RESEARCH: Audience Feedback

Today, I had some audience feedback from my focus group. Here is what they said:

Front cover: Minus 'the' in the top right hand corner
Contents:  add more contents. could develop a second page
DPS: keep the font size consistent. feature Billy Perkins on the front cover

PRODUCTION: Progress - double page spread

PRODUCTION: Double page spread - drop caps

 

Here I have used drop caps at the beginning of my introduction. I have done this because it adds s effect to the text and grabs the reader's attention. Using these also add personality and visual strength to the page. Also, when researching other magazine's double page spreads, it has been evident that many use this technique (see below) therefore by including it in my article, it shows professionalism and sophistication. 

Questionnaire for my DPS photo

 Click here to view the questionnaire regarding the best photo to use for my DPS. 

PRODUCTION: Double page spread - choosing a photo

I have started to create my double page spread and the main image is going to be placed on the left hand side. I have chosen 3 possible photos that I could use for this article. I am going to create a questionnaire and get my focus group to complete it to find out which photo they feel is most suitable. 

RESEARCH: Examiners report

I have read the examiner's report from 2016 which stated the strengths and weaknesses of the music magazines that were made last year. From reading this, I now know my magazine must have a house style and brand identity. Further to this, I will include the price, date and website on my magazine as these are important features that will make the magazine look professional and sophisticated. Moreover, it would be beneficial to include a section which allows the audience to engage and interact with my magazine and/or include a section about subscribing to my magazine. Also, I will make sure that my contents page suits the forms and conventions of my genre as this was something that was weak in last year's music magazines. 

RESEARCH: YouTube tutorial for creating a double page spread

This is a video that I found on YouTube which explains the steps of making a double page spread. I will use this to help me when I create my DPS because I think it is helpful for not only setting up the template of the page but also for editing images and text. 

PRODUCTION: Finished contents page

PRODUCTION: Subscription box

                                                                         

I have decided to move the subscription box to the bottom right hand corner. I have also included a small image of the magazine next to  it because I have seen this used in other music magazines and it also helps to promote the magazine itself. 

PRODUCTION: Contents page

                                                                     

Here, I am beginning to start my contents page. The colour palette I have used is the same colour palette that appears on the front cover, this is good because it is beginning to show a house style. There are two sub categories on my contents page: FEATURES and PLUS...

I have used 2 images on my contents page. These 2 images featured on my questionnaire and were rated the highest by my audience. My focus group also said that these 2 photographs were the strongest and conformed to the codes and conventions of the RnB Pop genre. I have included page numbers on the images because this will mean the reader will know exactly where to go for these particular stories, making it much easier for them to find. 

   In this screenshot, it can be seen that I have included  a small section underneath one of the images that encourages the reader to subscribe to my magazine. I have used this as an enticement for the reader to engage with my magazine. Moreover, I believe that if there is some sort of audience interaction within my magazine, the reader is more likely to feel involved and engaged, which could lead them to feel more connected to my magazine on a whole. Another reason I decided  to include this was because, during my research, I noticed that NME (a leading music magazine) had used one on their contents page. One can notice that NME  have used yellow text on top of a black background to advertise this, I thought this looked very effective and the bold use of colour further engaged the reader so I opted to use the yellow colour too. 

PRODUCTION - Contents page

For my contents page, I have created two different options that I could use at the top of the page. Both of the options feature the masthead 'EXPOSED' before the contents part but it is placed on a different coloured      background. I think including the masthead on this page is important because it creates brand identity for my magazine. I have decided to use the one which has the light grey background, this is because I think the masthead stands out more on this one and I want the reader to notice this when they first open up to the contents page.  Furthermore, I think the lighter grey looks more professional and provides a a slightly  neater and sleeker finish. However, I am still going to incorporate the darker red in my contents page , maybe on the page numbers, because this colour features on my front cover and I want to make sure a house style is created. 

        

PRODUCTION: Progress of my front cover

Here, the progress of my front cover can be seen.

 In the first image, it can be seen that I have moved the main story coverline "EXCLUSIVE! GRACE ELMAN" into the low centre of the front cover instead of it being situated on the top left. I did this because I felt it looked more striking here and would also frame the front cover better. Furthermore, it would be better here instead of on the left hand side as more room would be left for the other coverlines. In the first screenshot, one can notice that I have included the issue number and the edition. These act as informatives but it is important that these are included because they create for a professional look to the magazine. 

In the second image, I have added more coverlines. The word 'INSIDE' is in the same font as the masthead. This was important because it creates a house style while adding consistency to the magazine. On the front cover, I have listed 4 artists that fit into R and B pop genre. It is important to include popular artists that the reader may enjoy listening to and are familiar with because it makes the genre of the magazine easier to identity but these big name entice them in. 

After looking at my audience feedback, I saw that 100% of the people that took part thought that a competition should be included in my magazine. I therefore decided to include one and relate it to the genre of my music magazine. I used a buzz word 'WIN' before introducing the competition itself. The reason for this was that this will attract and engage the reader and could lead them to get involved with the competition itself. The word 'WIN' is in red. I decided to do this because it sets it aside from the rest of the text, further attracting the reader's attention but it also makes it seem more important. The colour palette: black, red, grey and white begins to show in this screenshot. I used these colours because they are striking yet they create a sleek and sophisticated look. A barcode and price can also be seen in the bottom right hand corner, these are used as pugs and are short yet vital pieces of information about the magazine. 

