Media Diary...tbc

Media diary

Week 1- I created my preliminary task over three lessons. The first lesson was spent making sketches that I would use to base my magazine around, however these did change as some pictures proved hard to take. The second lesson was spent taking pictures to then put on my magazine; I also uploaded my sketches onto my blog, I did two evaluations of current school magazines and uploaded them as well. The third lesson was spent making my actual magazine; I did not produce my entire magazine in this time however and did further work in my spare time to ensure it was completed for the deadline. Next week will be spent planning my music magazine and evaluating current ones.

Week2 – during this week I have created a mind map that includes all my initial ideas. I have evaluated some more magazines and done some audience research. I have learnt more skills and terminology to analyse magazine covers, contents and double page spreads. I also began to write my questionnaire questions.

Week 3 - during this week we had half term, I analysed 5 front covers, 5 double page spreads and 5 contents pages to aid me when I am creating my own pages.

Week 4- this week has been spent finishing and uploading all my analysis and organising my blog; I also finished my questionnaire and uploaded this. I also recorded 3 students answering my questionnaire.

Week 4 – I began to take the first few photos during this week, I changed some of the dates and poses that my models did. I also began to write my double page spread article.

Week 5 – I edited my first set of photos, taken at the weekend and placed them onto my different pages, I then booked out my camera and finished my double page spread article, I handed it to the teacher to get remarked and then re-drafted the parts that weren’t acceptable.

Week 6 – I continued to work on my magazine and also did some peer assessment of the rough drafts and corrected the mistakes, this was useful as they would be my target audience and I needed to make my magazine appeal to them.

Week 7 – I took my last photos during this week and made corrections that had previously not been finished. I also began to type up work to be uploaded onto blogger. I edited the photos that I took and placed a few into the spaces left on my magazine pages.

Week 8 – I spent this week evaluating and finishing my pages, I then uploaded these and my picture plan to blogger, and I also put my diary onto blogger.

Draft of Questionnaire

Questionnaire

1. What gender are you?
Male [ ]

Female [ ]

2. What age category do you fall under?

-16- 25 [ ]

-26-30 [ ]

-31-40 [ ]

-40 + [ ]

3. What genre of music are you most interested in?

R&B [ ]
Indie [ ]
Rock [ ]
Rap [ ]
Dance [ ]
Drum and bass [ ]
Garage [ ]


4. What are your favourite artists/ bands?

1.
2.
3.

5. What do you like most in a magazine?

- plenty of pictures?

- more text then images?

- other? (please state)

6. What attracts you to a magazine?

- headlines
- photos
- famous celebrities
- colours

-Other, please specify ___________________________________

7. What would you definitely like to see appear in the magazine?
·Images
·Exciting Headlines
·Information on music
·Information about events e.g. gigs and festivals

-Other, please specify_______________________________

8. How many colours would appeal to you on a magazine?
- 2-3
- 4+

-Other, please specify_______________________

9. What artist would you like to read about in a double page spread article?

10. Would free merchendise persuade you to buy a magazine?

Yes [ ]

No [ ]

11. Would you prefer one main image on the front cover of the magazine or more?

1 [ ]

2 [ ]

3 [ ]

More [ ]

Contents page analysis #5

This contents page is image heavy; the text is small and straight to the point and fits into a small square created by the layout of the photos. The photos relate to the main articles as with most magazines. Most magazines have a large title at eh top of the page however this particular page only shows a small underlined and bold title. The images are all of either bands or artists that look like they have an attitude, they look like rockers and pose in an un-friendly way, and this makes the page look edgy and appeals to the target audience. The red text stands out on the white background and makes the texts easy to read and makes the important points stand out to the reader should they be quickly scanning through the magazine in a shop. The page numbers are sat on top of the mage and this means that you can easily see when they will come into the magazine and quickly get to the desired page.

Contents page analysis #4

The contents of Drummer magazine uses many of the typical conventions that you would expect from a music magazine. The main image has an Exclusive stamp printed on it which allows you to think that you are getting more for your money. The page features six photos, two of the images feature a drum kit with a man behind, this is un interesting to an average reader of a magazine however to the niche market of this magazine it will probably interest them. The colour scheme stands out as it is bold against a plain white background. The page numbers are also written in this colour which makes the page seem coordinated and sophisticated. The image in the bottom right shows a band with attitude and a unique style, this could suggest a particular target audience. The articles of the magazine are written in a column down the left hand side of the page, they are easy to read as the font is a good size and well spaced. The first few words of the article are written in bold which makes them even easier to see, the main think that Drummer magazine have tried to do is create an easy to understand and recognize magazine, their main concern is having easy to read information unlink NME magazine that featured lots os unnecessary cramped writing.

