Evaluation

- My media product I feel follows the same conventions of a normal music magazine it has a main front page with a conventional cover story and images which could also easily become a weekly or monthly eddition which could follow the general theme of my magazine. It also has a contents page and double page spread which follows the same theme of the magazine it uses a selection of images that i took myself which look very professional and mock the idea of an actual band. I made sure the titles of the magazine and of the specific issue plus titles of the pages are all clear and literate and are obvious to be actual titles. I didn’t use a specific theme for my own magazine compared to the issue of NME I analysed which had a nautical theme.

But my magazine does have a colour scheme of blue white and purple. I used clear fonts that were not to fancy but I feel looked professional and relevant to the magazine. I also used a range if different sizes to emphasise certain words that were more important than others.

With my photographs I had the help of a friend who does photography as a hobby he used a white backdrop to create the picture for the front cover and for the other photos we used various settings which reflected the bands genre and the magazine genre. He also helped me to edit the photos because the on the main photos one of the models was too tall for the white backdrop so the ceiling of the room was visible so we had to edit that out and make the background all look the same, plus some of the lighting at certain locations was not the best so things had to be adjusted.

My front cover is a lot darker than the other 3 pages because of the whole picture being used as a background where as my other pages images and pieces of text are added on top of a plain background.

- I think my magazine represents a younger generation that’s listens to popular music and is also interested in appearance. I think the colours reflect this and because of my content within the actual magazine. I made up a fake band but which could easily fit into today music market. I also used a big festival that is attended by many young people and so reflects a younger market. I think it could be aimed to either males or females but maybe more to females because of the colours and the themes. I think the social clicks of indie, rock would be attracted to my magazine, also people maybe interested in fashion because of the articles about that specific subject.
- I asked 3 people what they thought of my finished product they all agreed that my magazine was a professional looking magazine and all of them said that the magazine would attract their eye and they would considering buying it if they were to flick through it. They all liked the name said it was original. One person said I could have added a few more added extra boxes and items into the whole magazine to her opinion it looked slightly exposed. Everyone agreed there was the right amount of text to compliment the images.
- compared to my preliminary task i feel i have progressed considerably i have learnt how to make sure certain colours contrast to reflect to my texts and images. I also learnt how to take professional looking photos and how to edit them to a higher standard compared to the rushed photo on the preliminary task. I found it hard to try and make sure the magazine did not look to amateurish. I made the whole of my magazine on publisher i found that software average but maybe if i had made my magazine on a better software it might have looked more professional.

My weakest page i feel is my contents page it took me the most attempts until i decided on a final draft and still i feel it is the weakest it looks plain. Others felts this was also my weakest page. To improve it i could have changed the layout to a more satisfactory way, and added more features to make the page more exciting

Photo shoot schedule.

The Photo shoot took place on Tuesday the 13Th April. I had previously asked four friends if they could take part in my magazine and pose for a fake band. It consisted of two girls and two boys. I wanted a range of different photos to apply across the magazine task so i wanted some photos to be from long shots to medium shot sized photos that could be shrunk down to pasport size. A friend who is stuyding photography helped me take my photos we shot some photos in his back garden and others were taken in his studio with a plain white back drop. A few of the other pictures were taken by a buliding with a brick wall. Props were used such as an empty crate and a large concrete pipe. Editing was then used on some of the photos to make them seem more brighter because on the day the weather was fairyly dull. Also around the edges on certain photos it is fadeing out to give a effect of extra dullness.

Images.

Draft layouts, draft text, and a plan of photography.

This was my first draft layout for my front cover i planned to put my picture on the right hand side, covering two thirds of the page. I then drafted the idea of having the title of the magazine along the top long and thin and with a logo picture in a Circle shape. Then the actual title of that specific issue just below that. Two other long rectangular shapes horizonatally along the bottom of the main picture and vertically on the left of the picture were added to consists of extra information about the specific issue. like a smaller version of a contents page just giving sneak ideas to draw readers in.

