Front cover finished

Here is a picture of my front cover finished:

My friend Emily Coventry said that she couldnt see the "Hot" on the poster section as it was in black therefore i have changed it to pink matching in with the colour theme. Mrs Howlett suggested i put the "Easter special" star which was originally under the issue number in the top right hand corner next to the title so if someone was to buy this magazine the could see it was a special verison. As i have used yellow on the Easter special bit i need to use yellow else where on the front cover. I have done this on the third left of my magazine and instead of having the main headline all black i have used 3 different colours, pink, white and yellow. This is the house style of my magazine and so therfore i need to follow this through out.



Suggestions from an outsider

One lesson my media teacher Mrs Howlett wasnt in and so we had a cover teacher. This cover teacher we had, had worked in graphic deisgn and was therfore quite useful in improving my front cover. When i showed her the front cover of my magazine which was this:

She said that the title would look better a brighter pink or it could blend in with the artists forehead. A brighter pink is also something that is associcated with pop aswell. She also asked what the relevance was on the bunny rabbit and i said that has only added it as a fun factor and she said what about making my magazine an easter special so it tied in better I have taken these suggestions on front cover and this is what my magazine looked like at the end of the lesson.

Inserting a shape

As my magazine is a pop magazine it is important hat all aspects of it are fun. To make my magazine appeal more to my target market i have deicded to include shapes on my front cover; a star, oval and rectangle.

To insert a shape on photo shop i firstly had to click on the custom shape tool on the left hand side of the screen

I then had to select the shape i wanted from the drop down arrow

Once i had got my shape i could then draw it, making it bigger or smaller as i wanted.

I think by having shapes on the front cover it makes it look more intresting and attracts the readers attention, something in which i want.

Bar Code

All the images i have used in my magazine are original and my own, however to make my magazine look proffesional  and realistic i need a bar code. I typed barcode into google images and this is the image and link that came up. This is the barcode i have decided to use on my magaizne, i am going to rotate it on its side so it looks different.

Acting on feedback

During my media lesson on wendesday we had a feedback lesson. During this we looked at out peers work and suggested improvments to ensure that it was meeting the genre they had set out to begin with. This is what my peers looked on that lesson:

This is my front cover, as you can see a lot has been done so far.

This is my contents page, i havent really started this so therfore it is difficult to suggest improvments for it.

This is the feedback i recieved, it says that they feel my magazine is for young peoel between 8-12 year olds based on the front cover, due to the bunny rabbit. The feedbakc also said that they feel the genre of my magazine is pop which it is.

Another peice of feedback i recived was that they thought my target market was for 13-16 year old girls, some which is different from the comment aboive, therfore the age group needs to be defined better in my cover. The ffedback also said that i need more images and text for it to come across as a pop magazine. I plan on acting upon this feedback to improve my magazine.



How I came up with my stories for front cover

Today i planned out the stories i would have on my front cover. To helop me make desicons on what sotires my taget market would most be intresgted in i looked thorugh Heat and MORE magazine to see what celberites where in the news a lot. From my finding i noticed that celeb couple Rochelle and Marvin had recently got engaged, Pixie Geldof has brought out a fashion range and there was a supposed love triangle with Harry Styles.

From reading these articles i decided that for my magazine i am going to say that:

- Rochelle and Marvin's relationship is on the rocks
- That Pixie Lott is bringing out a fahsion range this is because, Pixie Geldof isnt someone that my target market of 11-16 year olds would be aware of and therefore wouldnt appeal to them
- I also decided that instead of aving Harry Styles's love triangel i would say that he had a poster insdie my magzine.
- Finally i decided that i would also have a story about Adele this is because after the realse of her album 21 which is mostly about love songs in which many of them have been in the top 10 a lot of girls would want to know what the story was behind them, therefore she will be on my front cover.

Deciding on the font

I didnt want to have too many styles of font through out my magazine or it would look unporffesional, so therefore i have only decided to have 2 them being;

- Berlin Sans FB Demi - Non – Stop Pop
- Franklin Gothic Book - 63 celeb styles YOURS to copy

The reason i have chosen to have these 2 fonts is because they are quite structured and bold but also arent to fancy. This is important because my magazine is for younger viewers and so the text needs to be simplifed for them to want to buy it.

Using the camera

I used my own personal camera to take the pictures as my main artist is my sister who lives with me.

 

I decided not to have the flash on as i took the pictures of my main artist this is because i took them on a sunny afternnon and was taking them by the window.

I also found that i didnt need the flash for the other photos i was using this is because it was sunny and i was in a bright area for all of the photos, this helped as i took a lot of them on a plain white background.

