Top of the Pops Magazine Double Page Spread

Interview - the article is in an interview format with the questions being in a different colour to the answers. This makes the page much easier to read and creates a more organised appearance generally. I much prefer an interview style to an informative style of writing as this allows for a more personal connection between the artist and the reader.  

Exclusive - at the top of the page it states that this is an 'exclusive interview' this makes the magazine appear high in demand and very up to date. Audiences for pop music and quite fickle and so it seems important to make the interview look as new and exciting as possible. I will definitely use this somehow, perhaps on my contents page or cover though.

Range of images - there are a few different pictures used on the double page spread, this helps to make the page a bit brighter to contrast the dark background. I will also have a few images on my double page spread as I don't think one image is enough to balance out the amount of text.

Title -  the title of the article links to the main image (the reference to being in the 'spotlight' this really links the whole double page spread together. I really like the idea of the image having a strong link to the text, however I don't know if this would be through the title or through a quote in bold somewhere near the image.

Quotes - there are several quotes shown in bubbles. This helps to break up the text and yet again make the page more visually appealing to young audiences. I will use quotes but I'm not sure if I would prefer them to be in bubbles or rectangles, I will play around with both options whilst putting together my double page spread.

Image - the main picture is very powerful and dominating, the artist is the focal point of the entire page. This makes it seem as though the artist's image is just as important as their music is to their success. I will have my artist as the focal point of the page but I don't think I want my artist to look quite so dominating as I want them to appear like normal people.

Colour scheme - the colours used on this double page spread are very classic colours. The black and white however is complemented by the splashes of red, the colours are quite contrasting which seems to work well. I like the fact that the colours are very contrasting but I would prefer for my double page spread to be brighter and less severe looking.

ATM Magazine Double Page Spread

Unusual fonts – the font used is very urban and futuristic. This creates a very modern feeling to the page and also makes the magazine and artist appeal youthful. I don’t think that this would work very well in my magazine as this font looks quite masculine and doesn’t really fit into the pop world of music.

Paint splashes – around the corners of the pages there are splashes of paint. This makes it look as though it’s in working progress and that the band has not yet reached its full potential. It also seems very young and fits into the clubbing world well. I really like the idea of using some sort of added effects to my double page spread however I don’t know what would work well with a pop band.

Text – there is three columns which is very conventional. There is a lot of text on the page, and no pictures or quotes to break up the masses of text. I heavily dislike this as there is too much text on the page for the eye to read. It makes the page appear very dull and boring, which is the exact opposite of the type of page I would like to create.

Colour scheme – the colours used are very pale and dull, they are used to make the artist appear very normal and down to earth. I dislike how bland these colours are and will try to use brighter colours in order to entice young readers. 

Picture – the image is mostly confined to left page however the background of the image spans across to the top of the right page. This connects the pages together without interrupting the formal layout of the right page. I like having the image crossing over both pages, however I will make this more prominent in my magazine perhaps having my image indenting into the text.  

Website – at the end of the article there is a link to a website, this yet again promotes the idea that this music is very technology dominated and that the audience for this magazine is young adults (the main users of technology.) I really like having a link to a website, my target audience is quite young and so the internet is a useful tool to make use of for a pop magazine and the artists they concern.   

Introduction – unlike other magazines I have looked at this article doesn’t have an introduction in bold at the start of the article. This makes the page look very formally structured, which is contrasting to the youthful music it concerns. I don’t like the lack of an introduction as I think it makes the page look nicer and also sets the scene for the entire article. I think the introduction is very important to the double page spread.

Image – there is only one image on the entire page, this is quite unusual as there tends to be several photos scattered around the page normally. This shows that the artists face isn’t that important in this music genre as the music doesn’t rely on the artists face and more on the merit of the music. This would not work for my magazine as pop music heavily relies on the artists face and them as a brand, therefore I will need several photos of my main artist across the double page spread.

We Love Pop Magazine Double Page Spread (again)

Logo repeated – the logo is at the bottom of the page just to keep the magazine fresh in the readers mind and keep the magazines identity consistent within the magazine. I will repeat my magazine’s logo throughout my magazine however I have yet to develop it and decide what it will look like.

