Pre-production
For my
pre-production i created 2 magazine covers of different styles. To complete
these i thought about my questionnaire feedback and incorporated research from
my textual analysis.
Questionnaire results
I carried out
research in the form of a questionnaire concerning the preferences of my target
demographic 16-35 year old women. The survey I did helped me with my
pre-production as it showed me what people were looking for and what they liked
when buying a magazine. All of my magazine survey responses were from women
which helped me because they are the target audience of my magazine covers. The
survey showed me that the type of articles people want to see in a magazine is
celebrity interviews, fashion tips and celebrity gossip this helps me to decide
on the type of covers story’s to place on my magazine covers. It also showed me
that the responders though that the main image on a covers is the most
important. This showed me that the photographs I am taking for my own front
covers need to stand out as they would on a normal magazine because they are a
main deciding factor in weather people choose to buy a magazine. Pink was also
chosen as the colour that most draws people in to reading and buying a magazine
showing me that it should be included. It also helped me to choose a reasonable
price that readers would not find too expensive. The questionnaire results
showed that people were willing to spend anything between £1- £4 for a
magazine.
Textual analysis
Researching
textual analysis of current magazines helped with my pre-production as it
showed different features that are included on a magazine cover. I researched
textual analysis of VOGUE and LOOK magazine which showed me the main features
on their magazine covers and what I should include on mine to make it look of a
similar style.
The masthead is the visual branding of the magazine and is
often done on a specially designed type face. Knowing this made me think about
how I wanted the magazine to be perceived and similar magazines that I wanted
it to look like.
The main
image can be what draws people into buying a magazine so it has to stand out
and be relevant to the target audience. By looking at current fashion magazines
with a similar target audience it helped with my pre-production by showing me
what type of images they have used and what type of clothing and facial
expressions were used on their chosen model. To take my photography for my
covers knowing what type of images were already on magazines and how the person
on the cover had been positioned and clothed helped by showing me what is
relevant and attracts their target audience.
The purpose
of cover lines is to entice the reader into picking up and/or buying the
magazine. Generally there's one main larger cover line and then a few
(or lots of) smaller ones. By researching magazine cover lines it showed
how they link to the magazines target audience because some topics mentioned
would not apply to certain ages or genders.
1st cover
Images/layout
For my first
magazine cover I was inspired by the layout and overall look of VOGUE
magazines. I had one image on the cover that dominated the page to assure that
it was the main focus front cover. The use of just one image can be recognised
on all Vogue magazine covers to illustrate that is a high class magazine as it
is simple and elegant. I used minimal make-up and simple clothing so that the
magazine would look sophisticated. The camera angle I used is straight on
to show engagement with the audience and to represent power.
The Mise-en
scene on the cover is the earring that my model is wearing because it looks
valuable which links in with the target socio-economic group of the cover.
Colours/fonts
For my first
cover there was a definite colour scene of black, red and white
so that the cover looks simple and not too busy. These colours each have
different connotations. The colour black is considered to be a very formal,
elegant, and prestigious colour which links with my magazine because at £3.99
it would be considered a high end magazine. White represents simplicity and is
used on all vogue covers cover lines. The masthead ‘Bella’ is a bright red
colour which makes it stand out and grab the attention of the audience. The
font i have used is fine style .similar to what is used on Vogue
magazines.
Language
The mode of
address on the cover is formal because the genre is high fashion. It directly
addresses the reader with cover lines such as ‘how to cut ‘your’ hair’ as the
use of the word ‘You’ would make the reader feel included. The magazine is
presented in a friendly manner to attract people towards it as would a normal
fashion magazine.
2nd cover
Images/layout
For my second
magazine cover the layout of it was similar to LOOK magazines. There was one
main image with a smiling face and bright clothes to portray that it is a
mainstream fashion magazine for young Females. The photograph is a medium
close-up which is traditionally used on weekly distributed magazines. Similarly
to LOOK magazine I had smaller images also on the front cover of shoes at
affordable prices because LOOK is a magazine that advertises high-street
brands.
Colours/fonts
On this cover
the colour scheme was bright bold colours which would stand out such as yellow,
white and different shades of pink. These are all colours that would suggest
that this magazine is aimed at young women. The masthead ‘CHIC’ is in a dark
pink which makes it stand out from the light grey/white background making it
more noticeable. The subheading is written in a slightly different font, but is
still very bold, and is white which catches the eye.
Many
different fonts are used for each cover line on the front cover this makes it
look more visually effective along with the mixture of colours. Each cover line
uses a mixture of capitals and lowercase letters to highlight the important
parts of each sentence. For example in the cover line ‘the top 5 hair rules,
the 5 really stands out as it is a lot bigger than the rest of the cover line
and so it is one of the first things you notice.
Language
Seeing as
this is a magazine aimed at women each cover line is about a topic that would
be interesting to them as a target audience. For example ‘The only mascara all
the beauty ed’s use’ This is an interesting topic for women because they want
to know what mascara really works and what is worth buying. I mentioned that
beauty editors use it to place trust within the article.I have used exclamation
marks which connotes that the magazine has new information or surprising one
off offers. The mode of address is friendly and inviting to the reader because
the magazine genre is fashion and gossip.
Production
My production
is a double page spread that would be featured in my second magazine. I got
influence for the type of layout and conventions that I wanted to use from an
article in LOOK magazine. This is because LOOK targets an audience with the
same demographics as I have set out for my pre-production to. The article that
I have produced is set out in a double Colum which is a layout commonly seen in
fashion magazines. I have used a large font size for the title as it takes up
one half of a page. This is to draw the reader’s attention to it so they are
aware of what the article is about. The article is called ‘Chloe how her A-List
relationship turned her life around’ which uses words that would attract the
target audience to read on such as A-list and relationship because gossip
articles about new relationships are often seen in womens magazines.
From looking
at similar magazine articles I have taken various features that will make my
production look more like a genuine magazine article. I have included page
numbers at the bottom of each page and a website that would be for the magazine
which is seen in LOOK magazines.
I have used a
large image that fills all of one page and shows clear links with the article
that I have written. These links can be seen as the article is called ‘Chloe
how her A-List relationship turned her life around’ and my image displays what
looks like a couple. This inference that they are a couple just from the
photograph comes from the connotations which the photo shows for example they
are holding hands which is behaviour associated with couples. Also they are
both smiling and because it does not look like a posed photograph it makes them
look as though they are an actual real couple in a natural comfortable pose
taken in the moment.
Target audience/Demographics
The target
audience for my magazine is women aged 16-35 because it is a similar target
audience for the magazines i have researched and done textual analysis on which
are LOOK and VOGUE. The cover stories will be based around women’s fashion and
beauty which is why it will be targeted at women. I am also aiming my magazine
at the socio economic groups A (Higher managerial, administrative, professional),
B (Intermediate managerial, administrative, professional) and C1
(Supervisory, clerical, junior managerial).
Evaluation
By looking at
a similar existing product which will be a double page spread from the magazine
LOOK I will compare my production to identify the strengths and weaknesses of
it.
The main
weakness of my double page spread is that there could have been more colour on
the page such as brighter clothing worn in the photograph to make the article
look more upbeat.
I think that
a strength of my production is that the title, article and photograph all all
link together so it is clear what the article is about and how it would link in
with a woman's fashion/gossip magazine.
