Logbook - Joseph Ellison
- 1. OCR Media Studies – AS Level Unit G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media Preliminary Task, Log Book and Evaluation Name: Joseph Ellison Candidate Number: 6636 Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic College Center Number: 64770 Set Brief - Print Music Magazine – Production Preliminary Task Progression, Log Book and Evaluation
- 2. Preliminary Task Progression– Evidence Front Cover Step-by-step When beginning the production process of my preliminary task I was able to think of a template, which was the two default school colours. After I then had to think of a name for the magazine. I felt that the best suited name was The Transition, this is because my magazine was aimed at year 11 students making the transition into year 12 whether it be sixth form or college. After I had thought of the headline for the school magazine, based on a previous event that took place I was able to use this as inspiration and also inject a sense of realism into my magazine. Because the event was recent it will intrigue and engage readers and they will want to recap over the event
- 3. The next progression was my strapline, adding the barcode and also the web address for my magazine. My strapline explains who my magazine is aimed at. I decided to place the strapline under the masthead so it is easy to see and read and also the web address next to the barcode again so it is noticeable. The next step was adding the social networking links for the readers. This would introduce convergence. I also introduced this also because it makes it easier for the readers to access more information on the magazine and this issue. The finished version of my preliminary tasks front cover contained a background image which covers the whole background. I changed the structure of the magazine by adding removing cover lines and adding them to the contents page and also moving the strapline, masthead and magazine logo to enhance the image.
- 4. Preliminary Task Progression– Evidence Contents Page Step-by-step When I began to create the contents page I used the same template that I used for the front cover, this introduced a sense of ‘repetition’ (Steve Neale). I then also added the Contents Page title and made it big and bold so it is clear for readers to identify the page. Next, I began to add thought to what my main page numbers would be, these page numbers would feature the main stories in this magazine. I decided to have the magazine pages go up in 2s and the main features will feature this way in order to grab the readers attention instead of them flicking through many pages.
- 5. After I made the page numbers, I decided to add the main stories my magazine will cover. It took a lot of thought to come up with these stories because I wanted to make them interesting so it will grab the readers attention straight away and make them engaged. Next, I then made my editorial message to my readers, I wanted to make sure it was clear that I was addressing my readers and I wanted to do this by adding words like ‘you’ in order to make them understand they are being addressed and to make them feel apart of the magazine and show we care about our readers. Lastly, I added colour to my contents page to allow it to attract more audience. I also changed up the style of the contents page, I did this by putting the cover stories on one side of the magazine instead of having them separated. I also added a image of sixth form looking relaxed to link it to my page 6 ‘How to avoid exam stress’ story.
- 6. Section 1) – Log Book
- 7. Music Magazine Genre Research Genre Research Music magazines generally include photo shots with stars, exclusive interviews, latest news and information on the type of music mag whether it be hip hop, rock etc. Billboard magazine was the first issued magazine which was in 1894. XXL is an American hip hop magazine founded in 1997. Bauer Media had a Total average circulation per issue of 4.17m. Q is the UK’s best selling music magazine and excels in the Rock n Roll genre of music.
- 8. Established Magazine for my Research Masthead: The masthead is the title of the magazine. It attracts readers by allowing them to understand whose brand the magazine is. Main Image: This is the main image or cover star of the magazine, according to Laura Mulvey, this is the use of ‘Female Gaze’ using a male cover star in order to create attraction from the opposite sex. Cover Lines: This is an insight to what the issue will feature, who the stories will be about or what they will be about. Headline: The headline is the main attraction of the magazine, its function is to enable the consumer to feel engaged and want to read more just based on a few words Barcode: The barcode contains the price of the magazine and in most cases the issue number and date of the magazine.
- 9. Established Magazine for my Research Editor in Chief – Vanessa Satten Category – Music Magazine Publisher – Harris Publications First Issue – 1997 Country – America Based in – New York City Language – English Website – www.XXLMag.com XXL Freshmen: XXL also releases an annual Top 10 Freshmen list. The issue features the ten picks of whom to watch out for, and on the cover of the magazine and showcases new rappers that aren't well known, but are considered to be on the rise. The list has become known to create buzz and is credited for giving many artists their first taste of fame. XXL Magazine is an American magazine founded in 1997, it is solely based on hip hop and represents the urban culture extremely well by adding in exclusive interviews, news and information on the biggest stars in hip hop and also the hip hop scene itself.
