Final Front Cover and Contents Page

I feel I made good progress on both of these areas due to learning more about layout, text and photography. Layout was a key part of this as my earlier pieces often had a lot of white, unused space. However, with these pieces I learned where to add more text to fill in spaces and to make pictures bigger and bolder to detract attention away from those empty areas.Additionally, the layout was something I had to work on as often my work was not balanced. I solved this by sticking to a strict column system in both pieces of work. In addition, I felt I have implemented a house style, something I struggled on before, by sticking to a colour scheme, using the same fonts and through small design details such as , including 'The Buzz, Weekly Edition, at the bottom of each inside page.Moreover, my skills in photography have improved through using a more appropriate model compared to my first photoshoot and directing the models in the best way to pose.

Front Page Construction

• This is my original page with no picture or text placed on it, I chose to keep the original measurements Photoshop gave me for the page as it was the most realistic shape for the front cover of a music magazine through it being rectangular.

• I then imported my picture onto the file by dragging it into Photoshop. To ensure I always had a back-up copy of my picture I pressed command and then J to make a 'background copy'. To edit my photo I only altered the brightness a little to make the background lighter as usually a plain background is used for the front cover. 

• I then added the title and made the text size 181pt to fill the whole top line. I chose my font text as 'Telegrafico' due to it being sans-serif making it more modern; a young, modern image is pivotal in me attracting my young 'Townie' age range and contemporary texts help me achieve this. 

• I chose to use the same colour for my double page spread title and title as it makes the magazine look more professional. I did this by using the colour chart to find a dark red/maroon which is not particularly aligned to either sex, meaning I would attract both males and females. For my later texts with the same colour i used the small colour box on the lower left hand side and clicked it after highlighting my text to ensure the same colour was used throughout.

• I then needed to add a date to ensure my reader would know what issue or week the magazine was published. To make the date stand out I put a black shape behind it. I did this by using the shape tool to the left and chose the 'Ellipse Tool' to create my chosen shape. I made the colour black to ensure it did not go against my house style and maintain that it did not overshadow any focus on my picture. I chose the colour by using the colour chart tool and dragged the mouse to the very bottom of the left hand corner to make black.

• I then put the date in. I chose a white colour as it correlated with my house style and stood out against the black background.I used the same font 'Telegrafico' for both the date and the title this is too make the magazine more appealing to the eye and to correlate with my house style. 

• I then used the same font for the surrounding text around the picture. I added text my using the 'T' icon on the left hand side and then typing my chosen text, afterwards I altered the colour and size through the bar at the top of the screen. I chose a black text to make the text not too attention-grabbing and used the same font to make the front page gel together better

• The next thing I did was to put the name of my cover artist over the middle, this was to ensure there was not too much white space left on the page and too draw attention to the picture. I initially tried to use the same text, however, it was too small and did not draw enough attention to the artist due to it blending in with the other text.

• I then chose a 'Channel Slanted' font which was bigger and drew more attention to the artist by contrasting with other text due to it being in italics and being serif. It made the magazine look a lot more professional compared to the other text. The text was chosen to be grey to not go too against my house style but also still draw attention to my artist by being a different colour. 

• To use up some of the white space I then decided to put a header on the top of the page. I did this by choosing a rectangle shape from th shape icon on the left hand side and then colouring it black. To make it look more interesting I out white text over the top in the same 'Telegrafico' font to correlate with my house style. I chose to write the text as 'new year new issue' to build up excitement for the reader as its the magazine first issue in the new year. However, it looked slightly unbalanced due to nothing being at the bottom, so I put the same header and text to make the page correlate more and have more balance. In the bottom header I left space for a small bar code. 

