeswemayspend toomuch timetogether but at
themoment everything seemsto begoing great.
Whats behind the name Psychedelic Phase?
It wasaveryrandom choice.Wewereat araveonce
and theword ps-ychedelickept being used,wethen re-
alised it suited our typeof genre.At thetimewedidn’t
think we’d beableto carryon our dream wethought it
maybeaphase.
How did you two come togetherand decide to
become aband?
Weboth went to Nottingham universityand wereboth
aiming to get adegreein music.OnedayWill was
playing around with somejazzytyped musicwhich
interested mealot.Wegot talking and both realised
wehad alot in common and shared thesamemusical
interests.Next thing weknewwehad madeseveral dif-
ferent piecesand it went from there.
What are yourplans forthe future?
Weplan to carryon making and enjoying our music,
wedon’t want to put pressureon ourselvesto get huge,
wejust want peopleto simplyenjoyour music.Not
onlythisbut our tour datesarereleased next week,
exciting !!! Wehavealso had someof ersof festivals
to preform at over thesummer which issomething we
areboth extremelyeager to do.So for themoment we
areseeing what of erscomeour wayand just enjoying
what wearedoing.
Swingsound-July2015 Newmusic
22SwingSound
Do you enoythefame?
Something I’d say we have both found very dif cult I
would say was being continuously in rhe publics eye.
Wehaveno control intheend of howwearepercieved
aswerallycannot control what isbeing said abotut us.
However although we say this, we genuinely love all
our fansand appriciate everything they have done for
us. We really wouldn’t be anywhere without them. In
manywayswihout thefamewewouldn’t haveour fans
so wecan’t reallytrulydislieit.
What would you sayyou havelearnt from being in
theindustry?
Wehavelearned to havethicker skin,to not take
eveything too seriously.Wecan’tcontrol what’sput
about usin themediaso wehavecometo seewejust
need to ignoreit and that our fansaremost important.
Wehaveseen howthefamereallycan get to people
and theylet it destorythem.We’redetermined not to
let it destroy.sus.It can onlymotivateus.Weloveour
career and arewilling to do anything to moveourse-
leved forward.
23SingSound
Interviewed by Saskia Healy
When blown up into A3 I
came to find my texts were
drastically too big.
Therefore I changed the
font to 12. This also left
more space for further text
to be added. I then added
further questions and
answers to make the
magazine more realistic and
entertaining for readers.
I also changed the colour
of the titles from white to
red so that the questions
were bold and stood out
more.
I came to the conclusion that there
were not enough further images of
my protagonists included. Therefore
I took some pictures from a
separate shoot and added this to
the double page spread. In this
image you can also see the
character in a hat which suits the
theme and suits the theme.

17. Front cover changes:
The convention is to justify to
the sides of the magazine.
Therefore with my magazine I
moved all the texts and
images down to the hand
side so it worked with the
conventions of a magazine
and look neater and more
professional
I also adjusted
where I placed the
CD offer as I came
to realise before the
text was too high up
on the image.
Where-as it should
be an extra. It
should not take
your focus from the
artist.

18. Contents page changes:
Here once again more
background text was added to
suit the conventions of a
magazine as before I had not
added enough pages.
I also then added a light back ground to
the contents box to highlight it and so
that it stood out more. Once the
background was highlighted I came to
find these colours worked best.
Although they are light the stand out
with the dark black background. As
before the texts were in dark blue
which was not visible clearly enough to
the reader.