Contents page analysis #3

At the top of the age a large, bold heading of Contents is shown this immediately grabs your attention and inevitably shows the reader what the page will be about. A note from the editor is featured at the top of the page, this is done to make the page seem more personal to the reader and appeals to them as they can see what the editor thinks about this particular issue, the language used in the letter is informal and very colloquial. The editor talks about the band Biffy Clyro, who are featured on the cover of this issue this links the two pages together. The pictures used on the contents are all linked to the articles featured in the magazine; the images are only used to promote the main articles. Along the right hand side are the other articles. The sub headings are bold and stand out because of the colours used. All the images used are different which is interesting for the reader and keeps them involved in the page and what is going to happen later on in the magazine.

Contents page analysis #2

Q magazines contents page is targeted to a wide audience, it therefore must attract many people and interest them. The front cover and contents page of Q are all linked by colour schemes and sometimes images. The main article is shown in the main image. The text is aligned to the left hand side of the picture and is very linear, this allows the reader to quickly scan the information and select what they were looking for. The sub headings are bold and stand out against the white background. The layout is sophisticated and contrasts to the contents featured in NME magazine, this is because the target audience for Q is more intelligent and older, and the language used is very intelligent and stylish which again appeals to the older readers. The colour scheme used; red black and white is fresh and conveys a sense of style and passion. In one box, the words “Oasis special!” is written, this makes the reader believe that they are getting information that is special and un-known to other people.

Contents page analysis

This contents page uses many features to attract the target audience. From the magazine the reader can tell that the audience is people who enjoy rock music. The contents page follows the green colour scheme that is used throughout the magazine. An advertisement featured in the bottom left corner tells the audience about ways to subscribe to the magazine, the advert states that you can save over £45 from subscribing today, this would make the reader more likely to subscribe in the belief that they are getting more for their money. The main article is placed in the middle of the page; this will be the main article in the whole magazine. The contents page is very busy and features 5 large sub headings to break up the genres of the articles. The title of the magazine is presented at the top of the page. The page is very busy and gives the reader a lot to look at; this is not a very good thing to do as it means that the reader may get frustrated when trying to find the page number that they desire.

Double page spread analysis #5

The image featured on this double page spread uses the rule of thirds; it is interesting and would immediately attract the attention of anyone who was browsing the magazine. Pete Doherty is lying across both pages and the text fits around him, he looks like a “rocker” from his attitude and the props used such as his cigarette and tattoos on his arms. Pete Doherty’s clothing is very dark and relates to the gloomy surroundings in the picture. The picture is discoloured and enhances the dirty/ rocker theme that they are trying to convey. The text written on Pete’s arm is coloured white to make it stand out, it is also blotted to seem as though he has written it himself. The questions used in the interview are written in bold however the answers are not, this allows the reader to see clearly the distinction between the two. The language used is very colloquial as it is speech from Pete Doherty and he has a very distinct attitude and speech. The image has been planned so that the white wall allows space for the text to be placed and to still be read easily. Photoshop will have been used to get rid of blemishes and problems with the image. This double page spread is highly effective in presenting the artist to an audience that may not have heard of him before. The target audience is clear from the constant colour scheme and the “typed” font. The double page spread tends to focus more on promoting the artist by his image then his words which perhaps suggests that he is not very clever and relies on his appearance. The double page spread image above is of pages 3 and 4, therefore the first two pages are not shown, I do not know how much text is featured on these two pages and therefore could not suggest any other improvements, I would rate this double page spread a 10/10.