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• I then added a bar code into the front cover to make it look more authentic. I achieved this by saving a picture of a barcode, dragging it into Photoshop. I then made a background copy of the picture using command and J to allow me to drag it into the front cover screen. I did this by using the selection tool so it selected the bar cos and then dragging it onto the page and placing it at the bottom. I then added some more text on the side, however, it looked a little bare so I decided to add some bullet points of artists that were featured

• As there is no bullet point tool on Photoshop I did bullet points by writing a full stop in a text box using the 'T' icon on the left hand side. And then enlarging it to make it seem like an actual bullet point. I also made the text smaller to draw attention to the header which is more likely to grab the readers attention.

• To then fill up space on the right hand side I added a picture of the 'V Festival' logo. I did this by saving a picture of it from the internet, dragging it into Photoshop, making a copy of it using buttons command and J and then using the selection tool on the left hand side to drag it onto the front page. I chose this logo a it fit with my colour scheme of red, black and white making my magazine seem more professional. 

• To then complete this text I added text underneath in 'Telegrafico' font to correlate with my house style. Moreover, I made the text fit exactly under the logo as it made it seem more professional and looked neater on the page. 

• I then added another header in the same font but a bigger text size due to it being a header. I used a rhetorical question as it directly addresses the reader making it more likely to grab their attention.

• My final pieces of text were then added. I chose to include more different colours and text sizes to ensure the readers attention would be caught. Also, it highlights certain words such as popular rap artist 'Drake', meaning the headlines are easier for the audience too see. I used to same colour as in the title for the word 'Update' to ensure house style was correlated, I did this by using the small colour box in the lower left hand corner and clicking ti after highlighting my text. I made the 'Drake' bigger by increasing font size. 

• However, I still felt my front cover was slightly bare compared to other music magazines on the market such as, 'Kerrang!'. I solved this by including a pool quote over her body. But to ensure no attention was taken away from her I made the background opaque by using the 'opacity' tool and increasing its opaqueness until I was satisfied. Over this box I then placed text, in a handwriting style to make the quote seem more authentic and grab some of the readers attention. Below is my final front over. 

Further Front Cover Research

Original Photos

Front Page First Draft

I like this, however, I feel there is too much bare space making it look amateur. Moreover, I feel it could be more professional through further editing on the photograph and more text. I do like the photograph as I feel the model is suitable for the magazine and target audience as her face is easily identifiable, whilst her outfit is young and modern, reflecting what my target audience would wear. I think it has improved from when I started as I have developed a stronger house style compared to my preliminary task, whilst the fonts compliment each other and draw attention to the model. I feel one of the better things about this piece is the text across this middle, which draws attention towards her and makes the page pivot around her.

Front and Contents Page Draft

Photoshoot 1

Kerrang Magazine Analysis 2

THE COVER
The title:Why is it called that?What does the title connotate?

The title is short, expressive and in your face, reflecitng the type of music featured in the magazine. The title has connotations of loud, unapologetic music through the exclamation mark at the end, exhibiting how the magazine specialises in heavy rock music - the term 'thrash metal' was invented by the magazine.
 The masthead/title logo- analyse it.
The title logo is the same for each issue, meaning it is easily recognizable. The white text is slightly rugged and has lines goin through it, the title is placed on a blue background. This makes the text stand out more, whilst the effects placed on the text contribute to the edgy feel of the magazine, meaning it will be more attractive for its young, rock target market. The text is also Sans Serif adding to the young feel of the magazine.
Is there a strap line - analyse it.
There is no strap line on the magazine.
What is the main image? Analyse the facial expression, direction of gaze, body language, clothing etc. How does it reach out towards the ideal reader identified above?
The main image is of Gerard an ex-member of the band 'My Chemical mid-shot he has a serious expression and wear brown sunglasses, black top and distressed green army jacket. The expression may be to reach out to the target market as Kerrang is often thought of as a 'cool', rock magazine , meaning it would be unlikely that it would have a smiling picture. Additionally, the direciton of the gaze is directly towards the reader, this means it would automatically catch the reaaders eye. The body language is reserved and relaxed, meaning it keeps to the young, relaxed audience. The picture also retains the rock feel through Gerard wearing sunglasses, an accessory often worn by rock singers (e.g. Liam Gallagher), this further entices a younger audience. The picture is in colour making it stand out more,meaning consumers will be more liekly to pick it up as it would stand out on the shelf.
Romance'. In the
What other images appear on the cover? Why?
The other images that appear on the cover are advertismeents for other features within the magazine , for example, '6 amazing posters' are advertised on the front and next to the advert are the pictures of the posters included in the magazine. The extra pictures help the magazine jump out more for the audience, meaning someone will be more likely to pick it up. Moreover, it adds more colour and interest tp the page making it more appealing to the eye of the reader, it also gives the audience a deeper insight into what is featured inside the magazine.
What content is promoted by the cover lines?
There is a lot of content promoted on the cover, compared to NME. For example, a new album by the band 'A Day To Remember' is promotoed along with the chance for a reader to 'win a £500 guitar'. Overall, the things promoted are:

