OCR – Level 3 Cambridge Introductory Diploma in

Media

Unit 13: Planning and Pitching a Print based Media

Product P3 Evidence

Name: Emily ThompsonCandidate Number: 6107Center Name: St. Andrew’s Catholic SchoolCenter Number: 64135

Set Brief - Print

Project/Brief –

Music Magazine & Promotion

Title Slide

Magazine Proposal 1 3

Magazine Proposal 2 4

Hand Drawn Drafts – First Idea 5

Hand Drawn Drafts – Second Idea 6

Graphic Layout – Front Cover 7

Graphic Layout – DPS 8

Photoshop Trial Versions 9 - 10

Sample Materials 11

Magazines Market Place 12

House Style of the Magazine 13

Demographics 14

Spending Power 15

Survey Analysis 16 – 21

Interview Analysis 22 – 23

Front Cover Drafts 24– 25

DPS Drafts 26 -27

Magazine Flat Plan 28

Image Plan 29

Location Images 30

Final Images 31

Interview Draft Planning 32

Production Process Corrections 33

Draft Article 34

Conclusion 35

Contents Page:

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Magazine Proposal 1”

This is the first magazine proposal that I created. I wanted to ensure that there was lots of detail in the planning so I could I use these ideas for a final product. Some of the areas that I included in the proposal included the format, working title, genre, content, style or approach, audience and length. By including this amount of detail and looking into the smaller ideas I am able to visualise the final magazine.This first concept looked an indie music magazine that was inspired by Q Magazine. The plan was to create a high professional standard of a magazine including lots of images, text and free content.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Magazine Proposal 2”

For this second magazine proposal I wanted to look more at the diversity of content rather than the detail within the magazine. For this magazine the plan portrayed an informal style that would be consistent throughout the magazine. This style was outlined in detail in the sections of the proposal including, content and style and approach. Because of the large quantity of detail that was included in the proposal it made it easier to visualise the magazine as a final product.This magazine idea generation was inspired by ‘Wire’ magazine, a popular informative magazine that focusses on the smaller artists in the industry whilst also providing entertaining content.

Double Page Spread Draft:The main interview and information about the artist is on the left hand side of the page and the image is on the right. This was chosen because when the page is turned the image will be the first thing that is seen on the page, this can spark interest for the reader and they will want to look through the article to find the purpose of the image. A quote from the interview has also been overlaid this is because within the quote will be something interesting or funny that is taken from the interview. This will connote to the reader that the article is easy to read and includes interesting features that will be enjoyable.Another feature is an image of an artist within the columns of text. This was inserted so it separates the text and makes the page look more aesthetically pleasing. It can also connote to the reader the personal nature of the article as it is a close up of the artist with informal body language.

Front Cover Draft:The magazines logo and strapline feature in the top left hand corner, this will be a repeat feature for each issue of the magazine. Additionally this is similar to the barcode, the information within the barcode will be the same, however this may move positions dependant on each edition of the magazine and the image of the front cover artist.One feature that had to be chosen accordingly was the main headline and the cover lines, it was essential that they could be easily seen from a distance but did not cover the image of the front cover artist. The main headline was placed on the right hand side of the page, just under the artists head, this was so it did not take away any ‘star appeal’ – (Richard Dyer). The quote from the interview, as part of the main headline was placed above as this was in a smaller font so could fit in the smaller place next to the artist.Additionally on the right hand side of the artist are the cover lines. These were placed on the right so the front cover does not look too text heavy and overpower the reader. They will be in a thinner column and a smaller font than the main headline.Finally the puff promotion is at the top of the page opposite the main masthead/logo. The purpose of placing this here is to attract the eye because when readers turn the page they typically turn with this corner. The circle shape has also been chosen to stand out the rest of the text which is placed in a square/rectangular format.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Hand Drawn Drafts – First Idea”

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Hand Drawn Drafts –Second Idea”

Front Cover Draft:These are the hand drawn drafts for the second proposal. By drawing up the ideas for the layout of the magazine this enables me to configure which aspects look best and what could be changed.For the front cover I wanted the logo/masthead to be in the same place as the first proposal. Additionally I kept the main image of the artist centre to the page so it would be the main attention grabbing feature.With this draft for the second proposal I wanted to experiment with moving some of the main aspects of the magazine around. The most noticeable on this front cover was the ‘puff promotion’, I changed the colour to match the house style and also placed it under the main logo, this is so it can be seen easier.For the main headline I wanted it to be close to the centre of the page, therefore I made sure that it was not overshadowed by any other text and placed it further away from the cover lines and the headline quote.

