Weekly Journal (11)

This week during lessons I worked on our audience profiles further and zeroed in on who I am targeting. I also worked further on details of my magazine and how I can make it further suitable for my target audience and got a clear picture of what my final piece would be like. We also worked on our photography plan and tried to work at locations, props, angles , times (amount of natural light) and the risks involved for the photographer and models with the location. We worked on our blogs overall as well and tried to fit all of the pieces of research together. This week was more about revising and planning to get closer to our gaol and tie up all the loose ends.

Teacher Feedback

Research Feedback YS-2">

Student comment- I will work on focusing on the details of each aspect (attention to detail)

Photography Plan

I have decided to take the photos for my cover page and contents page in front of the statue at Mornington Crescent. It will be a lowish mid angle shot where almost the entire bodies of the models will be shown, they will be wearing suits while holding music equipment (guitar, mike, amplifier). I will try to include the traffic on either sides of the statue while keeping them in the centre as the main focus in front of the statue. It will be either in the afternoon or the beginning of the evening depending on  the clarity on the picture. I want to take the picture here because it shows how they even though superior (through high angle shot) because they are famous and successful are more relatable to because of the location which is a very casual and common area in Camden. The risks with this location is mugging, traffic and encountering alcohol induced people who might be aggressive. There will be precautions or solutions for each of these (carefully crossing the road according to traffic lights and keeping equipment well kept until actual photo shoot).

I will be taking the picture for my double spread at Goldington Cresent Garden. The grass will be visible as the image will be a high angle shot with flash in the dark (late evening). Hence, the focus of the picture will be the models and everything around them except a little grass will be dark. This will make a good background for the contents which will be written in the colour white (Any bright colour will stick out).I am also doing this because the only things visible would be very attractive plus the entire spread wouldn't be plain black except for them but there would be some green to make the picture more colourful and attractive. My models will on one edge so that the rest of the picture is available for written content. The risk with this location is mugging which can be avoided if we are careful with wallets and bags. The equipment will not be present for this photo.They will be wearing casual clothes (t-shirt and jeans).

Since the photos might be too busy I might use a plain white background. This is possibly the better option as it will ensure that focus is maintained on the artists and the contents of the page. It will also create a contrast, further emphasising on the article, artists and cover lines. This is also a very common convention followed by magazines, which might help increase the professional appeal of my magazine. For this, if a white wall is unavailable, I will use a white bed sheet for the necessary background during the photo shoot. 

Target Audience Example (profile)

This is Julie, an aspiring middle class twenty year old. She can relate to the lyrics and music of the genre rock. She is currently in university and is close to graduating. She is looking for inspiration and has part time jobs to support her expenses and to pay for her student loans. Her weekly disposable income is around 5 pounds. My magazine is suitable for her because not only is it within her disposable income but it suits her personality. The magazine will be monthly and has free items (CDs) from time to time. It contains honest and inspiring information and stories on talented musicians. It also contains information on both upcoming and already popular musicians. My magazine will not have information on gossip but only on controversies related to the careers of the musicians and information on concerts.

My magazine will break a few conventions which will suit the personality of a young open minded individual. My magazine house style is red(passion), black (dramatics and truth) and blue (coolness). I'm trying to make my magazine suitable to people who are open minded and aspiring in a way that it isn't just a form of entertainment but it can inspire them and be a regular part of their lives. I am targeting 16-25 year olds who are mostly from middle class and maybe a few from working class and upper class.


In Maslow's Hierarchy of needs, Julie can be categorised as a level 4 (Esteem Needs), this is because being a stereotypical rock genre fan, she would have a strong personality with self respect and would need respect from others. She would also command independence and dominance as it is an important part of her personality. She could also be categorised as a level 5 (Self Actualisation), as she would want to realise her potential and seek personal growth and peak experiences which is typical of a rock fan who usually deters from the mainstream while trying to find themselves (anti-authority rebels).