Double page spread analysis #4

The main image on this double page spread is of a stereotypical soul singer, she is lying across the two pages on a piano, which again enhances the soul theme that the magazine editors are going for. The image has text that works around it instead of over the image and this therefore makes the artist look powerful, it also shows text written over the artist’s jeans which gives it a neater look. The text is written in 3 narrow columns which make it seem longer then it actually is, this is used to get the reader interested in the article and to allow them to quickly pick it up and read instead of having to concentrate on many continuous paragraphs. The colour scheme of the salmon pink is featured in other places in the magazine and also allows the writing to stand out more against the white background. The font is again very simple and easy to read, and coloured white, which on a black background is quirky and enables the reader to read easily. No sub-headings are shown, which gives the idea of a story rather then an interview. Photoshop effects would have been used to hide blemishes or correct lighting issues. The style of the double page spread is sophisticated but fun; this is shown by the fun expression on the artists face. To improve the double page spread I would have placed the text in a different position to create less of a busy look, overall I would rate this double page spread a 7/10.

Double page spread analysis #3

This double page spread is very successful; the main image is spread across both pages and shows Lilly Allen a very popular artist with very controversial opinions. The title itself could be seen as an image as it is so complex and interesting, it immediately draws your attention to it and when flicking through a large amount of pages you would be drawn to it straight away. The colours are basic but some words are highlighted in a red colour to tie in with the shirt that Lilly Allen is wearing. The font is simple and effective in creating an easy to read, flowing article. The text is split into four columns which allows for quick reading. A brief introduction to the artist is written in a slightly larger font above the main text, the title of the page is a quote from the singer which reads “people think I’m an attention seeker, but I’m just honest” Lilly Allen is well known for her views and for creating trouble in the celebrity world. This would attract many different people as women and men are both attracted to gossip. Photoshop effects will have been used to perfect and imperfections on the artist face and to get rid of any problems on the background. The style of the spread is classy but edgy as it appeals to many different people, with many different interests. Overall I would give this particular double page spread a 9/10, the only criticism I would have is that the text could be larger.

Double page spread analysis #2

This double page spread is taken from Kerrang! Magazine, the target audience is clear from the colour schemes used and the images featured. The main image is of the lead singer in the band “My chemical romance” there are a further three images all of members of the band. The colours are consistent throughout the whole magazine and relate to the hard rock look, the photos are black and white and show the artists in their “rocker” appearance. The spread is more images heavy then text as the text is confined to a quarter of the page and the images take up a whole 75%. The fonts used are easy to read and white which on a black background, stands out very well. The images relate to the text well and would attract the target audience well. Photoshop effects have probably been used to make the artists look more appealing and to put the images into black and white format. The target audience is clear and the style of the magazine is easy to guess after seeing the spread. I don’t believe that many improvements could be made to make this look any better. I would rate this double page spread 8/10 as there could be a bit more text.

Double page spread analysis

This double page spread feature one image that is spread across the two pages. The focus of the image is to the right which draws your attention to the right. The image is quite raw and edgy which reflects the genre of the magazine which is DJ and street music. The font used in the interview is simple and white, this means it is easy to read and follow and can be seen easily, unlike a darker colour. The question is written in bold which allows the reader to easily distinguish between questions and answers. The text is laid out in three columns, written over a dark brown grungy coloured square. The interview features a brief introduction to the artist which gives background information into what the article is about. I don’t believe that this double page spread is very successful as it is rather basic and doesn’t enhance the artist and make it appeal to the target audience. The audience isn’t clear from what is shown on the two pages as all there is is the one picture of the artist in a street. The spread could be improved by moving the text around so that it isn’t three blocks of text, currently it looks very worded and un-interesting however with a more up to date and interesting picture the double page spread would be immediately more eye catching and significant. Taking into consideration these points I would rate this magazine as a 6/10.

top of the pops front cover analysis

from first glance at the magazine you can immediately tell that the target audience are teenage girls, you can tell this from the pink and yellow bright and stereotypically Gilly colours and the feminine font used, also the pink hearts around the images of the topless boy band are a clear indicator. The headlines feature love tips, snogging exposed and dates with the Jonas brothers, these are three very girly articles that would attract their attention. The main image is of Alexandra Burke who was a very popular artist at the time, the genre is obvious from the artists chosen and the title itself; “Top of the Pops”. In the bottom left hand corner the words “Win! HSM prizes worth £1500” this again is an indicator to the target audience, High school Musical is a popular film with young teens and would attract the audience. The language used on the cover is simple and easy to read, which again would appeal to a younger audience in comparison to an older more sophisticated magazine. There are many images featured on the cover of the magazine which would attract a younger audience that cant read as much text as older teens. The cover is very eye catching and appearance based which enhances the target audience.

