AS Media Coursework Evaluation: Foundation Portfolio.

AS Media Coursework Evaluation: Foundation Portfolio

For my AS Media coursework, I produced the front cover, contents page and a double page spread of a music magazine. I completed this task on my own, and consequently produced all work, photographs and the article by myself.

My music magazine is based on the genres of independent rock, acoustic and British rock and is consequently a hybrid. These fit into the main genre of “indie,” the conventions of this including; darker colours, acoustic guitars and melodic tunes. My photographs are edited to be darker and this pallet was continued throughout. This was successful as in my feedback, it was said: the “clearness of the photographs along with the different poses of the musician creates a completely different style.”

Conventions of a front cover include a large masthead and one large eye-catching photograph. The only different convention I used was a large intricate italic font on both the masthead and sub-heading of the main story, adding a classic style that compliments the photography. From my feedback, one person said: “The high resolution photo makes it appear to me a highly professional magazine.”

Conventions of a contents page include a large bold title and listed pages, with an editor’s letter to the side. I included the editor’s letter in the list of regulars instead, or the page would’ve been too crowded. I think it was successful as the page continued the themes on from the front cover. This proved successful as one person said the contents page was “brief and precise so you could easily find a page you want.”

A double page spread would include a large, bold heading and different size photographs. In order to create an eye-catching and professional piece of journalism, the text is edited around the photography, which is not usually seen, one person commented with: “I like how the text is shaped around the picture, it is very well written and keeps you reading on.”

The people represented in my magazine are unknown independent artists. They are musicians looking for their break whilst they perform live in underground UK venues and all the artists I have included are British. The overall image of the artists is positive in order to promote their music. The appearance of the featured artist is a dominant representation; he is very smart, giving credit to himself and the magazine. The spoken dialogue from the artist is also very positive, he comes across as a very down to earth person which is appealing to the audience. This is a very dominant representation of the indie generation and is therefore also a stereotype. By keeping to the conventions, I received a positive feedback from the audience by claiming that the journalism keeps you reading on about this particular artist.

Similar magazines to my own include NME and Q, two leading independent rock, music magazines. Q is published by the Bauer Media Group, a German company whereas NME is published by IPC Media, a company based in the United Kingdom. I think IPC Media would be most likely to fund my own magazine as it is more similar to NME. Both include independent artists and features on live gigs, therefore they appeal to one particular audience which is one of the largest out there at the moment. Although the basis of the magazines are similar, mine has a different edge as is based on the more underground based bands, instead of those based on a festival stage. Mine focuses on students, possibly going to their student union and seeing the magazine and becoming interested. The publisher may think it will make a profit as it focuses a younger generation, not quite focused on by other magazines such as NME.

The audience is of any gender, female admirers and male musicians. The age range is from 14 – 21, as this is when young people have the strongest in interest in music. The magazine is aimed at those of British Nationality, as it is based in the underground venues of Manchester. The magazine is more likely to be read by those who have the lifestyle of the stereotypical indie student, their ethnicity is does not matter. The magazine is more likely to be bought by those students who are financially stable and those especially interested in music. As this particular audience is so large and variable, the magazine should stay financially stable with something in it for everyone. One participant in my audience feedback said that “The magazine is about independent music full of artists with free reign over content of their work as they aren’t being told what to do by a mainstream label.” Therefore, I achieved my aim.

An audience of an indie music magazine would usually expect interviews, reviews and gigs. The front cover would usually include one large, eye-catching, edited photograph. On a contents page, there is an easy to read page listing and the article should include impressive photography and journalism. 

I wanted a unique title so I decided on “Underground,” the connotations of this including unknown artists that play in underground venues. The main photograph is an extreme close-up of a young man’s face, with side lighting to create the impression of a double personality and depth. The mise en scene of this photograph is his face, a simple pose, in colour on a black background so his eyes are the focus point. I have made the right side of his face fade into the background, an attracting, abstract piece of photography.

On my contents page I chose to use well known artists that appeal to the indie genre. The layout of the contents page was very simple, one large photograph, a large heading, three big article summaries and a small list of regular, including very formal but journalistic language.

