Evaluation

My next generation magazine recognises the inextricable link between fashion, lifestyle and music. I aspired to superior magazines such as Vanity Fair and Vogue, my final piece merged my favorite aspects. When I initally received my coursework brief I intended to use the pictures which I had taken of my sister. Using these pictures I wanted to follow the prints of Vanity Fair closely since its a well-known magazine which targets a broad audience. I began planning for the front page, playing with different ideas. My final draft, is exactly how I imagened I spend a long period of time perfecting it. Using the colours and fonts which I originally wanted to use, it clearly gives the reader a simple insight to the stories inside. Displaying the headlines in skyboxes spaced equally around the image. She is in a sophisticated pose welcoming the reader, directly attracting the reader. If I was to re-do my front page I would use a more powerful colour to express the tittle. I feel the tittle fades slightly into the background, in the dull grey.
For my contents page I intended to use another magazine style however once I finished the front cover I thought the cover of Vanity Fair which I followed closely continued the magazine well. If I were to do the contents page again I would use another layout, using the same picture moving the text to the left and keeping it all in one colour. Which would make the contents stand out more, using a bolder font to highlight the key words. Adding a title of 'The Music Issue' would help involve the audience and give the magazine more of a focus point. This aided to link the contents page to the front cover. I would have placed more designs which can link the pages together, by adding symbols and design logos in the empty spaces. However adding to many pictures would ruin the effect on the contents page, making it too busy. However I would have liked to show more pictures of other stars giving the reader a bigger insight to the full magazine.
The double page spread, which I feel is inadequate, although it was a time-consuming page as I had a range of ideas. If I were to re-do the double page spread, I would stay with the layout and inital idea. I liked the idea of the picture as the background with a simple short interview. I liked the clear idea however I think it works best on the white background of Pete Doherty, rather then the black. The double page spread looks too dark as an overall spread. Ideally I would of have a collage of pictures set around the interview to add colour. I think the dullness of the spread is uninviting, and I regret using such a deep black colour. I would next time experiment with a range of colours, and contrasting colours to make articles etc stand out more clearly.
QUESTIONS-
My media product has used and challenge forms and conventions of real media products by the layout of my magazine, the glamourous presentation surrounded by punchy topical content. My brand delivers high quality content, including straplines, main headings, main images which draw the audience to the magazine. My overall aim was to make my magazine look as proffesional as possible, appealling to a real audience, whether one would see my magazine as a competing with the likes of NME and Vanity Fair. I did not intend to challenge aspects of real media products, it would be far too ruthless for the first addition of my magazine. Simply because my target was the real type of audiences for these magazines. However Empire collaborated with Vinalith print productions, in producing the first 3D magazine cover for Empire magazine’s special edition. This is an eye-catching front cover which appeal any audience. It works well as its a limited edition, Empire can risk this because they have been established for 20years. I like this idea however it requires more complex programmes, technique and experience in media. The hand-made cover is a competitive cover. Whilst researching, I noticed an gap in the music market. I noticed there was room for a pop/RnB genre of music. Consiquently I purposly focused on that genre, because there was less competiton and no existing norms. Analysing existing magazines inspired me to identify the codes and conventions needed in a music magazine for it to be successful and I managed to incorporate these in my final peice. I therefore think that my magazine would attract the tyical read of 15-25 hetrosexual female, although this isn't a broad audience I have still included plenty of images and interviews to cater other spectrums. The Mise-en-scene in the photos, (the bracelet in the front cover, her schoolgirls skirt) clarify to the audience the genre of the magazine. I believe my target audience would be females would have more of an interest into the music and the A class celebrities appearances, however involving fashion and lifestyle, adding value to the magazine. Language plays an important part of getting through to this age group through the language I used, the colloquial English used throughout, which the readers can relate too. I believe the large eye-catching image on the cover draws in the audience with bright colours and contrasting tones. For me it is important to create realism with the images as I explain before, it is important for the reader to be able to identify and relate to the models and celebrities within the magazine. Since only using pictures of my sister, im aiming towards females. My sister the model on the front cover is 18 years old which is in the middle of the target audience age which can clarify who the magazine is aimed towards. With her posing gives flexability in the magazines, people could perceive her as how they wish, older or younger, relating to their age.