Artist name – the name of the artist in this case ‘Rita Ora’ is repeated a few times on the double page spread, this just reinforces the identity of the artist. I will definitely repeat the artist name a few times as I think it helps confirm the identity of the artist.

Clothing – in the main image the artist is wearing quite young, urban clothing. This helps to create a very young, hip tone to the page and shows that pop music is a young person’s world. I haven’t yet decided what sort of clothing my artists will wear however I do want it to be very youthful and fun in some way.

Background – the background of the main image is also very urban as it’s on a street and is also quite dark. This suggests quite a rebellious side of the artist as well which resonates well with young teenagers. I would like to create a somewhat urban feel to my magazine as this seems to work well however I think I will use this on one of the pictures on my contents page as I think this would work better.

Text layout – there is a margin between the text and the edge of the page, this makes the page seem much more structured and organised. Also there are three columns which is what you would expect from a typical double page spread. I will also use these basic layout ideas just to keep my page looking as professional as possible.

Colour scheme – the main colours are red, white and blue; this is very patriotic showing the national identity of the artist. They’re also very bold, contrasting colours that compliment each other well. I like the contrasting colours however I feel that blue is too masculine for my magazine unless it is paired with a pink or purple making it a bit more feminine.

Quotes – the quote used on the page is in a blue circle, this creates a very fun, creative look for the page and also ties in with the colour scheme. The quote is also very short which makes it easier to read. I will have quotes that stand out and I like the ball idea however I don’t quite no yet how I would put this together as the quote would have to be really short to fit into a circle.

Interview – the article is an interview with the artist this works well with young audiences as they want to get to know artists and interviews are the easiest way of doing this. I will most likely make my article an interview as this just seems to fit in better with the overall style of the magazine.

Star – the star at the top of the page is interesting as it’s very literal as artists are stars themselves and it’s also very aspiring which works well with young readers. I like this however I don’t want to use it as I would rather come up with my own ideas to create a very individual, unique look for my magazine. 

We Love Pop Magazine Double Page Spread

Q Magazine Double Page Spread

Overlaps the pages – the picture goes over both pages and take up the majority of the spread.

I will use this convention as I think the picture is the most important thing on the double page spread. I would like to have my artist’s body in some way crossing the two pages.

Close up on the face _ the shot used here is a close up of the artists face, this creates quite an intense vibe to the page but also makes it seem quite personal and intimate. This could perhaps link to the topics discussed in the article. I don’t think this would really be appropriate for my magazine as this creates quite an intense sort of vibe that wouldn't be appropriate for a pop magazine.

Quite dark – the photo is relatively dark and there is strong use of shadows, this is clever as it makes the artist appear somewhat mysterious, this also enticing the audience into wanting to read more as they would want to know about this allusive person. Again I don’t really think this would work in my magazine as I will be using very bright and happy colours and would like to carry this on throughout my images.

Eye contact – the artist has eye contact with the reader creating more of a connection between the artist and their fans. This I feel, is really important for my magazine as the artists would have large fan bases and so the need for a connection between the reader and the artist is important.

Only two columns of writing – normally I would have expected three columns however this article only has two. This could be linked to the fact that there are two sides to the artist and this article is what will unveil them. I am still unsure of how many columns I will have as I haven’t wrote the article yet and sop would need to see it written down to decide.

Font size – there is a range of font sizes used, with the title being the largest and the rest of the article getting respectively smaller. I like this and will definitely have a range font sizes used in my double page spread.

Quote – there is a quote over the picture on the left. This gives a small insider into the article and helps create the initial tone of the page. I will use quotes on my page though I think I will make them slightly more prominent on my page and possibly have more than one.

Twist Magazine Contents Page

Pink background – pink is a very girly colour and having it in the background resonates well with young female readers and yet isn’t overpowering as its just the background. I really like this, I will probably have pink somewhere in my colour scheme and so think it would be a good background for my contents page.

Range of Artists – like the other contents pages I’ve looked at there are many different varying people on the page. This means that the magazine is appealing to a wider range of people. I will have a few artists on this page however I don’t want the page to look too cluttered, I think I will aim for three or four artists.

Very Colourful – this page uses lots of colour, making a very positive, happy tone to the start of the magazine. I think I will try to use a few varying colours on this page, probably more so than my cover and double page spread, as I think it will appeal to my audience.