The layout of the double page spread article was unique, set on a black background, there is a large heading in bold while italics, following by the article. On the right is the artist and his guitar, the background of this image has been removed so it blends into the black. The article includes information about an upcoming artist, their inspiration and their live performances. The language used is very professional and mature, to create a well flowing and attractive piece of journalism.

The main ideology I used was that of unknown, underground bands which appeals to a very specific audience. Overall, the appearance of this article is abstract, not what would usually be expected. As it is all in black and white, the theme is continued created a unique but flowing article.

Technology helped me to produce a successful and professional magazine through editing techniques. The internet also helped me as it allowed me to record a blog of my progress throughout each stage. Adobe Photoshop CS3 allowed me to edit, crop and adapt the photographs taken on the digital camera, of which I used the rule of thirds mode to help create interesting photography. Adobe InDesign CS3 then allowed me to produce the front cover, contents page and double page spread in the exact same way as those already on the market, in a very professional way. The only alterations were made at the end, when the editing of the image on the front cover did not match the background.

For my preliminary task, I completed a front cover for a college magazine and a draft of a possible contents page. My final product was a huge improvement as when I completed my preliminary, I was not as skilled using technology, therefore later on, I had more experience. When looking through my audience feedback, one person commented on how “The high resolution photographs makes it appear to be a professional magazine.” This shows the progression from preliminary to final. It included much more interesting photography and a much more eye-catching front cover, therefore conveying the skills I have learnt.

In conclusion, I am very happy with my final product. It represents the right people and kind of music for the chosen genre and gives off very positive ideas. The photography is abstract and interesting and the article is a flowing and successful piece of journalism. The photography is definitely a key strength as the abstract images create a dark and mysterious mood very early on in the magazine, establishing a theme for the rest of the publication. I think that my final product is very close to being a real publication, as it is a very professional and well constructed piece of media, similar to those on the market today.

My Final Product.

Here are the final prints of my music magazine;




This is my front cover, stylish and sophisitcated yet still inkeeping with the conventions of the genre of Indie.

This is my contents page, already a continous theme of indie and this particular artist has been formed.

Finally, this is my double page spread, featuring a 1000 word article complete with photographs.

My Preliminary Task.

During research I was given a preliminary task; to create the front cover and contents page of a college magazine. This would give me essential experience using the tools needed, Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Adobe Indesign CS3, whilst also letting me explore the conventions of a magazine in more detail.

When planning my preliminary, I wanted to portray the stress and pressure most students feel. Exams can make students angry, or in some cases upset and during my photography sessions, I captured the photograph (featured left, on my final cover) which I think portrayed these emotions perfectly. This front cover portrays two teenage boys, one feeling extreme anger and the other feeling extreme anxiety/sadness. Looking closely at the title, "frustrated" is in red, as red represents all emotions and actions surrounding anger whereas "upset"is associated with tears and therefore the colour blue. The masthead is in the top left corner, in a bold but fancy white in order to attract the eye. Underneath is the date, the issue and as it is a college magazine, it also states that it is free. The black background allows the faces of the two young men to stand out, attracting our eyes towards them. In the bottom right corner of the page is a smaller photograph, of teenagers socialising followed by a small summary of the article. The title of this description is in bold white italics to stand out on the white background. After producing this front cover, I then needed to create a rough draft of a plausible contents page, suitable for a college magazine. The headline is larg and eyecatching whilst the page itself is "busy" and if created, would be full of colour. I thought it was suitable to include a letter from the principle, as in most magazines a letter from the editor is featured on the contents page. Down the right hand side is an easy to read contents list, consisting of the page number and a small summary of the article, resulting in a easy-to-read choosing process. In the bottom left corner is a larger summary of the main article, portrayed on the front cover of the preliminary magazine, complete with large photograph. As in most magazines, located in the bottom right hand corner, a competition. To add a sense of "community" to the page, it is covered in photographs of students, lessons and the premises which not only create a friendly and inviting atmosphere to the page, but also add large amounts of colour, attracting the readers eye.

What did I learn from completing the preliminary task?
By creating my own front cover and contents page, I learnt more about the conventions needed to make them successful and also gained experience in using the programmes involved. For example, I have learnt new tools whilst using Adobe Photoshop CS3 and Adobe Indesign CS3, such as selecting particular objects and separating them from the original image then transferring it onto a plain background, which can be seen on my preliminary front cover.

