I have recorded voices and questioned people to get ideas for my magazine to get their opinions. I will upload these files and results in pie charts and graphs.
For my magazine, I will start to draw my ideas on to flat plans to find my ideal layout.
Features I need to consider for my school magazine include the masthead, logo, central image, house style and the content.
Friday, 25 September 2009
Thursday, 24 September 2009
Codes and conventions of magazines
Magazines follow codes and conventions in different ways to attract their target audience. Magazines use the same codes and conventions although how they use them depend on the genre such as school and music magazines will look completely different to each other as they portray various articles for their particular audiences. In fact, school magazines have what is known as a niche audience.
One code and convention is the imagery that is used. They are usually original and sometimes exclusive. The central image that is used is the most noticeable feature on the page as it covers most of the space. The images can be of anything as long as they suit the genre and target their audience. Music magazines use images of celebrities which attract many people because of the celebrities’ fan bases. Also, people aspire to be like the main image which is another reason for them buying the magazine.
Appropriate features and articles are vital in all magazines as they need to have content that is interesting and will attract their target audience. The variety of magazines have many different articles because audiences are attracted to different genres to other people such as people that are considered as urban would be interested in music magazines that specifically include hip hop and rnb content. Audiences want to read their idea of appealing articles and will expect to read them because of the particular magazines they have bought. The articles also need to attract the suited social economics such as the people who are in the social classes, A-E. Furthermore, appropriate psycho dynamics are targeted such as music magazines use features that will attract aspirers, although some magazine could contain features that would attract anarchists and rebellions.
All magazines should contain a contents page as it allows the readers to know what is inside. Contents pages are informative as they feature all the articles. A variety of features offer more pleasure to people because they wont just be reading the same articles although throughout all of the page, they will still be suited to the genre.
The front pages are another informative feature as they contain the logo, title and many articles that are featured included in the magazine. It is the most attractive and eye catching part because of the images and the use of colour. The front page could be considered as the most important page as it is the part of the magazine that is advertised in shops and on the shelves. Also, headings and sub headings are a code and convention as hey tell readers a few of the stories, articles and features that will interest more people to read inside. Font size, type and colour are also all used to create image, representation and effect as well as the whole mise-en-scene.
All magazines follow a certain house style that is continuous through all the future issues. The house style includes the colour scheme and layouts that are suited to the magazine genre. An appropriate house style is important as the colours that are used would target particular audiences due to the ages, gender, social classes and races. If the institution is trying to interest young teenage girls, the colours most likely to be used are hot pinks, purples and reds as they are colours that are stereotypically linked with females, as opposed to the more mature blacks, reds and whites of indie publications.
Another code and convention of magazines are the issue number, date and bar code that are always positioned on the front page. The issue number and date both provide information which allows audiences to know that the magazine is the most recent issue. The bar code is needed as it needs to be scanned before it is bought. These three features are generally placed together as they are all the only features that do not appear inside the actual magazine.
Every magazine needs a masthead which is usually bold and creative so it will stand out from afar. It is placed in a position where it is clearly noticeable to the audience. Many mastheads are original and creative that have a link with the genre. Also, the name of the magazine is often used as a lure that persuades readers to look inside. Mastheads are also involved in the house style as magazines follow a certain layout. The masthead is the second largest feature on the front page and is normally placed at the top and instantly recognisable to the audience.
On all magazines, there is usually a lead story that takes up most of the page as it is the story that the institution think will make the audiences want to read and will get the most attention. It is the article that will probably be the most appealing article to the audience. The lead stories are usually exclusive and are given the most section of the page to attract the audience into thinking that the article will only be viewed in this particular magazine, therefore persuading them to buy it.
The layout of the magazine is usually portrayed in the continuous issues-this allows audiences to immediately notice the magazine without searching for it. Magazines generally follow a clear structure that isn’t too busy or too filled up. Some magazines have a similar layout although because the house styles colour and articles are different, this makes magazines stand out from each other providing variety.
Many magazines contain interactive features that allow readers to get involved and make reading the magazine a more enjoyable experience. Interactive features include quizzes, competitions and puzzles-these features are different from all the other articles so audiences will get a variety of content. Interactive features are considered to be fun and enjoyable.
One code and convention is the imagery that is used. They are usually original and sometimes exclusive. The central image that is used is the most noticeable feature on the page as it covers most of the space. The images can be of anything as long as they suit the genre and target their audience. Music magazines use images of celebrities which attract many people because of the celebrities’ fan bases. Also, people aspire to be like the main image which is another reason for them buying the magazine.
Appropriate features and articles are vital in all magazines as they need to have content that is interesting and will attract their target audience. The variety of magazines have many different articles because audiences are attracted to different genres to other people such as people that are considered as urban would be interested in music magazines that specifically include hip hop and rnb content. Audiences want to read their idea of appealing articles and will expect to read them because of the particular magazines they have bought. The articles also need to attract the suited social economics such as the people who are in the social classes, A-E. Furthermore, appropriate psycho dynamics are targeted such as music magazines use features that will attract aspirers, although some magazine could contain features that would attract anarchists and rebellions.
All magazines should contain a contents page as it allows the readers to know what is inside. Contents pages are informative as they feature all the articles. A variety of features offer more pleasure to people because they wont just be reading the same articles although throughout all of the page, they will still be suited to the genre.