Q front cover analysis

Q magazines target audience is much wider then the other magainzes that I have analysed, it appeals to both males and females of ages around 17 through to 40. the articles featured in the magazines feature much older celebrities and use much more sophisticated language. The image takes up about 75% of the cover and is in black and white which is a risk that more modern less established magaines cannot afford to take, this is because audiences find colour images appealing and are more inclined to buy them. In the top right hand corner the words “booze, burgers, oral sex” are featured this article is more targeted to males as they are stereotypically associated with these three things. The only bold colour used is on the title of the magazine which makes it stand out and means that audiences can associate with the name quicker. The important sections of text are written in a gold colour wich again emphasises the sophisticated tone that they are trying to convey. The fonts used are all different which allows the reader to easily separate different articles. The cover features no other image which means that the cover image must be a strong and powerful one, and that the articles must be based around these two performers, this is something which only a magazine that people are aware of could “pull off”, a more modern magazine would need to feature many articles to create a standard that readers expect.

M8 front cover analysis

M8 features only one image on the cover which takes up 100% of the page. The artist on the front wears headphones which suggest a DJ genre of magazine, this isnt as obvious as the other magazines that have been analysed. The articles featured within the magazine also suggest the target audience to be 17-25 year olds that enjoy clubbing. The colour scheme used on the cover is very basic, using white to highlight many important features of the magazine. The font is basic and easy to read, which the case in most magazines is. There is a good use of bold colours to make other article headlines to stand out. The only thing featured at the very top of the cover is the title M8; written in a very modern way. The main article and image both link together whch means that the reader can immediatley see what the main article within the magazine is based around. The price is situated next to the title, this may be because it is a cheap price compared to other magazines and they want to enhance this fact. At the bottom of the page three lines are devoted into giving information about other bands and features that will be published in the magazine. By placing the majority of the text to the left hand side and in an easy to follow list the reader can easily see what is included in the magazine.

Clash front cover analysis

My second magaziine, Clash is aimed at a similar indie/rock genre; the target audience is mainly teenagers and students in comparison to my other analysis of Kerreng! It uses an unusual layout for the style of magazine as it is dominantly word related in comparison to pictures. The bright yellow stands out and draw attention to the key features of the magazine such as the articles that will be included in the magazine. The main background image used is of the extremely popular band “kings of Leon”. The name of the band is spread across the torso of the band and the words “Love sex politics vampires” are written above it, this gives you an insight into the things the band will be discussing during their spread. In pink the word “Exclusive” is shown which allows the reader to think that they are hearing information that has never been heard before and they are therefore part of an exclusive group of people who know this information. In the top left hand corner “free CD!” is written which also makes the reader believe they are getting more for their money, it also promotes the band making it more likely for them to appear in any future issues. The main audience is more likely to be males and the lack of feminne artist’s interviews; however the floral background may appeal to the female audience. Females may also be attracted by the words printed at the top of the magazine that state it is dedicated to fashion and music, two things females are very interested in.

Analysis of Kerrang magazine

This particular issue of Kerrang! magazine features the lead singer of a new up-coming band named Dir En Grey, he shows his chest which makes him look more powerful and dominant. He is wearing typical “rock” style clothing; a black leather jacket, he also has tattoos which he seems to bend his head to make visible, his hair is long which supports the “rocker” theme as this image is stereotypical of the chosen target audience. The background is a dull grey, this makes the man look more appealing and more attractive to a female audience, the target audience of Kerrang! magazine is males, therefore the attractive male appeals to a market that they wish to attract. The colour grey is very dark and miserable which reflects the darkness of the genre. The name of the band is central and immediately draws you to look at it. Normally magazines would choose to have to title as the more prominent piece of writing, however Kerrang! is more well-known and established and can therefore afford to rely on their loyal readers. The name of the band is printed in white with a grey outline which ties in with the background colour and the overall theme of the magazine. Below the title of the band a brown/gold strip of colour which has the words, ‘The untold story of the world’s biggest cult band’ printed on it in a black rugged font.
The thing which next grabs your attention is the image in the bottom left hand corner which takes up at least a quarter of the cover, it features another attractive male. ‘Bring Me The Horizon’s’ lead singer Oli Sykes is the male who is well-known as a “heartthrob” to females and an idol to males. The male is very popular and therefore carries his own audience who in turn will profit the magazine. Oli Sykes is featuring at the Relentless tour and the logo used to promote the tour is placed diagonally across from the image. The logo fits in with the colour scheme and also contrasts with it, the red background to the logo stands out and grabs the readers attention. Another image featured is that of a masked band, the dominant colour used on this image is red, this colour does not feature heavily on the cover and therefore stands out and grabs your attention.
At the top of the cover four bands names are shown in a rusty gold colour, this is a way of showing the main bands featured in the magazine without having to show an image on the front cover. More names are shown in the bottom right hand corner and the words ‘Free posters!’ are shown in the same rusty gold colour as before. The use of the word “free” makes the reader believe that they are getting more for their money and they feel more obliged to buy the magazine.