Research - Music Magazine Double Page Spread Analysis.

The final part of this particular analysis was to look in more detail at double page spreads, particularly in a music magazine. In this particular case, I have analysed a double page spread from NME magazine in order to explore these conventions in more detail:

(Click the image below to enlarge).



What have I learnt from this particular analysis?
After looking in more detail at the conventions of a double page article, I have learnt the following things. Bold and bright colours are essential for attracting the eye and keeping the reader interested. Small side panels and boxes add extra information to the page and also add variety. Articles usually include small quotes by the musicians and sometimes these are highlighted in bold/colour and stand out from the rest of the interview. When producing my own double page spread, I will take these particular conventions into consideration in order to create a successful article.

Research - Music Magazine Contents Page Analysis.

Following on from my previous analysis of the front cover, I have also decided to look in more detail at contents pages, as later on in my project I will aim to create one for a successful music magazine. In order to do so, I needed to explore the particular conventions involved:

(Click the image below to enlarge).



What have I learnt from this particular analysis?
After looking in more depth at the conventions of a contents page, I have a clearer idea of what to include later on in my project. I've learnt that content pages should not be too over-crowded, as the main aim is to easily find and locate a particular desired page. I've also learnt that although simplicty is key, bold words and colourful photography add detail and attraction than it being just a mere list of pages.

Research - Music Magazine Front Cover Analysis.

As a part of my research, I thought it was crucial to develop my understanding of front covers further. Therefore I have taken a 2008 issue of "Clash" and analysed it in detail:

(Click the image below to enlarge).



What have I learnt from analysing this particular front cover?
By looking at this issue of "Clash", I've learnt what extra features can attract readers. For example, adding a free "gift" attracts more buyers as it seems they are getting more than what they paid for, something extra. I have also learnt that symmetrical layouts involving colour, pattern and layout can create a positive and attractive front cover and that using and brighter colours creates an eye-catching contrast.

Research - NME, through the ages.

As a part of my research I have chosen to look in more detail at how progression over time can change and edit a magazine. The magazine that could be considered most similar to my own is The New Musical Express, most commonly known as NME, therefore I will analyse two

different NME front covers from different time periods.

The first issue I will analyse was released on the 14th November 1981, 29 years after the magazine was founded. To differentiate between "then" and "now", we can firstly take a look at the price. This issue cost 30p, by todays standards this is considerably cheap, showing the imminent change in the economy. As you can see, it is a plain & basic front cover featuring just one band; "The Fall," an old Alternative Indie band. In the eighties, NME was printed on material similar to broadsheet hence the simplicity. The colours are mainly from the black to white pallet, although red is used for the masthead and sub-titles to stand out and attract readers. Although the photography is simple, the rule of thirds has been put into place. The black and white photograph of "The Fall" frontman is in the bottom right, and middle right third. As the rest of the space is unoccupied, bar a few shadows, the eye is pulled to look at his particular outline in the image. The sub-titles are very simple, up to five words summarising the story, for example; "Hendrix Blog." However, although this differs hugely to todays NME, it continued to be popular as it is still in circulation.

This is a much more modern edition of NME, dated 27th July 2007, 55 years after the ma gazine was originally published in 1962. The price of the magazine was £2.10 (as today's economy is ever changing, the current price in 2009 is £2.20, a ten pence increase). The most obvious difference to the previous analysis, is colour. This issue is a summer issue, emphasised by the use of brighter colours (pink, light blue and yellow) which represent brightness, for example summer is associated with bright skys. The main photograph features in colour, here the artists are wearing bright clothes to keep to the genre of summer. Sub-titles are in bold or colour, with a small description underneath so the reader knows exactly what they are buying. These sub-titles are the names of bands or festivals/gigs that feature within the magazine. NME sometimes features story photographs under the sub-title, however as this is a "busy" and "bright" front cover, the use of simple words is enough to attract the reader. The masthead is similar to the previous analysis, however it is brighter and bolder, showing the changes in the media over periods of time.