Weekly Journal (10)

This week I went through all the work I did earlier and thought of the improvements in my work over the weeks and the improvements I could make. This week was more on self evaluating and on starting to think about our final layouts on a more professional level.

Weekly Journal(9)

This week we focused on double spreads, first we analysed double spreads and learnt about their conventions. We also analysed a few double spread interviews and learnt about format, structure and purpose. Based on the information we learnt in the beginning of the week we made wrote the first draft of our double spread interviews. We also made a mood board and planned on what we'd want our double spread layout to be. We made a sketch of the layout as well.

Double Spread Sketch (Draft two)

 I will take this picture in the dark and use flash so that the members will be very prominent and the background will be dark so that the text will also stand out. I will use a high angle shot so that the readers can look down on the artists so that they aren't shown as superior to them and I will make the models look directly at the camera so that there is a direct address. I made these changes so that it will suit the target audience more. The band name will be across both pages as well as the image, this will ensure that basic elements of a double spread are maintained. This new draft is more edgy and attractive in terms of photography and layout (colours and fonts). This draft is not finalised and is hence, prone to changes.

Double Spread Mood Board And Layout Plan

Double Spread Mood Board">

Analysis of Double Spreads

This rock double spread has followed most conventions. The band name has been written in a corner and this makes the main focus of this article the pictures and will make this the first thing that the readers will see. The letters of the quote in the article are very big, all this results makes it very attractive that might further appeal to the readers and make them want to read the article.  The picture occupies one page and it is colourful which makes it stand out from the black background. The musician looks directly at the camera while smirking, this might make an impression that the musician has positive plans or thoughts on her mind and is confident, this also forms direct address with the readers. Convention was broken a little when four additional pictures of each band member was added to the second page. These pictures are mostly in natural light and might be taken to depict the personalities of the band members. The house style of this double spread is black and white and pink. Black to denote dramatics, white - purity and pink - tenderness. The article is an interview with one of the band members and is based on the future plans of the band and their latest activities. 

The house style of this article is black,white and red. Red denoted passion while white - purity and black dramatics. The picture covers a bit more than an entire page. The musician of the band interviewed is looking directly into the camera with no specific expression. This might depict sexuality and also forms direct address with the readers.There is also a quote from the article next to the picture, this will further appeal to the readers and make them want to read the interview.  The main title 'Wild Child' is written with fonts that represent the meaning of each of  the words respectively. This title is quite big and will attract the readers as it an insight into the real personality of the musician. This interview is based on a major controversy on a recent change and action the musician made. Hence, this will be very appealing to the readers as they can get to know for themselves the musicians point of view and motives behind this action.

Double Spread Article Draft

This Band is a New Hope by AsMediaAkshata">

Conventions of Double Spread Articles

Conventions of Double Spread Articles by AsMediaAkshata">
MY DOUBLE SPREAD WILL BE AN EDITORIAL.

Weekly Journal(8)

This week we made sketches on what we would want our music magazine's cover, contents page and double spread to look like after combining our ideas with suggestions from the focus groups. We also each had to mark one other peer's blog to help them improve and for us to improve ourselves.My blog's marking has been uploaded and completed all the missing posts and incomplete work.

Peer Marking

Music Magazine Double Spread Draft(Sketch)

I will edit this and make changes as we go further along. I have changed one band member to a female and she will be the one saying the quote. This would help make the magazine appealing to a female demographic.

Music Magazine Contents Page Draft(Sketch)

I would edit this further and make changes according to feedback and new ideas. I have changed one band member to female.

Music Magazine Cover Draft (sketch)

This is a draft of my magazine front cover. I was given feedback to put my featured models a bit more at the centre and for them to be closer to the camera which I will use in the real magazine. I also might include more story lines. I have changed one band member to female and she will be the one saying the quote. It is also possible for the background to be a pattern or plain white, this would help keep the focus on the featured and add professional appeal as it is a popular convention.