LIIAR of NME and Mojo

NME
Front Cover

In the top left hand corner there is the masthead of the magazines name, NME, which stands for New Music Express. It is conventionally at the top because it is eye catching and easily viewable on a shelf.

The colouring the magazine has chosen for this issue is a light blue which connotes tranquillity and calm which could suggest this issue is more toned down than other previous issues. Above the masthead in smaller writing it says “Libertines:” in blue then “New album revealed?” in black which when people look at the masthead and see that they could be more persuaded to buy the magazine.

At the top right hand corner there is a splash in a blue rectangle and inside says “Free…Posters” in black and in between the words it names bands “The Clash, Ramones, Sid Vicious” in white. Two out of the three pictures of what the posters look like in a Polaroid style, this makes the audience want to buy it even more to see what the other poster would look like as well as being in a vintage style appearance. With this being at the top corner it is eye catching, interesting and free with the magazine which would further persuade the audience to buy it.

In the middle of the page there is a banner headline with “The Vaccines” written in light blue which is the main article. With a medium shot of the band behind the text this is appropriate as it identifies the band, below that on a strapline in white it says “Clean up!” This in music terms means editing an album. The blue theme on the front t cover could connote water as in the picture of the band you can see water drops and some of the members a bit wet. It is appropriate for the words “Clean up” to be in white because white connotes cleanliness and the band members seem to be getting wet.

There is a cover line above the band’s name laid out in between some of the band members which says “On the bus and into the arenas with the bands of 2012” which is an exclusive to this magazine, this would persuade people to buy it because you won’t hear about some bands tours.

There are some information decks at the bottom that are all related to music events that are happening. These are placed on the front cover to attract people to buy it to find out about these events and possibly buy the tickets. The text is placed in a white box, with key words such as the band’s name in blue to stand out and other information in black.

Conventionally  there is a barcode, price and issue date section at the bottom left of the page which is out of the way yet still viewable for readers to be aware of what issue it is or of the price.

The ideas portrayed are that The Vaccines are a newly popular up and coming band, this is expressed by the text saying “clean up” and them being in a shower in the picture, this connotes idea that they are ‘fresh’ and new. Conventionally rock bands want to appear slightly messy and unusual in society, this front cover is breaking the stereotype because they are having a ‘clean up’.

Contents page

On the contents page is has the main article of The Vaccines in the middle of the page with a larger image. They have the page number in the corner of the picture as a caption then below it a quote from the band’s article then other information. Then below and to either side of The Vaccines’ article there are other articles that aren’t as important as The Vaccines but still have importance. They are all laid out in a similar way, and then at the bottom there is a “Plus” column which contains the page numbers for the less important articles.

They have the main articles bigger because they are what the readers most likely bought the magazine for which shows the importance of the articles. The contents page colours are plain; it has a plain white background with black text. In every separated grid where there is a main article, they have captions in the boxes below where the picture is and also they have numbers within the boxes to inform the audience of the magazine what page the article is on. The only colour on the page is from the images which makes them stand out. You can see that the colours are related to the house style although there is no blue colour in the contents page; you can tell it is the same magazine because the same bold font is continued from the cover page to the contents page.

The idea of the contents page is that it informs the reader what pages the different articles are on. This is expressed in a grid format with a caption of the article to hint to the audience what it is about, making them want to read on, and then the page number next to the caption. Conventionally the contents page is simply just a list of article titles and page numbers, NME is breaking that convention to make the magazine look newer and modern.

Double Page Spread

The double page spread of The Vaccines is split into two pages. On the first page on the left hand side there is an image that occupies the full first page. The picture is of the band if of them in the shower with the water coming down which connotes the fact they are a newly popular fresh band. The picture is taken in a spotlight as you can see the shadows coming of the band members, this could connote the idea that the spotlight is on them now, publically.