Evaluation of my school magazine

Evaluation of my school magazine

To help me create a school magazine that could be published in a real school environment I studied and evaluated many other magazines such as “chill” and “evolve”. Both magazines had a clear mast head and i chose to incorporate this into my magazine. The use of the name “The Bay” relates to Whitley Bay High School and also the location of the school which is commonly referred to as “the Bay”. On the front cover i chose to put tag lines that were relevant to the recent happenings in the school, this would allow the students to relate to the articles. I chose to use a font for my title that is often related to American high schools to make my magazine look more interesting. The background is a student’s artwork which immediately makes the students of the school feel more involved in the production of it. I used a picture of a student on my front cover to involve the students and to grab their attention. On my contents page i chose a layout similar to that of “Marie Clair” this gives it a more high class, sophisticated look. I included a picture of two students who you would later find were editors of the magazine; this gives it a more personal appeal. The school logo is included on the contents page, this is a convention used by the majority of school magazines. The background is a pale pink, i chose a plainer colour on the contents as the front cover is already very gaudy and draws allot of the attention away from the main stories.

My magazine represents stereotypical students who are enjoying life; you can see this by the smiles on their faces and the background used on the contents’ main image. My magazine shows two white students however it features both a male and female student. The front cover shows a male dressed rather stereotypically as a smart child, this is done deliberately to bring some humour to the magazine. The school is represented on both pages as a fun and enjoyable school. My magazine would be distributed in both public and private schools as it doesn’t appeal to one social class more than the other. The magazine would be placed in main offices and places with seats, the articles are short and allow for light reading so it can be read when waiting to talk to a teacher or in-between classes. It may also be available in the feeder schools as it would give future students an insight into what is happening and it may make the process of moving to a new school easier. It is reasonably cheap to produce and could therefore be distributed in school events such as parent’s evenings, local shops may also want to supply it as many potential students may shop there.

My target audience is students both current and potential, it shows the highlights of the school and may make the school more appealing to lower school students soon to be moving onto a high school, therefore the ages would range from as low as year 7’s to year 13’s. To attract my audience i included on the front page a humorous image and three exciting stories such as school trips and current productions.

I have furthered my knowledge of Photoshop while creating this magazine, i feel more confident and able to reach deadlines. Using the camera to take a medium shot indoors proved reasonably simple however the flash created a problem when it reflected on the glasses shown. The layering tool on Photoshop became easier to understand as the project went on, other tools such as the lasso and rubber also became more understandable as i used them more.

School magazine

My completed contents page

My completed front cover

Analysis of George Stephenson High School

Analysis of George Stephenson High School

Front page

The images used on the front page of the magazine are of the students and the layout of the school, it also features pupil’s artwork, pencils and other typical school items. The title is bold and obvious; the title is “evolve” which suggests that the school is getting better and more modernised. It says issue 6 and says summer 2006 which suggests that they have made a lot of issues already and that the magazine is popular. The background is of the sky but it has been edited on Photoshop to make it have a green tint. There is minimal writing used on the cover which is effective in focusing the reader on the images but unsuccessful as it doesn’t give the reader any insight into the main articles inside.

Contents Page

The contents page featured on the magazine is modern and uses a colour scheme similar to the front cover. It shows eight main features within the magazine which are the most important ones, it gives page numbers which allows for quick reading for students should they be reading at lunch where they may not have time to flick through it all searching for a certain page. There is a thank you to the writers of the articles which are all teachers suggesting that this magazine is not written by pupils. There is a short paragraph from the editorial team which will make the students feel more involved in the magazine. There is a section on sport and entertainment which would appeal to most students and give them time to relax.

Drawings for school magazine