I intend to market my magazine to multi-national companies, through exclusive deals with large PLCs. Distributers such as IPC Media, who are leading UK consumer magazine publisher. Almost two in every three UK women and over 44% of UK men read an IPC magazine. This can add value to my magazine, and the aspect only an exclusive amount being available. My magazine would work well with there existing range of 80 magazines include What's on TV, Pick Me Up, Woman, Now, Marie Claire, In Style, Woman & Home, Ideal Home, Nuts, Wallpaper*, Country Life, The Field, Rugby World, Practical Boat Owner and Look. Alongside my magazine, consisting of the latest high street fashion, music and celebrity weekly. Im going to uses means of technology, where the audience could upload a breif version of the magazine, to give the readers a short insight, before the purchase. Through the process of constructing this product, I feel I have approached different programmes however through using Blogger, its gives the reader a clear and simple understanding of my process. Its a well-presented, sophisticated yet easy way of journalism. I used Paint Shop Pro for producing my product, I found the programme allowed me to do a wide variety of tasks. I learnt to use it fairly quickly and I felt it was able to give me the type of magazine front cover, contents page and double page spread I desired. The contrasting and fading techniques developed my inital idea. I believe if i was to use word or paint, I would have stuggled to convay my ideas.
Looking back at my preliminary tast, I have learnt an enormous amount through the progression from then to my full product. I have learnt to use more techical jargan within my blogger, and use more complex programmes, of which I scared away from previously. I was working on programmes such as Microsoft Word and Paint, simply programmes which limited my imagination. I finally realised it was hard to structure and join ideas, so opted for a more complex program to protray my ideas and fill empty spaces. Im glad I went through that process, because my confidence with computers has developed and I have found a new passion for Technology. I believe I rushed to take photos of my model with an open mind, as with my main task I approached it with a more clear mind. I drafted exactley what I imagened would work, using my sister and her wardrobe. It was a long process, knowing exactly what I wanted to capture. After taking the photos I was enthusiasic and eager to continue the process.

Final thoughts, comments from the audience...

Beckie, Post 16- Media 'Looks really professional, and i like the idea of the contents page evolving from a front cover. However you could of used more pictures in the double page spread.

Chloe, Post 16- English ' Your eyes focus on Gracie, in the front cover. Your Contents page could be more spacious. In your Double page spread the red writing is striking. I like it'

Charlotte, Post 16- Media 'Professional, colours contrast with the background can be read easily. The contents page is busy, text is small, hard to read. All attention goes towards the image. Double page spread the Headlines comical, and well thought out.

Emma, Year 11 Brighter colours in the title. Writing is quite light on your contents page. A different colour for your background and headline, so they stand out more.

Final draft of the Double page spread

Firstly I prepared a set of questions which I believed were appropriate to interview my sister. I asked her seven questions which I then narrowed down to three to make the writing on the double page spread shorter and more easy to read. She anwsered all the questions imagining what she would say if she was in reality the celebrity.
Above the interview I used a skybox to illustrate who she was and how she found fame, to give the reader an insight.
The headline reads 'Even Gracie tops the charts,' I was unable to choose the headline, this was my inital headline, although I tried to play on the words in the interview when she fell over, which came to help her fame. 'How she tripped into fame.' However my first idea gave the impression that I wanted, she was a local ordinary girl, who tripped into fame, literally in the first interview question.

By now the reader has been introduced to Gracie and understood her brief background, the previous pages have portrayed Gracie as a young sweetheart. On the double page spread, through the interview she is seen in a more mysterious light, and the picture displays this. It opposes the front cover, adding value to the magazine, not sterotypical and people want to read on.

