Inspirational texts

These are some of the magazines that have inspired some of my ideas for advertising, poses, text and layout.

Selection of fonts and colours

I chose these colours because primary colours are supposed to be most eye catching for magazines. Creating a contrast is also effective.
The colours chosen for my magazine will be purple and orange.

 

Reader Profile

The target demographic for my product is 15-20. Aimed mainly at females, however it is could appeal to some males. It will be aimed at a demographic that mainly downloads their music, are into social networking sites and going out with friends. Will tend to enjoy shopping, however many will shop at retro style shops or wear vintage clothing. It will be aimed at females who like unique/quirky style. At least monthly by music magazines, many would have been to a music festival at least once. Most of these girls will be class as todays ‘indie’. My readers will be mainly students therefore going out with friends, having a good time and having new experiences like going to gigs is important. This demographic will enjoy going out for meals with friends for example to Nandos or Frankie and Bennies. Many of them will go to the cinema on a night, for example at empire for cheap Tuesdays. Going the city centre to shop will be important, such shops like topshop/topman, river island and urban outfitters will be some of the main shops that the demographic go to. However there will be other shops on the high street such as retro, deep, flip etc. These shops are classed as todays 'indie' clothing stores. Which seems to be many peoples style lately.

 

Audience research, Magazine survey and charts

This is a copy of my Questionnaire.

 

 

 This pie chart tells me what magazines my target audience enjoy reading most, this will allowing me to adapt my magazine in a way that will attract them most therefore making my product as successful as possible.

 This pie chart allows to to see how much my target audience are willing to pay therefore i can set a price that is affordable for this demographic.

 The three main colours that my audience have picked out are purple, orange and blue. Magazines tend to use contrasting colours to attract the audience therefore to appeal to my audience therefore using the colours purple and orange will be most effective.

 This gives me an idea of what people will be reading my magazine.

 This gives me an idea who my target audience listen too and what kind of artists they would want to be featured in the magazine.

 This can give me an indication of what advertisements could be in my magazines, i could include competitions etc.

This will give me an indication of what events will be included in my magazine,, depends on how offend the magazine would be published.

The Simpsons task, review/feedback

The conventions essay

The main conventions will be used in my production. The front cover will contain a main image which will have an eye line match with the reader as this will catch the reader’s attention. The front cover will feature the title, a main sell line, approximately three sell lines, enigma codes and finally basic conventions such as the barcode for selling purposes. No sub images will be featured on the front cover as I want the main image to reflect the main story, I also do not want to take the attention away from the main image as this is what a reader will see first. Decision on the font haven’t not been finalised yet, however using a bold, unique font will attract the reader’s attention. Using a font that is effective but still quite simple will be my aim. My colour palette is going to consist of three main colours, the use of primary colours is very effective, and causing a contrast is very eye catching. However from doing my survey I have collected data that suggests orange and purple appeal to my target audience most therefore I can still use these colour as they still form a contrast. My main image is black and white therefore the colours will not clash with my image and make my text difficult to read. 

Bauer Media is most likely to produce and distribute my media text if it was produced for sale or distribution is the ‘real world’ as it produces magazines of the same genre, such as ‘MOJO’. The group is a world-wide media empire over 300 magazines in 25 countries, as well as online, TV and radio stations. The business is built on influential media brands with millions of personal relationships with engaged readers and listeners. Their strategy is to connect audiences with excellent content through their broad multi-touch point brand platforms wherever and whenever they want. Therefore the company aims to please their audience, adding another magazine to their empire will widen there media platform. This will also help them to achieve their target of connecting their audiences with excellent texts. As music magazines bring in a large varied target audience.

The target demographic for my product is 15-20. Aimed mainly at females, however it is could appeal to some males. It will be aimed at a demographic that mainly downloads their music, are into social networking sites and going out with friends. Will tend to enjoy shopping, however many will shop at retro style shops or wear vintage clothing. It will be aimed at females who like unique/quirky style. At least monthly by music magazines, many would have been to a music festival at least once. Most of these girls will be class as todays ‘indie’.

Media platforms such as the internet would be interested in selling/broadcasting my text. And I could use social networking sites to advertise or to create a further platform for readers to communicate with other readers about the product. Music channels could also broadcast my product along with radio stations.  A company such as iTunes could team up with my product, which could benefit them as in my product I could advertise their company, by making deals that give the reader an opportunity to benefit.  