Double Page Spread Draft:For the double page spread draft I kept the main headline and the stand first in the same place, this is because I felt it was the most affective way to draw the readers attention. Underneath these I placed the main image, this means that when the reader turns the page the image of the artist will be the first thing that they will see. The main bulk of text, including the information about the artist and interview was placed on the right hand side of the page. This was so all the information could be found in one place and it is easier for the reader to understand.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching - “Graphic Layout” Front Covers

Before creating the pages on Photoshop I created a graphic layout of both the front cover and double page spread. These have enabled me to gain a more accurate representation for the sizes of different elements of the pages. I feel that this is more helpful than the hand drawn drafts as I am able to control the overlay of certain columns and boxes over the main image.For the front cover I felt that a positive of creating this page was being able to organise the final layout for text elements such as the main headline and the cover line. This is because it was important that they do not cover too much of the main image that will take away ‘star appeal’ (Richard Dyer).

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching - “Graphic Layout” DPS

For the double page spread I felt that by recreating this page the most helpful aspect of Photoshop was organising the sizing and spacing of the main text interview columns. I found this difficult as they all have to be the same size and have even spacing in-between so that the magazine does not look irregular. The Photoshop tool, ‘ruler’ enabled me to correct this problem and increase my accuracy.

This is the style of image that will be used on the first idea of the DPS. It is less personal but has good use of props.

This is the type of image that will be used for the second idea of the DPS. It is more of a personal and up close with the artist. It will make the reader feel as if they personally know them.

First concept for ‘V’ magazine.

First concept for ‘Now’ magazine.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching - “Photoshop Trial Versions – Front Cover”

This mock up of the ‘Now’ front cover has the typical features of a music magazine such as the cover lines and evidence of technical convergence.One of the positive features of this magazine front cover is the clear and concise magazine masthead, this can be seen easily because of the contrasting background colours.However I feel that there are some negative aspects of this front cover. This is due to the fact that there is a large spectrum of colours, this can be very distracting to the eye and take attention away from the more important features.Additionally I feel that the main headline could have been placed lower down the page, this is because it takes away the importance of the masthead

I decided to test the magazine proposal ideas therefore I created a Photoshop version for each magazine proposal. This will help me decide which will appeal to the target audience and demographic the most by looking at features such as colour scheme and text.

This was the first attempt at using Adobe Photoshop to create trial versions for both magazines. I first created the concept of V Magazine, I tried to stick to the simple colour scheme of white, blue and black this is so it would look professional and a high standard.A positive of this magazine trial version was that the cover lines were very prominent, the variety of colours is very eye-catching and could benefit the promotion of further articles within the magazine. However I feel that a background will need to be added as the blank white background is very plain and boring.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching - “Photoshop Trial Versions - DPS”

I also decided to create the double spread versions for the Photoshop trials. This enabled me to gain inspiration for what the final product of both concepts may look like.

I first created the Volume Magazine Photoshop concept, I needed to ensure that the house style stayed the same that was originally planned and this was consistent throughout the whole spread. Additionally I wanted to insert one of the trial images that could be used for the page, I had to edit this image beforehand and then insert it onto the page by cropping it down to size. I feel that this image works well as it is not too overpowering as to not take away the attention away from the other features on the page. The only negative aspect of this double page spread was there was a lot of empty blank space at the bottom of the page. However this could be filled with other features later on such as technical convergence.

The second concept was for Now Magazine, I wanted to make sure that I included features of a typical indie genre music magazine, such as a stand first, drop capital and interview quote. The house style of this magazine was the colours black, green and pink. One of the positive features of this double page spread I feel is the evidence of brand promotion, compared to my other magazine trial version there is a logo just before the main article. I feel that this is a strong aspect as it reminds the reader of the magazine and where they can find the most interesting content.However I feel that a disadvantage of this cover is the main image is not as attention grabbing as it should be, this takes away the ‘star appeal’ (Richard Dyer) of the artist. This could be fixed by getting rid of some of the other attention drawing features such as the interview quote.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching - “Sample Materials – First Version”

After creating the graphic layouts and the hand drawn drafts I decided that I would start to create one of the concepts for the magazine pages in Adobe Photoshop.These are the first attempts at using Photoshop and combining some of the elements together such as, sample photographs, font and text.

For the front cover I wanted the artist to be in the centre of the page as shown on my previous drafts, therefore I have made sure that he is centre by using the ruler tool. Additionally I had inserted some sample headlines and cover lines to view what the final page will look like, I need to make sure that these do not cover his face and take away ‘star appeal’ – (Richard Dyer).

