The document provides an analysis of the forms and conventions used in magazine covers and contents pages. It discusses the placement of elements like mastheads, images, color schemes, and cover lines. It notes how some designs follow typical conventions while others challenge conventions or are developing new conventions. The purpose is to understand how magazine covers represent their intended audiences and convey information to readers.
1. AS MEDIA
AS UNIT G321
FOUNDATION PORTFOLIO IN MEDIA
RESEARCH AND PLANNING
Candidate Name
Candidate Number
Centre Name
Centre Number
Nathan Hicks
The Leigh Academy
2. • This magazines title uses or follows conventions as its
masthead is in the place where most magazines would
place it which is the top left, or some magazines may have it
in the Centre
• This magazines color scheme also follows conventions as it
only uses about 3 colors which leaves it quite basic and
gives it an organized look
• It does not have a skyline but has some information above
the masthead which could be a sort of skyline, so its
challenging conventions.
• The main coverline is placed right below the main image
which is using conventions as that is where almost all main
coverlines would be placed.
3. Representing and appealing to social groups
• This sort of magazine cover would appeal to the social group E as it
is mostly students or teenagers that watch a lot of TV and listen to a
lot of mainstream music, this magazine mentions some popular pop
singers such as Justin Bieber and Ellie Goulding, the main image is
a large picture of Justin Bieber which would show that the
magazines main article would involve him and as many students or
teenagers listen to artist such as Justin it may make them want to
read this magazine.
• He is crouching down toward the camera and the lighting is mostly
on his face which makes it brighter and stand out more, also his
eyes are widened out and it seems as if he is staring at you
because he is looking straight into the camera, which would also
make some fans much more attracted to this magazine once it
catches their eye. The language is quite simple and short, also its
quite informal to also appeal to the younger crowd as it doesn’t use
large words and doesn’t try to over complicate things.
• The colors are very bright and are not dull So that a younger crowd
would find it more eye-catching.
4. Identifying music magazine forms and conventions.
There distributor is Bauer media
They are a self regulator
There distributor is also Bauer media
5. Technologies and Processes
Physical technology
Photographical cameras – used to
take main images and pictures to
describe articles.
Studio – there would normally be
certain lighting and a typical
backdrop. used for photo-shoots to
produce the images for magazines.
Digital technology
Computer hardware – used to
edit and put together magazines.
Memory cards – can save a lot of
work and store it, can be used to
keep all the pages of a magazine
together.
Software
Photoshop – computer program used
for editing photos, making the front
cover of the magazine
Promotional software - electronic
billboards
Printing
Printer processes - printing
press, printed out on a massive
machine and then cut out into
magazines.
Printing hardware – the
machines that run the printing
press.
6. Researching preliminary exercise
The masthead is presented in a typical place and it has
followed conventions. It has a main image across the left
side they have clearly pointed out there main coverline or
anchorage text by titling it as the cover story, there also are
some sell lines that reveal information on other articles and
where these articles would be found. It has a very plain
background which is quite a dull color which may have been
done to keep your eyes concentrated on the main image and
information.
It sticks to three basic colors which are red and blue and
then the beige sort of color that is presented as the
background. There are some insert images placed on the
side linked to another article on year 11s prom, which works
quite well as there is not only one main image on the cover.
There is no skyline which challenges conventions or there is
no issue number but there is a publishing date.
7. Researching preliminary exercise
The masthead is very unique as is is in a digital or
computerized sort of style, but is placed in a typical place
so again follows convention. This magazine also has its
own slogan ‘your magazine your issues!’. There skyline is
at the bottom of the page which shows they have
challenged conventions, because normally it would be
placed at the top of the page. They have not cut the
background off of the main image or they haven't edited it
at all because the girl is standing in front of her school and
it is a school magazine so the background works well with
this magazine.
they have used two main colors which are green and
yellow. Which are colors which are rarely used so it makes
it more unique and eye catching, the main coverline is very
large and is placed right under the main image so its easy
to see, there are sell lines presented in boxes to show
information on other articles presented in this magazine.
8. Which forms and conventions will be used in my
design?
-I'm going to have a skyline at the top of my page which will include a
publishing date & issue number and there will be a masthead just
underneath that in the top left.
-I will have a dark blue and light blue color scheme as they are the main
colors of my school and my school logo and I don’t want to use too many
colours as it would make it look less professional .
-I will have a fairly large image on my cover of a medium close up of a
person who is in school uniform and will be holding a book or folder.
-I will have puffs in shapes of open books with information written in as
shapes like that would relate to education.
-my main cover line will be large and written underneath the main image,
as that is where most main coverlines are placed so I will be following
conventions with this.
-
9. Main task research
The masthead of the contents page is in quite a common
place and follows conventions, but it is made in a large
font and some of the letters are on different lines to the
others which is very different and may in a way challenge
conventions, I believe this is effective though as it stands
out a lot.
There is a large black and white main image on the left
side which is a normal sort of place for a image to be
placed so it is following conventions. It is Kanye West
with an arm round him holding a heart and the heart is the
only thing on the image with color which again is another
thing on this page that really stands out and draws your
eye towards the center of the page, also kanye is looking
straight towards the camera which may be using or
following conventions as people on the main images are
normally looking towards the camera.
The color scheme is very simple there is only red used for
the heart and blue used for the V that stands for the
magazine name which is ‘vibe’ as well as the black and
white used for the main Image, background and text
10. Main task research
The contents masthead is on the top left of the page with
the date above it which I haven’t seen before so I think it
may be developing conventions. There are many images
around the page which have numbers on the top left of
them as they all connect to articles or features which are
written down the let side. So it shows you a sample of
what you will be seeing on that page. The main image is
larger than all the others and it is from the exclusive
article to make that article stand out more to the c
readers.
The color scheme is quite simple as they have only used
black, white and red which follows conventions as
magazines normally stick to three or four colors. Also red
is quite a common color for this sort of magazine as it is
based on the music genre of rock.
11. Double page spread research
The masthead is developing conventions as it is in the
bottom right corner, this masthead is the name of the rock
band ‘a day to remember’. There is a large main image of
the band above the masthead and the article is down the left
side of the left page.
The text is white as the background is black and white
stands out a lot against it. This sort of page or article would
attract younger years, teenagers/students as it may be the
sort of music that is popular to most people of that age. And
the lay out of the page is very bold and exciting, its not trying
to be neat and there isn't too much detail or writing which
means it probably wouldn’t appeal to older people.
The masthead follows conventions as It is in the top right
side of the article which s where I have seen the masthead a
lot. It is very large and bold and is red and white which again
stands out against the black background. There is a main
image covering most of the left page but there are also
smaller images placed underneath the article in order to
show pictures on other parts of the article, so that its not just
all reading but you can also see pictures of the band and
their lead singer.
