3. I used a barcode on my magazine as through
research on codes and conventions of magazines
I noticed that many placed the barcode on the
side, and this then worked well with the house
style of my overall magazine. This then makes my
magazine look more professional and that it may
be being sold. I also placed the issue number
above, as also through research of codes and
conventions, I had noticed that many music
magazines also did this. This also makes my
magazine look more professional.
Here I show my final magazine product, and my
chosen example magazine.
Front Cover
The image I used for my front
cover uses a direct mode of
address as the model in the image
is looking directly at the audience
of the magazine. I also made it the
dominant image of my magazine
by not taking the focus away by
placing other images around the
magazine front cover. I did this to
make the audience aware that the
main story of the magazine will
involve the model on the front.
Also, using only the singular image
gives a very dominant feel.
I used the four cover lines with the titles of the
bands in bolder writing as this then draws potential
buyers to the magazine if they see a band they
like will be in it. I then gave a brief explanation of
what the article on the band will be about, this will
also encourage people to buy it more, as they will
want to know more on what it says.
4. These help to engage the
audience to the magazine and
what it may be about. But also
these are used to easily identify
the magazine to regular buyers. I
used the chosen font as it is bold
and easily recognisable, also it fits
in with the initial house style of the
magazine, it also helps reflect the
overall genre. Also, the use of the
strap line helps potential buyers to
know what the aim of the
magazine is, and what the articles
in the magazine will be about.
The image I used for my front
cover uses a direct mode of
address as the model in the image
is looking directly at the audience
of the magazine. I also made it the
dominant image of my magazine
by not taking the focus away by
placing other images around the
magazine front cover. I did this to
make the audience aware that the
main story of the magazine will
involve the model on the front.
Also, using only the singular image
gives a very dominant feel. I also
developed this from my chosen
example magazine.
These are seen as being
billboards for the magazine, as
they advertise the magazine for
the intended audience by using
words such as „EXCLUSIVE‟ and
„WIN‟ or „FREE‟. These are mainly
used so the audience will be
intrigued in winning the
competition‟s or getting the
exclusive interviews with the artist.
I advertised my top and bottom
strips by using a black background
and a bold writing that comes out
prominent on this, by using a red
and white font. This is then a lot
more eye catching to the
audience. Also, from the magazine
I used as my model, these also
revolved around my initial house
style.
Front Cover
5. The top grid contains information that the
buyers of the magazine will look at first, this is
why I placed the selling line with a buzz word
of a different colour as the audiences would
be more drawn to reading this. Also I used
buzz words in the top right corner with
giveaways and exclusive interviews, as this
would then make the audience more likely to
buy the magazine.
The middle grid then contains the additional
information that comes within the
magazine, along with my feature image, this
is less intriguing than the top of the
magazine, as hopefully with the top grid, the
audiences have already been enticed into
buying the magazine.
The bottom grid then contains the least
important information, as you can see from
my magazine front cover, the bottom grid has
been left quite bland.
The Grid System
Front Cover
7. I didn‟t use a main image in
particular in my content, as I
wanted to use a vary of images to
link in with the stories on the front
cover, I also did this, as it makes
the content page look a lot more
exciting and interesting. I stuck to
the overall house style colours of
black, white and red so the
magazine all fits together. I also
used the same font for the title on
my content page, as I did on my
front cover. This then also makes
the magazine recognisable to the
audience.
I also used the quotes under the
pictures to entice the audiences
further into the magazine. I also
made the keywords of the quotes
in different colours to entice the
audiences into reading what was
said, but to also bring out the buzz
words such as „exclusive‟ so the
audiences then feels they are
getting something other
magazines do not have.
I tried to stick to the original house
style of the example magazine. I
did this, but changed the
positioning of the feature shots to
make the content page more
interesting and enticing. I also
stuck to the original house style
with the colours red, black and
white. To make my magazine look
more professional.
Content Page
8. Content Page
On my content page, I placed the
page numbers near the chosen
feature shots, to make the
magazine look more
professional, as this is a
convention I had said whilst
researching magazines.
I also used border/dividers to give
my magazine a much more
professional feel, and to also
separate the articles from each
other, so they do not merge and
become too confusing for the
audience to be able to understand.
I also used a subscription box to
entice the audience into the
purchase of the magazine, I then
used a buzz word in a different
coloured font to entice the
audiences into reading what it
says, and to persuade them into
purchasing it. This is also a
convention I had seen in example
magazine.
I used a front cover copy with my
editorial to familiarise the audience
with the magazine they were
purchasing, and to also give them
an incite on what will be in the
magazine and what they will be
expecting to see. This was also a
convention I had seen in my
example magazine.
10. I used the feature article photo in a
similar way to the way in which NME
uses theirs. I did this, as it works well on
the double page spread and makes it
clear who the magazine is based on, I
also used a direct mode of address from
my image, as this then makes the
magazine more intimate to the audience
and the celebrity that is starring in the
magazine.
I used pull quotes and headline quotes to give a brief overview to the audience on
what they will expect to see in the magazine and what the interview is about, I
made the headline quote the largest font on the page, as this draws attention to a
specific quote that has been made in the interview and is also a house style
followed by various other music magazines.
I used graphic features to draw
attention to my magazine and
make the page look more
exciting, but to also make it clear
to the audience what the
magazine article was about, for
example, the use of the “LEEDS”
logo, makes it evident that the
article will feature stories from
Leeds Festival, I also used the
“RMM” title font/logo, as this then
makes it clear who has wrote this
article and the magazine that the
article is appearing in.
Double Page
Spread
11. I used page numbers to help link the article back to
the content page and to show the audience what
page they were on. This is also a house style used
by not only music magazines, but various other
magazine genres.
I used introductory text, to introduce what
my article was going to be about as a
preview to the audience on whether or not
they would be interested in reading on.
This also gives details on who the article
is about and what will be expected to be
seen throughout. This is also a house
style that my chosen music magazine
example carries out.
I also used a section of smaller images to the
bottom of the article to finish it off and to also link
back to the article.
Double Page
Spread