I also produced a first version Photoshop sample for the double page spread. I experimented with changing the positioning of the main headline and the stand first. I also inserted a sample image that will look similar to the final version. By doing this it will help me to improve my work gradually and self improve the covers, this will produce the highest and most professional front cover and double page spread possible.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Magazine’s Market Place”

Additionally another method of gaining a higher readership than the competitors is by reducing the price but offering the same amount and depth of content. Therefore the Magazine’s start up price will be £2.49. Once a higher readership has been gained the price will be raised slightly.

Competitor Indie Genre Music Magazines

The magazine being new on the market will have to compete with previous competitors who have been in the publishing industry for years. This means that the magazine will have to have some unique selling point that will attract a variety of readers that can ensure popularity for years to come.

One of the ways that that the magazine will be marketed is through the high quality and the unique content that is going to be published. Most of the advertising for the magazine in the first start up years will be generated through social media and competitions.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “House Style of the Magazine”

When creating the ideas for the magazine it was important to include details on the house style. In each proposal there was an outline on what is going to be included in the magazine and repeat features such as the colour schemes and logos.

Masthead:When creating the masthead for the magazine I felt that it needed to be similar to the main colour scheme. Therefore I felt that I could create something similar to that of Q Magazine’s logo. Therefore the logo will feature one solid colour of royal blue and then have white writing for the text. I would like to use effects such as the emboss tool, this will make the masthead stand out and capture the readers attention.

Colour Scheme:For Volume magazine part of the house style is the colour scheme. This has been chosen as a royal blue with simple colours such as white and black. The blue colour will connote to the reader the professionalism of the magazine whilst also keeping it individual from its other competitors in the music magazine industry. Throughout the magazine the colour scheme will be continued on every page, this will demonstrate consistency.

Demographics of Q Readers – Socio-Economic NeedsTarget Audience

Source: http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/magazines/detail/Q

Source: http://ncrafts.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/socio-economic-needs.png

Before looking at the needs of the target audience for Volume Magazine, I wanted to look at its main competitor, Q Magazine. This meant that I could look for weak areas where they are losing readership and incorporate new ideas and use this to better V Magazine.

- Age- Gender- Class- Ethnicity- Self-image- Nation- Family

The target audience and readership of Q Magazine according to the socio-economic need chart has a high 70% of readers that are in the boundary A, B and C1. This means that they have a high disposable income and are more likely to lead opinions within a group, known as an Explorer, in accordance with Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs. Statistically Q Magazine has the second highest ABC1 out of the whole men’s magazine market from 2012-2013. Source:http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/uploads/QMediaPack-Feb2013.pdf

With reference to Hartley’s 7 Subjectivities this chart illustrates that the percentage demographic of readers are male aged 15-24 years old, the calculated median age is 32 years old.

The high proportion of male readers is due to the fact that articles within the magazine largely feature male dominated bands and singers.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Spending Power”

For Volume magazine I have to predict the target readership and the initial spending power they have. To make sure that the data I publish is correct I am basing the predicted statistics from already published information on Q magazine. I have chosen Q magazine and it is similar in the content it produces and genre of music it focusses on.

Source: http://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/magazines/detail/Q

Source: http://ncrafts.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/socio-economic-needs.png

From looking at statistics from the official Bauer Media advertising press pack I have analysed that the typical Q reader is between the ages of 15-24. This is similar to that of Volume magazine due to the fact that there are some features within the content like profanities that may not be appropriate for younger ages. This is in reference to Hartley's seven subjectivities and how age, gender, class, self image , nationality, family and ethnicity must be considered when looking at spending power.The spending power of the readers will also be similar to Q magazine, currently Q has a high 70% of readers that are in the socio-economic bracket of ABC1. This connotes that they are more likely to have a higher amount of disposable income. By looking at this data I am able to predict that they will be more willing to spend money on a slightly more expensive magazine based on the quality of the content. There is one difference between the statistics of Q Magazine and the predicted statistics of Volume magazine. Q magazine has an unequal split on their readers gender, this may be due to their gender targeted advertisements I aim for Volume to have a nearly equal gender balance, this will be due to the fact that there will limited targeted advertisements and content will not appeal to only one gender.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Survey Analysis”

To aid with my research into the target audience and demographics of a typical magazine readership I created an online survey through the website ‘surveymonkey.com’.

