Analysis of "Q" contents page

I have also analysed the contents page from a recent edition of "Q" magazine to gather some more ideas.

Page One
























Page Two























The contents page of "Q" magazine spreads over two A4 pages. Distributing the information in this way makes the magazine look less hectic and more leisurely to read. On both pages 'white space' has been used to break up the information and to give the page a clean, glossy appearance, therefore it is likely to appeal to an 'up-market' audience as it looks very professional.

The header "Q Contents" has been placed at the centre top of both pages where it draws the most attention, making navigation of the magazine simple and stress-free. The colours that have been selected for the title are grey and black, again giving the page a minimalistic, professional, polished appearance.

A number of attractive photographs have been used on both pages to break down the large amounts of text and to make the page look eye-catching. Particularly on the first page, the images help to draw in the readers eye because bright colours are included in the shot, for example the photograph of the orange fire has been positioned in the centre of the first page where it will captivate the readers attention, hopefully influencing them to read on.

Another aspect of the photographs which will interest the target audience are the people who the magazine has chosen to feature in them. On the first page, all of the photographs are of the popular rock group "Kings Of Leon", the same band that features on the front page of this issue. People who buy this magazine are likely to be fans of the band, so by continuing their coverage throughout the contents page, the audience will be able to see the kinds of articles "Q" has covered them in. If fans of the band believe the magazine has a substantial amount of coverage on them, they will be more likely to purchase the magazine. The second page of contents holds a large photograph of indie/alternative band "The Killers". This image dominates the page, and stands out against the plain white background. Fans of the music genre the magazine covers are almost certain to instantly recognise the lead singer, and because the band is so popular and well-liked, this photo is likely to appeal to a large audience.

The font used on the contents page is simple and easy to read, so the navigation of the magazine is kept easy and stress-free. Most of the text is black, giving it maximum impact against the white background. Some text has been highlighted in a paler grey/blue colour, to make the page appear a bit more colourful and interesting. Text printed in this colour however has also been made larger in size so that it remains easy to read, due to it being slightly paler.

The two sub-headings "On the cover" and "Q review" have been capitalized and written in a bold, black font so that they are noticeable to the reader. The titles of the different articles have also been capitalized and made larger for the same reason. Again this allows the reader to identify the articles and sections that interest them most with ease.

In the bottom right corner of both pages there are two examples of double-page spreads featured inside the magazine. This provides the audience with a visual idea of what the magazine will contain, and if they are fond of it's interior appearance, they will want to buy it. I personally find this aspect of the contents page particularly appealing as it helps to break up large amounts of text whilst giving it a sophisticated, specialized feel.

Analysis of "Q" double-page spread

I have also analysed a double-page spread from "Q" magazine to gather more ideas for the content of my own magazine.























Much like the double page spread that I analysed from the "NME", this double page spread has been set out with text on the left hand page and a large digital photograph taking up all of the right hand side page. This suggests that the photograph is a main feature of this article.

Dark colours have been used on both pages, leaving no 'white space' unlike on the contents page. The dark colours are appropriate to how the band are being presented in the photograph. The headline reads "Step into Rock'n'rolls own fight club", and the band have been made to look battered and bruised with the use of make up. The dark colour scheme suits how the image will impact the audience. Bright, cheerful colours would be unsuitable.

The font used on the left hand side page is coloured in white and yellow so that it stands out against the dark background. The headline and sub-heading are yellow so that they are distinguishable against the main body of text. The font is clear and easy to read, which will appeal to the audience.

The name of the band featured in the article has been placed in the top left hand corner of the left hand side page in grey writing. This colour of font does not stand out against the black background, and although it is clear enough to read, it is not particularly eye-catching. This suggests that the magazine would expect it's readers to recognise the band from the photograph alone, conveying the message that "Q" believe they are targeting an audience who have a genuine and passionate interest in the genre of music it covers.

The way that "Kings Of Leon" have been represented in the photograph reflects the style of music that they produce. The band covers the genre of rock, and therefore have been made to look tough and strong. This is shown through their dominating, masculine stances, their worn clothing and by the fake cuts and bruises on their faces and bodies. This also connotes power, as the band are currently relishing great success in the official music charts.

