evaluation - question 1 answered.

1. Evaluation
Question 1:
In what ways does your magazine use,
develop or challenge forms and conventions
of real media products?

2. Cover lines
presented
around the
main image
Main image
presented
clearly –
Medium close
up shot
Masthead and selling line presented in
the top left corner of the page
USE
How does your magazine copy elements from other magazines?

3. USE
How does your magazine copy elements from other magazines?
Masthead and Selling line = This is one element that my
magazine copies from majority of other magazines, not just
NME. The placement of my masthead (Being in the top left
corner of the page) is for the simple reason that we read
from left to right, and when magazines are stacked on a
shelf, they are stacked from left to right, meaning the
majority of the magazine is hidden by the next magazine
placed on the shelf. This means that having the masthead in
the top left corner enables a reader to spot the ‘company
logo’ straight away, before even seeing the rest of the
magazine.
The design of my masthead is inspired by NME specifically.
My masthead (42) is the main focus, using a large bold font
just as NME magazine has done. The font I used was
HACKED. My selling line (Independent) is placed directly
underneath my masthead, in the same way that NME has
presented their masthead and selling line. I also used the
same colour scheme, only the opposite way around.
Flash = I used a flash on my magazine just as NME did. I used
a flash in order to attract the reader to a specific ‘story’ in the
magazine – In my case it was an opportunity to win Jake Bugg
tickets. However, NME used a flash to attract the audience to
a story about The Killers.
I decided to use the flash to present the opportunity to win
Jake Bugg tickets as it is something the readers would be
gaining from the magazine and therefore it would be much
more appealing to a new audience.

4. USE
How does your magazine copy elements from other magazines?
Cover lines = I used NME magazine as inspiration for my
cover lines. Through research I noticed that NME magazine
focuses entirely on the music, rather than gossip (like you’d
typically find in a pop magazine). I decided that I also wanted
my magazine to focus entirely on music and anything
related. My main headline “COMING TOGETHER” was
inspired from the main headline of this NME issue “JAKE
BUGG. The 18 year old enemy of the X Factor hits America
with Noel Gallagher”. This idea of different artists coming
together in some way interested me, hence my headline
regarding three solo artists coming together to form a band.
Main Image = I decided to use one main image for my front cover as I didn’t want it to look too ‘overcrowded’. After
doing research into different music magazines I concluded that the most appealing ones didn’t include too many images.
NME for example, shows one main image of Jake Bugg and only two smaller images in the top right corner of the page.
I used a medium close up shot of Georgia for my magazine just as NME did of Jake Bugg. I did this because it doesn’t
take up too much of the cover, yet it allows you to see the finer details of the artists. I believe this would attract an
audience more, as fans often read magazines to find things out about their favourite artists and to get to know them in
more depth.

5. USE
How does your magazine copy elements from other magazines?
Colour Scheme = As you can see,
NME magazine’s colour scheme
is very limited. This inspired me
to limit my own magazines
colour scheme to one near
enough the same as NME. I used
only red, black, yellow and white
for my magazine. This is a very
similar to the colour scheme for
NME magazine.
I used such a limited colour scheme in order to keep it looking professional and ‘put together’.
Through research, I noticed that most indie magazine stuck to the same, limited colour scheme
throughout issues. The colour scheme is also important as it is another way that an audience can
identify the magazine.
I compared indie magazines such as NME to pop magazines such as WELOVEPOP – NME using
the same few, basic colours throughout whilst WELOVEPOP uses a range of bright and eye-
catching colours. To conclude, NME looked more professional and mature whilst WELOVEPOP’s
colour scheme makes it evident that it is targeted at a much younger audience.