Within my survey I asked nine questions surrounding the topic and research of a indie music magazine. I then sent out the survey to two hundred people via email. After three days I closed the survey and a total of fifty people completed it online.Survey Monkey automatically collates all of the data into bar charts, I have used these charts to analyse my results.

This is the email that I sent to the two hundred people. On here I included a direct link to my survey.

Here I have print screened what my survey looks like to those who are completing it. The font is easy to read and there are a variety of question types and answer methods, this includes checkboxes, dropdown menus and comment sections.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Survey Analysis”

Question One: Are you male or female?For the first question I wanted to gain an idea of who was filling out the survey, this way I can analyse the responses accordingly.Hartley’s seven subjectivities relates to this question because of the focus on gender. Through research on my magazine of inspiration (Q magazine) I have found that these results do not match, however there is no explanation behind this, as the survey was sent out to a randomised group of people which could have been originally unbalanced by gender.

Question Two: How old are you?Again I wanted to look at who was filling out the survey, therefore I asked the question ‘How old are you?’. There was some elements of variety within the results, however the majority were aged between ages 15-24. With reference to Hartley’s seven subjectivities, these data trends are very similar to my ‘magazine of inspiration’, Q magazine where a high proportion of the audience are in a younger age range.

No. 1

No. 2

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Survey Analysis”

Question Three: Which of these names for an indie genre music magazine do you prefer?For this question I wanted to ask the respondents what title of an indie music magazine they would prefer. Additionally if they did not like any of the suggested titles they can specify their own, one individual response that I gained from this was ‘1ndie’. By using this method of allowing respondents to comment their own view this enables me to gain a wider perspective of what the target audience would like to see in the music magazine market.From analysis of my results for this question, the title that was deemed most popular was ‘Shuffle’, however the second most popular was ‘Volume’. Because of the close votes between the two I have decided that the title of the magazine will be called Volume. This is due to the fact the I can use the unusual shape of the ‘V’ to use a smaller logo, similar to the logo of ‘Q’ magazine.

Question Four: Within a music magazine what articles would you like to read?The purpose of this question was to view what the target audience would like to see within a music magazine. I gave three options and also created a comment section which was useful. In the comment section many people said ‘all of the above’, because of this I have decided that in my magazine I will include all of the content mentioned in the three options. Although I will take into consideration the popularity of individual responses and include more articles about new bands rather than album reviews.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Survey Analysis”

Question Five: Would you prefer the frequency of the magazine to be released monthly or weekly?Part of the research that I needed to conduct was to find out whether the target audience would prefer for the magazine to be released weekly or monthly. From analysis of the results there are a large proportion of people that prefer the magazine to be released monthly, statistically 88% of the people asked thought this.

Question Six: If you were to buy a monthly music magazine, what price do you think it should be sold for?I used this question in my survey as I wanted to find out how much people are willing to pay for a monthly music magazine. The results were very surprising as I estimated the there would be a large proportion of people that would choose the cheapest option of £2.49, however this was not the case. There was also a lot of variety throughout the prices with three people willing to pay £3.99. From these primary research results I can correlate this to the spending power and socio-economic needs of the target audience. The highest proportion of people are would like to spend £2.49, however there are a small amount who are willing to spend at least £3.99, this connotes the disposable income of the target audience and that within the socio-economic chart they are mainly in band E.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Survey Analysis”

Question Seven: Do you have an account on any of these social media sites?For this question I wanted to look at the amount of people who were linked to a social media sites, this is so if I was to market the magazine through social media I would know which one would be the most effective. The highest proportion of participants are connected on Twitter and Google+. However I must also take into consideration when marketing that 18% do not have any of the social media sites mentioned, therefore I will have to market to the smaller proportion through another method.

Question Eight: Would you prefer to read content from a magazine online?The purpose of this question was also to support researching into marketing schemes for the music magazine. The results show that 52% of the people asked prefer to read content from a magazine online, this can be backed up with comments from the question such as “(Yes) Quicker source of information, furthermore I would not need to keep flicking through pages.” Although the response rate for no was also very high at 48%, some of the opinions of those who said no included, “(No) Prefer to just pick up and read without having to log onto a machine.” From the data of these results I have decided that I will offer to readers the chance to buy a subscription to both online versions and hardcopies of the magazine, these can be combined together or bought separately.

