Evaluating my Preliminary task - November 2011

My preliminary task of a school magazine was a very basic product which would not have sold as a product on a normal market. But as a school magazine it fitted many of the conventions as school magazines are generally not professionally made and are designed for ages between 12 and 16. This therefore means that a basic block design would be suited to a school magazine.

                                                                                     

This magazine would only be distributed in the school where it is made, this is due to the stories being tailored for the specific school and also because shops are not interested in selling low budget school magazines which are normally free. The main audience for this product is the school children and teachers of Ruislip High School, due to it being based on the school and the events held there. Another possible audience of this magazine would be the students parents who are interested in the school.

By producing my preliminary task I briefly learnt about changing colours on Photoshop, but I am still not proficient with the software, I also became more experienced at the use of basic software like Microsoft Publisher.

                             

My School Magazine Contents - October 2011

This is a brief description of what I did when I made the contents page for my preliminary task and why:

1. First, I used the same colour scheme and block layout for the contents as i did with the front cover. I also put page numbers and arrows. This was to show the layout of the page.
2. Secondly, I added the gradient effect that i put on the front cover. This was to add a sense of continuity and to make it look reasonably professional.
3. I then filled in the contents of the magazine, I did this by looking at my school's magazine to get an idea of the sort of stories used in school magazines.
4. Finally I added a picture of a student working and a pile of books, this added to the feel of the school magazine.

My School magazine cover - october 2011

This is a brief description of the reasoning behind different aspects of my magazine.

1. First I created a very basic block design of the pages layout so I could work out how I was going to organize the page
2. I then put the colours, which were different shades of blue and green. This was to match the theme of the school magazine by using the schools colours.
3. I then put a picture of a student into the frame, I also edited the picture by making it black and white.
4. I then edited the background colours by adding a gradient, changing it from one shade of the colour to another shade. This was to make the colours more interesting.
5. Finally I put the main story and editorial into the cover, as well as adding a school logo in the top corner.

Analysing school Magazine Covers, Ruislip eye - October 2011

In this task I analysed why the makers of my schools magazine, the Ruislip eye, used different features, and how these meet the target audience. For example they used a very basic box style layout to add emphasis on the picture on the centre,  they also used very poor quality photos when compared to professional magazines, this suggests that when I make my magazine I need to have less high quality photos and a less professional looking layout.

The magazine also uses very basic, standard fonts. For example “Arial” they also seem to change the font for every story, this could be down to working unprofessionally, or by the choice of the editors.

As well as these examples I also looked at the conventions, cover lines, how photos relate to stories, captions etc.

Analysing Magazine Covers, Total Guitar and Lonely planet - october 2011

In this task I analysed why the creators of these magazines used different features, and how these meet the target audience. For example Total guitar has a very large picture of a famous guitarist (James Hetfield – Metallica) this is used as it is a person that many guitarists aspire to, and will therefore attract the audience. Another example is the magazine Lonely planet, this magazine uses very high quality photos to attract people who enjoy travelling or possibly photography, the effect of the high quality photo also suggests that it is a very high quality magazine.

As well as these examples I also looked at the layout, typeface, how photos relate to stories, conventions, captions etc.

Sidewalk, How does it attract its target audience - October 2011

I analysed a skateboarding magazine for a piece of homework, mostly about the way it attracts its target audience.

The target audience of the magazine “sidewalk” is people who skateboard between ages as low as 12 to around 40.

This magazine attracts its audience by using a large picture of a skateboarder doing a trick, this attracts the audience as it is relatable for skateboarders.

It also uses very dark, urban colours. This helps attract the audience as skateboarding is an urban sport, this makes the setting very fitting for the magazine. The magazine also uses the typeface/colour to add to the urban feel, for example the bold typeface suggests it is a very “Raw” sport, the colour of the typeface supports this idea. Finally, the creators of the magazine used product placement to make the magazine more relatable, for example if people see familiar brands on the cover it may entice them to read the magazine.

Star Magazine, Analysing the stories fit the target audience - september 2011

I looked at a story from an issue of the magazine star, the story was called "Cheryl's Dilemma"

The magazine ensures it is fit for its target audience, women who are interested in celebrities, this is shown in the article “Cheryl's dilemma”

•This article suits its target audience as it features different images of the two celebrities involved in the story, Cheryl Cole and Ashley Cole. This meets the needs of the audience as it shows what the two celebrities are doing at the time.

•It also features quotations which show different things to do with the celebrities “Ashley is pulling out all the stops” the use of these quotations makes the celebrity causing the "dilemma" to be desperate.

Star magazine, Analysing Magazines - September 2011

•The audience is women between the age of 16 to 30 who are interested in celebrities, fashion ect.

This is known because:

The cover has lots of different celebrity stories on it.

Different pictures of celebrities.

Quotations from celebrities.

Has sections on “fashion, beauty and diet”.

Has a section called “Hollywood Star” about celebrity gossip.

Harry Potter, The use of different Covers - September 2011

The creators of the Harry potter covers chose to use 2 covers, this is so the book can appeal to both children and adults, therefore making their profits higher.

For example the child's cover features the use of vibrant colours, cartoon images and exciting typeface. On the other hand the adult cover uses dull colouring with a bright block for the title, a black and white photo and basic fonts.

Decoding - september 2011

In my First lesson i learnt about the meaning of the words Decoding, Encoding and Connotations.

• Decoding: working out the meaning of something, for example a rose is a flower.
• Encoding: Putting Meaning into something, for example a rose can mean love, or mourning.

• Denotation: Meaning of something
• Connotations: meanings associated with something, for example with a rose it has meanings including love, death and romance associated with it.

All meanings depend on the reader/audience