I personally think that the way the page has been laid out looks very professional, a lot of information is being given without the page looking too over-crowded. The photograph is very effective, the fact that it takes up a whole page compliments the written article as it is apparent that a lot has time has been spent producing it. In some magazines it can look cheap if photographs are made too large and dominate the text, however the picture on this double-spread maintains the magazines classy, sophisticated image.

Analysis of "NME" contents page

The accompanying task to the one mentioned in the previous post is to construct a contents page for my own music magazine. I have analysed a contents page from an issue of "NME" to see what features my own magazine of a similar genre could include.


The main colours used on this contents page are black, white and red. The background has been left white so that the page does not look too busy, as there is a lot of information displayed on it. Most of the text is black, or in the case of headings and sub-headings, white against a black text box. The latter technique makes the headings stand out against the plain white background, as the black text box separates it from the other text. The magazines title "NME" has been coloured red in the top left hand corner of the page, making it very eye-catching. The page numbers have also been coloured red so that they are easy to see, making navigation through the magazine simple.

The fonts that have been used are all very clear, bold and easy to read to draw in the audience. The main heading "NME This Week" has been capitalised, as have the sub-headings along the right hand side of the page. This makes them very noticeable which is important as they are some of the most important features on the page. The headline underneath the photograph is written in plain, bold black writing, and has been enlarged to make it conspicuous. The small section below this heading has been taken from an article inside the magazine. Captivating the readers interest to the story featured in the contents page will encourage them to buy the magazine to find out more. The first letter of this text has been drop-capped, making the presentation appear stylish and refined.

The photograph has been placed in the centre of the page and has been made large enough to dominate the surrounding text, so the readers attention is immediately drawn to the accompanying article. This is an important technique as many fans of this music genre would be interested in the featured article. The man in the photo is represented as being calm and peaceful, which reflects the content of the article it accompanies. The black and white colour scheme makes it look polished and classy, which would appeal to genuine fans of the music genre he was associated with.

In the bottom left hand side of the page is a box containing information of how to subscribe to "NME" magazine. This advert is very eye-catching as it's colour scheme does not match that of the rest of the page. The background of the advert is black so that it can be easily seen against the white page, and sections of the writing have been highlighted in bright yellow, which is very apparent against the other black text. Two front covers of previous issues have been used within the article, and because they have been printed in colour, they stand out against the pages main colour scheme of black and white. Making this advert as eye-catching as possible is important as this is where most readers will get the information of how to subscribe to the magazine. The more people that subscribe, the more money the magazine will make.

Analysis of "NME" double-page spread

As part of this main task I am required to produce a double-page spread that could be part of my own contemporary music magazine. To gain inspiration for the content of these pages, I have analysed a spread from the "NME" magazine, as my own magazine will be presented in a comparable stlye and will be aimed at a similar target audience.























This spread has been set out with the main body of text on the left hand side page and a large photograph on the right hand page. The photograph dominates the article, and is the first thing the reader is drawn to.

The colour scheme is very attractive, with the background reflecting the look of a sunset. This gives the article a calming appearance, which will influence the mood of the audience when they read it.

The font main font colour that has been used is black because it is easy to read against the brightly coloured background. However the band's name "The Killers" written in the strap line is coloured yellow. Because it is against a pink section of the sunset background, this makes it stand out against the other text, reflecting it's importance as it informs the audience who the featured band are, although "NME" would most likely assume their fans could tell this from the photograph and headline.

The headline accompanying the article has been situated in the top left hand corner of the spread where it can be easily seen. It has been written in large, bold, black letters in a very clear font. These features make it very striking, which will draw the reader into the article. The title "Only Human" can instantly be linked to the band as their new single is called "Human". A quote from the lead singer of the band has also been enlarged and made bold on the left page. The audience will read this quote and if the content interests them, they will continue to read it.

The magazine have chosen to feature "The Killers" lead singer in the main photograph as he is the member of the band the audience are most likely to recognise, and is therefore most likely to capture their attention. He has been represented as calm, looking as though he is philosophising. A philosophical feel is also created by the model of the child's head that he is holding, which can also be linked to the name of their new single "Human". This fits in with the image of the band, as their music is known for containing unusual but very meaningful lyrics. The image has clearly been edited, giving it a clean, professional feel. Many of the photographs contained in "NME" show artists it natural environments, and do not usually look too polished. This makes the image used in this double spread particularly eye-catching against others in the issue. This suggests that this is one of the key articles inside the magazine, as it would appear that more time has been spent over its appearance.

