Finished Products

Development Of Skills And Understanding

From my preliminary task I think I managed to improved overall but mainly a better understanding of Photoshop and how to use it. By creating a survey for my target audience I’ve managed to get a more accurate understanding of what the readers want in the magazine, looking as similar existing magazines helped me to be more creative in the layout and to make it look as authentic as possible I looked at the little details such as the barcode and things such as the house styles and positioning of texts and pictures. Although I think my skills on Photoshop and taking the actual photographs were to a good standard I think on my journalistic piece my abilities could be improved, even though it came across as text that was written informally so it is spoken straight to the reader to create a more involved, personal easy going read it still fairly brief and simplistic as I found it difficult to create up information for my new band such as their history, names and background information and I think I could have expanded and written more.

Technologies

As I take photography and have my own camera I had easy access in taking photographs. I’m pleased with the images I have taken, although I took multiple images to make sure I got my ideal poses. I am happy with my models and clothing’s and stances, they have represented and portrayed their characters well. I did find I had problems with finding appropriate backgrounds to have while shoots with my models, so on Photoshop I cropped the background out and created an artificial background. I am pleased with the new skills and techniques I learnt about while using Photoshop considering I only started using it since starting the course. I have learnt how to layer, resize texts and its surroundings as well as giving a more authentic airbrushed look to my models. Because I created a paper draft for each piece I was able to get a clearer idea of the colours, layout, what I wanted to write in it and what sort of photos I wanted and how and who were appropriate models.

Addressing The Audience

I kept the language in the article fairly informal, but still in Standard English. I wanted to make it approachable to the reader and the way it’s been written, like being spoken to so it is easier for my audience to relate. I’m pleased with the way my title has turned out with the rings of blue connoting sound vibrations and along with the block bold colours it also connotes to us that this is loud and lively. The layout is very block and bold, however it is also not neat, but busy and there is a lot going on, yet isn’t too overcrowded with information, I kept the cover lines bold and simple. I used intertextuality of lyrics of a well known song by the Artic Monkeys because I think that they are a good, well known band to be represented in this magazine and to help promote it. They're ideal because they represent the some genres and bands that are included.

Target Audience

The target audience for my magazine ‘Vibes’ is fairly broad, aimed demographically at both males and females as what it displayed in the gigs and advertising the clothes etc. is of both genders. It’s for mainly youths, from 14 years to young adults. The psychographics of my chosen audience is fairly specific in their consumption habits, although there is a broad range of music. In my survey I found a high amount of them chose shops such as Topshop and branded skate wear such as ‘Girl’ and they shopped online for retro and vintage style things. In today’s society many youths belong to, or are stereotyped into different groups. My magazine is aimed at a young target audience of teens and early twenties of both male and females, because of the genres of music in the magazine I think that it would appeal to youths living in urban areas due to some of the article being dedicated to gigs, promoting the audience to see the bands, although I would say my main target audience is students I would categorize them and their families mainly as working class and living more southern, my idea was to appeal to the individuals and aspirers.

Institutions

As my magazine is a new one I think it would be beneficial to go with a publisher such as ‘Dennis’, as it’s the UK’s second largest consumer publisher (22% of the market) it would boost the public awareness of my magazine and could help it become more successful and well known. However, because it is a newly found name it might not do so well because it is not well heard of and if it was to become successful in its sales the publishers could want to edit what goes into my magazine and take a larger profit. I think to start off with it would be wise to try a smaller publisher as I’d then have more independence to have hat I want in there or have total independence if choosing to become a self-publisher. It could develop and become more popular and money would be saved as it would be cheaper then going with a bigger name.

Representation

I think my cover promotes an attitude and originality, my main model promotes this well with his strong stance and a ‘I-don’t-care’ kind of attitude, l for my cover is wearing a bold shirt; his stance is strong which I think connotes attitude, originality and a sense of power and almost admiration from the readers. Where as the model on my contents page undermines this because she is standing very differently, she appears to be warm and friendly which shows the variety this magazine contains. Although this is aimed at a younger audience I believe there has to be a minimum age level of mid teens of about 14 plus due to advertisement of gigs [for 14+ years] which my magazine is well dedicated to as well as promoting clothes and skate brands etc. some of which are done via the internet.