The front pages are another informative feature as they contain the logo, title and many articles that are featured included in the magazine. It is the most attractive and eye catching part because of the images and the use of colour. The front page could be considered as the most important page as it is the part of the magazine that is advertised in shops and on the shelves. Also, headings and sub headings are a code and convention as hey tell readers a few of the stories, articles and features that will interest more people to read inside. Font size, type and colour are also all used to create image, representation and effect as well as the whole mise-en-scene.
All magazines follow a certain house style that is continuous through all the future issues. The house style includes the colour scheme and layouts that are suited to the magazine genre. An appropriate house style is important as the colours that are used would target particular audiences due to the ages, gender, social classes and races. If the institution is trying to interest young teenage girls, the colours most likely to be used are hot pinks, purples and reds as they are colours that are stereotypically linked with females, as opposed to the more mature blacks, reds and whites of indie publications.
Another code and convention of magazines are the issue number, date and bar code that are always positioned on the front page. The issue number and date both provide information which allows audiences to know that the magazine is the most recent issue. The bar code is needed as it needs to be scanned before it is bought. These three features are generally placed together as they are all the only features that do not appear inside the actual magazine.
Every magazine needs a masthead which is usually bold and creative so it will stand out from afar. It is placed in a position where it is clearly noticeable to the audience. Many mastheads are original and creative that have a link with the genre. Also, the name of the magazine is often used as a lure that persuades readers to look inside. Mastheads are also involved in the house style as magazines follow a certain layout. The masthead is the second largest feature on the front page and is normally placed at the top and instantly recognisable to the audience.
On all magazines, there is usually a lead story that takes up most of the page as it is the story that the institution think will make the audiences want to read and will get the most attention. It is the article that will probably be the most appealing article to the audience. The lead stories are usually exclusive and are given the most section of the page to attract the audience into thinking that the article will only be viewed in this particular magazine, therefore persuading them to buy it.
The layout of the magazine is usually portrayed in the continuous issues-this allows audiences to immediately notice the magazine without searching for it. Magazines generally follow a clear structure that isn’t too busy or too filled up. Some magazines have a similar layout although because the house styles colour and articles are different, this makes magazines stand out from each other providing variety.
Many magazines contain interactive features that allow readers to get involved and make reading the magazine a more enjoyable experience. Interactive features include quizzes, competitions and puzzles-these features are different from all the other articles so audiences will get a variety of content. Interactive features are considered to be fun and enjoyable.
The two school front covers I have annotated differ from each other from their layout as ‘Evolve’ contains more images on the front page than ‘High profile’. ‘High profile’ contains a lead story-we can tell this by the use of just one original image that takes up the whole page. Whereas, ‘Evolve’ uses many images that are a mixture of original and famous images-by using this many images that are the same size, readers are unable to identify the feature story. Both school magazines use the codes and conventions of headings/sub heading but in different ways-‘Evolve’ uses imagery instead of words although ‘High profile’ uses a bottom strip that tells readers what else is featured inside the issue.
Music magazines use more codes and conventions than school magazine as music magazines need to be more professional as they are sold worldwide. Music magazines always use sub headings and have different target audiences-school magazines try to attract both gender and a range of ages. However music magazines try to attract just one gender and an age range that is linked together with a focus on a specific fan base music appeal. Another difference between music and school magazines is that music magazines usually contain a top or bottom strip that feature pugs which show promotions or sub headings such a sin ‘Sugar’. Also celebrities are used for the central imagery on music magazines as they fit in with the genre well and they attract more people because of their fan bases. They are often represented as wholesome, sexually attractive or alternative and edgy depending on the genre.
Music magazines use more codes and conventions than school magazine as music magazines need to be more professional as they are sold worldwide. Music magazines always use sub headings and have different target audiences-school magazines try to attract both gender and a range of ages. However music magazines try to attract just one gender and an age range that is linked together with a focus on a specific fan base music appeal. Another difference between music and school magazines is that music magazines usually contain a top or bottom strip that feature pugs which show promotions or sub headings such a sin ‘Sugar’. Also celebrities are used for the central imagery on music magazines as they fit in with the genre well and they attract more people because of their fan bases. They are often represented as wholesome, sexually attractive or alternative and edgy depending on the genre.
Thursday, 10 September 2009
My first preliminary task is to produce a school magazine using original photos and the codes and conventions of magazines. I have to produce a front page and a contents page. My school magazine needs to attract my targeted audience using suitable colours, layouts and the type of articles that will interest the audience. The target audience is the students and their parents-it will be reasonable challenging to target both as they would have different opinions and ideas that attract them and I have to use appropriate images, colour schemes and complete this task with a dead line. My magazine will need to look realistic and be interesting to read and contain all original content. The purpose of school magazines is to represent the school and the make the school sound great and positive. They also inform parents what has been happening recently in the school as well as the students.
I will start this process by looking at a variety of other school's magazines to get ideas for my front page, contents page and article ideas. Also, I will annonate the magazines which will help me with the codes and conventions. I will research the types of articles and images that would appeal to not only teenagers/students but also the parents.
I will start this process by looking at a variety of other school's magazines to get ideas for my front page, contents page and article ideas. Also, I will annonate the magazines which will help me with the codes and conventions. I will research the types of articles and images that would appeal to not only teenagers/students but also the parents.
Preliminary task
I have just started blogging for my foundation portfolio for media.
My first preliminary task is to produce a school magazine using original images, and the codes and conventions of a magazine. I need to produce a a front page and a contents page.
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