Yes Response

No Response

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Survey Analysis”

Question Nine: Which is the best way for a music magazine to be marketed?This is the last question on my survey, the aim was to discover the audiences final opinion on the best way to market the magazine, this has some relation to previous questions seven and eight. I gave three main answer options, social media, official website and TV advertisements and the opportunity to comment if they had any other ideas. The highest chosen answer was marketing through social media sites, the response rate for this was 68%. This connotes to me that people believe that social media is the best way to advertise because of the sheer amount of people that are signed up to the sites. This is backed up with evidence from my previous answers on the question seven “Do you have an account on any of these social media sites?”.Additionally if I was to advertise through social media it would be the cheapest option, this is because I can use the method of self advertising by creating my own music magazine page on the site and then inviting people to comment, like and share content that is posted online.I received two comments for this question, they suggested the ideas of using advertising such as billboards and other music magazines. I have taken into consideration the idea of using other magazines to promote my own. I feel this would have some positive effects due to the fact that they will already be interested in the music genre because they have bought the magazine. However it may be more difficult to sell because the reader may be satisfied with the magazine they already read, content will have to be interesting and different to others to have the greatest impact.

Questions asked for my music magazine research:

1. Within a music magazine what articles would you like to read?

2. Would you prefer to read content from a magazine online?

3. Would you prefer the frequency of the magazine to be released monthly or weekly?

Before creating my music magazine I needed to conduct several pieces of research to explore the opinions of the target audience. I decided that I would conduct an informal face-to-face interview, this is so that there will be a great amount of qualitative data with lots of detail in the responses. A positive of this is that it has a high amount of validity. For this interview I will ask three questions and encourage an informal style to the responses, this is so there is no interviewer bias where I influence the response of the participant.To collate the interview responses I will record the initial interview and then write down the responses from the recording at a later stage. I have included several screen shots of the interview recording.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Interview Analysis”

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Interview Analysis”

I interviewed five different people for this research. As the data that was collected was qualitative it is not easy to categorise. Instead I analysed some of the individuals responses to the questions. These will help me further gain an understanding of what the target audience wants to see in an indie music magazine.

Interview with Carmel Seager:

Interviewer: Within a music magazine what articles would you like to read? And why?

Carmel: Typically within an indie music magazine my favourite articles are feature pages on new bands and artists. This way you are up to date with trends in music and can have interesting conversations with other people about them.

The answer that Carmel has provided connotes that the most important articles that appeal to her within the whole magazine are on new and upcoming bands and artists. This links well with the indie genre as there are many new artists creating music categorised in the genre. For my magazine based on research I now plan to include a feature on a new artist, this could include a small interview to increase readership.

Interview with Joseph Robinson:

Interviewer: Would you prefer to read content from a magazine online? And why?

Joseph: I think that both online and hardcopies of the magazine are suitable to read as it depends where you are reading it from. Having the content online means it is more accessible to people but also I believe it is nice to flick through a hard copy of a magazine sometimes, especially if there are inserts or freebies.

If you could only choose one format when reading the magazine, which one would it be? And why?

Joseph: If I really had to choose only one… I would probably say hardcopy. This is because when you are paying money upwards of £2.00 for a magazine you want something physically in front of you that you can keep.

An analysis of Joseph’s answer connotes that he is in favour of both access to online and hard copy content. This is also backed up with evidence from my previous primary research which demonstrates that the split between the two opinions are nearly equal. From Josephs answer he has said that he would prefer to have a hardcopy magazine if he is paying over £2.00.This has given me the idea to create the offer of online and hardcopy subscriptions, readers can buy individual or combined subscriptions for a lower price. Additionally online content will be cheaper than the hardcopy as there is no physical magazine copy.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Planned Format and Style - Front Cover”

Puff Promotion:By placing the puff promotion at the top of the page, when the magazine is picked up this will be one of the first things the reader will see, as well as the logo. I believe that having this here entices the reader to buy the magazine more as they also have the change to win something or gain something for free. Another reason why it has been placed in the top right hand corner of the page is because typically people turn the page here, when they turn the page their eye will catch the bright red promotional colours and shapes.

Article Feature:On this hand drawn draft of the front cover I wanted to include more information about the content that can be found inside the magazine. Therefore I plan to include a small textbox with the name of one artist or title. This will be placed over the front cover subjects lower chest, as this is not considered as an important area that creates ‘star appeal’.

Main Story:I have decided to place the main story to the right of the main image, this is because the ‘star appeal’ that is created when viewing the image will draw the eye to the bulk of text next to them. To make the main story title more interesting I could include a direct quote from the interview. Additionally I thought that by placing the main story underneath the magazine logo, when they view the logo they will see the story as the most important thing within the magazine. Looking at my research of Q Magazine many of their front covers have used this layout for the main story text.