This draft idea for my front cover seemed appropriate because it ment the whole picture could use of the space on the page and other items such as added writing and the titles could be placed on top. This layout looks more proffesional and more eyecatching. It still uses the idea of the two other long rectangular shapes horizonatally along the bottom of the main picture and vertically on the left of the picture because this is a good way of showing what inside the magazine.

Sample fonts and colours.

Questionaires + results.

Questionnaire

1. What’s your gender and age?

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2. Do you read music magazines?

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3. How often do you read magazines?


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4. What on the front cover interests you when you purchase a magazine?

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5. What genre of music are you more interested in?(Please circle as many as you want)a. R&B b. Hip Hop c. indie d. popular Pop e. Rock d. Other


6. What is your price limit when purchasing a magazine?a. 50p - £1 b. £1 - £2 c. £2 - £3 d. £3 +


7. What other things would you like to see? E.g. gossip column, agony aunt etc.

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8. Would you buy a magazine if it had free Give always?

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Evauation of Q contents pages.

This issue of Q’s contents page is over a double page spread compared to the NME magazine where is just on one page. It is much more effective because it allows for more information both visually and textually. There is a range of pictures and text to show the reader what is on each page. The biggest picture is a cartoon which shows one member of “the gorillaz” and so shows the readers that this is one of the main features of the magazine. The sizes of pictures range from small passport size to larger longs shots. The same colour scheme is used on these pages of the red and white. The red stands out more strongly against the other colours and this works well because it is the theme colour of the magazine. The layout is a lot busier and seems to hold more information this makes it a much harder to read but also means that the reader will read this page a lot more thoroughly.

Evaluation of Q magazine front cover

This particular front cover of Q magazine follows a cartoon like image across the page; this is because the main feature being “the Gorillaz” is shown to the public in the form of cartoon characters. The whole image takes up the main eye line of the front cover; it is very bright and eye catching with strong use of primary colours. There is a text box at the side being the cover line of that specific issue of Q. Its quirky slogan connects to the picture precisely. Actual photographs of people are used but are covered in a blue tinted colour to represent the sea. Across the top of the magazine cover in black and white so easily attracted by the reader is a quote saying "The Uk's biggest music magazine" this is a clear example of advertisement and with it being at the top and in a completely contrasting colour compared to the other colours used it entirely draws the reader’s eyes to it. I think this magazine could be aimed for a younger audience being teenagers but also any adults above the age of 21, it looks intellectual but also fun and stylish. But I also think it is aimed for a male audience because at the bottom of the page there is advertisement saying what is in the magazine and the topics used are sex, drugs and a football these are typical topics that would stereotypically attract any male. The Masthead of the actual magazine remains the same for every issue it stays matching with the colours and the actual geographical alignment of the title remains in the left top hand side corner. The fonts used are simple and bold different sizes are used on different areas the colours of the fonts used are mainly red and white to follow the colour scheme that is associated with the magazine because they are the colours used in the title picture.

Evaluation of NME doulble page spread.

I particularly like this style of double page spread it is clear and simple yet reflects youth and the modern ideas of a popular music magazine. The picture in the left hand side is the largest and so advertises the band's look and informs the reader of the nature of the article. The picture is a long shot and the surroundings of a beach pier also connects to the nautical theme which is through out the whole magazine, the positioning of the band members is loose and casual and the lighting makes the picture also look very casual with the setting sun in the background. The actual article wraps around the other features of the double page the choice of written font is very appropriate it is clear and echos the theme and genre of the magazine. The text is written in black but the pull quote is written in a blue colour font which follows through the nautical theme but also larger black text. There is two main band pictures used one larger than the other both pictures are on the beach and both have a setting sun in them. The second smaller picture is of just two band member and it is a black sillouete of tho two figures. Down the right hand side of the second page there is added feature called "meet the band" this gives a more less readable way of learning about the band its is more young and casual. Its shows that is it aiming for a younger audience.

Evaluation of NME magazine contents page.

