Masthead Designs

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Image Ideas

image ideas

Before my photo shoot I decided to research into different types of images and poses I wanted to include onto my magazine. As you can see from the images above I want the majority of the photos as close-ups which will help the reader connect with my model and feel more involved with the magazine. I also want some landscape photos so that all my photos aren't the same and have some variety.

Name Ideas

name ideas 2

Production Post 12

In today's lesson I gathered together the image ideas I used when I was taking my photos of Mollie and Clare. This is evidence that I took time in deciding how exactly I wanted my models posed and researched into what the basic conventions are of photos used on any genre of magazine. This week I also continued to start to create my magazine final product. I decided to carry on with my first double page spread which I had previously just edited the main photo for. I wanted the page quite blank with the close up of Mollie and just a short, simple introduction to who she was exactly. I managed to complete this page by the end of the week and could allow me to move on to the creation of my second double page spread, followed by my front cover and then my contents page. All to be handed in for my first draft. I would then develop these pages further and make a contributing two more double page spreads following this draft.

Production Post 11

A few days ago I created an "Iconography Video" which I filmed in my own time at the shopping center in Shepherds Bush, Westfields. I wanted to try and explore the fashion world of my target audience and went into various different shops and picked out the clothes which are associated with my audience and tried them on to really get into character. I discovered that most of the clothing I was drawn to was dark clothes and those with crosses and other Gothic patterns. This is very stereotypical, I know, but it shows you that this is how the majority of people think and I need to try and involve this information into my magazine. I will do this by using dark colours but then being different and involving bright colours too as my target audience like to be different and unique. This task was very successful in helping me find out who my target audience really are. 

Article Draft

Article Draft

Roxy Knights likes to sum up her rock career as “fucking annoying” and “the greatest thing of all time”. She goes on to mention how amazing her life was before she became ‘known’. “I wouldn’t change it for the world and the public is who I have to thank and although I may come across ungrateful, you’re very much mistaken! All I have ever wanted as an artist in this genre is to be where I am now and now I’m here I just can’t get enough!! The media is shit. Complete and utter shit. The constant flow of crap they produce has high amounts of hilarity in some sense, the sense that it’s so untrue it just oversteps the line. I’ve learnt to get on with it and not listen to stories that have been published which have escalated from small, minor incidents that have occurred.” Its clear Roxy isn’t on the best of terms with the media and the stories they may have created about her but let’s not waste time speaking about her pet hates and more time speaking about her brand new album. “At last!! I’ve spent the majority of my life inspired by those bands and artists which I’m now buddies with. It’s so surreal. Although I’ve realised many tracks available to download and buy EPs of but I’ve never had a whole album all to myself! It’s scary when you think about it, before I was noticed I worked on my songs for months and months to make them sound half never hate you – could we guys?! I’m sure you’ve all checked out the hottest new album on the shelves but if you haven’t then WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING STILL READING THIS!? Oh yeah..to find out what this incredible invention is called! Forever Reckless! I then had all this pressure of producing a 12 track album in about 6months! I was so worried that they were all going to be shit and everyone would hate me!!” Never Roxy, we could  is what you’re looking for. So GO GO GO! “Haha, this has been such a relaxed interview, prefer it to all the intense specific Q&A. I like the fact I can just speak to you about anything I want!” well, not ANYTHING Roxy…let’s not get too comfortable here! “I know, I know!! You mentioned earlier about how you thought I was weird because I didn’t like tea?! Just thought I’d bring that back up, to let all the non-tea lovers know that you’re not alone! Silly concept really, drinking hot water and crushed leaves basically! Yuk! The looks I’m getting in the studio now is quite intimidating you know, hope I didn’t offend anyone..oops.” A lot of you have emailed in and asked about Roxy’s new clothing range, so let’s ask the girl herself! “Well, it’s called YAF – young and free. Tad cringe but what can you do? If you can beat em’, join em’! It’s basically a clothing range for anyone aged from about 14 onwards. My manager suggested it earlier on this year as it would be a nice asset to my career and also fun and enjoyable at the same time! I was really looking forward to it as I am like clothes-obsessed! So happy with the final product and lovely to know so many people are visiting the site and purchasing items! Major confidence boost guys!” Confidence boost!? I’m pretty sure you don’t need that missus! “Oi you! No, I completely understand where you are coming from, I don’t like people who want be loved by others but don’t love themselves. If you want other people to believe in you then you’ve got to believe in yourself – otherwise they just won’t feel the vibe. It’s all about the vibes. If I enjoy what I do and how I sing so others can choose whether they want to enjoy it with me! Why be shy and nervous about it, do what you love and then nothing can beat it!” Oh Roxy, you really are full of all the inspirational quotes today aren’t you!! Tell us, what’s in the future for us (&you) “Always full of quotes me!! Oh, this is getting serious now! The future seems a long way off but I know that it will hit me sooner or later that I need to focus! I will one million percent carry on making music and there is no way that I will stop what I am doing and writing songs. I would imagine that my next album will begin to be made next year some time so I can really concentrate and make the songs as good as they can be! I just love what I do and the support from my fans is what keeps me going, knowing that I am doing and creating something that brings such joy and maybe even help people just really makes life worth living!” WE LOVE ROXY! WE LOVE ROXY! So, last thing from us is when can we see you live next!!? “It’s been absolutely lovely, and oooooo that would be telling! And I love telling!! I have plans to be performing at Reading Festival this year so I hope everyone comes down and joins me and all the other awesome artists who are performing too!! Next year I will begin my worldwide tour which I’m starting in California where the majority of my family come from and I’m very frequent with, so I hope it will be a relaxed beginning to the inevitable stressful tour! You must check it out!” Right Miss Knights, we have absolutely loved having you here today – you have been an absolute star! I’m sure all your fans will be attending Reading Festival and your tour next year! Hope you stay well and keep in touch!! “Thank-you so much for having me, just remember next time not to stock up with tea-bags!! See you soon guys!”

