Research and Planning Evaluation 7

College magazine vs Music magazine

Cover 

 

Contents Page 

 


You can tell what genre my magazine is because of the masthead as it is an RnB masthead compared to the college magazine. Everything is just all over the place and people won't know what the genre is i.e. if it is for college students or just a normal magazine. The college magazine looks boring and un-attractive as you can see in my IShowU video compared to my music magazine. The model image on the music magazine looks more professional as it was taken with and SLR camera whereas the college magazine picture was taken with a normal camera and in the IShowU video, you can see the difference in the quality of the images.The layout on the college magazine is simple and boring with not a lot going on in it compared to the music magazine. Everything is organized and in order which makes it easy for the reader to know what each section is about and what it is about. The contents page on the college magazine is dull and doesn't look like a contents page. It looks more like a poster because it is not the layout that a contents page should have like the music magazine contents page. Instead of adding a lot of images on the college magazine contents page, I think like the music magazine, I should have added more stories and then used one or 2 big pictures just to make everything look better and more professional. 

IShowU video 

Research and Planning Evaluation 6

Technologies used

Blogger

I used blogger to post my work for the examiners to see and to keep up to date with my work. I learnt how to edit my posts and change the dates of when I did the work if I was not up to date so this helped me get my work organised and up to date. 



Photoshop

I used Photoshop to make my magazine cover, contents page and double page spread. I learnt lots of skills using this software and I also developed a lot of my skills like my creative skills. I was able to make my images look more professional and get rid of any blemishes on the picture. This helped me a lot because I was able to make my images more clear. I could also add artificial make up on the picture without having to add real make up on the model. This was easy because if I couldn't find the right make up, I could just use the blush tool to add the make up on using the software.



Prezi

I used prezi to make a presentation for my magazine. I learnt how to make each section of the presentation come on the right time and for how long it should stay on. I was also able to pick different designs and make my presentation look better. I was an easy process and I was able to add it on my blog whereas if I used PowerPoint, I would not be able to add it onto the blog so prezi was easier and much quicker.




Flickr

I used Flickr to present my images on a different website instead of blogger. I learnt how to embed my images onto blogger on the right places. I also learnt how to add the images onto Flickr.



Canon SLR camera

I used the Canon SLR camera to take the shots of my model. I thought this was the best camera to take my images on as it would make the images look more professional. I learnt how to adjust the quality of the image or to add blur to the image if needed. I was able to see which images looked better with the flash or without the flash. This camera offered me with the best quality images which were clear.


Facebook

I used Facebook to present my magazine cover, double page spread and contents page. I used it to get audience feedback and then take the feedback on board to improve the magazine. I thought this was good as it was a way to let people see my improvements after taking their feedback on board. It also helped me get a non-biased response.

I photo

I used I Photo to import my images onto the desktop from the SLR camera.

This is my IShowU video

Research and Planning Evaluation 5

How I attracted my audience 

Research and Planning Evaluation 4

Target audience of my magazine

This is a drawn picture of the target audience for my magazine. The picture includes why this character is my target audience. I based this character on the research I had done with friends on what type of music they wanted and my research showed that most of the people that enjoyed RnB music wanted to start their own businesses and become independent. It also showed that most of them were interested in fashion and were religious. They also like gossip sections in magazines and study business or media in college.

Research and Planning Evaluation 3

Role of a magazine distributor

The role of the magazine distributor is to provide the publisher a route to market their magazines and put them on the market and because they have achieved economies of scale, they are able to do this at a low cost.

Who RnB Magazines get distributed by

http://www.ipcmedia.com/
 http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/brands

IPC media
IPC media are the UK's leading magazine publisher, they are committed in working in partnership with consumers and advertisers. They sell over 350 million of different magazines every year. they are owned by Time Inc. which is a multinational company and are very popular.

Bauer Media
Bauer media are Europe largest privately owned publishing group, the Group is a worldwide media empire that has over 300 magazines in 15 countries. They are a  multi-platform UK based media group which has many companies that operate in two main divisions which are magazine and radio and are widely recognised as being industry innovators.
The business is built on media brands with  personal relationships with readers and listeners. Their strategy is to "connect audiences with excellent content through our broad multi-touch point brand platforms, wherever and whenever and however they want".

 My Decision

The magazine distributor I want allow to distribute my magazine is  Bauer Media because in my opinion, I think they will distribute my magazine to a much wider RnB audience as I am attracting a niche market. My magazine will be able to be distributed in Europe which means more people will see my magazine which also means I will have more recognition. The business's strategy is very inspirational as they are aiming to succeed and I want my magazine to succeed in the market. Although IPC media sell over 350 million different magazines and are owned my Time Inc. which is a multinational company and which also means the magazines are sold worldwide, in my opinion, I think that it would be very expensive and I am not aiming to have my magazine published around the world.