In the fourth and final screenshot which shows my progression of my front cover, I have used a puff in the bottom left hand corner. The red rectangle catches the reader's attention and stands out on the cover. I have used this because it acts as an incentive but it also promotes what else is inside this issue. The web link in the bottom left hand corner  acts as an opportunity for audience interaction which is important because the reader will  feel more connected and involved with this magazine, this also promotes the magazine on the internet. 

PRODUCTION: Front cover of my magazine

I am currently working on the front cover of my magazine. Here, it can be seen that I have changed the photograph, one is in colour and one isn't. By doing this,  it allows me to see which one will work best and which one fits best with the genre. In my opinion, I think that the colour photo is more appealing and adds a fresh and modern look to the magazine, therefore this will be the one I use for my front cover. 

PRODUCTION: Choosing a font for my front cover

Here are the 3 options I made for the masthead of my magazine. 

PRODUCTION: Chosen photos for my magazine

Front cover

I have chosen this front cover due to the fact my audience feedback showed me that the large majority of people thought this was the most suitable photo. I also liked that the model was moving direct mode of address and the white background enables her to stand out, drawing the readers attention to her. 

Contents page 

This is the photo I am going to use for my contents page. Again, my this was the photo that my audience liked the most (44.5%). I also think that the angle and her aesthetics fit the genre which make for a visually pleasing photo. 

Double page spread

I have chosen this photograph to use on my double page spread. Although the majority of my audience thought that the first option was better, I have decided to choose this one instead because I thought it was the most striking images. However, I will have to see when I start creating my double page spread and when the text is added as I may change my mind. 

PRODUCTION: Photo options for my front cover, contents page and DPS.

RESEARCH: Questionnaire results

 

I conducted a questionnaire to find out and gain a better understanding of what people thought about the ideas I had about my music magazine. Click here for the questionnaire. 

The responses that I gathered from my questionnaire have helped me to decide the photographs that I should use on the front cover of my magazine and my DPS. Further to this, my audience feedback has helped to decide on whether my magazine presents the genre correctly. However, the majority of people (77.8%) thought the genre was indie instead of R and B pop. This means that I may have to re-think what I will include inside the magazine so that this genre shines through clearly. 100% of people who filled in the questionnaire thought that the target audience was teenagers to adults (14-20) which was my intended target audience, showing how the photograph suited the target audience. Moreover, 100% of people thought it would be a good idea to include a competition in my magazine so this will be something I will incorporate. 

PRODUCTION: Contact sheet

These are all the photographs that I have taken for my front cover, contents page and       DPS.

RESEARCH: Focus group

PLANNING: double page spread article - real

PLANNING: double page spread article

This was my first draft of my double page spread article however I had to change it because I used a different model for my double page spread article. I took into consideration all of the feedback that I was given so I adapted my final article to suit the criteria. 

RESEARCH : Uses and gratification explained theory

Why do we watch TV? Uses and gratification explained theory. 

Ways in which I use the media:  

• Surveillance - seeking information through factual texts, for example: watching the news and documentaries, reading newspaper, reading reviews.
• Personal identity - texts that reinforce your own values and beliefs, for example: reading magazines that interest me, for example fashion magazines e.g Vogue and watching programmes that relate to my age and generation.
• Personal relationships -  This is where you can make powerful bonds with figures in the media, for example watching series on netflix e.g Gossip Girl and OITNB, reading books and listening to the radio presenters. 
• Diversion - using the medal to pass the time and entertain ourselves, for example looking on social media (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram) and watching films. 

PLANNING: Lexicon of words

RESEARCH: Music videos for my chosen music genre

RESEARCH: Genre of music

Chosen music genre: R&B Pop 

R&B - Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated as R&B or RnB, is a genre of popular African-American music that originated in the 1940s. Now the term R&B is almost always used instead of the full rhythm and blues, and mainstream use of the term usually refers to contemporary R&B, which is a newer version of soul and funk-influenced pop music that originated as disco faded from popularity.

Pop - Pop music is a genre of popular music that originated in its modern form in the Western world during the 1950s and 1960s as a softer alternative to rock and roll.

Click here to read full interview with Alicia Keys about her new album.

Click here to real full interview with Drake - Billboard 

Click here for the Weeknd's interview with Los Angeles Times

PLANNING: Flatplans for my music magazine

Here are the flat plans for my music magazine. For my central image on my front cover. I would like to have a mid-shot image of my model that represents my genre of music. For the coverlines, I do not want to include lots of text as I think it would be more effective to have short pieces of text that engage and entice the reader.  Underneath the masthead, there is going to be the date and issue number of the magazine to inform the reader. 

For the contents page, the features are going to be situated on the right hand side with the page number and the images will be on the right hand side. The images are going to be different sizes to add diversity and create for a more interesting and exciting layout. I will also include a main image for my contents page. Further to this, underneath the features, I am going to include a small section 'Also Inside' because I think this will attract the reader and will provide them with exclusives, leading them to read on.