Planning for photographs

I had to contact my actors letting them know where we should meet so we can prepare where we can take our photo-shoot, e.g. the locations where it can be set and how it could be taken. We've chosen the locations, mile end, poplar, and canary wharf.

Peer Assessment and Reflection From My Feedback

With these feedback about my front cover and contents page, it helped me understand what i should do to improve upon them. These comments helped understand what my audience would notice in my magazine. Like for example i was told that cover looked quite plain, as my genre is Hip Hop, my magazine cover should stand out. So I sorted that problem and other suggest out, so that I could please my target audience.

MOCKUP: MBS CONTENTS PAGE DRAFT

This is a mockup for my MBS contents page to help me visually see how I want to layout my magazine.

MOCKUP: MBS FRONT COVER DRAFT

This is a mockup for my MBS front cover to help me visually see how I want to layout my magazine.

Hip Hop Mood Board Front Covers And Contents Page

The camera shot types are mid-shots or long shots as they want to capture the artist's facial expression, body language and fashion style. it conveys some sort of attitude to their readers that they know they are confident. The clothes that the artist are wearing are fashionable to the Hip Hop stereotype as that is represented as cool. If their favourite artist is wearing it; then it must me cool. The overall representation as powerful, intimated, masculine and cool on the front covers.

The font style of the title blocks are bold with eye catching colours. Which fits to my research on magazine front covers that it catches peoples eyes. Q for example had a iconic rock star post and here we have a serious stereo typical Hip Hop pose. The colour schemes are quite similar with a black or white background, then having a bold coloured title block. Types of articles 'Eminem come clean', 'Big Sean living the good life.' Articles which grabs the readers attention with their interesting article titles. This is what i tend to talk about the artist as many Hip Hop magazines do but in Q's case they tend to talk about the artist music and they way they're represented. This tells me that Hip Hop reader enjoy reading about their favourites artist, their life and personality.

CONTENTS PAGE MOOD BOARD

In contents pages there are different conventions to make up a contents page. Contents pages are separated into features, big central image and text explain the main image. As features include information about your music artist, upcoming albums, and any other news about music artist. Some Hip Hop magazines use quotes, or little texts from the article to give their readers a taster below their article title. Most of the imagery being used in Hip Hop magazine are a bit high key or a little bit low key in around areas. Most Hip Hop main images are sometimes making the artist look fashionable and rich.  

Title Block Analysis

Potential designs for my title block

(MBS Design 1)

(MBS Design 2)

(MBS Design 3)

(MBS Design 4)

Title block poll response

 As you can see, I have created a poll to help me decide what MBS title block does my target audience prefer. As this magazine is for them, so getting some of their input shall help me to get this Hip Hop magazine to their liking.

Here is the potential title blocks that I have chose for my magazine, the voters would have to see what they thought would be the best title block for my magazine.

'MBS Design 4' has won the most vote, therefore I have made this my title block. It is bold, eye catching and the colour is what I have chose for my house style. I find this title block acceptable to the genre music that this magazine is based on is Hip Hop. Hip Hop is a type of music that stands out and bold and this title block has all these features that relates to Hip Hop.

Final completed proposal for magazine idea

MBS is different than other music magazines. As it is focused on mainstream and upcoming HIP HOP artists.  However, instead of focusing on promoting the artist/bands’ new album or concert announcements. Of course album and concert announcement will be in the magazine; but I feel my target audience would like to get to know their favourite artist. As such, there will be lots of interviews, so my readers can get some sort of close understanding of the artist and their meaning to their new song/album; was there a true story behind it? The reason why I have created this type of HIP HOP magazine is that I have seen too many magazines like ‘VIBE’ that promotes the album and gives the artist less things to talk about except about their new album, not letting them speak about the  work and dedication put into the album and their inspiration on making their music. This makes the artist feel appreciated as his or hers’ fans would be appreciated on their work. The artist or bands could also tell the readers about how they start from the bottom and made their way to the artist they are today. Was it an easy ride? Or was it a struggle? MBS target audience are hip Hop fans! Both male and females aged between 16 – 20, their social class category (D) Unskilled manual workers and students with low income but aspiration of working hard of getting a better income. Their lifestyle category will be Trendies, people who are desperate to have the admiration of their peer groups, also Groupies, people who want to be accepted by those around them. HIP HOP as a genre stresses the importance of hard work, the outcomes of it and ambitions. The ideologies that the magazine will promote are the harder an individual works the more successful they will become. Challenge the negative representation of hip hop artists, as other people think hip hop artists speak about their feelings and their challenging background. The title of my magazine is MBS which stands for Music Bands and Singers. My magazine will be published every month with jam packed news, new interviews from mainstream and upcoming artists for our target audience to read upon. The techniques that I will use to attract my target audience to the first edition of the magazine is the truth, of how they see themselves in the future, how other people see them and their response to the comments and of course their journey to break into the music industry. Were there ups and downs? The readers would like to know more about the artist themselves instead of the way they are portrayed.