Development of the Double page spread

The idea for my double page spread came from another mgazine entittled NME. NME is a British weekly magazine, the UK's most comprehensive gig guide, following Indie music from Artic Monkeys, Klaxons and Oasis. Opposed to the Vanity Fair magazine, NME is an indie rock based music magazine. Although they target the same audiences ages, they have different genres. Within the issue of NME the double page spread was on Pete Doherty and his adventure in Paris, contains a masthead reading 'Down and out in Paris and Albion.' I like the style of this its simple, yet appealing, typically NME. The picture of Pete is interesting and appealing to the common reader of NME. Where through the picture it implies him bearing himself, as he rips his shirt. Showing his ripped heart, a glimpse of him bearing all to the reader. The reader appreciates him telling of his heart-break and honesty in his open interview. The title is catching, another means of insight for the audience, appealing to continue reading. The flowing font, combined with the dull grey background does not distract the readers attention away from the deep tone of red symbalising his blood. The typical reader of NME can relate and is interested through the photo, as they intends to read on, the interview at a glance dissapoints, because its brief apprance. However the interview is written in short form, in a skybox. Although there are minimal questions they are in-depth and include the right information. Through not prolonging the interview it does not become repetitive and allows the reader just enough infomation, however the cliff-hanger suspends the reader until the next issue. That way enticing the audience to invest in the sequel double page spread.
These ideas I would like to encorporate into my double page spread, these unseen commards attract and provoke the reader further, to buy the next editions.

Development and Final Draft of the Contents page

Again I used Vanity Fair as my inspiration for the contents page, however I used an issue cover which to me resembled a contents page. I liked the 'viva brazil' the use of another language adds an interlectual and wealthy aspect to the magazine. As well as the Colloquial use of language, written on an informal level, its easy to understand and for readers to relate too. Also the informal use of language makes the reader feel more confortable as if they know the celebrities personally. With Gisele shown on the cover she looks well-dressed and perfection, the reader feels confortable and can relate to the model shown. I placed the picture of my sister as the background and recoloured the image contrasting the colours more. Resulting in the image darkening in places, which has an impact on her eyes making them look more intense, similar to Vanity Fair. Where the light hit during the photo, the contrast picked up on the brightness, giving a variety of colours to the picture.
Alongside my photo were her feet touch the wall, is the feature which consists of a brief explanation of the articles inside. With the common words 'Starring' and 'Plus' underlined and in a bolder font to entice the reader. The Artists names helps entice the reader and the summary underneath is a short caption, a play on words. The colours are youthful, fresh and inviting and are coloured so the reader is able to clearly read with darker font in lighter areas and lighter fonts in the darker areas. The Berylium writing gives a variation and brings out the colours within her top. I used the same idea as Vanity Fair, because the column is able to take the attention off the model. However if the colours from her top are encorporated in the overall contents page then it looks synchronized and balanced.

Development and Final Draft of the Front cover

Firstly, the construction of the title which anchors the text to the genre of the music magazines. Naming my magazine 'Original', as it was a really good length and worked very well in the Vanity Fair style Masthead, which i wanted to follow closely. The golden colours of the masthead contrasts the background allowing it to stand out and appeal to the consumers. Having the main image covering the masthead emphasises the popularity of the magazine as it shows it is still easily recognisable by the consumers. The title 'Original' acquires this quality of idealism, but as the word stretches across the width of the page it could be suggested that the reader is more sassy and larger than life. I attempted to attract their readers by placing a female character in the centre of the cover of 'Original'. An interesting characteristic considering that corresponding male magazines similarly adopt central female models, either posing seductively or like the typical 'girl next door', on their covers. She could successfully be placed on a magazine such as FHM that adheres to its own set of generic codes and conventions and encourages very different interpretations from its reader.
She is in an inviting pose, a typical blonde haired, tanned, tall and slim girl with perfect complexion and perfect features. I tried to encourage the readers to believe that this is an ordinary 'Original' reader (identified simply as "Gracie"), and is the beautiful woman inside each of us, waiting to be unleashed. The silver bracelat shows luxury and sophistication, and her cupping her hands around her smilling face connotes a fun, bubbly nature and draws attention to her slim body (her sex appeal). With her long blond hair flowing around her face to reveal dazzling blue eyes which match the choosen background. 'Gracie' is seen as an icon for the reader, and as seductive to the male reader. Since my choosen Genre was Pop I focused on who I visualized to be the most successful Britney Spears, because of the amount of coverage she received through her transformation, from school girl to sex symbol. I believe my picture is similiar to Britneys debut album, perceiving Gracie to be the new naive Britney. The simplicity of the colours allows the audience to concentrate on the more important features on the cover without being distracted by a busy background. The light background colours of baby blue and cream show her purity and further emphasise that the magazine is targeted at a female audience, contrasting with the red and black skyboxes. Making the cover look bright and alive,with Gracie as the main attraction. Over this image is the word ‘Gracie' written in Tahoma big, bold capitals. This is the largest writing on the cover, and this deep red is used as it connotes passion and love. Above 'Gracie' there is an added line, which helps the communication of the cover (being an entry point- designed to make the reader's eye go where you want them to go, this gives a hierarchy to the cover lines and puts emphasis on the main cover line.)
There are cover stories surrounding 'Gracie'. They are written in smaller font to give away little detail about the stories but enough to make audience want to read more. The stories are related to music, however, 'Style' is mentioned, adding another aspect, this shows that not all features in a music magazine need to be associated with music. Having words like 'plus' '200' 'your own music' and '50 best albums of 2009' highlighted, enough to attract the consumer without giving away information about the features in this magazine issue.