More images of other artists

In the previous post i uploaded images of the other arisits i plan on having in my magazine, here is a wider selcetion of the photos i have taken. I am still undecided as to what photos i should use in my magazine.

This photo is good as there face expressions look relaistic, however you can see a building to the right hand side and it makes it look unproffesional, if i was to cut this picture then half of the boy's body would be cut off.

I like this picutre as the background looks good, however i am planning on having this girl posing as a celebrity promotiong clothes as a new fashion range possibly. I dont think someone smilling would really promote this very well and she would look better moody.

This picture is good as it is quite posed and she it looking away, i wont be using it though as i have accidnetly cut off the top of her head which when i put onto the magazine will look silly.

This girl is meant to be a celebrity on the phone, however as she is standing still and isnt in a busy enviroment it doesnt look very realstic. I may have to re take this photo in a town centre for it to work.

I like this photo as he is looking away, i plan on using this boy as a celebrtiy on a poster. I dont think this will work with this photo as on most posters they look directly at the camera.

Images of other artists

I have also taken other photos of the artists i want in my magzine. I have taken more then one image of each this is just a selection of the ones i have.
I like this image as he looks very serious and is looking directly at the camera, i plan on promoting free posters in my magezine i may use him as an impersination of a celebrity as this could be used a poster in real life.

 I took this image in sixth form, i plan on using this image as the girl being a celebrity either promotiong her own new fashion range or for celebrity syles to copy. She looks very done up in this photo and as it is one a blank background i think this photo would work better as styles to copy.

I like this photo as she isnt looking at the camera, i dont however like the stairs in the photo as it doesnt look very realistic. I will cut these out in phot shop as place the image separtley.  

I also like this image and may use it instead of the other one for the star styles to copy. Or just use this image as a seperate article in my magazine.  

I plan on using this image as them being a celebrity couple who are out arguing. I think i may say that they have rencelty got engaged and have seen out looking annoyed with one antoher. As this is what my target market will like as they will have something to talk about in school.

More photos of my main artist

I took more images of my main artist as i wanted to experiment having a back ground in to photo. I got my mum to hold up a pink blanket that i wanted to use as a back drop to make the images look more professional and not look like they have been taken in my house.


I like this image as it looks like she is having an interview and talking to someone, however i dont think the back drop works in this photo, you can also still see some of the back ground which makes it look unproffesional. Therfore i wont be using this image in my magazine.

I also used the back drop in this photo whilst she is posing next to the door, i like this photo as she is smilling natrually and the back drop works, therfore i may consier using this photo in my magazine.

This photo is simialar to the one above she is not smiling as fully this time though, pop is very happy and upbeat and i want my images to follow this, because of this i wont be using this image in my magazine.

Images of main artist

On sunday i took the images i needed of my main artist for my magazine. I took the images at my house and in my garden as my sister is my main artist. I made her change outfits like a proper photoshoot or the photps i take wont be realisitc.

I like the image bellow as she is smiling and this is something you typically see in pop magazine, however you cant see the whole of her left arm and you can see the doorway, this image therefore wont work.

I like this image as it is taken from a different angle and you can see the detail on the back of her dress. This image may work on my DPS but wouldnt on my front cover.

This image looks good as it is fun and this is something i want my magazine to be seen as, i like the fact that the image is on a plain background as it will be easier to cut out if i wanted.

I have taken more then one image in this postion as i isnt like the way her face looked. I think this would work as my front cover as i want to to be an easter special and by having a bunny this is something that it can be related to. I like the fact that the background is a fence as this is also something that is quite fun.

I made her change outfits in this photo, i put a pink rug on the floor as this is something that is wuite girly, i ike the fact that she it looking directly at the camera. I could use the image on my DPS as this could be her having an interview 

Deciding on main artists clothes

Today i decided on what my main artist should wear for her photoshoot tommorow, i wanted her to wear fun, young, girly clothes becuase that is the audience i want to appeal too. I went through her wardrobe and picked out a black and white spotted dress, i feel like this is a good choice as i wont be restircted as to what colours i can have going through my magazine as the house style because black and white is basic.

I also picked out a pink dress this is a typical girly classed colour which will help emphasis who the magazine is targeted at.

Asking my friends to get dressed up!

I sent round a text earlier to the models i wanted in my magazine aksing them to get dressed up at school next week so i could take photos of them. I explained what i wanted them to wear and how thier hair too look as i had an idea of how i was going to use them in my magazine. I asked the girls to where thier hair down and styeld as i think girls would find this more appealing. I asked them to wear there best item of clothing as they would be being photographed and wanted them to be comfortbale with me taking pictures.  

