1. Strapline
Often a catchy strapline to
compliment the
masthead, typically situated
Masthead underneath/in close
The masthead is proximity to the masthead.
typically set at the top Can be more simplistic like
of the page in most this one, depending on the
magazines, bar a few. genre and target audience.
It is displayed in
large, eyecatching
font; to capture the Pull quote
attention of the reader A short extract from text
which will be included in a
main feature inside the
Central image magazine, used to entice
The central image is a the reader into reading the
predominant feature of any whole feature.
magazine front cover. This is
a good example of how Cover lines
most central images are
Cover lines are
deliberately set out to
included as a way of
address the audience; in
highlighting the
this case, similarly to most
various features of
others, through direct eye
the magazine, while
contact. This is topped off
catching the reader’s
by the point of the finger
eye by following the
towards the reader.
colour scheme of the
rest of the cover.
Bar code
A typical feature of
Main cover line every magazine sold.
Compliments the main Most commonly found
image: advertises the main in the bottom right
feature. hand corner.

2. Masthead Strapline
Conventionally displayed in Situated below the
title as expected.
large font, in a colour which Blends nicely with the
contrasts the rest of the cover
background, whilst through the colour
complimenting the colour scheme and personally
scheme of the magazine. Both addresses the reader
of the aforementioned through the pronoun
techniques are used to capture “your”.
the attention of the reader. I
have however, challenged the Main coverline
conventions of Q magazine, by Using conventional
magazine features by
spreading the masthead across clearly representing the
the whole top of the page, as main image through its
opposed to being in one location on the page.
corner, like Q. I decided to lay Again, a contrasting and
my masthead out like this to eye catching font/colour
differentiate between other is used to catch the
magazines of the same genre audience’s eye.
and maximise the appeal of my
magazine to the target Pull quote
Compliments the main
audience.
Coverlines coverline and follows
Features of the the colour scheme of
magazine displayed the magazine. Selected
clearly on the front particularly to entice
Banner cover. onlookers to want to
buy the magazine, to
I have challenged the
read the featured
conventions of my style model article.
magazine by placing the banner
at the bottom of the page. This Bar code
acts as a selling point by Conforming to the
advertising an extra feature of conventions of real
the magazine, while appealing magazines by including a
to the target audience by barcode. Typically
highlighting something that they situated in the bottom
are likely to be interested in right, particularly in my
pursuing. style model magazine.

3. Masthead
Typical to this Central image
magazine, the masthead The central image
is displayed in the top clearly displays the
left hand corner. The subject of the main
Banner, which also feature of this edition
contains the word of the magazine. It is
‘contents’, is coloured displayed larger than
black to ensure it stands everything else on
out from the plain white the page, to ensure
background; making it that the image
clear to readers what captures the
page they’re on. attention of the
reader.
Features column
Main coverline and
Conventionally set out in
a column pull quote
The main coverline is designed
layout, depicting each to highlight the theme/subject
segment of the of the main feature of the
magazine. Follows the magazine and is placed close to
the central image to make it
red, white and black clear that they go hand in hand.
colour scheme of the The pull quote gives the reader
magazine and stands out an insight into the main article
and entices them to read more.
clearly to the reader. Every month
Can be seen to create and maintain the magazine’s own house style and identity, by
highlighting what readers can expect from the magazine in each edition.

4. Features column
Similarly to the style Masthead
models I analyzed, from Conventionally to my style
magazines such as Q and models, I have used a
Acoustic, I included a banner to place my
lengthways features masthead inside.
column, to show what
my magazine includes. I Central image
I have challenged the
decided to keep my
conventions of using text to
contents page accompany the central
simple, following the image, (pull quotes etc)
findings I made through because I felt that the image
my research, which complimented the entire page
showed that my target better without text, while
audience would be more supporting the simplistic
theme of my magazine.
appreciative of a
To challenge the conventions
simple, less busy of my style models further, I
magazine. The column decided to use another
follows the yellow, black reasonably sized picture to
and white scheme of the accompany one of the
entire magazine; with features. Although other
the main feature using a magazines do use a second
picture, like the contents page
yellow font where white
analyzed in the previous
is used for other text, to slide, it is rare to find a picture
highlight its importance to accompany another one of
and make it stand out to the magazine’s top features.
the reader.