The barcode, issue number and price are all common conventions found on all covers. They are small as they are not important to the consumer but still needed for purchasing. The price is a necessary to the magazines front cover. I have placed my barcode on the bottom left of the front page, its small to allow the consumer to see what features are in the magazine without being influenced by the price.

Inital idea

The front cover is an important aspect of the magazine as it initially attracts the reader and is a taster of what can be seen within the contents of the magazine. It is an "important advertisement" to be used to an extent. My initial idea was to use this picture as the background of the front cover; I took three frames using my older sister as a model. My favourite picture is this one hence using it for the front cover, its an eye catching picture and symbolizes the front of an album cover. A possible title of the magazine, Miracle, a soft word alongside the angelic image. However after drafting my inital idea I realised the backdrop was too dark to use as a front cover, it looked too busy, and the only colours that would stand out would be whites and reds but it wouldn’t support the idea of brightness for the front cover. Her pose hides her beautiful face, it doesn’t work when announcing a new artist, which is the aim for my cover and the readers would be more provoked to read on if they saw an open smiling face. Unlike Vanity Fair and Teen Vogue were both models are in mid-shot looking straight towards the camera at eye level. It’s not as appealing if it’s a darker image, so this picture would be better placed in the middle of the magazine, as the double page spread.

Vanity Fair - Comparisons Old/English - New/American

In America the first magazine bearing the name Vanity Fair appeared in New York as a humorous weekly, from 1859 to 1863.The second Vanity Fair was a British weekly magazine published from 1868 to 1914. Vanity Fair is a magazine of culture, fashion and politics published by Conde Nast Publications. Contrasting the British 1868 to the copy to the recent 2009 American Vanity Fair. This is also the most recent issues available for analysis in America and therefore demonstrate an up-to-date representation of Vanity Fair. The older cover is painted in contrast to the photo used in the current copy. Nowadays the covers are more busy with more headlines and skyboxes, unlike the simple painting with a line quoting "the latest and smartest monthly." Showing no insight of what is happening inside, because there was less competition with other magazines then. The title Vanity Fair is increasingly larger in the latest issue again grabing the readers attention, however now Vanity Fair is comfortable to cover up letters of their title with models. It is a known title because its has been established for so long and it relies on its audience to know and be familiar with the magazine. Vanity Fair has become more editorial using powerful and popular icons as front covers.

Preparation

As preparation, Im researching into established magazines from all over the world. I have chosen these specific texts as they are popular mainstream magazines that are available in most newsagents, therefore easy to maintain. Using resources such as the Internet, friends and teachers opinions as well as books from our libary. I have found a style which I can relate too and im proceeding to look into Vanity Fair and Teen Vogue. The well-known magazines have been published for two separate age groups, with contrasting styles. They are recognised brands that have over 10,000 to 15,000 readers per week. Im going to encourporate their attractive aspects into my final piece. Although they have similiar front cover ideas, colours are brighter and the font is bolder in Teen Vogue. The magazines are not music magazines but im going to use aspects to attract readers from these magazines. Encorporating Teen Vogues bright colour scheme and liveliness, with Vanity Fairs' lengthy title and captions. The typical audience would be the average teenage reader, being a heterosexual girl seeking the latest news on music, fashion, and popular culture. These assumptions pervade the contents of mainstream teenage magazines, with features such as "Live Band performing locally" frequently appearing within the pages. This is the reader to whom my teenage music magazines will cater - they broadcast to a stereotypical mass of 15-25 years, who have a passion for Pop and RnB.