Draft of Front cover, Contents page and Double page spread

I have created 2 drafts for my front cover , since doing these i have decided to change the name of my magazine to not stop pop. The orginal 2 images that i have for my front cover didnt work out when i took the photos and instead have decided to use a image of my main artist holding a bunny, i am going to make my magazine an easter special. I am going to use pinks and blues as the main house style as this is osmething you assocaite with typical pop.

This is the draft of my contents page, i am planing on putting an image of the front cpver on the conetns page and have arrows coming off as this is something i like din the Top of the pops mangazine. I plan on using 3/4 images on the front cover another image of my main artisit, one image with a girl promoting clothes as this is something my target market are intrested in. An image of what looks like a couple arguing as my target market also like gossip.

This is an draft of my doulbe page spread i plan on having the name of my main artist "Frankie" on the top left hand side of the page so it catches my target markets eyes. I ma goping to use 3 other images from the photo shoot on the double page srpead,. I am also planning on having a fact file on the DPS as all girls love to know little facts about other singers such as thier star sign and favourtie food.



Photoshot plan

I am going to plan out the photos i need for my magazine so i dont have to waste time on the day deciding what images i need.

The photos i need for deffinate are:
1. A girl standing up agaisnt a wall promoting a play suit, prenteding to be a celebirty
2. Another girl looking down and sad, as she has split up with her boyfriend, this will be another celebrity
3. Another girl on the phone, i want this to be a paparzi shot as if the cmaera have caught her out
4. A boy and a girl who are a couple but look as they have been arguing as the boy is walking ahead
5. A boy who i will use as one of my inducments as recieving a free poster who will be on the front cover
6. This is going to be my main artist, she will be outside holding a teddy bear laughing, this is quite a inncoent  photo which is who my magazine is aimed at
7.  Again this photo is my main artist who will be lying down on her stomach smiling on a pink rug, it is important that my artist smiles in all of the photos as this is something that is typicall seen in pop magazines.

I hope that all of these photos come out they way i imagened them, but there may be some alterations

Branding

In friday's class we learnt and disussed branding and how relationships are built between a customer and thier magazine. People consumer media for all type of reasons;

Diversion
Personal RelationshipsPersonal Identity
Surveillance

I need to make sure that the magazine i produce is something that my target audience of 11-16 year old girls can relate to and see themselves in. By doing this they will be intrugied to pick it up. I know that my target market are girls who; like to know a the little facts about boy bands/ singers, see celeberites as thier idol, like hair and make up and to know the latest gossip. This is because my target auidnce are inncoent, i need to make sure that the launguage i use is suitbale to this age group and not something that qould be found in older magazines such as More or Heat. 

To make sure that my magazine is something that my target audince will notice stright away on the shelf without having to look at the title i am going to use typical pop colours such as pink and white, that are birhgt and in your face. I am also going to have a desigin in the corner of each page of my magazine next to the page number so that my target makrket can recogniuse my magazine without seeing the front page, meaning that my magazine is estbalished in the market.

pitch of my magazine

We had to perform a pitch in class about what our music magazine would be about, so my tacher and calss members could make suggestions on what they would improve



The genre of my magaizne is pop
I am publish my magazine once a week and price it between £1.50 - £1.99
The audience of my magazine is 11 - 16 year old girls
My audience likes; Boy bands, pop singers, make up, pink, fashion and gossip
My audience dislikes; the colour blakc and screaming bands
I am undecided about what name my magazine i cant decide between "Pop Princess" "Pop Teens" or "Non Stop Pop"
I am going to follow a typical pop magazine stylle and use pink and white. I have deciced what other colout i am going to use; either light blue, turquoise or peach. It depends on what looks best
I am going to use my sister as my main artist and going to get her to pose liek typice pop photos would; lying on her stomcch with her hand on her chin, sitting on a sofa like a typical interview would look like and i was thinking about maybe having bloons in my poicture as this is a typical pop syle.
My double page spread will be a quesion and awnser interview about my main artists dreams and what she wants to achieve this year.  I am also going to include a fact file about the artist. Telling all the silly things tha teenagers love to know.
I will also include inducments on my front page so my audicne are more willing to pick it up some of the things i will offer are; posters, tickets to concerts, styles to copy and a chance to meet celeberites.
The unique selling point of my magazine is that; there will be a chance to meet a new celebertiy every week in a compeition.

Review: Kerrang

As well as looking at Q and Top of the pops magazine. Althought this genre has no reseblance to my own magazine i like that fact that there is are promptions placed on what looks like stickers. I think this ides would work on my own magazine as it is pop and i could make the "stickers" look girly.

Like all of the other contents pages i have looked at there are more then one image on there. Because of this I have decided that i am going to need to take a wide range of photos so my magazine looks relaistic.