The purpose of a contents page is to give the reader the bit of information about what is inside the magazine and where to find it. It needs to be simple and easy to read.This contents page for this particular issue of NME follows the same theme as the front cover. It still uses the same colours of blue, red and white and in some instances black is occasionally used. The layout is simple and draws the reader’s eye to the most important areas of the page. The biggest item in the layout is the cover line it is brightest and takes up the middle section of the page its uses just two colours to keep it simple the blue background and the white writing this seems to very effective. The actual contents information is always up the left hand side of the page a long and thin box alphabetically letting the reader know what is available in the magazine. This feature is the same in every issue of NME. A more unusual style of text is used on this page this adds to the informality of the whole magazine and makes it modern and fresh. The text that goes along with the title is a very plain and clear font style it is placed at a slant to also show the informality of the genre. The actual article is a “taster” for the rest of the magazine almost like a blurb to describe the features of this particular issue. There is only one small picture used on this page it is a passport size and is just of the Music editor he has also sighed this page this will be a occurring theme in every issue if NME. There is a box across the bottom of the page this is a clear advertisement but is for the actual magazine it is placed there because the reader is more than likely going to switch back to this page because with it being a contents page.

Evaluation of NME magazine front cover.

The front cover of this issue of NME magazine is clear and literate. There is no specific colour scheme fitted to every issue of the magazine but this copy seems to follow and nautical theme with the colours of blue, red and white very current to this issue. The Magazine seems to be aimed to a younger audience by the way of the layout its biggest feature is the picture of the male boy band this would also attract a female based audience. The picture is shot as a medium close up its shows just the heads and top half of the body of the people in the picture. This allows for the audience to clearly see the expressions on the boy band and to feel as if they are directly looking at us. The Masthead of the actual magazine remains the same for every issue it stays matching with the colours and the actual geographical alignment of the title remains in the left top hand side corner. There are no specific box shapes that hold text except a circle shape that holds some text about a competition this draws the eye directly to it and so in an effective way of advertisement. The main picture is the only images on the front cover this keeps the ideas simple so does not overcrowd the main features. The actual text sizes all vary, the two biggest being the masthead of the magazine and the cover line also has a added effect which makes it look as if it is glowing so there for attracts the readers eye. All of the font types are clear and simple and yet strong and seem to follow the same on the actual page. The colours of the fonts also reflect the actual theme of the issue so compliments this theme. The style of the font is a chunky clear lettering; it seems to be less boring than normal fonts because of the extra things added on to it such as the glow and the bright colours. The language used is in between formal and informal it is simple and yet effective for this magazine it uses the correct English language but does use a lot of lists this is because you can not fit a big piece of text on the front cover so has to abbreviated.

preliminary task school magazine contents page.

preliminary task school magazine front cover.

Second shcool magzine analyzed.

In Melrose St mary's school magazine looks much more formal than the first, and looks like it is aimed more for the parents compared to the students. The colour green is dominant on the whole of the front cover it is successfully because it displays the schools colours.Compared to the other magazine there is not one main picture but a selection of smaller pictures which display the schools success and achievements without words. The larger pictures which include a member of the royal family are shown to be of more importance because they are placed at the top so the reader is instantly drawn to them. The four smaller pictures at the bottom are also of importance and show individual events and every day scenes within the school. The title of this magazine is the same as the other because it is just the name of the school but it is placed in the middle of the cover instead of at the top this is effective because it is what the reader will first look at.

First school magazine analyzed.

A college called King Edward's VI college in stourbridge produce a school magazine every year. The 2007/8 issue includes a main picture that takes up the whole of the front page spread. The whole theme of the magazine is almost clinical and clear with a strong use of white writing on top of the main picture. The colour quality within the actual picture is bright and stands out but also matches the college colours of blue and red so then instantly becomes recognisable to the readers. The title is obvious to the reader that the magazine is a school magazine. Their cover line matches their picture but also displays success within their school so there for advertises their school. At the bottom of the front cover there are eight titles that also advertise the schools success. This magazine is mainly aimed for the students but also in many cases to the parents. When looking at previous year magazine covers they are all different and do not share the same quality's except the magazine name.

My Name is Eleanor Naden i am doing the print based media assessment.