Audience Profile

Name: Jack Goff

Age: 17

Occupation: Student

Hobbies: HIP HOP, FASHION, Basketball, Social Media

Ideologies: Work hard/ play hard, Nothing will be given to you, strive for greatness and be ambitious.

Plan for my main cover Artist

The name of the band on my front cover of Music Bands and Singers (MBS)  is called Rogue Rhymes. They are a Hip Hop band from East London comprising of five recent University graduates, making their first album titled Get It Started which debuted on Capital FM during the end of 2013. They started the band in secondary school and took their talents to amateur gigs and school talent shows across London. Their image is one of a stylish, fashionable band, with a friendly, hardworking attitude. They will not be represented as a violent or angry band, but will challenge the negative stereotypes of Hip Hop as they will not be dressed in a thuggish manner. Rather than gold chains and guns, Rogue Rhymes will wear fashionable trends as they want to look good, but also to catch their target audience’s attention. Their lyrics and songs will not be about sex and drugs, but about the positive aspects of society, money, girls and love. 

Jennifer Lopez Star Image Analysis

Focus Group

Here is my interview with my focus group talking about my magazine. i asked for their opinions which will help me decide some of their idea which would make my magazine appealing to them.

Questionaire Analysis

Institutional Research

Bauer produces mainstream/niche magazines which give them a wider target audience as the have magazine for cars (classic cars), fishing (Sea Angler), landscape (Landscape magazine) , music magazines (Kerrang, MOJO, etc.) and much more.  Bauer have many target audiences as they have different types of magazines like ‘Q’ their target audience are aged for 25 and over, for both gender. They also have a younger target audience, ‘MATCH’ is a football magazine aimed for 11 to 16 year old males, who enjoy news about the latest football news. Their brand image is giving their customers the best up to date magazine, with their magazines being able to be seen online. Bauer also has links with other media like ‘4Music’ as they are popular and known by a lot of people it’s good for advertising new magazine issues in their commercial breaks. They also have link with some radio stations like ‘Magic’ and ‘Kiss’ they too are good with advertisement as they are well known radio stations which people may listen to. Bauer are a large media company as they own some magazines, radio stations and TV channels

IPC Media produces mainstream/niche magazines which give them a wider target audience as they have magazines about homes (25 Beautiful Homes), gardening (amateur gardening), gossip (CHAT), music (NME), and much more. IPC Media have many precise aged target audience; they are aimed for an older reader. ‘Golf monthly’ is for Golf loving reader who enjoy reading about top players, tournaments, golfing gears and golfing tips and instructions; their target audience is aimed at good golfers and regular golfers. ‘CHAT’ is for the real-life weekly that reaches out to touch the reader and shares with her an explosive conversation through heart-stopping moments and the wit and grit of real-life. Bursting with energy, Chat tells the stories that get everyone talking.  Their brand image is their customers their monthly dose of their hobby, like a monthly golfing magazine, cycling, home decorations, etc. IPC Media have a link to each other magazines which can be advertising new issues of magazine being published. The company does not own any other media except magazines as they would like to focus in one production.

Immediate Media is niche magazine, who is aimed for young readers, ‘Match Of The Day’ who are for young football fanatics who enjoy to know about the latest news feed about the premier league, players, clubs and players transfers/prediction moves.  ‘Horrible Histories’ for readers who like to learn about history and the funny and gruesome facts that they did not know about. They do have an older range audience for mums, ‘Made for Mums’ magazine.  Their brand image is that they give the younger target audience more priority as they have more magazines for them as they do for the older target audience. Immediate Media has other media links as some of their magazines are TV channels for kids and they could advertise their new magazine issue on television.