 I love the way that this double page spread has been laid out. I like the use of black and white photos as well as using colours ad this is something that i may also include in my double page spread. I like the fact that they have caried on with the "sticker" look this is a form branding. Although there are lots of images on the page i beleive it works for this article as all girls love a boy band.



Review: Q Magazine

As well as doing a video review I have decided to analyse Q magazine myself. Althought my magazine isnt aimed at the same target audience as Q i like some of the features the magazine had used. I like that on the front cover Florence has direct eye contact. This will draw redaers in becasuse she may be interacting on a personal level inside. Becuase of this i have decided to make sure that the main photo i use for my front cover the artist i use is looking directing at the camera.

Q magazine have also followed the same style as top of the pops by having more then one image on the contents page. I like the way that the page numbers are the same as the titile of the magazine with the red box. This is good branding because customers will know before they even see the front cover what magazine it is. They also have good branding by having the q title on the conrner of each page, this is so readers will know what magaine they are reading and will constantly being reminded.

I dont like the way this double page spread has been laid out, this is because 3/4 of the page are images.  Although the images used are significant to the article, due to her wearing all in black and her red hair standing out, showing her indivuality i believe it would be better if the images didnt take up as much room

I like the way this double page spread has been laid out, due to all the photos are at the top and all the text at the bottom. However as my magazine is a pop magazine this layout may not work. When i start making my double page spread i will try out this style to see if it fits the genre and if it is unsucessful l i will try something else.



Plan for Prelimiary Task

During my media lesson today we got told what our plimanary tast was; to produce the front cover of a new school/college magazine and a mock up of a contents page which needed to have a minimum of 4 images, one of which had to be a medium close up and had laid out text and a masthead.

I have deicded to create a school magazine for the sixth form i am at St marks, the target market being Sixth formers and parents.

The images i intend on having are:
- Photo of the front of the sixth form block
- Medium close up of student working
- Group of studnets sitting around a table working and talking

On the contents page i paln on having a quote from a student, extra cirruclar activites avalible at thr school, up coming events and dealines. I want to be a magzine that sixth formers can refer to.

To attract the audince i need to make sure that the school looks clean and tidy and the studnets are smiling and working in the photo's.

Video case study; Q magazine

Instead of using a prezi to analyse a magazine myself, Emily Coventy and Alice Lenihan - Creus recorded a video. We have used Q magazine in which Florence and the machine featured and have foucsed on all aspects of the magazine such as the; cover, contents page, double page spread, advertisments, interactivity, lanaguage, images and fonts.

We have uploaded the videos on to the school YouTube account and here are the links;
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gyqr0_BOM70&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ec9rHny6l_8&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cbuCBVuUA3k&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3jyqJ9o69xw&feature=channel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C8xooyXt1WY&feature=channel

Review: Top of the pops

Today in class I looked at 3 different magazines to see the way in which the front cover, contents page and double page spread is laid out, so i can get insperation for my own magazine. Top of the pops is a magazine aimed at a similar target market to my own magazine. I like the colour scheme used; white ands pink is often asscoiated with girls and pop and therefore i am going to follow a similar colour schme. I also like the fact that there is a number of images on the front page, instead of just the one of the main artist. Because of this i have decided to have more then one image for my front cover, so my target market are more willing to pick up the magazine as there are more intresting stories inside.

I like the way that the contents page has the front cover on it again; because of this i have decided to have a sub title on my magazine called "On the cover" so stories that did interest the reader they can find easily inside. There are also more images on the contents page that wasnt on the front cover, i am going to need to take more then i expected. I like the way that there is clothes also on the contents page aswell as artisits. As my target market are girls that do enjoy fashion; boys and make up i think that aswell as having artists on my magazine, clothes and make up will also intrest the reader. Because of this i am going to take photos of clothes and shoes that my target market would like and add them on my contents page.

This is the double page spread of the artist that was on the front cover. I dont like the way that double page spread has been laid out as i think that the image is too big and diverts the attention away from the writing. I like the fact that every photo the main atrist had been in she is smiling and this is something that i need to remmeber when taking the photos for my magazine as my target audience will want happy smiley girls to read about. I do however like the fact that pink has been used again, this is because pink is a colour sterotypically assocaitated with girls.

This is also a double page spread inside top of the pops. Again i think the image is quite big for the article, but maybe they have done this because top of the pops is aiming thier magazine at a younger audience who may not like reading. There is also a pink theme that has been again and all the girls featured are smiling and happy.

I found looking at top of the pops myself because our target markets are similar, there magazine has helped me inspire ideas for my own magazine