Preliminary Task: Contents Page

Preliminary task: Front cover

College Magazine Questionnaire Analysis

After doing a questionnaire about what the audience would demand from the product of a college magazine we have identified main point to help with content and sales.

The results told us that 55% were female and 45% of the people we asked were male. This will help the colours etc. and the demographic at which the product is aimed.  70% of the people we asked said they would not be happy or prepared to pay for a college magazine, so from this information I will probably make my magazine free. To make more people inclined to purchase a magazine they would want things included like free things, student discounts, music news and college information.

80% of the people surveyed regularly check their college email so it would be a good idea to send out emails advertising the college magazine and updates on its release as it will ensure an audience. Half of people asked said they feel the magazine should be released every month. 25% of people said that they would be prepared to contribute to the magazine.

When asked on what content is desired the modal answers were: music, sport, college information, gossip, competitions and events. Front cover recommendations included bright colours, images of students and for those images to be produced by students. Everybody that answered the questionnaire said that they do not read the college magazine now which tells us that the product is not working and needs to be renovated and relaunched.

College Magazine Questionnaire

1)      Are you male or female?
2)      Are you happy to pay for a student magazine?
3)      What would encourage you to buy a student magazine?
4)      Do you regularly check your college emails?
5)      How often would you like a college magazine published? (circle one)

        Fortnight             Month                  Half Term            Term

       6)    Would you be interested in contributing to the magazine?
       7)      List 3 things you would like to see in the college magazine:
             1:                    2:                  3:
      8)      What would appeal to you as a front cover?
       9)     Do you read the college magazine?

College Magazine Cover Analysis

This is a college lifestyle magazine from America. The target audience is college students in America; it models itself as a sophisticated magazine also.

The main image is in black and white, but using a high contrast so the Model looks classy and rich. This positions the audience to feel like they could become this successful person and by reading this magazine they can achieve this. The grey tones also modernise the magazine. Colours are then used for typography so that it stands out on a shops shelf. Black, orange and blue are the main colours used here, they are all non-gender specific colours, widening the demographic of the magazine.

The model is placed in the centre third of this medium shot making them appear strong; hands in the pockets connote a relaxed vibe. He is dressed in white to juxtapose his skin tone and make his face the focal point. He is angled slightly right which softens the image. There is no dead space on the cover and text partially covers him but the middle third is left clear. The models head covers 2 letters of the masthead and this is ok because if this magazine is well established then the consumer already knows what it called.

The coverlines advertise college life to be desirable. They show technology, style and social life creating the ideology that this is what college life will consist of and the magazine is a good guide to it. There is nothing showing a negative side to college life because that would change the magazines demographic and ideology. By placing the coverlines so tightly around the model it gives the ideology that he endorses and has a lifestyle like this. One of the first coverlines the consumer will look at will be the underlined ones as it signifies importance. ‘University if South Florida’ gives the magazine a location ideology of sun etc.

Overall this magazine is a conventional modern college magazine aimed at aspiring professionals. It represents achievement and success and positions the consumer to desire a bright future.

Feature Article Analysis 2

This is also taken from NME and is a feature article, however the artists, The Vaccines, are established. For this reason the article relies only on their interview and does not use a sidebar to showcase other bands. As the article is based on the assumption the consumer bought NME to read about The Vaccines, who were also the cover artist of this issue. The kicker is longer here and the band has had more recognition and hype to summarise. The journalists name is also, conventionally for NME, stated here. Two dropcaps are used here, one will begin the summary and set the scene and the other will mark the beginning of the interview. Only one pull quote is used on this page and it amplifies a controversial statement from the band about being ‘pop’ artists, this positions the audience to be intrigued and read the full interview to gain context on this statement of genre definition.

The image of the band used is also very large and takes up a page, NME use no text over it as it can also be used as a poster. The photo used is a close up/medium shot of the band. It shows their instruments to represent themselves and create the ideology of a live, grungy rock and roll band. They are also positioned with the singer’s head centrally to connote his leadership, all the others are in the top third and background to represent a platform type structure. Direct mode of address is used by all members to represent themselves as figures of power, and imply that they should be looked up to by the audience. The band are styled in beige which is a very neautral colour and connotes simplicity, this also represents the band as adaptable – implying they can keep up with whatever their fans want. This image is also coherent to zeitgeist of indie music right now.

