OCR Media Studies – AS Level

Unit G321: Foundation Portfolio in Media

Preliminary Task, Log Book and Evaluation

Name: James McClementsCandidate Number: 6949Center Name: St. Paul’s Catholic CollegeCenter Number: 64770

Set Brief - Print

Music Magazine – Production

Preliminary Task Progression, Log Book and Evaluation

Logbook and evaluation

Preliminary Front Cover

Step-by-step

This was the first step I took in creating my preliminary front cover. I used a mid-shot for my main image, and created my masthead with chosen typeface which I’ll stick with throughout the design process.

The second step I took was the addition of a strapline and pricing/issue number. I also laid

out a border for where my main headline would be placed. It was placed synonymously with other magazines in the genre: the centre of the page, and slightly below the head for in

this case is a mid-shot image.

The third stage of my design includes the main headline, with QR code linking to a ‘social media institution’’ related to my magazine. As well as the addition of backgrounds for the coverlines to match the style of the main headline.

The last stage sees the completion of my magazine, with all coverlines in place, a twitter

handle and magazine website at the bottom, and all codes and conventions consolidated for.

Preliminary Contents page

Step-by-step

The first stage of my contents page design features the backdrop of the page, in this case a skate ramp located near to the school, that ‘repeats’ the style and genre of the photo-shoot for the front cover, a graffitied urban background. As well as this, my masthead is placed at the top of the page, synonymous with the genre.

The second stage of the contents page is the features placed in where the page numbers will

join and act as a directory for the magazine. These features include the cover lines from the

front cover.

The fourth stage includes the addition of a large centre-top image that links to my main feature – the double page spread. As well as

another picture that acts as a ‘space filler’.

The third stage includes these page numbers, as well as associating images to the features on their left.

The fifth stage includes the contents page title, and backdrop placeholders for my other contents page conventions. The page number and masthead address are placed at the bottom of the page, which is a common-place feature with magazine contents pages.

The last stage includes the addition of the remaining conventions, including the editorial,

subscription box, and feature encouraging social media interaction.

Section 1) – Log Book

MAGAZINE OF INSPIRATION

Case Study: DIY• DIY is a free independent music magazine. It

specialises in alternative or indie music, and takes form as an online publication, and the free monthly magazine in paper form. It is only available in UK record shops, and some music venues.

• The target readership therefore is, the music fan/creative who is of varying age, mostly in-between 16-29 due to the youthful nature of the music, and those who belong to the indie subculture.

• However, readership statistics and demographics were unfortunately not readily available.

Masthead

Main headline

Main image

Issue date and number, website conventions etc.

Lack of coverlinesThis is ‘repeated’ in new nme style

Free magazine synonyminitySo I considered my magazine to be free

EXEMPLAR MAGAZINES

• Publisher: Time Inc. UK• Reach: 289,000 Adults / 0.6% of the adult population• Primarily socioeconomic class ABC1 read the magazine• The dominating gender of readership in Men• And the dominating age group of readership is 15-34.

• NME is a weekly magazine, and has primarily national readership, with only a small number of exports for international readers.

• Source: mediauk.com

• From the 18th September, NME will be available outside busy public spaces and train stations for free.

• Timeincuk.com : NME is the “longest published and most respected music weekly in the world”

NME publisher research

I will be analysing the ‘new’ NME model, as I have chosen to replicate this type of neo-music magazine and ‘repeat’ (Neale) codes and conventions from it. The model also ‘repeats’ the conventions from DIY, which is my magazine of inspiration.

Masthead

Main Image

Main Headline

This cover relies on ‘star appeal’ and audience familiarity of the main headline. With the absence of coverlines on the front cover, the main headline is the USP.

Issue date

Q publisher research• Publisher: Bauer Media UK• Circulation: 64,596• Primarily socioeconomic class ABC1 read the

magazine(70%)• The dominating gender of readership in Men• And the dominating age group of readership is 15-24.

• Q’s gender ratio is 31.7% females to 68.3% male.• Source: bauermediaadvertising.com

2012 statistics

Masthead

Main Headline

Main Image

Cover Stories

USP/Exclusive Content

‘Q’ represents a more conservative front cover with additional coverlines, many exclusives and USPs. This is because it is not a free magazine, and it relies on many USPs to “sell”.

These are exemplar magazine front covers from ‘Q’ and ‘NME’ magazines.They both offer several codes and conventions synonymous to the Indie/Alternate

music magazine genre.

What can be identified by these two media institutions, is the importance of the colour red. Red, being synonymous to the genre.