6. USE
How does your magazine copy elements from other magazines?
Main images
Subscription box at the bottom of
the page including the website
Magazine
masthead
and selling
line shown at
the top left
corner of the
page (Same
place as on
the front
cover)
Date of the issue
shown under the
headline
(Contents/This
Week)

7. USE
How does your magazine copy elements from other magazines?
Masthead and Selling line = This is one element that my
magazine copies from majority of other magazines, not just
NME. The placement of my masthead (Being in the top left
corner of the page) is for the simple reason that we read
from left to right. I kept the masthead in the top left corner
of the page (just as it was on the front cover) to keep the
overall impression of the magazine being professional.
The design of my masthead is inspired by NME specifically.
My masthead (42) is the main focus, using a large bold font
just as NME magazine has done. The font I used was
HACKED. My selling line (Independent) is placed directly
underneath my masthead, in the same way that NME has
presented their masthead and selling line. I also used the
same colour scheme, only the opposite way around.
Headline = My headline “Contents” followed by the sub
headline of the issue date is in the top right corner of the
page, the same as it is on NME’s magazine. This layout
looks very simple yet professional, hence why it influenced
the layout of my contents page too.
Subscription Box = I placed my subscription box at the
bottom of the page, presented very clearly using
contrasting colours (Yellow, that stands out clearly on
black). This was the same ‘theme’ as NME’s subscription
box, also placed at the bottom of the page. This was very
convenient because it is clear and easy to
read/understand, it will attract the reader because of the
bold font and colour, yet it isn’t exactly “in the way” of any
other content.

8. USE
How does your magazine copy elements from other magazines?
Main images = NME magazine uses only two main images
on the contents page relating to the ‘main story’, in this
case a story about Oasis’ world tour. Similarly, I used three
images on my contents page. The images shown are solo
images of each member of the band (the ‘main story’ in
my magazine) GRAPHIC. I decided to use this out of
inspiration from NME magazine as it clearly presents the
main headline story for this issue and it tells you a little
more about the story without actually using words. My
story is about three solo artists coming together as one
band, so the fact that my contents page shows three
images of the members alone, but together in the same
section on the same page, really emphasizes the meaning
of the story – “Coming together”.
This is similar to NME as their images show the members
performing on stage, relating to the story regarding Oasis’
world tour.
Background = I kept the background of my contents page
quite simple. I did this because it sticks to the ‘theme’ of my
front cover, which also uses a very simple background. A
simple background is effective because everything stands
out above it clearly and the background isn’t then too
distracting from more important areas such as the actual
content. This is similar to NME’s magazine which sticks to a
plain white background with the information clearly
presented above.

9. USE
How does your magazine copy elements from other magazines?
One
main
image
Headline and sub headline clearly presented on
the right hand side of the page
Quotes extracted from the article and
presented on the page in bolder/larger
font

10. USE
How does your magazine copy elements from other magazines?
Headline = The headline for my double page
spread is clearly presented at the top right
corner of the page, using a large and bold
font. Similarly, the headline of the NME’s
double page spread is also presented clearly
on the right side of the page. This is an
effective placement of the headline as it is
presented clearly so readers know instantly
what to expect from the article they’re
about to read. Ensuring that the headline is
bold allows an audience to be attracted to
it.
Quotes extracted from the article = NME magazine includes quotes in the
middle of the text from the article itself. I was also influenced to do this
on my double page spread as it gives readers an insight as to what to
expect before even reading the article. Depending on the choice of quote
it can also attract readers to the article if the quote is chosen carefully, for
example if the quote is interesting then it’s more likely to attract
somebody to the article rather than if it was just a basic, boring quote
which would probably lead readers away.
Another reason why I included quotes from the article is because it
looked more professional on the page.

11. USE
How does your magazine copy elements from other magazines?
Main Image = Majority of NME’s double
page spreads often only include one main
image. This makes the page look
professional and neat, and leaves more
room for the actual story. In my opinion, the
fewer images on the double page spread
the more effective it will be in attracting an
audience. This is because it suggests the
story is more interesting – it doesn’t need
loads of images filling up the page to
‘improve it’ – the words are good enough.
With this in mind, I also only used one main
image of my band, leaving more room for
the story.
Fonts = I used a serif font for my actual article and altered the questions
and answers between size 12 & 14, italic, regular and bold. I did this to
clearly show what was a question and what was an answer, regardless of
how obvious it may be already. I stuck to the same font throughout the
article to keep it looking professional. This was influenced by most
magazines, as well as NME magazine – Sticking to the same font gives a
clean and professional finish to the article. Whilst NME’s article isn’t
question and answer based like mine, it does stick to the same rule of
same font, size 12 throughout.