• Metallica - 'Inside Lars' Movie Night'
• 'Deaf Havana as you've never seen them before'
• 'A Day to Remember - the album that almost destoryed them'
• 'Win a £500 Guitar'

Explain the connotations of typefaces (fonts), graphics, colours etc.
The logo is white on a blue background, making it stand out more, meaning it will catch a consumers eye more easily. The font and graphics used contribute to the edgy feel of the magazine, this is achieved through the distressed effect out on the text. Additionally, the text is all in bold, making it stand out more and making the cover more eye-catching. The text is a mixture of collours such as, red, yellow, white and black.
What sort of language/language features/language devices can you identify? How does the cover talk to the reader?
The language on the cover is basic; this means a wide range of people will be more likely to be able to read it. The language also directly addresses the reader, meaning the reader is dragged into looking at the title. An example of this is - 'Deaf Havana as you've never seen them before', this is a language device. This is how the cover directly talks to the reader.
Does the cover look similar to other magazines?If so why? What does thismagazine offer which other rivals don't (i.e. What's is USP)?
It does look slightly similar due to the 'rock' feel of the magazine through the person on the front wearing sunglassses etc. However, it difference is it has more content on the front cover compared to other rock music magazines. This makes it appear less glossy, this is relected in the cheap price of £2.20. It USP is it is a cheap hevay rock music magazine , whereas, most other music magazines focus on lighter music.
Is there anything else distinctive about the cover/format (e.g. size)?
It is a similar size to most other magazines, however, its logo is different to most other magazines. This is achieved through its distressed look, additionally, it has mosre pictures than other magazines on the cover.
INSIDE
How many pages are there?
63
How many pages of adverts?
14
Categorise the products advertised into types?
Gigs and Tours are the main advertisments thoughout the magazine, for example, 'Thirty Seconds to Mars' new tour is advertised
New albums and music are also featured such as, 'Killswitch Engage's new album 'Trivium' is included. To bring a wider audience to the magazine there is an advertisement for 'Kerrang! Get Social' where Kerrnag's Twitter, Facebook, Myspace and Youtube page is advertised.
Make a list of the features/article topics inside the magazine.
NEWS
You Me at Six
Crowdfunding - Is it a rip-off
Motley Crue
Introducing: Darlia
FEEDBACK
We made an amazing joke about salad on these pages
FEATURES
Gerard Way
Deaf Havana
The films that saved my life
A day to Remember
SHOTS
Fall Out Boy, Metallica, P!atd, Of Mice and Men and More!
LIVES
Tongiht Alive
Bless The Fall
Young Guns
Impericon Never say die Tour
ALBUMS
Linkinn Patk
The Swellers
Ihsahn
Protest The Hero
Fall Out Boy
GIG GUIDE
The Blackout/TRC
THE ULTIMATE ROCKSTAR TEST
Killswitch Engage
How many double page spreads are there?
7
Are there any advertorials where it is not clear is something is an article or an advert, or a picture of both?
No, the adverts are clear as they usually have specific pictures ans subjects and advertise mostly gigs and albums. The double page spread is also clearly recognizable due to the focal picture.
How does the magazine achieve a unified 'house style'? Think about language and mode of address, colour schemes graphical elements etc.
The magazine achieves the unified house style through including a lot of content on each page compared to other magazine. Each page is full of pictures and writing to add interest for the reader and to make the magazine more informative. Additionally, the house style is achieved through by each page number a small 'Kerrang!' logo being present and with text throughout being distressed.
Why is the house style appropriate to the target audience? What assumptions does it imply about the TA?
The house style is appropriate as the distressed feel of the magazine and mass content within the pages contribute to the edgy feel of the magazine, meaning it will be more attractive to the young, modern , rock-listening audience. It provides the assumptions that the audience is quite edgy, this is reflected in the magazine through it mainly featuring new bands and music.