5. Drop cap
Central image The use of drop caps in this article catches the readers eye and draws attention
Conventionally to the text. Challenging the conventions of most magazines, the large ‘L’, while
to this particular relating to the ‘Lady’ in Lady Gaga, is used as an alternative to having a pull-
magazine, one quote to accompany the image
half of the Columns
double page The text in a
spread is double page
occupied by the spread is
central image. conventionally
Constructed so
set in
the subject of
the article is columns, and
addressing written in
readers with around 9pt text;
direct eye allowing a
contact, the squeeze of
central image information into
accompanies a a small space.
page of lengthy
text. The image
breaks it Not typical of a double page spread in
up, giving the particular, the page number is
feel that there is
displayed in the bottom right hand
less to read.
corner

6. Second Image
Headline I have challenged
I have followed the conventions
the conventions of other music
of most music magazines by
magazines by placing a second
placing the image, which
headline in the doesn’t directly
top left hand relate to the
corner of the main attraction
double page of the double
spread. page
spread, inside
Text the spread itself.
Different I chose to do this
coloured text was because despite
used to not being relative
differentiate to the
between the interviewee in
questions and the article, the
answers in the Pull quote
This pull quote follows the colour scheme of the Unconventionally, I picture links well
interview. The with the subject
magazine, which overall supports the simplistic have included a
colours chosen preview of next of conversation
theme. The pullquote is displayed in larger text so
follow the colour weeks in the interview.
the reader sees it first, and is designed to
scheme of the encourage them to read on, to discover the features, enticing
magazine. context of the quote. readers to re-buy.

7. 1. How my magazine uses the typical conventions
• My music magazine has undertaken many of the aforementioned
traditional magazine conventions
• Graphologically: I have decided to place my main image on the front
cover centrally, while ensuring that just one person takes the
limelight: similarly to most magazines.
• I have also placed my masthead at the top of the page, spanning fully
from left to right, which is also typical of most magazines.
• The barcode is situated in the bottom right hand corner, just like you
would find in most music magazines.
• I have positioned my cover lines over the central image to inform
onlookers of what is inside the rest of the magazine.
• On both the contents page and double page spread, I have used pull
quotes to accompany an image, giving insight into the relevant
article.

8. 1. Use of typical conventions
continued
• The layout of my double page spread was typical to the form
of articles in the majority of magazines: set in columns, with a
main headline to accompany the text.
• I also used the convention of your typical music magazine
which sees a clear colour scheme stuck to throughout. The
primary colours within my magazine are yellow, black and
white. This can be seen to challenge the typical colours found
in magazines which are generally reds and blues. However, I
felt these colours accompanied the theme of my magazine
nicely and more generally, the colour scheme shows the
typical convention of following a strict set throughout.

9. 1. Challenging the typical conventions
• I have challenged the convention of having a drop cap in my
double page spread interview article. Drop caps are common
conventions of interview articles in particular and are
designed to draw attention to the text, and are usually
relevant to the subject of the interview
• However, I felt that a drop cap would make my double page
spread seem more ‘busy’ than it needed to. By leaving it out, I
feel that I have achieved the tidy and simplistic look on my
double page spread that I was looking for; following the
general theme and layout of the rest of the magazine.

10. 1. Challenging conventions further
• As mentioned briefly on slide 6, I challenged the conventions
of most double page spreads by including a second image.
• It is rare to find a picture of a different to the one who’s
interview is scribed on the double page spread. However, I felt
that the second image fitted nicely with the subject matter of
the interview, and is relevant to the genre of music that my
magazine follows.

11. 2. How does my product represent
social groups?
• A representation is “a creation that is a visual or tangible rendering
of someone or something”
• Linking to the first question, I believe that the representation shown
by my model in the central image on my front cover challenges
what you would typically find on the cover of a music magazine.
This is because the model, regarding his clothing and stance, does
not particularly represent my target audience and their interests or
socio-economic profiles.
• However, I believe that because my model is representing an artist
who is accessible for people of all ages and differing profiles, this
was not as important as if it were a different artist. I
do, however, feel as though I have represented my audience
through my textual content as well as the design of my magazine.

12. 2. How my product represents social
groups continued
• I believe the familiar and simplistic language used is reflective
of my target audience. No modern day slang or abbreviations
with the connotations of young people are used due to the
fact that this language is not relevant to my target audience
and does not represent them in the correct way.
• For example, my magazine would rather use the word
“celebrity” over “celeb” because “celebrity” is the most likely
choice of word for my intended target audience.
• Despite its simplicity, there are some examples of heightened
vocabulary used: intended to represent my audience as the
sort of people who are likely to be able to understand and
implement such vocabulary in their own speech or writing.

13. 2. How my product represents social
groups continued
• The layout of my magazine is also very reflective and
representative of my target audience of adult males.
• The structured, organized style was ensured by the use of the
rule of thirds: allowing me to split particularly my front cover
into three sections and ensure equal quantities of text and
image in each.
• This is intended to represent my target audience as organised
people, who have everything clearly laid out for them, making
my magazine accessible to them due to its obvious and simple
style.

14. 3. What kind of media institution
would distribute your magazine? Why?
• I have decided to answer this question in the
form of video response. The link to this video
is available on my WordPress blog under the
evaluation section.