12. Develop
Where does your magazine start to look different?
Cover lines = As you can
see from NME magazine,
there are a lot of cover
lines scattered around
the page, filling up the
majority of the space
around the images.
My magazine begins to
look different in this way,
as I only included 4 cover
lines on my page.
Although mine are
similarly scattered
around the page, I
haven’t overcrowded it
the way that I feel NME
did with their cover page.

13. Develop
Where does your magazine start to look different?
Images = Whilst both my magazine and NME
magazine includes images on the contents
page, mine is slightly different to NME.
As you can see, I included 3 images, placed
down the right hand side of the page.
I used mid-shots for my images and my
models are all making direct eye contact
with the camera (aka the audience). This was
done to give a more personal connection
between the band and the audience,
suggesting honesty in the article – a chance
for the fans to get to know the band.
NME magazine only includes one main
image for their contents page, which shows
a member of the band playing live on stage.
This is how our images are different – Whilst
mine are evidently set up in a photoshoot,
NME’s images look more ‘natural’ – it shows
the band performing on stage, doing what
they do best.
When taking my images I took into consideration the typical indie
conventions – dark coloured clothing, casual clothes, blank
expressions and direct eye contact with the camera. The same
conventions regarding mise-en-scene can be seen in NME’s image.

14. Develop
Where does your magazine start to look different?
Image = Both my magazine and NME magazine only use one image on the double page spread. This is effective as it leaves
more opportunity for a story, and it also doesn’t distract the reader from the actual article as the use of 3 or 4 images
would do.
However, my magazine starts to look different from NME’s magazine through the way that my image is presented in
comparison. As you can see, my main image is around the top right corner of the page, taking up only a small section of the
double page spread. Differently, NME presents their image across an entire A4 page (one half of the double page spread).
This could have been done so that the readers could use the image as a poster once they’ve read the article.
I had my band looking at one another, then had one member in the middle look directly at the camera. I did this to reflect a
relationship between each other and between themselves and their fans. Almost as a way to remind the audience that the band
acknowledge and appreciate them.

15. Challenge
Where does you magazine look completely different?
Background = I decided to create my
own background for magazine cover
using photoshop, rather than using the
background of the actual image like
NME magazine has done. I did this
because I noticed that the cover lines
and masthead would stand out a lot
easier and clearer on top of a solid
background, rather than the background
that my image already had. It also
presented my understanding and
knowledge of photoshop by cropping
the image freely and creating my own
background.
Main image = My main image is a natural medium-close up shot of my model, caught laughing. This is completely
different to the main image that NME has used, as theirs shows a close up shot of Joe Strummer staring directly at the
camera, in black and white. Although this looks good, I preferred the way I presented my main image. The body language
of my model is very natural and relaxed, and it suggests that the artist does not need to pose, stage or edit an image in
order to attract an audience. It also presents the artist as a natural and genuine person.

16. Challenge
Where does you magazine look completely different?
No ‘Band Index’ = I didn’t include a band index on
my contents page as NME does with every issue. I
didn’t feel that a band index was necessarily
needed when the articles would be listed anyway,
which would include the names of bands or artists
featured in the magazine. I felt that it unnecessarily
took up space.
Content = I gave a very brief explanation under each
headline as to what the article was about. This is
very different to the way that NME presented their
magazine, as they gave a paragraph of information
on the main article. I decided to present my content
the way that I did because I thought it would be
better for the audience to simply have a hint at the
article rather than giving away too much
information. This way they would be more intrigued
to actually read the article to find out more.

17. Challenge
Where does you magazine look completely different?
Main Image = My magazine
differs from NME magazine
regarding the main image. My
main image takes up a small
section at the top right corner
of the double page spread,
whilst NME’s main image takes
up the entire left page.
I decided to have a small image
on my double page spread to
leave space for the actual
article, I also decided it looked
more professional.
Story = The style of my story is very different to the style of the story in NME’s magazine.
My story is strictly question and answer throughout, whilst NME has an actual article.
I preferred my double page spread to be question and answers as it is a clear way for the audience to
understand and gather information about an artist, I also think it provides the audience with much more
information about the artists personally and the situation (in this case, three solo artists coming together as a
band.)