The layout is very classic and minimalistic. The page design uses blue graphic shapes to avoid dead space and looking plain. The blue of the shapes is also a sign repetition of the dropcap colour and pull quote, it also creates convergence across the media text. The title simply states the bands name and gives nothing away, this adds to the minimalistic theme and represents mystery and makes the consumer read in order to discover information. Overall this article layout represents a minimalistic pop rock band with a vintage appeal and fashion sense, they are very in line with the current zeitgeist and therefore don’t need to be over-hyped to the consumer and a minimal layout works best. 

Feature Article Analysis 1

This is a feature article from NME’s Radar section of the magazine. Radar is essentially the newest of new music section. There is a lot going on here because NME has to keep the audience entertained, even if they are not interested in the band. This is where things like the sidebar help because there is enough content here to keep the audience immersed. The kicker creates the ideology that the band fits with the current musical zeitgeist of slacker rock.

This feature article is very conventional and uses a dropcap, pull quote, image captions, sidebars and many images. NME’s website is also shown at the bottom, this creates convergence across media texts and also relates to zeitgeist whereby the audience wants to be in control of the media they consume and its platform.

The bubble ‘NME loves’ next to the bands name connotes approval and positions the audience to feel like, because NME likes them, they should too. Although this is a double page spread the text is minimal about the band and the image is larger. This is because, being so new, there isn’t much to say about the band, as they haven’t made an impression yet. Also a bands image is seen as more important than their views, and therefore their look is conveyed over their words.

Much like the contents pages and front cover only 3 main colours are used here, and red (NME’s signature colour) is again used for pop to show their website advertisement.

The layout of the image used is also in context with the band and NME’s style. The other images of bands in the sidebar are also lined up using rule of thirds so that the audience pays attention to all individually. The title ‘everyone’s talking about’ for the sidebar implies that the consumer is missing out and needs to inform themselves on the bands NME show here. 

Contents Page Analysis 2

This contents page from NME is not very recent, it’s from about 2010 and the layout has since evolved. NME’s contents page is conventionally easy to navigate and provides information on most of the magazines content.  

Much like a front cover, contents pages conventionally use a colour code – here the uniform colours are red, black, and white. These tend to stay the same colours in every issue as opposed to the front cover. The contents page is the first page inside the magazine and therefore needs maximum brand association (logo, colours, images that only NME are capable of getting etc.). This is to provide an optimum preview of the issue for the consumer and for them to learn the brand. Yellow is also used as it is not a uniform colour of the magazine, therefore stands out more in order to advertise about the subscription offer. The ad is placed here because the consumer is shown a list if bands features in the magazine, which implies excellence and exclusivity to the consumer, and they are therefore positioned to subscribe to then have access to a good variety of music news every week, for a reduced price. This also gives NME a USP (unique selling point) that attracts readers from their desired demographic.

The logo is placed at the top left so it is the first thing, after the image that the eye is drawn to. Apart from the logo and title the page also makes use of a coverline in relation to the pages main image. This is to excite the audience about what the magazine contains. An image is used to fill space on this page and to show the full up close experience to bands that NME has to offer. Subtitles are used to make the page navigation even easier and quicker to look to for reference. The use of the band index is unconventional for music magazines however NME used this for a long time to again help the consumer and imply their place within the centre of the industry. The length of the index also creates the ideology that NME have access to almost every band of the genres concerned because if its length. This is highlighted with a red box to connote stop and attract attention. This sign of red is repeated at the bottom right corner where the magazine plugs its no. 1 position for gig guides.

The black on white is a juxtaposition and is effective for titles, subtitles and the date as the audience are told this information is needed to understand context, however by not using a bright colour it is not represented as being of highest importance on the page. This is another reason why the advert and plug uses brighter colours that pop from the page.

The typography is also unique to NME; they tend to use capitols for the preview line by each page number. They also make the title ‘This Week’ larger than the logo; this position the audience to believe that the week’s news is more important than the brand and creates the ideology that NME is truly ‘serving the people’. The text under the image is also unique as italics are used for the unimportant, but necessary, half of the sentence before the bands name and event. However use of “the moment that” further implies NME’s up close position and exclusivity – it implies they never miss a moment in music.