Music Magazine – Genre research

• YOU MUST insert anything you can find about this genre – secondary sources (quotes from articles; statistics; other magazine front covers)

• Make sure your findings are neatly presented and contain images where needed.

Established Magazine for my Research

Front Cover and Conventions – If there is anything missing YOU MUST explain what this is and give a reason WHY it should be included.

Target Audience – Katz, Maslow, Hartley and/or socio-economic needsThe intended target audiences for NME and Q magazines is mostly socio-economic class B, and more A for the new revised NME handed out to commuters. However, the intended target audience for DIY magazine is more likely to be class E, aimed at students, especially with the attraction of the publication being ‘free’.The target audience for Q magazine can be denoted as…

What is the USP of this magazine? YOU MUST refer to specific conventions/stories from you research

From the research completed into this media product, I think the USP is…

Publisher researchhttp://magazines.bauermediaadvertising.com/magazines/detail/Q

http://www.bauermedia.co.uk/brands/q

Conventions of a Music Magazine

• Research your own example of a magazine from the sub-genre of your own choice and annotate the codes & conventions/USP/Target audience.

The logo of the magazine SHOULD be placed on this slide neatly somewhere

Target Audience – Katz, Maslow, Hartley and/or socio-economic needs

The target audience for name of magazine magazine can be denoted as…

What is the USP of this magazine? YOU MUST refer to specific conventions/stories from you research

From the research completed into this media product, I think the USP is…

The logo of the magazine SHOULD be placed on this slide neatly somewhere

Publisher research

The logo of the magazine SHOULD be placed on this slide neatly somewhere

• YOU MUST find out who published your chosen “Magazine of inspiration” from the sub-genre of your choice.

• Then, visit their website and deconstruct the information you can find about the target readership in terms of socio-economic needs, circulation etc.

Section 2) – Evaluation

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

Example sentence starters:

The magazine, across the 4-pages, ‘repeats’ (Steve Neale) codes and conventions from…

There are examples of some ‘difference’, however, in terms of the forms and conventions in my own media product for example….

How does your media product represent particular social groups?

Example sentence starters:

The denotation of representation is…The magazine, across the 4-pages, helps to represent…For example, on page….

What kind of media institution (Publisher) might distribute your

media product and why?

Example sentence starters:

From the research that was completed pre-production, I would envisage that … may publish ‘name of magazine’ because….The similarities of my magazine to ‘name of magazine’ also ‘sgnifies’ (De Saussure)….

Who would be the audience for your media product and why?

Hartley’s seven subjectivities

According to Hartley’s seven subjectivities,

Katz’ Uses & Gratifications theory

According to Katz’ Uses & Gratifications theory, ,

Maslow’s Hierarchy of needs

According to Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, ,

How did you attract/address your audience?

In order to attract the intended target audience of.. I decided to….

The inclusion of codes & conventions such as… helped to appeal to the target audience becasuse…

What have you learnt about technologies from the process of

constructing this product?

The denotation of the software used to construct the media product entitled ‘name of magazine’ was…

In order for this product to look fit for purpose and appeal to the target audience, I decided to create… using the… tool because.

Refer 2-3 examples at least and conclude

Photography Planning – Front Cover

Photography Planning - Contents

Photography Planning - Interview

Analysing my Front Cover

Neatly annotate the Screen Grab of your Final Front Cover –

4-5 Annotations at least and apply appropriate media language.

Arrows should be RED as well!

Screen grab of Magazine page positioned in the Center of the slide

(Remove the BLUE box once placed in as well)

Analysing my Contents Page

Neatly annotate the Screen Grab of your Final Contents Page –

4-5 Annotations at least and apply appropriate media language.

Arrows should be RED as well!

Screen grab of Magazine page positioned in the Center of the slide

(Remove the BLUE box once placed in as well)

Analysing my Double Page spread Interview

Neatly annotate the Screen Grab of your Final Double Page Spread –

X1 page per. Slide!

4-5 Annotations at least and apply appropriate media language.

Arrows should be RED as well!

Screen grab of Magazine page positioned in the Center of the slide

(Remove the BLUE box once placed in as well)

Audience Feedback -

• Complete a relevant survey that asks no fewer than 10 people about their opinions of your magazine.

• This should contain between 8-10 questions – one of which MUST be about your Progression from Preliminary Task – Main Task.

Looking back at your Preliminary task, what do you feel you have learnt in the progression from it

to the full product?I feel that, having completed the preliminary task and learning about the demands of this

production process, I have learnt…

There is evidence of progression that I feel particularly demonstrates how I met the demands of the production process, for example…