Small snippets of stories – some of the articles have a small blurb about the article on the page. This is good as it gives the audience a taste of what’s to come. I like this however I don’t want a lot of writing on the page as I think that would put off younger readers.

Link to cover – there is a small version of the cover on this contents page, this makes the magazine easier to navigate and more user friendly. Again I think this is a good idea but I wouldn't want it take up too much of the page.

Minimal writing - there isn’t a lot of writing on the page. This works well with young girls as they would rather look at pictures than sit reading lots of factual information. I will also have minimum writing on my contents page as I think the page doesn’t need to be overcrowded with information.

Boxes – the information on the page is organised into boxes of colour. This makes the page look much more structured. I like this and think I will use this to make my page a bit more organised and yet still light and fun.

Mizz Magazine Contents Page

Q Magazine Contents Page

 Colours – red, black and white. Red is important because it links to the magazine as a brand and helps to reaffirm the identity of the magazine. The black and white creates a very classic, respectable look. I will use black and white in my magazine however it won’t be that prominent in my colour scheme as brighter colours work better with the type of music my magazine is concerning. 

Titles – it’s clearly labelled as ‘features’ this makes the page much more organised and user friendly. This also creates the idea that the magazine is very regimented and factual, showing it has valid, up to date information. I will definitely use this on my contents page as I really like this layout as it applies a bit of structure to the page.

Picture of spread – there is a picture in the bottom left corner of the double page spread, this is good as it allows the reader to have a sneak peak at what’s to come in the magazine. Although I do like this, I don’t think I will utilise this as it would take up a lot of the page and ruin the surprise of the double page spread.

Banner – there seems to always be a banner at the top of the page in the main colour of the magazine. Yet again this helps to reaffirm the identity of the magazine and helps to link the pages together. I will have a banner at the top of my contents page however I am still unsure of the colour of this banner yet.   

Although I like some of the features of this contents page, this is not really the type of contents page I would like to have in my magazine. This magazine seems to be more aimed at older audiences and so not quite suitable for my target audience (girls aged between 10-15). 

Top of the Pops Magazine Contents Page

Pages highlighted – some of the pages on the page have been highlighted to make them stand out a bit more than some of the others. This creates quite an informal tone which I quite like. I may use this feature however I might use it in my article on my double page spread instead.

Banner – at the top of the page a banner is used. This makes the page have a greater impact when the reader first see’s it. I think I will use this to really make an impact as this is the first page the reader sees when they open the page, I quite like the  colours blue and purple so I might use one of them.

Sections – the page is sectioned into different groups such as; ‘Celebs & gossip’ and ‘All about you.’ This is good because it makes the page much more efficient and easy to use. I will definitely use this to make my magazine very user friendly. I’ll probably only have three or four different sections though as I don’t want to over complicate the page.  

Colour scheme – three colours; pink white and yellow. The pink connects to the pink shown on the front of this magazine, showing strong connections throughout the magazine I will try to stick to a strict colour scheme in order to create a consistent appearance.

Cover on the contents – this is quite an interesting idea as having the cover on the contents is good for helping readers to navigate the magazine. Although I like the idea I don’t know if I’ll use it as it might take up to much of the page.   

Title – the title of the page doesn’t say contents page it’s more ambiguous: ‘Inside the mag…’ This is much more informal creating a more creative, fun tone to the magazine. I will aim to recreate this by having a more informal title, I will also try to utilise some of the colloquial language used in this contents page.

Lots of pages – there is a wide variety of articles and features on the contents page, this hints at how large the magazine is and how popular it is. I will have quite a few pages on my contents page and also, just like this magazine, not have too much writing about each of the pages as this would make the page look too serious.

Numbers by pictures - just like the previous magazine I looked at, the pictures on the page are accompanied by a large number. This makes the page very user friendly for readers and looks very organised. I quite like this idea and so will aim to use it on the main images on my contents page.  

We Love Pop Magazine Contents Page

Exclusive – the language used creates a very desirable affect as it makes the magazine seem special and one of a kind. The first words on the page are ‘for your eyes only’ this makes the audience feel special and in the know.  I am going to use phrases such ‘World Exclusive’ to really make my magazine seem special and really hot off the press!