On the second page on the right hand side is the beginning of the article about The Vaccines and in the colour the blue that is on the front is continued to the double page spread and the title of the article is written in the colour. Also it is written in a similar style to hand written, the title says “soap and glory” which supports the connotation that they are a newly popular fresh band gaining success. The page has a plain white background and the title takes up half of the second page. There is a three line introduction, of which the text is in black with the important words like the band’s name and a band members name in the consistent light blue colour to make them stand out. In the large paragraphs of text at the bottom of the page there is a quote in a box which relates to the article, although the text is black, the box around it is the consistent blue colour.

The idea of the double page spread is to simply present the information of the article; conventionally there is a large picture of the article then a few paragraphs of text with a quote from the band in larger font. The idea of having a random quote in a larger, more noticeable font size is so that if the reader is flicking through the pages and they see the highly noticeable interesting quote they would be tempted to read further within the article to understand the happenings of the quote.

The institution of NME magazine is a company called IPC media which stands for the International Publishing Corporation. They have a well-established magazine brand which has turned into a music channel, website, award ceremony and much more.

The audience of NME is very diverse due to the popularity of the artists released, on the one hand they appeal to the mainstream audience of 16-24 year olds if bands like Two Door Cinema Club, Ed Sheeran and Kasabian were featured. Whereas if music like The Smiths, The Ramones and Blondie that could possibly appeal to the ‘indie’ styled mainstream audience, as well as the crossover audience of people possibly in their 30s when such bands where at the peak of their careers.

The way the band are in a shower is representing them as clean, which not only connotes them as being ‘fresh’ but also clean as in clean cut, because it isn’t often you find an alternative band that appear spotless.

Mojo
Front Cover

 Across the top page there is the masthead of the magazines name, Mojo. It is conventionally at the top because it is eye catching and easily viewable on a shelf. 
The colouring the magazine has chosen for this issue is red which connotes passion and desire which could suggest this magazine is for a passionate audience. Above the masthead is a skyline with a red splash in the top left corner, the splash reads "Free CD!" in white and the skyline adds more information about it explaining "John Lennon" in red and "his final masterpiece" in black which when people look at the masthead and see the skyline above it they could be more persuaded to buy the magazine.
In the middle of the page there is a banner headline with “The doors” written in their iconic trademark font in grey with red outline which is the main feature. With a long shot of the main singer, Jim Morrison behind the text this is appropriate as it identifies the artist, below the banner headline in the same iconic font it reads "And the 60 Greatest Elektra Albums" this is relevant because The Doors we're signed to Elektra Records.  Below this; there are some extra information of bands and articles that would be featured in the magazine, these are cover lines. These are conventional to magazine front covers as they show extra information to persuade the audience to buy it.

On the bottom right hand side of the page there is a barcode containing a date, issue number and a price. This is a conventional place to put a barcode because it is out of the way from all other information on the page yet still is visible.

There is a large deck of information varying in red and black, for example; In a large font at the top it reads "Plus!" as an exclamatory sentence. The use of the red on the white background makes the text stand out and appeal to the audience.
Below this, in a smaller font reads "Marvis Staples & Jeff Tweedy" in red which are two artists who have a deep passion in music making it appropriate because red shows connotations of passion. Below where it reads "Marvis Staples & Jeff Tweedy" in an even smaller font in black, this is to make it stand out on the white background in a small font.


Contents Page


 On the contents page, there is a black and white image which dominates the whole of the page of Edwyn Collins whose name was featured on the front cover. Towards the bottom right hand corner is a quote from the article about Edwyn Collins in white to stand out on the black and white image. There is a caption below this in red to also make the text stand out but also represent the passion for music the artist has.

There is the main article of The Doors in the bottom part of the contents which shows all the main articles on the front cover so people who were attracted by the content on the front cover can quickly find the articles that attracted them.

The page numbers are written in red to stand out from the black and white background image because at the top there is a cloudy sky which could imply that he’s taking the world by storm, whereas the bottom is a black forest which could also imply he has a wild personality. Also the page numbers are written without the word “page” or letter “p”, I have found this to be conventional of a music magazine because the audience would understand this means the page number.

Towards the bottom of the page where it is dark the font colour changes to white which makes it stand out on the dark background. Throughout the contents page there is the artist’s name then some added information about what the article is about of the artist, I have found that this is conventional for a music magazine.