Iconography - CREATIVE POST

 

This week i decided to make a creative post to try and get a better understanding of my chosen genre and My idea was to make a post on iconography and how I will represent my chosen genre by the clothes my model will wear. I needed a way of showing clothes and accessories that are associated with the Rock genre. I decided to take a trip to Westfields shopping center and film myself trying on different outfits, I managed to get permission to film in the changing rooms from the shop owners. My friend filmed the changing room door and i changed my outfit x amount of times. I then got home and uploaded the footage onto movie maker (as I haven't been shown how to use premiere cs6 yet) I sped the footage up so that it was still easy to see the clothes I was wearing but but quicker to watch. I added in some pictures at the end of shoes, clothing items and jewelery that represent my genre. Finally I added in a song which was also my chosen genre and exported the video to upload to my blog.

Key Concepts Prezi

Production Post 10

I did some more research this week which I found really helpful now I have moved on a bit in think about what to include in my magazine. I looked into how new media is viewed by my target audience and discovered that it is used highly. I created a survey which I got people who are interested in the genre of rock to take and answer 10 questions which would help me find out certain information about what to do and what not to do. The results were interesting as you can see from the previous post "Audience Data".

New Media

new media

Audience Data

I created this survey on www.surveymonkey.co.uk which is a well-known website especially for creating surveys like the one above. I thought carefully about what questions I would ask as I wanted feedback from my audience which would help me when altering certain aspects of my magazine. After making the survey, they provide you with a link, embed code and Social network link to post on these sites and get people to respond. I decided to use the web link and copy it onto facebook pages which would interest my target audience, I also posted a link on twitter with hash tag topics which revolve around my target audience. I managed to get 12 responses to my survey and below are the results of each question.

    As you can see from the results of my survey, I found out a lot of information about what my readers seek for in a magazine.
The majority of Q1 wanted a monthly magazine which is what I produced and for those who chose weekly are the minority as not everyone enjoys the same thing.
    Nearly everyone on Q4 answered with "close up" or "band/artist" this means that readers want to see and know what they are about to read before they open the magazine. This must be essential when creating my magazine.
    Regarding Q2, people varied in the ideal price they would pay for this monthly magazine, I think I will still stick with £4.99 as I feel they will 100% be getting their moneys worth and otherwise my costs probably wouldn't be covered.
    Content people want to find in interviews is interesting facts and tour dates and relationships between other celebs. I will therefore include all this in my article such as a fact box with different quirky info about Roxy and will also discuss her different relationships throughout the music industry.

    For Q6 there was a 100% same result that my readers would prefer a print copy as opposed to reading the magazine online. This was expected as it would be more of a collectors magazine. This doesn't mean a website would not be successful, the website would contain competitions and chances for them to meet their favourite bands and artists. I will steer away from discussing lots about reading the magazine online but will encourage readers to visit the website to see extended stories and unseen videos/pictures.
    Two thirds of my respondents said that they would use an Android App if it were created which is encouraging as it means my audience are into using new media. This should mean that twitter accounts should be successful if connecting and involving my specific target audience.
    The remaining 25% who said they wouldn't use the app, may not own a smart phone and not know the full benefits and whats involved with apps - may prefer to just read info in the mag.

    When I asked what the most important aspect of a music magazine was I got mixed responses as some people said they value freebies and posters and others said interviews with artists. Also, photos were a priority in really enticing my audience and the overall appearance of the magazine will be the deciding point on whether they will pick it up and buy it. Like the first respondent mentioned "if it doesn't look good, I won't pick it up and read it".
    Twitter got the highest response in the social networking question with 11 people choosing it out of the three given, one person chose Facebook and Tumblr got 0%. This emphasizes the fact that I must use new media sites (most importantly Twitter and Facebook) to try and attract and reach out to my readers. I will 100% put twitter and Facebook logos on my contents page to let readers know that Rock magazine is part of the new media revolution.


    When asking readers if they preferred to buy CD's or to download music online by the use of iTunes and other music download programs. 11/12 people responded with the choice of downloads over CD's - this could be because the availability of buy CD's is now limited due to the shutdown of big stores like HMV who once provided all the CD's you could ever dream of. I will use this feedback to make sure that I include "free EP downloads" on the website or APP as it will target my audience directly.
    Overall, from this audience feedback data, it has helped me enormously with choosing between certain aspects of my magazine which I wasn't sure about. I now know that I will not include information about CD's but more about downloadable songs/albums. Also I will 100% keep my magazine as a print copy.

    This activity benefited me in finding out exactly what my target audience want from their perspective and not just from my opinion of what I "think" they want.