Repetition of logo – the logo from the front cover is repeated onto the contents page. This seems to help reaffirm the identity of the magazine. I’m going to repeat my logo throughout the entire magazine however I will try to link my logo into the colour scheme in some way to really keep my magazine looking sleek.  

Ellipsis – this contents page makes good use of the ellipsis; this helps to create a sense of anticipation for what’s to come in the magazine. I will probably use this on my contents page however probably only once.

Introduction to the magazine – this really sets the scene and tone of the magazine. Although this is a convention of the magazine, I feel that it doesn’t create the correct atmosphere I want to set. I don’t want to have a huge amount of text on the contents page as this would make my magazine appear a little too formal.

Link to website – at the bottom of the page there is a link to a website for the magazine. I will also use this I think as it makes my magazine look as though it is part of a widely recognised and appreciated organisation.

Lots of pictures – the page is very busy with pictures, this creates quite a cluttered effect. This is interesting as it shows that magazine is aimed at younger audiences who connect more with more creative layouts. I think I will go for quite a cluttered picture heavy look for my contents page as I think this will create the right look for my target audience.

Colour scheme – three colours again. The blue is the opposite of what you’d first expect as it’s generally a masculine colour however it’s well complemented by the citrusy orange colour. The black in the colour scheme also helps to add a bit of credibility to the magazine and proves that there is some worthwhile content within the magazine. I think I’ll use a blue colour with perhaps a pink of purple as I think the contrast really works well on the page.

Numbers on pictures – the pictures on the pages have been numbered to correspond with the page number of the article. This is a good idea because younger readers can find it easier to identify with visual things and not text. I think I will use this on my contents page to make my page have a bit more organisation for the reader.

Billboard Magazine Cover

We Love Pop Magazine Cover (again)

I really liked We Love Pop's look and layout and so I decided to analyse another cover in order to make my magazine more like this genre.

Colour scheme - the colours used on this cover are red, white and blue. This is very patriotic and is used in this circumstance to reinforce the Britishness of the band and the magazine. I do like the fact the colours have a meaning behind them, however I don't think I'll use this colour scheme. I quite like the blue banner along the bottom and so may use this on my cover.

Free Gifts - yet again there are posters on offer with the magazine, drawing in young audiences. I have seen this in a few magazines now and think that its very effective. So I will aim to have some form of free posters advertised on the front cover.

Lots of different artists - there is a wide range of artists on the cover, this draws in a larger collective audience. I don't know if I'll have quite as many artists on the cover as this magazine does but I will aim to have three or four to create the same kind of vibe.

Main Picture - the main image is very relaxed and fun, this shows that the band are quirky and nice people and so fans are pulled towards buying the magazine. I am definitely going to have a very relaxed, playful photo on my cover, I also like the fact that it's a band on the cover  think this makes the page look fuller and more appealing to young audiences.  

Quotes - there are a few quotes on the cover which gives a taste of what's to come in the magazine. I'll have one quote on the cover to give a slight hint as to the tone of the magazine however I don't want to have too much text on the cover as that would put off younger readers.

Informal language - there are lots of example of more colloquial language on the cover such as: 'shock pics.' This is far more associated with younger people. I will aim to use this not only on my cover but throughout my magazine as its important to create a consistent tone throughout the magazine.

We Love Pop Magazine Cover

Top of the Pops Magazine Cover

This is also a style of magazine that I am interested in as its concerning pop music, the genre of music I wish my magazine to be about.

Free Gifts - the cover states that there are free posters inside. This is a good technique to use with younger audiences as they are often drawn in by the enticing goods. I quite like the idea of free posters, as this involves music artists themselves and can be linked to my double page spread.

Range of Artists - the cover has not just one artist on the cover, instead opting for a number of different artists. This is important as it brings in a range of fan bases and doesn't make the magazine limited in its audience. I will use this idea in my magazine as I think variety is needed on the cover to keep the magazine interesting.

Exclusives - the word 'exclusive' has shown up a few times on magazine covers. It helps create the idea that the magazine is special and one of kind, really drawing in potential readers. I agree that this is a good idea as it makes potential readers more inclined to buy the magazine. 