At the top of the contents page is reads “features” to show what pages what articles are on, I have found it’s not conventional to write “contents” at the top of the page because people would see the numbers which they will associate with this being the contents page.

The contents page of Mojo reads the date and issue number, I have found that it’s not conventional to do this therefore I won’t include this in my music magazine. Another feature contained on the contents page is the logo of Mojo which helps us establish that it’s from the same magazine. Instead of doing this, to ensure people can be certain that my magazine pages are all from the same magazine I would maintain to a consistent house style. 
 Double Page Spread

The double page spread of The Doors is split into two pages. On the first page on the left hand side and occupying a third of the right page there is the main image. The image is of the band in low lighting which shows connotations of them being mysterious. The lead singer is shirtless; this is a representation of the hipster stereotype which establishes the target audience of the magazine.

 

The dominant colour on the page is black which connotes mysteriousness and power which associates the band with these feelings, making it appeal to its target niche audience (hipster).

On the second page on the right hand side is the beginning of the article about The Doors and in the colour white “Unforgettable” is written then “Fire” in a red bold font that is on the front is continued to the double page spread of the article being written in white then when an eye catching word would be written in red such as “Fire” or the name of the artists which interest the audience and stand out from the black background and white text.
The idea of the double page spread is to simply present the information of the article; conventionally there is a large picture of the article, a main headline then a few sentences explaining what is going to be featured in the article which interests the audience.

The institution of Mojo magazine is a company called Bauer media. They have a well-established magazine brand who have lots of experience with this musical genre.

Images

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Digital Mock Up

Price

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Audience

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Genre

LIIAR Analysis Of The Brief

LIIAR of the brief

Language-
To follow the codes and conventions of a music magazine my magazine must include a masthead that would appear symbolic to the magazines brand like a logo. Conventionally this would appear at the top of the page either all along the top of in the top left corner.

Another convention I am going to follow would be the large medium close up of a band or singer who would be looking at the camera when the picture is being taken which will engage the audience as it would make them feel more involved and make the magazine stand out as well as making it eye catching. Also to make it more eye catching, my use of colours would be consistent to a specific house style and I would only use a couple and stick to them as well as sticking to the same font style or same two font styles to keep the magazine looking professional.

More conventions I will include would be thumbnail images to show the other stories that would be featured in the article to make the front cover look more conventional, professional and to interest the audience and make them want to read on or buy the magazine.

Conventionally, bar codes appear around the bottom of the magazine and worked around the image and anchorage, so to make my magazine look professional I would have a bar code and price around the bottom and I would place it appropriately according to the layout. My main article will be the main image of my magazine, this promotes the story in an interesting way; this will be a story about the singer or band I decide choose to use.

Institution-

I am not sure as to what name I will call my magazine although I would follow the conventions of a media magazine and have the name short such as NME, Q or Mojo since they are the genre I am basing my magazine one. I will have my magazine published by Future PLC because they are familiar with the genre of music that I plan to base my magazine on so they would have experience in the genre and appealing to the target audience.

Ideology-

The values of life for people who read these magazines are for people who don’t follow the same style as the majority of people generally and are proud to be different from the mainstream crowd. These people would be represented in my magazine because they are the target audience and it would appeal to them more.

Audience-

My target audience are people within the ages of 15-24 who have more of an alternative hipster style; this is because it is a large niche market who would be more interested in reading this type of music magazine and if it was aimed at a mainstream audience as well they might be discouraged to buy it because in theory everyone else would be buying it.

Representation-

My magazine would represent the alternative / hipster style to be seen as cool and different in a good way. I plan to do this by conventionally using a medium close up of the band or soloist making them dominant on the front cover and use thumbnail images around the main background image to make people want to read on and to also inform them about what is inside the magazine.

The Main Task

The front page, contents and double page spread of a music magazine. All images and text used must be original, produced by ou - minimum of four images.

Analysis of my magazine

LIIAR Analysis

I have stuck to the media magazine codes and conventions by having a masthead, the width of the page at the top of the page behind the main person on the front cover. I have also made the text stand out from the turquoise background by using white text and underlining it with purple.