Development Hell is niche magazine which only focus on two magazines, which are both music magazines ‘Mixmag’ & ‘Don’t Stay In.’ They may only focus on two magazines as they would like to give their readers both quality and quantity in their magazines. The median ages of a Mixmag reader are 26 - 72% male, 28% female - and they tending to be urban and single.  Their brand image is publishing a monthly magazine which potentially give good quality and quantity magazine for only publish two magazines a month. They do not have any other media links, they promote their magazine by banners and TV commercials.

The two institution that strikes me are Bauer and IPC Media as both tend to focus on niche audiences with their different range of magazines. As my magazine is focused on Hip Hop, Bauer seems to be an ideal institution as they have a lot of music magazines and a younger target audience. With their link to 4 Music and radio station that would be great for advertising new magazine issues to music lover and hopefully Hip Hop listeners. 

Initial Magazine Plan (Brainstorm)

http://prezi.com/672nnvkdcq02/present/?auth_key=679bc3n&follow=ouksveufeqeg

All photographs taken for the cover and article pages

Chosen Images For My Magazine

NME Contents Page Analysis

The NME magazine does use images in their contents page. There are 8 images and some are related to the indie rock genre like the guitarist image on the right hand side. There is a promotion on the page that relates to indie/ rock fashion that the target audience would like to wear and there is one promotion image to subscribe to NME as they would save £1 a issue. The image supports the initial findings about the style of the magazine of the magazine as it is indie rock related music or indie fashion that is targeted only for NME’s audience.

The magazine’s colour scheme is White. Black, and Red. They did not want to make it look fancy as they think giving their readers interesting articles and tips is more important. The information is accessible for the reader as the titles are in bold and the font size is big enough to read. The design of the contents page looks to me as a old fashion newspaper, that could be that they believe in the ‘old is gold’ phrase.  

The different sections of the magazine are presented so that the main articles that the readers are looking forward to are in bold but the rest just states the articles name and page number with no flashy page layout. The magazine’s logo is placed in the promotion image. As this shows they are not focused on their magazine but the quality of their articles to please the readers.  

Contents Page Analysis - VIBE

In this contents page there is only one image, Kanye West, getting the attention of the readers as he is the main and only image on the page.

The magazine shows Kanye West in their contents page as he is one of the world’s known and best rapper, and that would attract many readers as they would hope that he would reveal his perhaps new single, album, tour or even speaking out on rumours about him. The reader's eyes are focused on Kanye as the image is very big; it covers nearly the whole contents page, leaving a right corner for the magazine content information.

The colours used in the magazine contents page are black and white and the only visible colour that catches people’s eye is the red heart place on Kanye's body. The red stands out due to the colour's contrast and this makes this contents page quite creative and eye catching.

The information is accessible for the readers as it is visible to read and there is no fuss about it. There are only two different sections in this magazine’s contents page which are features and fashion. This tells us that the magazines is focused on the music genre topic and have fewer articles that relate to fashion.  The magazine’s logo ‘V’ initial of VIBE is placed behind Kanye West, that shows that VIBE magazine put their music, artists and articles first.

Double Page Analysis

The choice of the band chosen for the double page article are the indie rock band ‘Muse’ as they were presented on the front cover. So they are the main band who catches the readers attention, as they would like to read the articles of the indie rock band Muse. They are also been placed in a futuristic background as the lights look bright and unnatural. This could mean that this article could be about the future of Muse, maybe about future albums and tours.

The language used in the magazine is formal, as they know that some of their target audience are a bit older as they have an estimate of their target audience‘s age. They also use a friendly approach as there is strong language in the article like ‘the whole thing looks fucking amazing.’ That shows that they are comfortable enough with the reader that they could swear and it also shows that others words can not describe their ‘ridiculous’ tour. The colours used in the magazine are a bit dull but that some bright, futuristic colours which give it a sci-fi effect. As the band ‘Muse’ is in the middle with brightly lit lights shone on them; so they catch the reader’s eyes of this double page article.