Contents Page Analysis 1

This contents page from Q magazine is a double page spread, this is unconventional for music magazines but Q is released once a month so has more content that a weekly magazine. They are also recognised for getting exclusives with the biggest names in music and their contents page portrays this through images.

The first thing the audience is positioned to look at is the focal point of an image of Gorillaz, this also shows Q’s target audience – no larger text backs up the image except an enlarged page number. So if a consumer was a fan of Gorillaz they would know immediately where to look, if they are not then the feature is also listed in the right column. This concept applies to all images used. It adds variation to the layout of the media text and creates the ideology to the consumer that if they don’t require text to recognise the artist then they are a true fan. The layout of images here is central with text on the outside, this creates the illusion there is not as much to read as it is so separated. It also draws the audience’s eye across the page via the images. 3 images are places out of the centre to almost overwhelm the audience with images and make them read minimal text here and move on to another page of the magazine.

The only colours used here are white, red and black. Much the same as NME, however both magazines have different feels because Q is more editorial and NME is aimed at a lower class demographic. Q’s contents page is made to look classy and linear. The header uses Q’s logo to add life to quite plain typography. The issue number is also stated, as Q is traditionally a collector’s magazine and it still markets itself as this.

This contents page also uses juxtaposition and pops of large font and red to prioritise the consumer’s eye. This is common across all media text of this genre and makes it a conventional code.

The text on this contents page is very structured and organised this connotes serious, classic journalism within the magazine. The images however are sometimes tilted; this connotes relaxation and fits with the current zeitgeist of laziness. This markets Q as a classic music magazine with a modern edge and influence. 

Magazine Cover Analysis 3

Minimalistic abstract fashion magazine, with a theme of music. Masthead uses magazines iconography to tell audience what the product is. Image is related to coverline (band name) the band is positioned to connote unity and signify they are all band members. Lead singer is conventionally placed in front middle of frame, also in middle third (rule of thirds), the magazine name is across the top 3 thirds, evenly spaced and their heads are placed directly below to position the audience to look at them. The direct mode of address from the whole band implies their presence and creates the ideology they want the consumer to pay attention to them and take notice. The colour white has been used for the band name firstly because it is highly contrasting to the singers jacket, another reason is white symbolises purity and the band are new, so it represents birth.  The colour yellow is repeated when the magazine displays other bands featured, this is repeating of the sign yellow so that, although smaller font, it still attracts the audience’s attention because of the colour repetition. Colour repetition in typography also displays convergence across this media text and meets the conventional code of magazine cover construction.

The target audience is 16-35 year old British middle class males with an interest in non-mainstream fashion and music. Another reason that the bands image is a close up is because it creates the ideology that by reading Artrocker you could be as cool as and look like the band. For example, if the band was old and not fashionable they would conventionally have a longer shot for the cover.

The magazine also signifies modern ways, there is no colouring behind the image as it occupies the whole cover which is a relatively new convention for magazines, it also implies the magazine is aimed at a higher class as it appears more expensive. The minimalistic font also creates the idea of a secret whereby you know what’s in the magazine/who the bands are, or you don’t.

‘No batteries required’ is a pun on the band’s name and again signifies the secret of them and how new they are as it doesn’t give any information away. The bands image is the main description of the band as the connotations of their long hair, eyeliner, jackets etc. all signify their sound and style. The background of a brick wall used also represents that they are from a city and live a rock lifestyle. The sunglasses connote coolness and create the ideology of a heavy night before so their eyes are heavy, which also feeds into the lifestyle marketed. The lack of props also represents that they don’t need gimmicks to market themselves.

Zeitgeist (spirit of the times) is also represented through this cover. Firstly the band chosen are very young and relevant within the current musical trend of fresh out of university grungey touring bands. It’s fashionable to have long hair and look relaxed and that is displayed here. So Artrocker is endorsing this way of life and representing it as cool, and using the band as a marketing tool to do that. The minimalism of the cover also applies here, where it is seen as artistic and cool to not give information away and be mysterious about it.