Magazine Logo:I have decided to place the logo of the magazine in the top right hand corner of the magazine, this is due to the fact that when people pick up the magazine it will be one of the first things they see. This is very effective when they are placed on a magazine shelf within a shop. I have been inspired for the placement of the logo by Q Magazine, this is due to the fact that they include bright colours that should be one of the main aspects the reader sees when they first pick up the magazine. To ensure that it is eye-catching they have placed it in the top left hand corner of the page.

Magazine Layout:When producing the drafts of my magazine I wanted to make sure that it looks professionally structured and well presented. I have followed a similar layout from Q Magazine, which includes placing smaller items over the body of the front cover artist. Also another feature is the text of the main story and cover lines wrapping around the silhouette of the artist.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Planned Format and Style – Front Cover”

Technical Convergence:I plan to include technical convergence on the front cover of my magazine, these will be in the form of a official magazine web address and social media logos. The placement of this convergence will be at the bottom of the page. This is due to the fact that it is not of high importance and there will be technical convergence found at the bottom of every page.

Cover Lines:As the main story is at the top of the page I decided to place the cover lines of the magazine under the magazine logo. When creating the magazine I have to make sure that the cover lines do not overlay on the main image, this could reduce the ‘star appeal’ of the person on the front if they become less recognisable.

Bar Code:On the bar code I will have the issue month and the price of the magazine . This will always be at the bottom of the page as it is less important. Additionally it will be positioned based on the image that is going to be on the front, to make sure that it does not cover the artists features.

Strap Line:For my strapline I have decided to place it near the main magazine logo. This is similar to that of my magazine of inspiration (Q magazine). The purpose of this is so that when they read the logo they then see the strapline and associate it with the brand. This repetition can give the magazine a more well known identity.

House Style:Features that I plan to repeat throughout my magazine are the type and size of the font. The font I have chosen for the main story headline is ‘Minion Pro’, I will use this several times throughout the magazine such as the drop capital for the main articles. Other fonts that I will include are ‘Poor Richard, Century Schoolbook and Eras Demi ITC’, all of these fonts are similar to that of Q Magazine with an interesting formal style.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Planned Format and Style – Double Page Spread”

Main Image:The inspiration from this double page spread layout came from Q magazine. By having the whole image on only one side of the page I can make sure all of the subject is seen. Also because of its size when the reader is looking through the page will catch their eye because of what is in the image. The position of the subject in the image is centred and has been taken in a wide shot, this enables the reader to see who the article is about what their personality is like from gestures such as their posture.

Article Images:By including smaller images that relate to the article and the interview this makes the page more interesting for the reader. By including images the page becomes more visually appealing. I also have the opportunity of adding captions for each image so the reader will be tempted to find out how the image relates to the article.

Info About Artist:Including information about the artist before the main interview provides minor background details about who they are. I have decided to lay this out on the page just underneath the main story title and the stand first on the left hand column of the page, this is due to the fact that it will be read from left to right.

Interview:The reason for the positioning of the interview being after the main information is so that the reader has the opportunity to find out interesting personal information about them, such as their music style and other quirky features. The interview text will be formatted in a differentiated questions and answer style, this is responses will be clear and easy to read. My idea for using a differentiated question style is from Q Magazine, in all of their interviews so the reader can establish who is talking they make part of the text stand out more than others. Additionally they also shorten or use the initials of the name of the person being interviewed. This saves space in the magazine and is easier to read through.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Planned Format and Style – Double Page Spread”

Quote From Interview:To make the page more interesting and to fill some of the blank and uninteresting space I decided to include a quote from the interview. By doing this when the image is viewed the reader will see the quote and then proceed to read the article out of interest. In Q Magazine they make sure to include a quote from the interview, this is to spark interest for the reader when they see it with the image; this then entices them to continue reading more of the article.

Main Image:The layout of this image is different to my other designs of the double page spread. Instead of limiting the main image to only one side of the spread I wanted to overlap the image so it serves as a more interesting background for the text. This means that on the outside borders of the text you will be able to see features of the image. Although this may cause some problems when reading the text so I will have to consider either making the background have little detail or surround the text with text boxes.

Main Story Title:Compared to the previous ideas for the main title, on this plan I wanted to place it further down the page. This was to spread things out differently compared to a normal layout which will attract the attention of the reader.