The style of the text is eye catching as they want the readers to read about Muse as they are the main image of their front cover. As they placed a big quote told by Muse aside of them. But their interview is in the right hand side with smaller font size than the image and quote. The reason being is that NME wanted to grab the attention from the readers of Muse and their surroundings, is it a glimpse of their new concert which they will be playing at.

The double page is laid out with a huge picture of Muse  in a low angle which makes them look intimidating and mysterious,. The band members are wearing black leather clothing, as that makes them look more masculine. The background looks to be in a concert with a futuristic background lighting, which makes the reader see that their concert will not just be any normal concert. With a big quote from Muse ‘It began as a sketch on a napkin...’ That intentionally makes the reader wonder what they are talking about is it about their tour or about the band in general. They place the interview article of Muse in the right hand side.

The sort of tone the magazine is addressing the reader is like a friendly close friend, as they are interviewing the band Muse and would like to make the reader part of it, by making them to get to know Muse. The band is represented as cool and macho indie/rock band.

The style of the front cover does match the double page article as they made the indie/rock band Muse standout and grab the reader’s attention as they are placed in the middle. The article does not demand much prior knowledge as it is just an interview with Muse; it’s just an article about their tour.

Music Magazine Front Cover Analysis- VIBE

As you can see by the famous artist on the front cover, this is a HIP HOP magazine. From the front cover I can tell the main article will be based about Eminem as he ‘comes clean’ as this indicates that he will be giving confessing something in an interview by VIBE. The puffs around the magazine also tell us what is in store for the readers in this issue of the magazine, like ‘The 50 hottest rap blogs ranked.’

The target audience for this magazine are between the ages 16 - 24 , they are also listeners to R&B, Hip Hop and Rap. the target audience for this magazine is perhaps quite young. as the puff tell us the other Hip Hop artists that will be in this issue of VIBE.

'THE 50 HOTTEST RAP BLOGS RANKED' this also hints that the target audience is young as 'blogs' and social media. which ryounger readers are more likely to do, to online. The puffs are also drawing the attention as the well known Hip hop artists are presented in bold; but in this case of Eminem's puff in red.

To comparing this magazine to my previous analysis to Q, I can see that they have some similarity. As the puff colours and the title itself is eye catching and bold. 

This tells me that I need my magazine to be bold and eye catching for my target audience. 

The type of relationship this magazine wants with its reader is to satisfy them with music reviews, celebrity gossip column. Eminem is on the Vibe music magazine cover because he is one of the best rapper worldwide, if people see him on the front cover with a anchorage text saying ‘Eminem comes clean’ they would feel attracted and eager to buy the magazine to find out what he is confessing about. The anchorage text says ‘Eminem comes clean’ representing that he is hiding something from everyone and that he looks very mysterious, that he would like to share his personal information to the reader, as he seems to look guilty about something. This sense of mystery may give his fans a desire to get to know the real Eminem. The overall message that the artist has given is us a direct look, looks as if he is looking at us. It also shows that he is not shying away from the camera. He is looking confident as his arms are crossed with a straight face with no emotions shown on his face; making him looks mysterious. There are buzz words as the magazine is filled with names of rappers on the top of the magazine and the right hand side of it also, promoting upcoming new hits.

The design of the title block is big, bold and it’s just a straight forward font. That could specify that this magazine gives big and latest news which their target audience would like to read and know about. Its straight forward font could indicate that they just give what the readers would like to know and nothing boring that they would already know if they read their magazine regularly. The boldness could mean this magazine likes to stand out than other music magazines, they could be doing something different then a so called music magazine.

The puffs suggest that the magazine will be talking about in this issue of ‘VIBE.’ They will be talking about 50 hottest rap blogs which are ranked, to give their readers the best source of information they would like to know. There is also who is who is the best rapper ever, which says ‘you decide’ meaning that they would like to hear from the readers of their opinion of who is the best rapper and their reasons why; this just lets the magazine show the readers that the VIBE magazine takes their readers opinions seriously. There is also some artists name ‘Swagga Jack, Lil Wayne, Kanye West, Jay Z And T.I’ this could be these artists are collaborating on making a new hit single that the readers should read more about.

