Analysis of Existing Magazines

This Front Cover can be seen as threatening to most, but for their target audience (Teens of a heavy rock culture) will invite them into buying the magazine.
Black and Red is a dominate theme which implies bad and darkness - all things that associate with the heavy rock culture. The title is placed in white to stand out and draw in. Could imply peace, but with the words "Sex, Drugs, Violence" above and "The World's Most Dangerous Band" on the bottom, we see different to this band than 'peace'.
Furthermore, 'Avenged Sevenfold' (the band in the picture) are wielded with foreign objects in a threatening manner. Their facial expressions also convey this threatening message, and seems they are out to get the reader. This can make many feel uncomfortable that aren't part of the heavy-rock culture. People of this kind would idolize it, as it further relates to the music genre.
The logo of 'Kerrang!' magazine is a bold tough font, and has an effect of being shattered to pieces. This shows the toughness of the magazine and its genre and also its rebelliousness and trouble-making of it - some reasons why some teenagers and young adults listen to the music.

I have also chosen 'Q' magazine to analysis in comparison to 'Kerrang!' magazine. The colour theme red and white dominates the front page.
Red can be seen as 'danger' and 'warning', yet 'love' and 'passion'. This lightly implys variety and diversity within the magazine. The colour white can be conveyed as 'pure' and 'good'; and is a very modern and fashionable colour but can also be seen as dull if used in wrong places or in great quantity. When both colours mixed together, the red seems to stand out on the white and make notice to specific points and subjects within the front cover. Furthermore, the colours act like a memory trigger, and advertises 'Q' every time you see the colours together.
The magazine is targeted at ages 14+, for they do genres from new rock and Indy - for the younger generation - to classic rock - for the older generation.
A San-serif font is used to create a friendly and inviting look for the reader. It also makes the text look less threatening to read for readers with reading difficulties; which is probable at the target audience of lower to middle class. However, the logo of 'Q' is used with a font of elegance, which makes the magazine seem intellectual.
The front cover to this magazine features the lead singer from 'The Killers'. It looks like he's looking out at the magazine to the reader. The pointed finger further shows this, and makes us feel the magazine has come alive.


This is the 'Kerrang!' contents page. The edges of the page are rough and with a 'scratched up' effect. This gives a feel of toughness and informality. Readers of 'Kerrang' - the lovers of heavy-metal music - will relate to these effects by their own attributes.

The colour scheme is black, yellow and white; carrying out the 'rough and tough' look, with the yellow to highlight and make notice to the main and specific subjects, topics and page numbers on the page.

The pictures on the page are in relation to the bands and artists in the magazine. Some of the pictures aren't like the picture of the front cover. They are live action shots at a performance where the artist is not facing the screen. These pictures are simply used for information for the article on the directed page - possibly on a upcoming or past gig. However, some of the pictures are model shots of the artist, where they are looking out to the reader. This is probably because the article on the artist is about a story of themselves, and something to reach out to the reader.

Yet again, a sans serif font is used to show simplicity to the readers, to not intimidate and put people off reading the page.

This a double page spread from 'Kerrang' magazine. The title font is very hard looking; looks like its made from steel, however the title 'Hairy Fairy Tales' contrasts this completely in comedic fashion.

Red and black is a dominate colour theme, implying blood and death - all things in relation to the heavy-rock culture. WOB is used to make the text stand out and make it easier to see and read.

The picture is of all band members facing the camera. This gets the reader more involved and seems the band is looking straight at you. The knight in the centre is pointing straight at the camera making it seem he's out to get us (the reader). Other pictures have been situated around the main image, and have been placed to look like they've just been stuck on. Giving a sort of rebillous and imperfect look to the spread.

Target Audience

I went onto www.NRS.co.uk in search of a magazine in correlation to my magazine i will be creating. I came across 'Kerrang!' magazine - A dominantly male orientated rock magazine. 'Kerrang!' is a renown for its middle class/ lower class to up-coming gigs and new bands. My magazine will be such like and brought across with great interest and feel.
The typical reader for my magazine would be a 16-17 year-old boy who's interesting in new rock music and wants to find out about new bands and tours.

Stage 1 Coursework

For the first part of the media coursework, I am creating a music magazine with a specific genre and title. The magazine will include a front cover, a contents page and double spread page. For my magazine, my genre will be rock and my main story will be the band 'Rise Against', for I am seeing them live next month and it's a good opportunity to get some interesting pictures for my magazine. The target audience will be from ages 16+. It will contain mild to strong language to fit in with the image of new rock therefore wont be suitable for ages below 16.

Flat Plan

These are my flat plans for my front cover and contents page. They aren't very detailed, however it's not needed to be for the flat plan is just to show and remind me of what goes where. I'm pretty happy with the layout but feel the contents page could be a bit more detailed.

This is my front cover for my student magazine. I have chosen light colours like sky blue and white to represent peace and good; which I believe, reflects the college as a whole. The picture I have chosen is inviting and happy and gives the college these qualities also.
However, I believe the cover could be more interesting and have a lot more things going on in it.










This is my Contents Page, i've used the same colours as the cover to attract but also for easy recognition. I've placed the details at the bottom of the page and a welcoming text dominating the page to send off a friendly message.
However, i believe some pictures could make the page look more inviting and more professional.

Evaluation

I think my front cover for my college magazine was successful. I enjoyed doing it, and believe it looks semi-professional. However, I could of put more effort into it given extra time and made it seem like a professional magazine cover. My contents page wasn't as good as i hoped. I was running low on time but managed to get the basics from my flat plan onto it. It looks quite interesting, but there is room for improvement.
I can't wait to start my music magazine for I love music and love excelling my creativity in things like newspapers; I think I'll really enjoy this part of the course.

Photographs

I will be using the picture on the top for the facial features look more inviting and gives the college a happier look. If the picture on the bottom was used it could give the college a bad image, on the other hand it could be effectively used alongside a specific issue. However the issue of my magazine will be based on the brighter things of college therefore fitting with my image chosen.

Introduction

For this term in Media, I have been asked to create a front cover and contents page for a college magazine. My college will be targeted at students, teachers and pupils wishing to attend the college in the future. It will provide useful information, topics around college, activities, dangers and maps to the buildings.