Stand First:I feel that the stand first is very important as this introduces the reader into the topic of the article. Also because the font size is also bigger it serves as an eye catching feature of the page.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Magazine Flat Plan”

For my magazine I created a flat plan, this has enabled me to organise the structure of the pages of the magazine. I have included what I will place on each page including example images and advertisements. I have highlighted two of the double page spreads, these are the ones that I am going to create.

Location: Photography Studio Fields near Kingswood

Time - 12:35pm 12:00pm

Date - 21st October 2014 26th October 2014

Why? - Professional clean look similar to that of my magazine of inspiration (Q Magazine). The use of spotlights create a dramatic shadow on the face.

The rural scenery matches the typical image of the artist, who is laid back and has a casual style. The green background brings the artist into the foreground.

Picture Needed/Required: Face looking straight into the lens of the camera. Zoomed out image of artist leaning on a tree log holding his guitar.

Shot Type - Close Up Wide Shot

Props Equipment - Camera, Tripod, Tungsten Light Camera, Guitar, Tripod, Light Reflector

Lighting - Middle Key Lighting Natural Light + Reflector

Costume - Patterned shirt with collar Coloured chinos, patterned jumper, brown boots and blue coat

Person/People - Joseph Robinson Joseph Robinson

Why? - This photograph needs to have a dramatic feel, that will attract the reader to look into the article. This will be placed on the front cover.

For this photograph I need to have a more informal style as it will be on the double page spread. Next to it will be the interview with the artist.

Permission Needed: I need to make contact with the model, to make sure we are in agreement with the projected plans. Permission is also needed to be given to take images of them.

I need to make contact with the model, to make sure we are in agreement with the projected plans. Permission is also needed to be given to take images of them.

Potential Hazards/Risks: The studio may in be use at the time we want to take the photographs, this means we may have to re-organise when we take the photos.

The weather may be rainy, this means I will have to cover the camera and lens with a waterproof case.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Planned Format and Style”

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Planned Format and Style – Location Images”

Before taking the images for the front cover and double page spread I have to make sure that I did some location scouting. This was so I could further assess what will be needed when taking the photos and the potential risks and hazards. Additionally I have taken some photos of the equipment that I will be using, this includes a Canon camera and a several lights.

Lighting will only be used in the studio environment, when taking the images for the double page spread in the field I will have to use a circular light reflector to highlight the subjects distinctive features. By scouting out the location before the image have been taken this can guarantee high quality images.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Planned Format and Style – Final Images”

These images are excess images that were taken on the planned location photo-shoot. They all followed the plan of including a natural bright green background whilst the artist had a laid back approach and informal style for the photographs. The variations of the photos can be seen because of the changing angles and positions of the artist. This was done so the best lighting, angle and scenery could be captured to demonstrate a professional quality of photograph.There were more challenges than originally thought for this photo-shoot, based on the original image plan (slide 16). There were some restrictions on taking photos as parts of the location were on private land, this meant that if permission was not gained then the magazine would not be able to publish them. This issue was resolved when a similar location was found nearby that did not have an restrictions.

The studio images that were taken had fewer problems than the outdoor shoot. This was because it was in a controlled environment where the lighting and angle could be better monitored. In the studio several images were taken to develop the best angle, this can be seen in the screenshot of the unused images. One of the limitations that developed when taking the photos in the studio was the lighting, only two lights were available when the plan was to use three. However this issue was resolved when instead of the third light we used a light reflector to intensify the light.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Interview Draft Planning”

For my double page spread within the magazine I plan to conduct an interview with the well known artist, George Ezra. As well as featuring on his own double page spread he will be the main headline for the magazine and will create ‘star appeal’.I have chosen to interview George Ezra as he is well known as an up-and-coming indie genre artist who has only been in the music industry since featuring on an introducing stage at Glastonbury Festival 2013. Since his success at Glastonbury he has had three singles in the top charts and is famously known for his quirky stylised song ‘Budapest’. Additionally this year he has released his first album, by featuring him in the album we are essentially promoting the new album as well as drawing readers in because of his previous hit songs.Some of the questions that I will ask in the interview will be based around his new career in the music industry. I also want the interview to have an informal feel so other questions including ‘What his musical inspiration was as a child’, this will spur on possibly humorous answers.

The presentation of the interview on the double page spread will be laid in a differentiated question and answer style. This is typical in many of Q magazine interviews, and makes it easier for the reader to understand the information that is being published.

This is my page of inspiration that is from the October issue of Q magazine. They have used differentiated question and highlighted this by the boldness of the writing and the different colours of red and black.