The strategies the magazine uses to attract the audience by having big music artists, in this issue they have world known rapper Eminem. The magazine satisfies the audience by including music reviews, celebrity gossip column and upcoming music hits.

NME Front Cover Analysis

This magazine looks to me as an indie rock, as the band ‘Muse’ is the direct image of NME. The issues/articles that are going to be in the magazine are Muse as they are on the front cover. The puffs also highlight what articles will be in this issue of the NME magazine. As this is an indie/ rock magazine I can tell that this magazine is aiming at teenagers and young adult because these are the main people who enjoy reading about them.

The central image is a low angle shot of the rock band Muse; they are giving a direct look as they want to engage with the reader. The type of relationship they want with the reader is personal, as they want the reader to know more about them. The rock band ‘Muse’ is on the front cover as they have a new album, which they are promoting. The anchorage text says ‘Welcome to our new space ship! MUSE.’ They are inviting/welcoming the reader to their new tour, and their new album being released. This implies that the artists are friendly and what to let their fans know of their upcoming tour and album release. The overall message the artist is giving is that they care about their fans by welcoming them to their tour and album release.

The magazine represents them as a serious, as they have blank facial expression shown in their face. They are also represented as masculine as they are wearing leather; making themselves look cool and mysterious as they are looking at the camera.

There are buzz words like ‘Courtney, Kurt, drugs and me’ that catches the reader’s attention as it says drugs; does this reveal an indie rock artist taking drugs? It makes the readers think that they should read this article to find out. Another buzz word is ‘the world's most insane band unveil their most ridiculous tour ever’. The words ‘insane’ and ‘ridiculous tour ever’ catch the reader's attention as it is talking about ‘Muse’ the rock band’s tour. It will not be a normal tour they have made it fun for the fans as they are welcoming the fans to their 'spaceship' meaning something they have never been before. Any Muse fans would love to read more about their ridiculous tour ever as they want to know more about it. 

The title block of the magazine is presented in a straight forward font, nothing fancy. But it is in bold and in capital letters. That tells us that the magazine gets to the point with their news and stories and does not want to bore the readers with unwanted excessive news. The bold and capitalised font of the title shows that it wants to be noticed and heard from by the readers with the knowledge and latest news of rock music.

The colours used on the front cover of the magazine are orange, black and white. As the black and white grabs the attention of the magazine articles and the magazine title itself, the orange catches the reader’s eyes with its bold and brighter colour.

NME’s strategies to attract the audience are that NME features a lot of iconography associated with indie/rock and the scene that surrounds it. They also get the well known indie/rock bands as that attracts many of the readers with their interesting article stories.

Convention Of A Magazine Front Cover

I have been set a task to make a music magazine. This analysis would help me understand the layout of a music magazine and its features.

I analysed a front cover of a music magazine ‘Q.’ which from the slogan suggests its is  'THE UK'S BIGGEST MUSIC MAGAZINE' that suggest that they have a wider target audience meaning different article about different music genres. The puffs indicates that this issue of Q will be about rock. By the bold puffs 'ROCKS GREATEST NUTJOB' as well as the main image of the guitarist shattering the Q logo.

I am aware that this is a Rock magazine as the front cover is bold, eye catching and feature a stereo typical rock pose (the breaking of the guitar) but it is designed for people who enjoy about music like my chosen target audience. This shows me that I have to make my magazine bold, eye catching and cool for my readers to enjoy. 

Pre-liminary: Front Magazine Cover & Contents Page

At the beginning of the lesson, we were given the task to take pictures of students or anything around Bishop Challoner school.

After we took the pictures and selected the images that we wanted for our front cover and contents page. Next we used the software 'illustrator' to edit and create our front cover and contents page. I used http://www.1001fonts.com/  for the titles for my front cover and contents page. I also used shaped and text tool bar to add on my puffs. I got the bar code from Google for my front cover. I utilised my 'Photoshop' and 'Illustrator' skills on both of these magazines, that I had previously developed at GCSE in magic wand tool, shapes, texts, etc. Although I have used both these software programs in the past, this gave me opportunity to edit the font styles and layout of the magazine. which increased my understanding of the software programs a bit more.