Research and Planning - Evaluation 2

Gesture
The 2 pictures above have got the same kind of gesture which shows attitude. Alexandra Burke is facing the camera which shows she is interacting with the camera whereas Piyana is looking away from the camera which shows that independence in her posture as she is not doing what every other model would do and that is looking at the camera.

Lighting
Both pictures have bright high key light to show the colours of their clothing and it is important if the magazine is a active magazine, its good to keep to the high key light to show the happiness. Alexandra Burke's shoot was taken when she won the X factor 2008 and because the photo is in high key light, it shows the happiness and excitement in the picture. Piyana's shoot for the double page spread which is about her being independent and not wanting to have a man in her life after her break up. The picture in high key light shows her bravery and happiness as she is proud of who she is and she doesn't need someone in her life she is happy with her friends and family therefore, considering the lighting of the shoot is very important as it says a lot about the picture.

Facial expression
Both models have serious but happy faces to show happiness in the magazine it is also the right facial expression for a RnB magazine as not all the models on RnB magazines smile like they do in Pop magazines.

Costumes
Although the costume is not appropriate on the Alexandra Burke magazine, it is still sophisticated as it shows the power she has as she is able to afford the clothes which goes to the same with Piyana's image, it shows her sophistication with her high heels, blazer and jewellery to show her wealth.

 Shot type
On the Alexandra Burke magazine, the shot type is a medium close up to show the expression and posture with her hands whereas on my magazine, I have used a long shot to show Piyana's full body language which can tell a story about her.

 Make-up
Alexandra Burke's make up is more out going compared it Piyana's. I wanted to keep Piyana's make up to a minimum because I wanted to keep her natural to show that natural beauty is acceptable, you don't need a lot of make up for a magazine cover. I also thought she looked naturally beautiful without a lot of make up so we decided to add eye shadow that was a shade darker than her skin and pink lip gloss to make her lips shine.

 Props
We added a lot of jewellery on Piyana compared to the Alexandra Burke picture because I wanted to show her independence and to show that she can do anything she wants on her own, she doesn't need anyone to get things for her. She is her own self.

Research and Planning - Evaluation 1

Use 

This is what I replicated from the Vibe magazine and added it on my magazine. I copied the masthead because I thought it looked like the right font for an RnB magazine as it looks fun but sophisticated which is what RnB is about. I changed the colour of my masthead to suit my magazine colour. I  copied the names on top of the masthead like Vibe magazine because I thought it looked fancy and would add more style to my magazine and make it look more professional as that is what I wanted it to look like. By adding these features on my magazine, my magazine looked more professional and exciting.

Cover 

                                                                                                    

Contents Page 

I picked the Billboard magazine contents page as my inspiration because when I looked at  a few Vibe magazine contents pages, I didn't think they looked like the same type of layout I wanted for my magazine contents page so I looked at other magazines and found that this magazine had the best style for my contents page and I liked it because it separated each section so everything did not look too cramped. It also added colour to the contents page as I was able to add all three colours of the magazine which are red, black and white to the magazine therefore by adding the red lines, the content page looks more alive and fun compared to how it would look without the extra colour.

Double page spread

I copied the big picture on the magazine as I thought this would look good on the other side of the page and it shows the models attitude on the picture. The background of the picture matches the magazine colour which I thought was good as my magazine consists of three colours which as red, black and white. I also copied the small picture as I thought this tied up the whole double page spread and it added more attitude to the story and shows a lot of emotion as in the story, the 2 girls are not  friends and I think the 2 pictures show it all just like the magazine below as it shows that Alexandra Burke has now become a pop star and the pictures can show that without reading the story. It shows this because of the expression on her face and the emotions she puts on the picture.

Develop

Cover 

I used a different colour on the masthead even thought my background colour was a greyish black although I added a gradient. I did this because I wanted my masthead to look original as I have not seen a masthead with a gradient and I thought this would suit my magazine more as I will also be adding all three of my magazine colours. I changed the pose of my model as I thought most traditional models on magazines always face the front and are a medium close up so I thought it would be good to change the model pose and I thought it looked better this way because it was different and original.I also added a drop shadow on the names on top of the masthead as I thought this would make them stand out more on the magazine which they do and by adding a shadow, it makes it look exciting and fun because not most magazines I have looked at have done this.