Unit 14 – Producing a Print Based Media Product – “Production Process”

Before the magazine interview was conducted, there were several previous versions that went through corrections. The first rough draft was checked over several times. Once this was complete, areas that could be improved or elaborated were highlighted in red. After these were all highlighted a new version was created that illustrates an improved language style.

Once all of the corrections had been made, the final interview draft was used to conduct the recorded interview with the artist. The recorded version will then be typed up into word format with other corrections being made, such as spelling mistakes.

Conducting the interview with the artist

Interviewer: Hello George! It’s good to finally have a chat with you – how has your past week been?GEORGE: Hi! Yeah it’s been great thanks, very busy but exciting.

Interviewer: I bet! Has your life changed much since climbing to the top of the music chart with ‘Budapest’?GEORGE: It’s non-stop, since signing the record deal then travelling around Europe people have been recognising me more and I’ve had hundreds of amazing opportunities thrown at me!

Interviewer: Wow! Did you gain your inspiration for the song Budapest when you went travelling?GEORGE: (Laughs) Yeah you could say that. I got a bit drunk when the Eurovision contest was on, and I missed the train to Budapest. This made me think that there are many songs about losing something for somebody else. So I thought why not write a song about giving up things I don’t have?

Interviewer: So how does the George Ezra song writing process work?GEORGE: When I have a spark of inspiration I write my ideas down everywhere, sometimes even on the walls. Although people see it as crazy it’s just how my mind works, I don’t want to lose that inspiration. Most of the lyrics have some reference to the place I am inspired.

Interviewer: So your new album is being released soon, what can we expect from it and when can we have a listen?GEORGE: Well the two EP’s that have been released so far (Budapest and Cassy O) were meant to introduce people to listening to me with a band, this is because I do gigs on my own usually. The new album will be me with the band and when I gig I will be joined by the guys. We’re hoping for it to be released around the start of June/July, the music included has a summer vibe so would be perfect for the festival atmosphere.

Interviewer: Have you learnt any important or tough lessons from your early experiences of the music industry?GEORGE: I’d say the first thing I learnt when joining the music industry was to listen to those around you, this is because you’re all in it together trying to make it and its best to have friends rather than enemies. However it’s also important to be yourself and have your own opinions as the music industry is looking for people who can be themselves through both music and ideas.

Interviewer: I saw that you have sold out your tour! How does that feel having such a high demand of people wanting to listen to you?GEORGE: It’s crazy!! I never thought that I would come this far in music as it started out as a hobby when I was younger. Although picking up the guitar then and now the feeling hasn’t changed at all, it is still my passion and I will always love playing even if no one wants to listen.

Interviewer: What was the first song that you ever wrote? And how old were you?GEORGE: (Laughs) I wrote my first song around thirteen years old, I remember it being called ‘Wishing Well’. I have no clue what it was about but I’m so glad there is no recordings of it as that would be embarrassing!

Interviewer: When you were younger and started playing the guitar who was your musical inspiration?GEORGE: I grew up listening to Bob Dylan and Woody Guthrie, people find it strange that my inspirations are revolved around older blues and folk sound but within the music I create its more 21st century.

Interviewer: Finally, thank you George for your time it’s been great talking with you. Do you have any words of inspiration for your fans who are looking to pursue a music career?GEORGE: Thank you. Never stop playing music even if they tell you too, be unique and always look for opportunities to better yourself.

I created a magazine interview draft, this featured the popular indie music artist George Ezra. When creating the questions I took inspiration from Q magazines interview style, this was relevant and informative questions that create an interesting response.

I also had to take into consideration the answers of the questions from the artist, as I could not interview them in real life. To make sure the answers were accurate I conducted some small scale research into other interviews they had.

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Draft Article - Interview”

Unit 13 – Planning and Pitching – “Conclusion”

The purpose of this learning outcome was to look at the two magazine proposal ideas. The concepts that were created were for ‘Now’ magazine and ‘Volume’ magazine. I wanted to analyse which magazine would appeal more strongly to the readership, therefore I created plans for several features including, graphic layouts, hand sketches and a written proposal.

Additionally I looked into researching Q Magazine which was my magazine of inspiration. Here I looked at the demographic of the readership whilst interpreting Hartley’s Seven Subjectivities. I felt that to aid my research into the target audience and demographics that I would conduct an online survey. I collated all the results and took these into consideration.

Once the research had been completed I created additional drafts based off of this. I then looked further into planning the magazine. I created a detailed magazine flat plan and a image plan. I felt that this learning outcome has aided me to develop my ideas further and to start planning and initiating the early production processes.

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