I have used “Charlotte has the eye” as the title which is a catchy pun of photography, this could be intersexuality because it says she has “the eye” and the writing is at eye level while she is holding a camera. I have also made this text in bold and underlined it in purple to show that is a big story.

For the other stories that will be featured have thumbnail images in smaller boxes occupying the bottom third of the page. Above them they give information about what’s new in the college such as the music facilities, computing facilities and locker designs.

I have followed the media codes and conventions on the front cover by having a medium close up of the main person of the story so that her face is dominant of the page. Also I have made a barcode and conventionally placed it along the side of the page.

I used “and lots more..” on the front cover to create an interest for the audience to want to read on and find out what other new facilities Wyke College has to offer, this is called teasing contents where at the bottom of the page there is a long banner with an engaging piece of text, for example “plus…” or “more…”.

I have used a consistent house style of white and purple which the background colour of turquoise, this would make it recognisable to the students of Wyke College. I have also kept to the same font which is “Blackoak std” which I will continue using.  For the contents page I have used a turquoise background with white “Blackoak std” font to keep the house style constant. Then I have purple lines which underline the title and have the contents pages written on it.

Conventionally I have had a letter from the editor on the contents page with a signature because on professional magazines they have them but because this is a college magazine I have had words of encouragement instead of other information from the editor to motivate the students of Wyke College.

Before I was familiar with Photoshop but I have learnt a lot though doing this magazine.  For example, I had no idea how to put the masthead appear to be behind the main person in the image then I learnt you had to cut around the main person with the magnetic lasso tool then copy and paste so it creates a new layer of just the main person, then you place the text layer under the main persons’ when you manage the layers and it creates the effect that the text is behind the person.

 I also learnt how to outline the text by selecting the text layer, then go to layer at the top of the screen and go to layer style and ‘stroke’ which then allows you to put an outline around the text so I chose to have a purple outline to make it stand out more.

The institution that would publish this magazine would be Wyke Sixth Form College because it would it cost a lot to be published outside of the college and Wyke College have the facilities to print it internally.

The message that the magazine is expressing is that Wyke College is a modern place to study and to show the audience the student that is exceeding in photography. The purpose of the magazine is to inform and make the students of Wyke College aware of the current affairs of the college such as the new facilities and an excellent photography student.

The audience for my magazine would be the students and staff of Wyke Sixth Form College because they should be interested in the current events, also when possible future students visit the college they would want to know what’s happening to see if Wyke is the college for them. I’ve attracted the audience by having bright and eye catching colours on the front cover which stand out and draw the audience in.

The socio-economic group who would read the magazine would be C2 because most students wouldn’t be in a high skilled job, if they were employed at all during their studies. The value life styles would be outer-directed groups because they would people students who are belongers whose social life is important to them and achievers where they are determined to succeed.

My magazine represents Wyke College as a modern place with excellent students who are exceeding in subjects. I haven’t shown the students in a negative light, for example partying, because if an outsider were to see the magazine they would be lead to believe that all the students are out of control and not focused on their work. One of the pictures I have used of Charlotte taking a photo, she looks focused on the task she is doing which connotates as her being a focused student who is passionate about the things she does which reflects positively on the college being a good place to study.

Final Draft and Contents

Audience Feedback

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My Final Product.

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Fourth Draft

Third Draft

Second Draft

First Draft

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More Images

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Images

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Mock up

Market Research

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Price

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Audience

Audiences can be classified into groups using quantitative data such as age, gender and socio-economic groups.

The main target audience for my magazine would be 15-24 yearolds who are students at wyke college with the exception of outside visitors of the college.

The S.E.G group would be E because the students of the college are likely to be unemployed.
The Psychographic group my magazine would be aimed at would aimed at groups who are outer directed because they are achievers and belongers and that is the types of people who come to college to learn and socialise.

Analysis of Existing Magazines

I am going to analyse my competitor’s magazines in order to make my magazine just as good, if not better than theirs. 

Grimsby Institute



Language-

Cover -The masthead is big, colourful and eye catching which would make it stand out on a magazine stand.

The background image is dominant of the page this also makes its stand out because its colourful in a cartoon like style.