Potential problem table

Potential Problems with My Coursework

Potential area where there might be a problem	How I will deal with this problem
Front cover images	The front cover image should affect the effectiveness of the page layout.  The image needs to be the correct size so that the image does not become pixelated. It must also be the correct size as an image can look stretched. The image must also have eye contact with the audience to draw them in. The lighting also needs to be thought about to get the best quality image possible. As the front cover image is the most important as this sets the mood/tone of the magazine and is normally the first thing that attracts the audience to that magazine.
Article Inside Magazine	The article needs to be long enough to fit the double page spread.  It needs to be laid out the way it would in a professional magazine.  Small font and in columns, the article needs to be long enough as the font cannot be increased otherwise the double page spread would look odd and unprofessional. The content of the article needs to be thought about, it needs to be suitable for the target audience, and it needs to be written in the style of a magazine article. And it needs to keep the audience interested; the style of article also needs to be thought about, whether it is going to be an interview, review or in prose. Then this style needs to be carried out.
Images to accompany article	The images that accompany the article need to be suitable images that should link to the article. They also need to be clear. So the size of the images needs to be thought about along with the lighting and colour.

Insitutional Research

Bauer Media is most likely to produce and distribute my media text if it was produced for sale or distribution is the ‘real world’ as it produces magazines of the same genre, such as ‘MOJO’. The group is a world-wide media empire over 300 magazines in 25 countries, as well as online, TV and radio stations. The business is built on influential media brands with millions of personal relationships with engaged readers and listeners. Their strategy is to connect audiences with excellent content through their broad multi-touch point brand platforms wherever and whenever they want. Therefore the company aims to please their audience, adding another magazine to their empire will widen there media platform. This will also help them to achieve their target of connecting their audiences with excellent texts. As music magazines bring in a large varied target audience.

Photoshoot planning

Media Production

Photo shoot planning document

 

What emotional impact do you want your photography do have upon the reader? How?

I want the reader to be curious and interested by my photography. I will achieve this by using images that are different and unique. This will be shown through the poses of my model and the facial expression. I want the tone to be quite serious but eye catching.

What personnel do you need? Who are you going to photograph?

I have chosen my model. She is 16, studies music. She is mid height, brunette and easily adaptable which is perfect as I will be experimenting with poses clothing and props.

What props will you need?

I will be using a guitar and possibly a microphone.

How are you going to emphasise colour?

Emphasising colour should be done by the lighting of the room, or could later be edited by using Photoshop.

Have you briefed your personnel/models?

Yes.

What lighting will you need? Any other equipment?

Several lighting techniques will be used. Low angle lighting will be used for the images that make the model look important as the light will brighten up the face and neck.

Where will you shoot? Will you need a backdrop?

I will be taking the images within my house, using a plain wall as it will be easier for editing.

Make-up? Costume?

The make-up will not be too intense but will highlight the eyes and lips. The costumes will be changed three times. Each giving the model a slightly different look.

Key concepts and Terminology

The key concepts which were shown in the PowerPoint included:

• Masthead
• Essential info
• Barcode
• Main Sell- line
• Sub head
• Sell lines
• Colour
• Main image

The masthead is the title of the magazine and is usually positioned at the top left for storage reasons/layout purposes however the main reason being that we read left to right. The essential info consists of the date, issue number and price and the barcode is for selling purposes. the main sell line is usually an emigna code, this teases the audience and draws them in. The sub head normally explains the enigma/teaser. The sell line are other mini stories featured in the magazine. Colour is very important, the palette is restricted to a few contrasting colours for maximum impact. The main image is also very important and its build the image/identity for the magazine.
The main image also has its own conventions for example, there are four main poses:

• Invitational pose
• Super smiler
• Romantic/sexual
• Chocolate box

For invitational poses the mouth tends to be shut with just a hint of a smile. The eyes are emphasised. The look is mysterious with the head tilted or looking back over the shoulder. A soft shell.
The Super smiler, is a full on shot. Big smile, looks confident and assertive. The hard shell.
Romantic/Sexual, Either the overt “come on” usually directed at the single male or the sensual, dreamy self-absorbed female icon, only hinting at availability.
The chocolate box, this look features a slight parting of the lips with a glimpse of teeth. The face is shot full on or slightly turned away. The emphasis is on the flawless beauty.

The cover:
Covers are the frontline in an increasingly competitive marketplace
89% of Magazines are sold through retail outlets rather than subscription
With over 8000 titles available and hundreds on offer in each store it is essential to maximize impact and appeal on the shelf
Design must, therefore, respond to conditions at the point of sale.
Identify the key conventions of covers from this example and discuss how these conventions have grown up from a need to sell more magazines in the newsagents

Setting the tone:
A strong sense of content and outlook must be conveyed in a single glance
Style and Youth Culture magazines rely heavily on conveying content through:
Framing (the way the camera is positioned and the image cropped)
Mise en scene (setting, costume, colour, body language)
Font style, as well as textual information

Capturing the Audience:
Most magazines are self-consciously generational (they target and attract a specific age group).
Magazines reflect and emphasise a sense of identity that allows target groups to stand apart from the crowd
Magazines can attract a broad readership but most cater for particular interests or ‘niche markets’ allowing for very focused advertising
On the basis of these covers what conclusions can you draw about the target audience for this magazine?  As well as age, gender, social class think about lifestyle, interests, attitudes.