Monday 2 April 2012

Improvements to Magazine


To improve the front cover of my magazine i made the coverlines slightly bigger, this made the magazine look more eyecatching to the target audience. I changed the font for the 'true story'coverline to make it stand out more against the layout of the page.



To improve the contents page i used a wider range of images, and added page numbers and a 'simply pop' logo to the page.




To improve the double page spread i have added a text box with a border to contain the imformation, this makes the layout of the page look more organized, giving it a more simple and easy to read effect which is suitable for the target audience. I also changed the font colours on the double page spread so that it was more feminine, and attracts the target audience. I have also added page numbers and a 'simply' pop logo to this page, to create a housestyle within the magazine.

Friday 20 January 2012

Audience and institution research

Initial Questionnaire – Demographic and psychographic research


1/ How old are you?

4-9 10-16 17-21


2/ What genre of music interests you?


Pop R&B Rock Other

3/ What appeals to you in a music magazine?( please circle)


Your favourite musician on the front cover Posters inside


Information and tour dates about your favourite musician


Other_________________________



4/ What is your preferred colour scheme for a magazine?


Pink and yellow red and black blue and green

Other__________________________


5/ How many music magazines do you buy in the average month?


0-2 3-6 7-10 More than 10



6/ How much would you pay for a music magazine?


0-£1 £1.50-£2


£250-£3 £3 or more

7/ what’s the most important aspect of a music magazine?


Free stuff Posters


Interviews with musicians Other ____________________



8/ Gender?

Male female




I Gave this questionaire to a group of ten people.From this questionaire i found out that the most popluar music genre for people aged 10-16 was pop music. 7 out of the 10 people answering my questionnaire said that pop music was there favourite genre, with the remainding 3 answering R&B. I also found that people from the age group 10-16 thought a music magazine was more appealing if it had a picture of their favourite musician on the front cover. 3 of the 10 people surveyed also thought that including posters of their favourite musicans inside the magazine would help it appeal to them. I found that 7 out of the 10 people surveyed prefered the colours pink and yellow for a magazines colour scheme, with only 2 people answering red and black and 1 person answering blue and green. I also found from my questionaire that most people from the aged 10-16 catergory only brought between 0-2 music magazines a month and our willing to pay £1.50- £2 for a music magazine. Following my questionaire results, i have decided to make a 'pop'music magazine aimed at 10-16 year olds, the magazine will be mainly aimed at girls. I have decided to consider using colours like pink and yellow for my magazine so it will appeal to the demograohics needs. I will make sure that my pop music magazine appeals to 10-16 year old girls by including a double page spread of an interview with a 'pop' musician as i found that most people thought that this was the most important aspect of a music magazine.




Reasearch into Institutions


Top of the pops magazine-
Cover Price £2.99
Frequency 4 Weekly
Circulation 98,030
Readership 298,000
Boys 15%
Girls 85%
Age range 11-15 years


Publisher of Magazine- BBC
Other magazines they produce?-
Radio times, Girl talk.


We Love Pop Magazine Analysis


Typography- Serif font is used at the bottom of the front cover to introduce the caption of the image ‘the wanted poster special’ the italic effect makes this stand out from the rest of the page and attracts the readers eye. The Italic also makes the text more interesting making it appeal to a teenage audience. Sans serif is used on the majority of the magazine front cover which makes it simple and easy to read for ‘we love pop’s’ target audience. The typography is in all different sizes and is much larger on the cover line, ‘ whoah it’s Cher!’ this makes the text stand out and attracts the reader’s eye.

Layout- The layout follows the route of the eye, the main image is placed in the centre of the page and the smaller pictures and captions mainly to the right of the image, and this makes the image stand out above the text. The layout is busy; containing lots of information but the design is ordered and carefully shaped around the central image.

Language- Language is informal and portrays a ‘friendly’ mode of address which will appeal to a teenage audience. A pull quote is used from one direction saying ‘trust me....I’ve been there’ this links to an ‘agony aunt’ style page which will attract and be popular with a teenage audience. The cover line using the word ‘Woah’ is slang suggesting that ‘ we love pop’ is trying to mimic the way a teenager would talk, the ‘slang’ and improper language used suggests that the magazine is aiming at a younger target audience.

Colour- The colour scheme is a bright yellow mixed with black and white. The colours are kept simple and work effectively because of the contrast. The colour yellow signifies energy and happiness and works well to promote a teenage audience.

Camerawork- The main image is a mid-shot of pop icon ‘Cher Lloyd’ a medium shot is used so that the prop (a camera) and her shocked facial expression can be shown clearly. In smaller images on close up shots are used to show the celebrities face up close. A wide range of images of different celebrities are shown on the front cover to attract the target audience to buy the magazine as they are fans of the celebrity on the front cover.

Mise-en-scene- A camera is used as a prop which is cleverly linked to the caption ‘little miss swagger finally snaps’ The use of the camera pointing forward makes the image seem more personal, as if it is directly addressing the audience of the magazine. The costume is kept simple to pull all attention to the prop. The expression on Cher’s face is shocked and is used to attract the eye to the magazine, the expression also seems friendly and ‘fun ‘making it suitable for a teenage audience.


Typography- The editors is in sans serif in a small standard text size, it is clear to read and is appropriate for the contents page. The masthead is in a bold and large font, with the ‘o’ of love filled in for a unique effect. This type of lettering is also used on the headings of the coverline, to create a house style.

Layout- The layout of the contents page is ordered with a clear design. The images are mainly situated to the right and bottom of the page leaving the left side for an editor’s column. There are slightly more images than text, making the magazine more interesting to look at for a teenage audience.

Language- The language is informal but not childish, suggesting this magazine is aimed at a more mature teenage audience. The pull quote from one direction ‘Id pose naked for about a hundred quid ‘would attract a female teenage target audience. The language used on the contents page is slightly more mature than used on the front cover yet still has an informal mode of address.

Colour- The colour scheme is similar tones to the one used on the ‘we love pop’ front cover, which links there consistent house style, making the magazine recognizable to the target audience. The colours blue and orange are used to signify purity and happiness. The colour scheme is also mainly white to keep the magazine easy to read and look simple.

Camerawork- There are a wide range of images used on the contents page of the magazine, the largest image is a mid-shot of boy band ‘one direction’. A medium shot is used to show the style in which they are dressed and show their laidback poses of the band putting their arms around each other. Close up images are also used at the right side of the page, the close up shots are used to show the expression of the face.

Mise-en-scene- On the contents page not many props are used to connote the pop genre, instead costume is used effectively through mise-en-scene.


Typography- There is very little typography on the double page spread as it is mainly images. This may be to attract a teenage audience as they would rather look at pictures than read. The typography is in bold font so it stands out on the page.


Layout- The layout of this double page spread is quite ordered, with a big poster image of boy band member Harry Styles on the right side of the page. This Double page spread contains more images than text; this may be to attract a teenage target audience.


Language- The language used is informal; this is suggested by the use of words like ‘PHWOAR!’ which is likely to be used by a teenager. The language used mimics the way teenagers speak and would therefore appeal to a teenage target audience.


Colour- The colour scheme is very different to the one on the front cover and contents page and doesn’t link with the house style of the magazine. The colour used is read which connotes love and passion and links to the theme of the page.


Camerawork-The camera work is a midshot of one direction band member harry styles, a midshot is used so the subject can be seen clearly as this image will be used as a poster by teenage fans.

Mise-en-scene- The Setting of the main image is a crowded scene, signifying the popularity of the band member. The costume he is wearing connotes his band member status as his sense of style is essential to the band.

Front Page of Magazine