The people are taken at a full length shot which isn’t a usual magazine convention, in my magazine I will be using a MCU (Medium close up) as my main background image.

There are two small boxes at the bottom of the page containing other news in the college which uses persuasive writing although it isn’t every big or eye catching, in my magazine the other stories will be more visible to the viewers.

There isn’t a price or a bar code on the magazine so I will make sure that my magazine has a visible price and bar code.

There is the website address so people can find out more on the website.

There isn't a main story on the front cover so you could be a bit unsure about what articles are going to be in the magazine.

Contents- The blue and white colours on the contents work really well together and along with the added pink it contrasts good together and looks very professional because it appears to have a consistent house style. Where it tells you what page what story is on, beneath the article title it tells you a little bit about what the article which could  persuade you to read about it further.

Institution-

It’s a college magazine for Grimsby Institute.

Ideology –

The magazines key idea connotates as a social magazine, this is because on the main image there are students who are in a casual pose with a brick background that is also been edited into a cartoon. This makes it eye catching and allows it to stand out.

Audience -

The target audiences the magazine would be aimed at the students of Grimsby institute and the visitors of the college for example students looking to join the college or inspectors.

Representation -

The college have done this positively by making the institute look like a good place to make friends and an interesting place to be. It does this through the sub headings at the bottom of the page telling you about the interesting activities the students have been getting up to along with some small pictures.

East Riding College

Language-

Cover - The masthead isn't very eye catching. It is simply white on a black background and not in bold.

The  main image isn't very dominant on the page as it only takes up the middle of it. The image is an extreme long shot of a group of people with their backs turned, there is a caption saying “Media students in Berlin” and the page that this story is on. The whole magazine uses very dull colours which doesn't make it very eye catching. In my magazine I will ensure that it uses bright colours and stands out.

There are a few small lines at the bottom of the page informing you about the other news in the magazine but its not very persuasive.

There is text saying that the magazine is free but no bar code.

Contents-  The black and white colours are very plain and they haven't stuck to a consistent house style because the lime green colour wasn't on the front cover. Also the pictures on the contents appear to be placed randomly with uneven sizes borders which looks very amateur.

Institiution-

It's a student magazine for East Riding college

Ideology-

The magazine appears to be emphasising the activities you get to do at East Riding College because it is showing you t he media trips picture and in the other news it informs you that in the magazine there will be an article about the art exhibition, student reps and anti bullying. This could persuade people to read about all the interesting activities the college have done.

Audience-

The target audience would be the students of Easy Riding College and any visitors or possible students who may be interested in the college.

Representation-

The college is represented positively by making the college look like a college that does a lot of interesting activities, persuading you to study at East Riding college.

Wyke College

Language -

Small masthead saying "wyke world" only dominating the top left corner of the magazine.

Main image of student working dominating the page. Medium close up.

There is a small box randomly placed at the bottom with the picture of a building.

There is a bar code but no price

The title "exams" is eye catching and bold. The other news is bold and bubbly writing that makes it stand out.

Institution –

It is a past student magazine for wyke college.

Ideology-

The magazine is about the upcoming exams of 2009, the new buildings and questions about exams being too much stress on students and whether there should be a rose garden or not.

Audience-

The target audience would be the students of wyke college because it has information about exams and their opinion on whether there should be a rose garden or not.

Representation-

The magazine appears to be about the upcoming exams of 2009 so it is an informative magazine; with an article about how stressful exams can be, the rose garden and about the new buildings. This creates a positive vibe about the college, which makes it seem new and modern.

Choice of College

The college I am going to feature would be Wyke College; this is because I am a student there and would find it easy to find information out about the college. Also I would be able to take pictures in and around the college easily.

LIIAR Analysis of the Brief

LIIAR Analysis on Prezi

Preliminary Exercise

Using DeskTop Publisher and an image manipulation program, produce the front page of a new school/college magazine, featuring a photograph of a student in medium close-up plus some appropriately laid-out text  and a masthead. Additionally you must produce a mock-up of the layout of the contents page to demostrate their grasp of DeskTop Publisher.