15. • The audience for my magazine is predominantly males between the ages
18-40. However, this particular issue could be seen to appeal to women
too, due to the use of male models for the photos used. I feel that I have
addressed my target audience and represented the acoustic genre through
the layout of my magazine. The maintenance of white space on the front
cover is an example of how I have tried to keep a sophisticated and
simplistic look, appealing to the preferences of the magazine’s audience.
• My target audience would be mainly working class men, who are easily able
to afford a moderately priced magazine. The magazine is also affordable to
those on a lower income who fit inside my audience bracket, such as
university students. Despite being affordable to the working class, my
magazine is easily accessible to people of higher social standing who may
appreciate more sophisticated language styles: while remaining familiar to
appeal to a wider bracket of people within my target audience’s interests.
• The main area where my target audience live, would be in more rural areas.
This is because the culture of the acoustic genre is more maintained in
those areas. City based culture is more focused around more mainstream
genres such as rap, hip hop and pop: therefore I feel my magazine would
have a better chance of selling in rural areas.

16. 4. The audience for Lounge magazine continued
• My intended target audience individually are people with high
aspirations, who enjoy the simple things in life. They are well
educated and either have clear aspirations to work in a
specific job or they are there already
• They enjoy being addressed familiarly and are not too formal
• They have relaxed lifestyles and listen to acoustic music to
wind down
• They prefer to read and take in information rather than look
at more picture based magazines

17. • The use of language throughout my magazine was specifically chosen to appeal to
the target audience. I maintained the use of standard, proper English along with
some slightly more complex synonyms as opposed to their less ‘adult’ alternatives.
This is because I felt my audience would appreciate being addressed familiarly but
properly,(due to the extended age bracket), far more than struggling to understand
slang or modern abbreviations.
• The imagery used is not necessarily what you would always expect from an
acoustic magazine. For example, the model in the main image posing with his
hood up is something you might see more in a rap magazine. However, I feel that
the particular artist he is posing as, represents the genre of my magazine perfectly
and this pose was simple and therefore typical of the artist’s personality, as well as
being similar to some of his photoshoots I have come across. The fact that there is
a plain background compliments the title ‘Lounge’: the connotations of which
involve laid back, simple. I feel that my target audience would be attracted to the
simple layout rather than a busy cover, which has more visual image to process
and ‘de-code’.
• Other content, such as other photos that I chose to use in my magazine, were also
based around the preferences of the target audience. For example, the photo on
the contents page/double page spread of ‘Luke Georgiades’ holding a
guitar, represent something completely relative to the genre of the magazine.

18. 5. How I appealed to the target audience continued
• I believe that my decision to include larger chunks of text, including a
varied sentence structure appeals to my target audience. This is because
of their desire to read and intake information rather than look at pictures.
My target audience take well to having things to read and
understand, rather than an unintellectual or undetailed page full of white
space, or full of images.
• I also think that the relaxed and generally familiar, informal tone of the
language used in my magazine goes hand in hand with the idea that my
target audience listen to music to wind down, allowing them to feel
comfortable while reading my magazine.

19. • Firstly, we were familiarised with Wordpress.com; a free website which allows you to
construct and manage your own blog.
• We were then introduced to Adobe InDesign, which was used for the actual production
of our magazines. Photoshop was also used for any picture editing we needed to do.
• We also used scanners to scan pieces of our research and planning onto our blogs
• Various Microsoft Office programs, such as Word and Excel, were also used to produce
pieces of our research and planning
• Professional Nikon Cameras and a photo studio were used for the taking of our
magazine photos
• The aforementioned software is all very accessible. For example, free trial versions of
InDesign are available for use at home, while The Microsoft software are all very easy to
use and are household items. The only problem I encountered with accessibility was
with the photo studio, because it needed to be pre-booked and it was not always
available. This was overcome by pre-planning and good organisation to ensure we got
to use the studio.
• I found Adobe InDesign particularly difficult to use to begin with. I was not familiar with
how to accurately manipulate document layouts and maximise image quality.
However, through practise and external use I was able to pick up the required skills at a
relative pace and became completely comfortable with the tool by the end of our
assignment.

20. Skills I have learned through the production of my magazine:
• Using Adobe InDesign
• How to keep maximum picture quality
• How to analyse style models
• How to create and manage a blog
Skills I have developed through the production of my magazine:
• Photography: constructing and taking photos, setting up a photo studio for a photoshoot
• Specific media & magazine related terminology such as “mis en scene”
• I have also realised the importance of planning. Without planning ahead, we would not have
been able to conduct our photoshoots because we couldn’t have booked the studio.
Manipulation of representations:
• I now understand how font colours are very important to relating to your audience. For
example, my layout of simple, block colours with the inclusion of some yellow to add a
‘trademark’ feel to my magazine, represents the simplicity and easy going nature sought by
my target audience. The colours used for my magazine would be completely different to that
of a Rock magazine, which would be far more busy and vibrant.
• I also have a better knowledge of how photos must be constructed to appeal to your target
audience. Without thinking about background, poses, props and attire, you cannot construct
a photo which is specific to your genre and audience.
• Furthermore, I can now differentiate between fonts, even those with slight differences, and
make decisions based on the genre and audience of a magazine, which would be most
effective. These are all skills that I have learned and developed throughout the production of
my magazine.