I personally find this double page spread very effective. One of my favourite aspects is the brightly coloured background as this really caught my attention when I was looking through the magazine myself. I also think the photograph has been very well put together which is something I find of great importance, as I like to know that time has been spent by the institution to make the magazine look appealing to the audience.

Foundation Portfolio - Main Task

Produce the front page, contents and double page spread of a new music magazine, using a minimum of four original images.


For the main task of my foundation portfolio, I must create a front page, contents page and a double page spread of a new, contemporary music magazine. To develop my ideas, I have applied the 'LIIAR' model to the genre of magazine I am going to produce. I decided to use the music magazines "NME" and "Q" as models to gain inspiration for my own magazine. Therefore, I have also researched how the following five features apply to these magazines.


"NME"

Language - The way that my magazine is presented will greatly influence how it will appeal to my target audience. Part of the criteria for this task is that I must produce at least four original images, which will feature modern "bands" that I will construct and design using models. "NME" use photographs of bands which will appeal to the target audience. If people like the way that the bands have been represented on the cover, they will be likely to buy the magazine. The writing this particular edition of "NME" magazine has used is bold and eye-catching, for example the above cover features the band name "The Killers" in large lettering so that it has the maximum visual impact. This front cover looks quite busy as it features three photographs and quite a lot of text, however this gives the audience an insight into what is going to be inside the magazine and will persuade new fans to buy it.

Institution - The publisher of the "NME" magazine is "IPC", the UK's leading magazine publisher. According to their website, 'Almost two in every three UK women and over 45% of UK men read an IPC magazine.'

Ideology - "NME is a British weekly music magazine. Featuring agenda-setting news, the UK's most comprehensive gig guide, definitive reviews of the week's hottest gigs, tracks and albums, and fiery comment from the nation's most opinionated writers, it's the essential guide to the week in music." The ideology behind the "NME" music magazine is to inform the target audience of current issues and events in the world of contemporary indie/rock music, to promote this genre of music, and to entertain readers whilst doing so. The magazine also focuses on promoting new bands as well as ones that are more established. My own music magazine will have a very similar ideology. Because my magazine will feature the same genre of music, the ways of promoting and informing the audience will comparable to that of "NME".

Audience - Much like "NME", my magazine will be designed for people aged from older teenagers to young adults, although it could be enjoyed by anyone who enjoys the specified genre of music, although this is the age group that are most likely to purchase it on a regular basis. According to the IPC media pack for "NME", 70% of the people who buy the magazine are male, and the average reader age is 24 years old. The magazine also succeeds in attracting people of higher economic stature, as 65% of buyers and within the ABC1 model. Furthermore, 65% of people who view the magazines website, "nme.com" are male, and 50% are aged between 16 and 24. These statistics reflect the people who would be most likely to buy my magazine of the same genre.

Representation - The way that social groups are represented in a media product has a huge influence on the types of people who will buy the product. The main way to represent different groups of people in magazines is through digital photographs. In "NME" magazines the photographs are of well known bands and artists of the indie/rock music genre. Most of the photographs are made to look very natural, and often feature the artists playing in concert. However the main photograph on the front cover usually looks much more polished, for example the photograph on the above issue has clearly been carefully planned and edited.




"Q"

Language - The dominant feature of "Q" magazines front cover are the impressive photographs, for which the magazine is known. The limited palette of colours used on the front page opposite makes the magazine look professional, therefore the magazine is more likely to attract people of a higher economic model. We can also tell that the magazine is confident that it's audience will recognize it from it's style alone, as the logo is being partially covered by the band in the photograph. The writing is kept minimalistic, as the main impact is made through the photograph. However the text that has been used is very simple and bold, the main headline "Kings Of Leon" breakthrough has been placed in the centre of the cover where it will attract the most attention. All of these features make the magazine look like specialist product, which will have a great impact on the type of people who will buy it.

Institution - The company responsible for publishing this magazine is "Bauer." It is Europe's largest privately owned publishing group, and is responsible for publishing over 230 magazines covering a wide spectrum of genres.