NME Magazine Analysis 1

THE COVER
The title: Why is it called that? What does the title connotate?
The title is short, punchy and easy to pronounce.A longer title may not have had such a dramatic effect, additionally; the succinct title reflects how the magazine often gets the latest bands and new acts. The title is short for 'New Musical Express' portraying how the magazine specialises in new music acts. The magazine originally had the longer title, however,  in 1978 the title was abbreviated to NME. The reasons for it changing are the new title had a younger, more urban feel to it , reflecting the magazine young, hip target audience. Additionally, it was too long which made the  magazine less eye-catching and punchy.

The masthead/title logo - analyse it.
Every issue of NME has the same structure of the title, with the same title and font used. This is to have a clear branding for the brand and made avid readers know the title format well. The white, sans serif writing is put on a bright red background, making it stand out. This makes it stand out more due to the different colours, meaning people will be more likely to buy it.
Is there a strap line - analyse it.
The strap line is 'the past, present and future of music'. This clearly shows that the magazine is based on music and increases the magazines appeal as it shows it does not have a specific time frame on the music it features meaning both young and old customers will be attracted to the magazine. The strap line also means people into music will have more likelihood of buying it as they will get to know the latest music through the magazine. Its target audience will also be attracted through this strap line as the word 'future' exhibits how the latest, newest music will be featured , something that a  young, hip audience would take an interest in.
What is the main image? Analyse the facial expression, direction of gaze, body language, clothing etc. How does it reach out towards the ideal reader identified above?
The main image is of the lead singer in the band 'Arcade Fire', it is of only his face and he holds a direct glare whilst his facial expression is solemn and serious. This may help reach the target audience as NME often tries to be 'cool' or modern, meaning that a young audience would be attracted to it due to the impression of the picture. The picture maintains as the modern feel through having faded colours throughout it, meaning interest is caused as it is not just a black and white image.
What other images appear on the cover? Why?
Other images on the cover are other band members; however, they are smaller but still have the same colour wash on their faces. They all maintain a serious expression and direct gaze. They could do this to fill space on the front cover and also to show the hole band, so the reader gets to know them better and more interest is caused. The other pictures also help to balance out the front cover, meaning there is not too much focus on the main individual in the band.
What content is promoted by the cover lines?
Other bands the magazine features such as , the 'Arctic Monkeys', and a quote from the main band member is included. Moreover, at the bottom the magazine promises the reader 'insight' into Arcade Fire's new album. This content may be included to allow the reader a direct view of the main stories inside the magazine.
Explain the connotations of typefaces (fonts), graphics, colours etc.
The logo is in white and lies on a red background, meaning it stands out making it more noticeable to the consumer. The red background ensures the magazine is available for both exes, as other colours such as pink would have had connotations with a female market. The font is Sans Serif, mirroring how the magazines is modern and relaxed - it is aimed at a young audience. The colours also help to emphasise the young, quirky feel of the magazine as there is a mixture of colours on the front cover, meaning it will catch a consumer's eye more easily.
What sort of language/language features/language devices can you identify? How does the cover talk to the reader?
The language on the cover is basic, meaning a wide range of individuals will be able to read the front cover easily. A language device used is the phrase 'look into our eyes' surrounding the pictures directly addresses the reader and directs them meaning they are more likely to notice the magazine and also notice the pictures as they are told to look into their 'eyes' - this is how the cover talks to the reader.
Does the cover look similar to other magazines? If so why? What does this magazine offer which rivals don't(i.e. what is its USP)?
