Time Management

I'm at the end of week two I have complete my analysis of two contents pages and two double page spreads which relate to my chosen sub-genre of pop. I have started to develop my pitch using Prezi and will hopefully have it completed by the end of week 3, I have never used Prezi before so it will take song time to get the hang of.

Double page spread analysis

We love pop double page spread from agyik

Double page spread analysis 2

We love pop contents page analysis

We love pop contents from agyik

Billboard contents page analysis

Powerpoint billboard contents from agyik

Time Management

I have just complete my first week. I have successfully managed to post all the things I needed on blogger, I am now on task with my blog.

Front cover 2 analysis

Q magazine: 

• Publisher Bauer Media Group - multinational media company that titles amounts up to 38 million magazines a week including Q and Kerrang. Bauer Media has 50% share of British television company. 
• Target demographic students aged 16-24 years - 68.3% males, 31.7% female 
• Mixture of mainstream pop and rock 

Front cover analysis

Billboard magazine: 

• Pop mainstream - Chart pop music 
• Target demographics-  The median age is 28 years old- 55% are males 45% females 
• Publishers Prometheus Global Media -  American entertainment publishing company based in New York
• Parent company Guggenheim Partners which is a global financial service that engages in investment banking, investment management, capital markets services and investment advisory. 

Institution research

A media institution is a fixed, often profit based organization, that deal in the distribution and creation of advertising, entertainment and network.


Bauer Media Group is a multinational media company headquartered in Germany it is involved in the publishing and broadcasting industry.

Bauer Media Group's magazine title amounts up to 38 million magazines a week some of which include Q and Kerrang Bauer Media Group has a 50% share in the British television company Box Television,  the other half is owned by Channel 4. Several of the poplar music television channels which Box Television produces are:

• 4Music 
• The Box 
• Heat
• Kerrang
• Kiss 

YouTube is a video sharing website on which uses can upload and share videos, the company is based in San Bruno, California. Media corportaions inculdign CBS, BBC, Vevo and other organisations have offered their material via the site.  YouTube was bough by Google of US$1.65 billion in November. As of 2013, the following music charts use YouTube view as a part of its ranking methodology: 

• Billboard Hot 100 
• Dance/Electronic Songs 
• R&B songs 
• Hot Country Songs 

IPC Media is a consumer magazine and digital publisher in the UK, selling over 350 million copies a year. Its parent company is Time Inc, which published magazines such as Time, Sports Illustrated, People and many others. It is the leading publisher in the US and the UK.Time Inc's parent company is Time Warner, which is the worlds 2nd larges media and entertainment organisation. 

Initial Ideas

Genre/ Sub genre:

• Mainstream Pop 
• Charts 

Audience: 

• 18-23 years 
• Appeals to both genders- mostly female 

Content ideas: 

• New bands/ artists 
• best selling singles/ albums 
• festivals 
• song/album reviews 
• music celeb gossip 

mode of address: 

• mostly informal : slang 

House style/ brand identity 

• Bold colours: connotes fun, energy 
• Masthead- font, colour 

Time Management

I am now starting my first week in which I have to post my initial ideas for my music magazine on to blogger, post my institution research as well as analysing two music magazine front covers that relate to my chosen sub-genre.

Introduction to main task

Main task: the front page, contents and double page spread of new music magazine
All images and text must be original, produced by the candidate), minimum of four images per candidate. 