"Since launch in 1986, Q has been the UK’s best selling music monthly magazine. With its unrivaled access it has delivered the world’s biggest music stars every month. 2008 sees Q herald a bold new creative vision widening its parameters to include the world outside music. Seeing life through the lens of music, it draws references from the world of sport, comedy, film and even politics."
www.bauermedia.co.uk/Brands/Q/

Ideology - The ideology behind this magazine, much like the "NME", is to inform the target audience of current happenings in the genres of music it covers, to promote the bands and artists within these genres and entertain its readers. The magazine has an extensive review section covering new releases, live concerts, film, radio and television. This suggests that one of the main aims of the magazine is to persuade it's audience to consume these different products. This magazine also features more well-known bands that are already well established, rather than promoting new ones.

Audience - "Q" magazine features bands of a similar genre to "NME", however they also feature more 'classic' bands and artists such as "Oasis" and "Coldplay", therefore this magazine is also likely to attract an older audience.

"Open minded experience seekers, the Q audience don’t define themselves by the music they listen to. Music is an important passion, but their love of music will never be to the detriment of their other passions, such as film, sport and comedy."
www.bauermedia.co.uk/Brands/Q/

Representation - Physically, "Q" has a more 'polished' appearance that "NME". Although it does contain natural photographs of artists performing at gigs, a higher proportion of the photographs have been taken withing studios and professionally edited. A large part of "Q" magazine's identity is it's unique cover photographs. For example on the above front cover, the featured band are seen jumping through a field of broken glass. The picture creates excitement whilst giving the magazine a specialized feel.

Evaluation of "In The Know" magazine

In what ways does your Media product use,
develop or challenge forms and conventions of
real media products?

My magazine follows the conventions of a real, professional product of the same medium. The front cover includes conventional aspects such as an edited photograph, a headline, a masthead, a sub-heading, a bar code and the price.

How does your Media product represent
particular social groups?

The social group that has been represented in my media product is young students. They have been represented through still photographs, all of which I took and edited myself. I wanted to portray the people in my photograph as relaxed, happy and enjoying their time at Wyke, as the primary aim of my magazine is to promote the college. I feel that I achieved this as the students are smiling and appear cheerful and comfortable.

My photographs show students both socializing and studying within the college. I decided to use a mixture of locations and situations because I wanted to show the audience that Wyke is an environment for both work and one in which you can meet up with and make new friends.

What kind of Media institution might distribute
your media product and why?

The institution that would distribute my product would be Wyke College, as the magazine is designed to inform students, parents and staff about things going on around the college.

Who would be the audience for your Media
product?

The audience for my magazine would be quite wide, including current students, their parents, prospective students and staff.

How did you attract/address your audience?

I used a variety of techniques to make my magazine appealing to my wide target audience. I wanted my magazine to look professional so I used a limited pallet of colours that complimented each other to keep the design simple, not over-complicated. I found that this made the magazine seem more mature and would therefore also be suitable for parents and staff. I used bold lettering to make the masthead and headline stand out, so that my audience would find it eye-catching. Another technique that I used to draw in the audience was to give short snippets of the articles inside the magazine on the front cover so that they would want to buy the magazine to find out more. I found that this technique was used on a lot of the other magazines I looked at as part of my research.

What have you learnt about technologies from
the process of constructing this product?

Producing the magazine has taught me a lot about the processes institutions must go through when producing this kind of media product. I used quite a wide variety of software to produce my magazine, and one of the most time consuming processes was editing the photographs, which a lot of thought and consideration went into. I feel this preliminary task has made me more aware of how important a high quality photograph is to the appearance of the front cover.

Looking back at the preliminary task, what do
you feel you have learnt in the progression
from it to the full product?

I have found this preliminary exercise very useful as I am now aware of the codes and conventions magazines must follow, therefore I have a foundation of ideas to inspire me when I go on to produce the larger section of this coursework. I have also learnt some new techniques to edit photographs using photoshop which I did not know about before. In addition to this I have broadened my understanding of technical terminology and have learnt some useful pointers to bear in mind when taking photographs, such as framing.

Finished product - front cover and contents page of new Wyke College magazine