No, it does not look similar to other covers of magazines due to the range of colours used on the magazine and the expression of the artists face. I believe its unique selling point is that it features often indie bands meaning it has a specific market, additionally; it is at a cheaper price than other rock music magazines such as , The Rolling Stones.
Is there anything else distinctive about the cover/format (e.g. size)?
The size of the magazine is average , however, the main image on the cover is a lot larger than other magazines, meaning the reader gains the knowledge of who is in the magazine more quickly. The type of photo used also sets it apart from gossip magazines etc. as they are clearly photo-shoot a picture, meaning the magazine comes across as more professional.
INSIDE
How many pages are there?
There are 66 pages inside the magazine.
How many pages of adverts?
14
Categorie the products advertised into types.
Gigs and Tours - there are many concerts and shows advertised throughout the magazine, such as the band 'Foals' doing a sold-out tour. To advertise the tour a picture of the band is usually included, as well as the name of the band and the dates of when they are performing.
New albums/music- musicians advertise new albums coming out such as the band 'Arcade Fire' stating there is a new album out now on the back page
Films - only a few films are advertised in the magazine , on is 'Villager {Awayland}'
Make a list of the features/article topics in the magazine.
'Sounding Off' - where readers report back their views on the previous magazines editions
'On Repeat' - the new weeks essential new 20 tracks
'This Week' - where the magazines states the goings on of that week, and has a main story on rock star Lou Reed. It also holds interviews with other bands and the weekly survey from NME.
'Radar' - a specific part of the magazine dedicated to NME's new band of the week, and other new music out
'Reviews'- where NME reviews new albums, books and gigs
'NME Guide'- where NME directs the reader who to see live and which new artists are playing now
'Think Tank'- crosswords and puzzles
The magazine then features 4 double page spreads on artists
'This Week in...' - shows what was published in the magazine years go, this weeks is 'This Weeks in 1988'
Then a last interview with an artist.
How many double page spreads are there? What are they about?
There are 4 double page spreads and they include the main interviews of bands such as, 'Arcade Fire'. Additionally, the last one is focused on Keith Richard's drug trial in 1978, linking to how the magazine shows the 'past' in music as well.
Are there any 'advertorials' where it is not clear if something is an article or an advert, or a picture of both?
No, the adverts are clear to see as they are mainly gigs an albums and usually on a separate page.
How does the magazine achieve a unified 'house style'? think about language and mode of address, colour schemes, graphical elements etc.
The magazine achieves a unified house style through only using Sans Serif font throughout. Moreover,all features and sections of the magazine are titled in the same black, basic font, meaning the magazine has a unified look. The background throughout, except for adverts, is white, whilst the page numbers are placed at the side in a specific space on each page.
Why is the house style appropriate to the target audience? What assumptions does it imply about the TA?
The house style is appropriate as it is basic and keeps an indie feel throughout the magazine, reflecting how the audience may be like this and also into rock music. Additionally, the sans serif font helps reinforce a modern feel throughout, mirroring how mainly modern and new music is featured throughout.

Magazine Title Ideas

• The Buzz - This name would be suitable as my magazine plans to feature the latest music, the title would reflect this.
• Crush- This name is short and snappy, meaning it would catch the eye easily.
• The Download - This name would be suitable as the magazine is aimed at young people, who often use the internet, this reflect show a younger generation would use the internet to download music. Additionally, it represent how the consumer will get the 'download' of the latest music.
• Reloaded- This title name clearly shows the consumer that the magazine is based on music and how there may be features on past music as well
• The Chase- This represents how the music magazine is always on the 'chase' for the latest music
• The Talk - This magazine title would be suitable as it portrays how the magazine will talk about the latest music in the charts