Action plan: 14 Oct

• Post initial ideas for magazine on blog
• Post institution research on blog 
• Analyse two front covers from chosen sub-genre 

21 Oct: 

• Analyse 2 contents pages & 2 DBS from chose sub-genre 
• Develop pitch using Prezi 

28 Oct:

• Develop & complete pitch 
• Complete further research of chosen sub-genre 

4 Nov: 

• Present pitch, post pitch & audience feedback 
• Complete mock-ups of magazine pages 
• Produce style sheet which reflects brand identity/ house style 
• Organise models, locations, props, photoshoot location 

11 Nov:

• Develop front cover: experiment with layout colour, font language & photos 

18 Nov: 

• Develop front cover further 
• Made adjustments to magazine design 

25 Nov: 

• Develop contents page: experiment 
• Make adjustments to magazine design 

2 Dec: 

• Develop double page spread: experiment 
• Make adjustments to magazine design 

9 Dec: 

• Develop double page spread further 
• Make adjustments to magazine design 

16 Dec:

• Finalise design of all pages 
• Begin draft evaluation 

23 - 30  Dec: 

• Evaluation 

6 Jan: 

• Develop evaluation 

13 Jan: 

• Complete evaluation 

20 Jan:

• Complete evaluation 
• Final blog check 

Student Magazine Evaluation

In what way does your media product use, develop or challenge forms and convention of real media products?

In advance to designing my student magazine I researched some student magazines. I found out that the magazines that I researched had similar features. Predominantly the student magazines front cover featured a central image of a young person, to relate to the target audience. I also found out that mainly three types of colours were used, the colour palette was vibrant which stood out to grab the attention of the audience they also connoted fun, energy and youth. The mode of address should be more informal in order to connect with the target audience. The layout and masthead was relatively simple but stood out which connotes maturity.

To respond to my research I chose three main colours: red, black and white which I used to create a house style.These colours also are unisex so that the magazine is appealing to both genders.I also photographed a student, so that I relate to my audience. I used a medium close up to take the photo. The main masthead of the magazine is magazine 'Student Voice' which relates to my audience, I have also written this masthead on the contents page so it furthermore creates a brand identity.

How does your media product represent different social groups?

I have chosen to use a unisex colour palette in order to appeal to both female and male genders. My colour palette choice is: red, black and white. One thing that I haven't done is include a picture of both genders. I have also chosen topics that appeal to both male and female interests. Fashion is more stereotypically aimed 
towards female interests, despite this films, music can be aimed at both genders. 

What kind of media institution might distribute your media product and why? 

I think my magazine would be sold at a college or university as the magazine contains useful information which would be relevant for students at college or university. The magazine costs £1 so it is more convenient for students to buy, meaning it will appeal to a wider variety of students. 

Who would be the audience for your media product?

The target audience for my magazine would be students who are between the ages of 16-24. Mainly students who are interested in social events, outdoor activity's, tips for studying and the latest gossip and fashion trends. 

How did you attract/ address your audience?

I have used red, white and black which appeal to both make and female genders, these colours are also bold which will attract attention of my target audience, the colours also connote energy and youth. I have used various pictures; student for main front cover, festival, student studying at Ludlow College and a gap year destination  I have also chosen relevant topics which appeal to my target audience for example: music, festivals, films and the latest fashion. Furthermore I have used a puff on the front page to win three tickets to see The Killers live so that students would be more interested in buying the magazine. 

What have you learnt about the technologies from the process of constricting this product? 

From designing my student magazine front cover and contents I have learnt a new range of skills. I learnt what magazines predominately consist of. Furthermore I have learnt key terminology for magazines; for example masthead, puff , cover lines etc. I have also learned how to use 'In Design', which is a software that is used to create my front cover and contents page. I have never used 'In Design' before so I had to learn the these new skills of how to use it effectively, at first I found some elements hard but when I got used to the program I found it very effective. Some of the main things that I had to learn were how to insert new layers, adding colour to my page, using text box and inserting images as well as re-sizing them. 

Student Magazine and Contents Page

mock-up of front cover and contents page

Experimentation with fonts and mode of address

I have thought of two different masthead names for my magazine The Student Voice and The New Generation. I think that Student Voice would be more suitable as it relates to my target audience.

The mode of address for the magazine will be mostly informal as from my research I found out that students would like a more relaxed approach to the magazine, which will be connoted through the use of language and some puffs. I will also use some formal language so that there is some content that will help and inform the reader.