- 10. Target Audience – Katz, Maslow, Hartley and/or socio-economic needs The target audience for the XXL magazine varies from young teens to young adults. It attracts a various range of ages and is appropriate for all genders. The magazine cover I have analyzed is targeted at mainly Lil Wayne fans, this is because they have used Lil Wayne as the cover star of the magazine. This is the use of star appeal, (devised by Richard Dyer) attracts a wide range of fans because Lil Wayne has a big fan base. The magazine also features a list of well known artists as a replacement for cover lines, this also attracts a range of audience because it targets the fans of the artists named. They used the theory of Katz use of gratification, they used Lil Wayne as a male cover star, this will attract both genders because both genders will feel some sort of attraction, the females will be attracted to the cover star, this is the use of ‘Female Gaze’ – Laura Mulvey and the male consumers may feel they can relate or share something in common with Lil Wayne. What is the USP of this magazine? YOU MUST refer to specific conventions/stories from you research The USP – unique selling point of this media product is the cover lines, although the cover lines are not stories as such, they are just the names of famous and well known artists with large fan bases. This then will attract the fans of these artists, resulting in many consumers and a different range of audiences which can range from male to female, teens to adult. The main image or cover star also fills up most of the page making it very easy to identify the cover star, this is useful because the cover star is Lil Wayne who is a worldwide known star and the headline ‘Nothing to prove’ is also an example of USP as many readers will be engaged by the headline and wonder what point Lil Wayne is trying to get across.
- 11. Publisher research • The publisher of q magazine is called Bauer media group. • Bauer media group is a European based media company that works with magazines, digital products, radio and also TV stations. • Bauer media group was founded in 1875. • Bauer media group has helped Q magazine grow into one of the best selling magazines. • Our magazine heritage stretches back to 1953 with the launch of Angling Times and the acquisition in 1956 of Motor Cycle News, both still iconic brands within our portfolio.
- 12. Conventions of a Music Magazine Masthead: The masthead is big and bold so the consumers can clearly identify the brand of the magazine that’s been published Main Image: The main image or cover star attracts the readers based on the fan base, for this example the cover star is Drake and he has a large fan base, including various audiences such as male, female, teen, adults. Cover Lines: The cover line is the side stories that will feature in the issue, using words like ‘exclusive’ in the cover lines will engage readers. Headline: The headline attracts the reader by using an interesting phrase that will peak the readers interest, for example using hip hop and religion goes hand in hand because some readers view hip hop as a religion which will want to make them want to read the issue
- 13. Target Audience – Katz, Maslow, Hartley and/or socio-economic needs The target audience for Vibe magazine can be denoted as fans of hip hop and also fans of the cover star Drake. The magazine is also aimed at group D in terms of socio-economic needs, group D are students, or the youth of society who are aiming to become ‘Social climbers’ – Maslow, in other words climb the social ladder and raise their popularity status. It can also be aimed at group C, people who have jobs and are working, they can use Vibe magazine as a source of ‘diversion’ - Katz, diversion from their everyday activities. The magazine can also be aimed at the female audience, using ‘Female Gaze’ – Laura Mulvey to make the female readers attracted to Drake purchase the issue. What is the USP of this magazine? YOU MUST refer to specific conventions/stories from you research From the research completed into this media product, I think the USP is the codes and conventions. Mainly the cover lines, for example the main one, on the exclusive interview with Chris Brown, using the word ‘exclusive’ enables the readers interest and engages them because exclusive means the latest, again introducing Maslow’s theory of ‘Social Climbers’. The headline is also the USP of this magazine due to the way of wording, many worship hip hop as it is a religion, so using the headline ‘Drakes hip-hop’s new religion’ will attract the people who believe hip hop to be a religion.
- 14. Publisher research Harris Publications Inc. is an American consumer-magazine publisher in New York City, New York, that publishes over 75 titles, including Juicy, Dog News, XXL, 0-60, Guns & Weapons for Law Enforcement, Small Business Opportunities, Exercise & Health, Celebrity Hairstyles, and many more. Harris Publications has many titles and media products which fall under these titles. These titles are, automotive, business, celebrity & lifestyle, comics, firearms & weaponry, music, quilting and sports and health. This shows that Harris Publications has a massive range of target audience and also a huge fan base. In terms of socio-economic needs, there media products are able to fit its purpose for many categories. For example, a Category B reader may be attracted to the business or automotive and even music side of Harris Publications. Category C,D and E may be attracted to the celebrity & lifestyle and music element of Harris Publications. This shows how they implemented different ideas of target consumer and shown how they have taken into account the different types of consumers and made many titles that appeal to wide range of consumers.