Contents page

On the contents page, I used the lines I had added earlier to separate each section of the contents page i.e. I didn't want the different titles to be next to each other, I wanted the features pages to be on their own, latest news and music. I didn't want people to be confused on what each section was about even with the titles of the pages available. On the picture, I added a quote on the bottom so people know what the picture is about as it has a link with the music section so I wanted to add a picture that related with one of the sections of the contents page. As you can see, I added a different positioning to the page numbers as I thought this would be easier for people to find because it was clear compared to the other magazine in contrast.

Double Page Spread

I wrote the title of what the double page spread story would be about and as you can see, it says it will be an interview so immedielty the reader will know what it is about. I added a quote on the big picture to add more emphasis to the picture and to add more excitement to the story as it is appropriate integrating text and illustration.I added a small introduction to what the text would be about just so the reader has an insight of what they are about to read which the other magazine does not have. Finally, I have also added a quote on the smaller picture so that the reader knows the purpose of the picture. 

Challenge

Cover

I added an extra picture on the cover page to add more style to the magazine.I chose this certain picture because it was linked with the story below it which is Latest Music. I thought this was a good match because my idea was to base this story on the picture. I added black lines to section out the stories as I thought this was easier for the reader to read and to see what story was for what and I also thought it looked good with the magazine and made it come alive.

Contents page
I added this content style because I thought it would make the contents page look different from other RnB magazine contents page. I wanted my magazine to look unique so I thought this would be a good idea to do. Originally, my contents page looked dull and simple which I was not happy about because I thought it was just the same as the other contents pages which was not good. A magazine is meant to stand out from other magazines so that it attracts the right customers to earn money and that is what I wanted my magazine to do. I wanted it to be the best on the market so I made sure it looked different from other magazines. I added a review on top of the picture so that people know that my magazine is a well known magazine which will attract them to buy it as this is what advertisers do to sell their magazines to the public. They have to make it look good and add good reviews from other people so they know it is a magazine worth buying.

Double page spread
I thought I would go a different route and change the title of the double page spread by adding a background for it which has a gradient on it and using white text which has a drop shadow to make it stand out more. I did this so that the title stood out from the whole page therefore, the reader will know briefly what the story will be about before they read it. I didn't add a lot of text because I wanted the quotes, titles and pictures to do all the talking as I made sure I picked pictures that linked with the story and I think if people saw the double page spread, they would know what the story could be about.

Research and planning audience feedback

Research and Planning My magazine completed

This is my completed magazine with all the improvements added on them. As you can see, they look more professional and clear. I changed the top writing on top of my cover page so that it blends in more to the background of the cover. I changed the writing on the contents page so that it was clearer and finally edited the title of the double page spread and the outline of the story.

Research and Planning new double page spread and contents page

This is my contents page and double page spread so far. I have added the outline to the story on the double page spread so that people have an idea of what the story is about before they begin to read it.

Research and Planning Full Magazine

Research and Planning Final Completed Magazine

This is my magazine so far however, I know that I have some improvements to do on it as at the moment, it does not look complete, I need to remove the circle on the double page spread and add more text to it.

Research and Planning, Why I changed my double page spread

Before

After

I changed my double page spread because I thought if the story was about Piyana, then Piyana should be the main focus of the story therefore her picture should be on there.

Research and Planning, Changed double page spread Completed

This is the changed double page spread. I have some work to do on it. I need to add more text and remove the piece of background that I have added as it looks awkward.

Research and planning, completed Magazine

This is my magazine at the moment. I have changed the double page spread as the previous one did not look like a double page spread, it looked more like a poster so I changed it and added a half way guide line to guide me on what should not go over the line and what can go over the line.

Research and Planning, completed double page spread

Research and Planning, completed contents page

I have added the background on my magazine because I thought it would stand out. However, I think I need to change it a little as I can not read the writing on it and this is a problem.

Research and Planning, my completed cover

 

This is my cover page, I have changed the size of the model as I thought this would make her stand out more. Also, I have added guides so that the text are the right sizes.

Research and planning cover, contents page and double page spread so far

This is my magazine so far. I have changed the contents page by added additional text so there are no empty spaces. I have changed the double page spread so that the image blends in with the background. I have also changed the background colour of the magazine cover and added some additional writing to fill the whole cover.

Research and planning extra pod cast

Research and planning, my 3 drafts at the moment

These are my drafts so far. I have a lot of things to do on them like line the cover stories on the cover so that they don't look so separated and all over the place, I need to chnage the colour of the text as I can not read them clearly.