Forms And Conventions

The Generic content of my music magazine ranges from alternative, electro and techno to alternative, indie and acoustic. Because the main genres of music in my magazine are lively and upbeat and when you think of bands of these genres the majority connote bold, bright and lively colours. I took influences from an NME magazine and was inspired by the layout of the contents page, however I did challenge the theme of a set of colours used, i.e. for NME they use black red and white, where as there isn’t much of a colour scheme, just that they’re complimentary, bold colours and I’ve used different fonts and styles for different topics in the article etc., however, for the house style I stuck with alternating colours of blue and purple which links to the title containing the same tone blue, by placing this behind the model it shows that the viewers of the magazine are well aware of its distinct style. I chose the name Vibes which is abbreviated from 'vibrations' which denotes 'a general emotional feeling one has from another person, place or thing' vibrations also can connote high volume and the beat and feeling of the music which I think well reflects what type of magazine this is. This article doesn’t really have any formal elements to it, the details such as the ripped stickers, images which are rough around the edges and the lack of obvious clean cut organisation, in my double page spread I used left justification which resulted in a ragged right hand side but still a gutter which clearly defines the columns, I still stuck to the general rule of thirds in my layout of images and positioning of my contents. I believe I’ve created a magazine which appropriately fills a niche in the market. The style and language of my magazine is informal, telling us it’s designed for a younger audience, I think my magazine is appropriate in filling a gap in the market because although it covers similar things to ‘Kerrang!’ and ‘NME’ in the contents of what is written it doesn’t cover or focus on the same genres.

Analysis Of Existing Contents Page

I liked the layout of this article. I thought it was bold and effective.
To see annotations of the cover hover mouse over area you wish to find information about on after clicking it to link to the flickr website.

Analysis Of Existing Double Page Spread

I took my main influence from NME magazine as it was a magazine i wish to compete with. However I could only get a copy of Q magazine. To see annotations of the cover hover mouse over area you wish to find information about on after clicking it to link to the flickr website.

Paper Drafts Of My Products

Initial draft of my front cover

Initial draft for my contents page.

Contents Page Analysis

I liked the layout of this article. I thought it was bold and effective.

To see annotations of the cover hover mouse over area you wish to find information about on after clicking it to link to the flickr website.

Audience Research Table

Target Audience

Working title of magazine.
Vibrations. Vibes.?

Target audience - demographic
Aimed at both a male and female audience of adolecence to young adults who're active socially etc. Income shouldnt' be that musch as for exapmle i.e. students don't come under a class as theyt don't earn a steady income therefore my magazine cannot be too expensive. It should also appeal to all races as bands and artists included are inter-racial.

Target Audience - psychographic
As this is aimed at a younger audience their styles are influenced heavily by music and fashion which go hand in hand. In my magazine I hope to appeal to the 'Nu-rave' and 'Indie' subcultures such as 'Ravers' etc. People who enjoy going to gigs and concerts as well as skating and plying instruments such as drums and guitar and get the majority of clothes from branded shops such as 'Topshop' and online to bring an 'original' look.

Content
My article will contain majorly of the topic of my upcoming band/artist reviewing a recent performace and their music, as well as an advertisement for a television programme and one for a gig list around the country or for a clothing brand?

Style
My theme for my magazine is bold and vibrant.

USP or position in the market
Niche to advertise an increasing popularity range of new, upcoming music and to promote clothing, new shows and gigs.

Analysis of existing magazine cover 3

This magazine is aimed at a younger audience of both genders.

To see annotations of the cover hover mouse over area you wish to find information about on.

Analysis of existing magazine cover 2

Rocksound is a magazine aimed at a younger audience, mainly male.

To see annotations of the cover hover mouse over area you wish to find information about on.

Analysis of existing magazine cover 1

Classic rock is a magazine aimed at an older audience. Mainly males.

To see annotations of the cover hover mouse over area you wish to find information about on.

College Magazine - original photo

College Magazine - contents page

This is simply a copied version of a contents page in an already existing magazine, however, I have altered it appropriatly, i.e. the title and information on what my magazine contains valid information suitable for a college magazine.

I think overall I managed to sucessfully create a layout suitable for my college magazine, although i think it could be presented bolder and more attractivly.

College Magazine - front cover

On first impressions this cover I think stands out well because it contrasts colour on black and white. The title stands out well, grabbing the audiences attention because it is in colour. The story at the bottom is well highlighted, making it an main subject in the magazine.
Althought the title implies this is intellectual because it is a college magazine it connotes and element of art and fun with my chosen subject painting the title on with the splashes of paint highlighted in the background.

I think how my main image is quirky and realistically done. I like how making it black and white creates more if an impact enabling what I want to stand out actually stand out clearer then if it was all in colour.
However, it was diffucult to pick appropriate font and colour, although I found white worked best.

Through creating the front cover on photoshop I think i've learned more skills on how to use it. I think I have a good grasp on the layers and how they work, as well as how to create, learn and layout a magazine.

Soupy Soup

To read connotations hovver mouse over spersific area to make information show up.