Rhetorical Questions - rhetorical questions are very good at creating a more informal tone (often better with younger audiences), it also creates more of a connection between the reader and the product. I'm not sure if I will use this on my front cover, as I am yet to decide how formal my magazine cover will be. Perhaps I will use this in my contents page as it will contain more text.

BBC - in the top right corner is the TV logo, this is important because it links the magazine to the TV programme of the same name. This helps to establish the magazine as a reliable product as its part of the trusted brand. My magazine will not be linked to any TV programmes and so I will not be able to utilise this idea.

Colour scheme - the magazine has three main colours in the colour scheme; pink, purple and white. These colours are very feminine, this will be due to the target audience of the magazine being young girls. I will use three colours, however without doing any research into my audiences I cannot yet decide what these colours will be.

Numbers - interestingly the cover makes good use of specific numbers: '7 sizzling posters' This creates the idea that the magazine is very specific and accurate in its information. This makes the magazine look more trustworthy and so more popular. I quite like this idea, I might use this by having some sort of 'Top 10 Albums This Week' sort of feature.

Q Magazine Cover



The first magazine I examined was a Q magazine, I think this is the style of magazine that I would like to produce as I would like to make a mainstream/pop magazine. There are many features within this cover that I found interesting to look at, for example;

Fonts - the fonts used are very bold and quite basic fonts, this shows that the magazine is very mainstream and accessible to everyone. I will definitely use bold, clear, legible fonts as the reader must be able to clearly see the text.

Costumes - the costumes are very dark which links to the colour scheme, this ties the cover together. I will try to link my photos and colour scheme together well, this will help to create a very sleek image for the cover.

Logo - as previously mentioned the Q logo is very bold and its also repeated on the cover reinforcing the brand of the magazine. I have not decided on a logo yet for my magazine but I would quite like to develop one as I feel it would really strengthen the brand of my magazine.  

Photo - the photo used is very happy and relaxed creating a fun, informal tone to the magazine. I quite like this idea and will try to have a fun, creative photo as the main image on my cover.

Colour scheme - the magazine mostly uses three colours; red, black and gold. The red is important in establishing the brand as Q always uses red in its logo. The gold is important as it reiterates the idea that magazine is desirable. I will use three colours in my colour scheme and I quite like the desirable and aspirational connotations of the colour gold, so I may use that colour in my magazine.

Puns - the magazine makes use of puns on the front cover: 'Back for good?' This shows that the brand of the artist is just as important as the brand of the magazine. I am not yet sure of the bands that will feature in my magazine but I would like to have some sort of pun surrounding them on the cover of my magazine. 

Music Magazine Research

In order to create my music magazine, I need to understand the codes and conventions of existing music magazines, I have looked at a number of magazine to see what aspects of them I can replicate in some way in my own magazine to make it appear more like an existing music magazine. I have looked at a range of covers, contents pages and double page spreads. This will help me develop my own ideas and help me think about the type of image I want to create with my magazine.

Preliminary Task Evaluation

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

In my research into existing school magazines I found many codes and conventions and so utilised many of them within my preliminary task. I used three colours in my colour scheme, and chose colours that contrast yet compliment each other. I also used a medium close up that took up the majority of my cover. I also positioned my model to appear very happy following a key convention of school magazines. One thing that I did to challenge conventions was my main model was not dressed in a school uniform. My magazine did contain two students in uniform however my main picture depicted a sixth form student in casual clothing, I did this because I wanted my cover to show that all the students had their own personality and to make the school seem more accepting of all the students.


What have you learnt about technologies from the process of constructing this product?

In the lessons leading up to my school magazine I learnt how to use the programmes Photoshop and InDesign, I also started developing my knowledge of the cameras. When I was taking my photos I thought carefully about things such as, the rule of thirds and lighting to make sure my images creates the right effect for my magazine. I used Photoshop to cut out my main image and apply it to a new background  I thought this created a much more appealing, artistic cover. Once on InDesign I used boxes to organise my page much better and this allowed me to move around and play with the layout much more. I also used a range of tools, that I had previously developed my skills using, to create a sleeker, more professional view.  

Preliminary Task - School Magazine

These are the final pictures of my school magazine preliminary task. 
   

Front Cover

Contents Page