First Draft (Front Cover)

Magazine Flat Plan and Rationale

This is my magazine front cover for the first draft of my AS Media coursework. This is a vital part of my coursework and it only took me one Media lesson to complete this. Above, is a link to the post which features a flat plan and rationale of my product. When completing this task, I slightly changed the concept of it because, I thought that the product would benefit from more detail to make it look more professional. For example, I decided to feature skyline whilst I was developing the product because, I was looking at other magazine front covers and I thought that a skyline would make my product look more professional. In my opinion, it has. I also decided to feature another cover line because, there was some spare space. I have also used images from the internet. They are; the barcode, the pound sign and the 'red hot chili peppers' logo (at the top right hand of the page). I had to find an image of a pound sign because, I wasn't able to get the pound sign key on the keyboard to work.

I decided to feature the colours of red, grey, black and white because, they are all colours that have been used in real life magazines such as Q and NME (magazines which I have taken inspiration from) I personally think that these colours work well together because, again, it makes the magazine look very professional. The text are different colours because, they stand out more and the target audience will be drawn to the text.

I have also changed the position of the main cover line (star in the making) because, that would have got in the way of the main image.

Overall, I am satisfied with the finished result and it went a lot better than I thought it would. I think it looks very professional and I could picture it on a shelf in a retailer somewhere. The easiest aspects of developing this front cover was inserting the image onto the page. I only had increase the original size of the image. I didn't need to edit the background because, the background colour of a front cover of either Q or NME is normally grey. The hardest aspect of developing this front cover was writing the text in the box. At various points, the box would layer over the text and at other times, the text would stay the same colour as the box even after I had changed the colour. Currently, I am awaiting feedback but I hope that it will be positive.

Time Management

Time Management

This is the time management post. I am undertaking this task because, it can help me to keep track of my progress so far and it can help me to determine what I still need to do.

So far, I have completed 25 blog posts.

However, four of them were completed after we were asked to print out our blogs.

Currently, I am in the process of developing the front cover of my magazine. I now need to complete that, as well as create the contents page and the double page spread. However, I have plenty of time to undertake these tasks and I am sure that I will have no problem in managing my time.

Photography

Photography

I am now undertaking the photography task, in which I have to research images from other magazines, which I will use as inspiration for my magazine.

I have decided to use these images as inspiration for my magazine because, the used models are looking directly at the camera. I personally think that a model staring at the reader would be more effective because, it is as if they are looking at you and when someone is staring at you in real life, it is hard to ignore them.

I intend to use this format for my magazine. My front cover will definitely feature a model, who is looking directly at the camera. I intend to do the same thing with the image of the double page spread because, the article in my double page spread will feature quotations. The effect that this will have on the target audience is that they can imagine that they can actually hear what the cover star is saying. This could perhaps make the text more readable to the target audience and they could also find the article more interesting.

Reader Profile

This is the reader profile for my magazine.

My magazine is aimed towards young people aged between 16-30.

My target audience would read the music magazines of Q, NME, Kerrang and Vibe, as well as my magazine, Top Spot.

They are avid listeners of the mainstream BBC Radio 1 and occasionally listen to Kerrang Rdaio, a station that predominately plays rock music. My target audience also like to attend music festivals, whenever they are being held. Examples of festivals include Glastonbury, Edinburgh Fringe and T in the Park.

My target audience are also actively engaged in social media (i.e. Facebook, Twitter) and are all owners of iPods, iPads, iPhones.etc. They use social media and technology on a daily basis and often use their smartphones to listen to their  favorite music. My target audience are also fans of the annual Brit Awards.

A reader profile is going to be a massive help with my coursework because, I can get a better understanding of who my target audience is. I need to understand who my target audience is because, it will help in developing my magazine. I will know what colors to use and what my articles are going to be about.

The Recce

The ‘recce’
Provide answers in paragraph form to the questions below that
are relevant to your production.
 
 
  Are there any potential hazards that could pose a health and safety risk where your photo shoot will take place (trailing cables/traffic/other objects )?- The only hazard I would face during this photoshoot would be that if the keyboard accidentally fell onto my foot.
  

What will you do to ensure these risks are minimised?- I would ensure that the keyboard was securely placed on the unit that was holding it.
    

Will the time of day/weather affect the outcome of the photos? Have you allowed for this?- If I had taken the photographs when it was dark outside, the lighting would have been affected massively. The photos would have been too dark and difficult to see. They would have had to be taken during the day.
   

Have you considered the background to your photos, particularly if taken outside? How will you ensure you will get the background you want?- I have considered the background of my photos. I plan to use a grey coloured background because, I am taking inspiration from Q and NME magazine whose background colours are either grey or white. Thankfully, the room I intend to use has grey wallpaper.
  

Have you considered lighting? What about the ‘problems’ of natural lighting, either outside, or streaming through a window? Will you need to use a flash? Have you considered reflective objects that might spoil the effect?- I have considered lighting. Natural lighting won’t be such a problem because, I can just close the blinds if I need to. I will need to use a flash and that could be a problem for the lighter coloured props I intend to use.

 Do you need permission to take photos in the place/venue you have in mind?- No I don’t because, the photos will be taken at home.

Do you need to book time in a room (eg the photography studio at Shiney)?- No because, the photos will be taken inside a room at home

Are other people/crowds likely to be an issue for you? What have you done to ensure that it will not spoil the effect?- No because, there is only one person taking the photographs and I am the only person that will appearing in the photographs.
  

 Are you reliant on lifts/props/friends’ equipment/models? How have you planned that these things will come together at the appointed time? Plan B?- I am reliant on equipment (a keyboard) which is already in the room that the photos will be taken in.
 

 Finally, have you thought of every eventuality…?- I have considered what I would do if the photos were of a poor quality. I would take them again to improve them.

This is the recce, which I had completed on Microsoft Word. I had copied and pasted the text on this blog. The recce was a document, in which i had to discuss how I was going to undertake my photo shoot.

Magazine Flat Plan and Rationale

 This is the Flat Plan and Rationale for my main product.

The JPEG to the left is flat plan for the front cover and the contents page. I have decided to place the masthead at the top left hand corner of the page because, it enables more focus on the main image and the sell lines. I have also decided to use a cover line to go with the main image because, it provides the target audience with more information as to what the main article could be about. I have decided to feature sell lines on both sides of the page because, it makes the front cover look more lively and interesting.
For the contents page, I have decided to use only one image because, I am taking inspirations from Q, NME and Kerrang magazine. All of their contents pages only feature one image each.
 



Below, is the double page spread. I have decided to locate the main image on one page because, that is what other magazines, of similar genre to mine, do. Also, a large image on one page is going to catch the attention of the target audience because of its size and quality.
All of the text will be located on the other side of the page. I have located the pull quote at the top of the page because, it will also be the header. This is because, a lot of other music magazines do this. I am going to use drop capitals because, it is a way of guiding the reader through very small text.