DPS layout

For my double page spread I used a basic layout for the page. This is just a first thought, like my contents page and front cover these layouts are basic but are the first and foremost ideas for my layout for the magazine i will be creating. The idea for this dps was taken from my first dps analysis from, YG’s interview with XXL. This is where I got my idea but i'm sure I will change the layout for my dps, contents page and front cover.

Dps layout

Contents page

This is my contents page layout. I didn't add any reference to colour because I decided that it's gonna have a neutral background colour because the picture for the contents page will be taken in the photography studio. I did use typical codes and conventions of a contents page, in regards to the structure of where the features will be. Where the writing will be placed and where to find the pages. I explained what type of photo i will include on the contents page, this is because I want the audience to be able to foresee the type of genre I want to use from the layout itself. Arguably i should of had a messy layout because some would say this would relate more to grime because of its rebellious nature. So to have an out of the box structure would suit the contents page, however I decided to have a formal and professional layout because I want my magazine to have that level of prestige to be seen as both grime but professional.

contents

Front cover

My front cover for my magazine has codes and conventions of a typical magazine front cover. The masthead is clearly visible at the top of the page. The sky line is just above the masthead at the very top of the page. The issue number is at the top right corner of the page. I have said where my main coverstar will be. The cover lines where will they be placed. The barcode at the bottom left corner. The puff which was optional I chose to include it because of the competition i have included in the pitch for my magazine.

The layout may currently look asic but this is just to show my audience what i will be designing. When my magazine front cover is complete.  

Front cover Lay out

My Magazine Flat Plan

Audience profile and Institution

Vibe Magazine Audience:

Vibe magazine's target audience is those who support the hip-hop/ rap genre. The fans are generally in their late teens and early thirties. Generally the minorities within society such as: Black, South Americans and other ethnic minorities are seen to be influenced by the artist advertised on the magazine.

Demographics: those of the lower classes and working class would most likely read vibe magazine because of the stereotype that ethnic minorities listen to more hip-hop and rap music because it appeals more to them, due to the Psychographics the ethnic minorities would be aspire’s. This is because they are influenced by the musical celebrities advertised in this magazine.

This magazine is not gender specific because they advertise both sexes, this week's edition just happens to be a male and his fan base is both males and females. The statistics are fairly close to each other for female and male audiences. Male reader 55% female 45%. The average age of the readers is 30 but the highest percentage falls between 18-34 which is 67%. But 21+ has 81% of the readers

Vibe magazine Institution:

Vibes creator is Quincy Jones, he founded the magazine in 1993 in New York City and till this day they sell issues. They are still based in New York. The current chief editor is Datwon Thomas. The magazine circulates quarterly up until 2014 where Quincy Jones decided to keep the magazine alive online.

However Vibes publisher was (Miller.Publishing) they bought Vibe in 1996 and then later the magazine called Spin.

Generally i would say that vibe is a mainstream magazine because they advertise a popular genre and advertise the hottest and current artistes.

XXL Magazine Audience:

XXL magazine's target audience are those who listen and enjoy hip-hop/ rap and R&B music. Like Vibe this magazine's target audience are fans are generally in their late teens and early thirties. Generally the minorities within society such as: Black, South Americans and other ethnic minorities. These groups of people are mostly who the target audience of these artists are.

Demographics:

For the gender aspect of who reads XXL magazine, the statistics show 78% Male readers and 22% female readers. This could be because XXL tend to advertise predominantly male artists who fall under the rap/ R&B genre and stereotypically these genres attract a high male audience.

The percentage of the readers in ethnicity: African american 67% Caucasian/White 18% Hispanic/Latino 19% Asian 1%.

The primary age targeted for this magazine is 25-29 years of age as it occupies the highest percentage of 29% but as a whole over 21’s have 81%. Over 50’s have 1% this suggests that XXL magazine is a predominantly a young audience. The average age of an XXL reader is 29.

XXL Magazine Institution:

XXL’s publisher is Townsquare Media, the first issue came out in 1997 and featured Jay. like Vibe magazine XXL their are based in New York. The magazine quarterly and 11 issues come out a year. The Editor in chief is Vanessa Satten. From the genre advertise in the magazine, they would be deemed as a mainstream magazine.

Newsstand task

Magazine newsstand task

Over the weekend i when out and had a look at how retailers layout magazines and what's common about the way they look. I went into my local corner shop, sainsbury's and WH Smith.

WH Smiths:

WH Smiths had a large range of magazines, different ages, different genres and different styles. The corner shop had very limited amounts of magazines but from what could tell they only had popular magazines. Sainsburys has a large collection of magazines but they didn't seem to have the most popular choices which is ironic because sainsburys is a popular brand.

One thing i had noticed about these layouts was that they mainly showed the masthead of the magazine to capture the audience's eye sight straight away the cover star wasn't really seen but the name of the magazine the brand was quite clear.

One other thing i noticed was the cover lines were very bright in colour of the audience are attracted to read in what the magazine is offering, which is quite a good technique even if the consumers don't want to read the magazine it holds their attention while they look at the magazine stand.

Other ways magazine companies distribute their products is via social media.

https://twitter.com/XXL?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor

Above is XXL’s twitter page every time there is a new release of their magazine they tweet within minutes. Also they keep up with current events on their twitter to arouse the interests of the audience.

I had originally chosen this to be my front cover but. I thought having a black boy about to shoot a basketball is too stereotypical to the sport. so I decided to have a 2 black boys looking at the camera while holding the ball instead.

My Preliminary Task

On my preliminary task I gave it a sports look. I thought giving it a sports college magazine looks more unique to what everyone is doing I only chose it because I enjoy sport. I want to do sport because I didn't just want it to be unique but I wanted it to be unique to me. I chose basketball to be the cover sport because I myself enjoy playing basketball.

PRELIMINARY TASK Evaluation

For my preliminary  task I create or knowledge on how to use it since this isn't my first time doing media. I used many different tools to create the magazine front cover I desired. I wouldn't say it was the best front cover but a college magazine. I created the cover page and a contents page.

First of all I created my front cover on photoshop but we all had a taster lesson on how to use the software. But I had already had pr it was unique to me. This is why I decided to break convention, and instead of having a typical Caucasian on the cover i used a black boy with a basketball on the cover which is stereotyped for the sport, but it broke the convention of a typical front cover for a college magazine.

caucasian teenager with school equipment on the front cover. I decided to have two black males

What went well?:

1. Firstly I believe my cover stars or background for my front cover was a countertype to what's expected for a college magazine front cover. This also sold the idea that the magazine is about sport. This is what I wanted to present to the audience. To have a successful magazine your audience needs to know what the genre is from just the look of the magazine.
2. Another section where I believe I think i’ve done well is my 3 colour scheme. I think my colour scheme is clear to all people that look at the front cover. Even to those who don't know what a 3 colour scheme is on a magazine I believe my colour scheme is clear. My colour scheme is black red and white.
3. One final thing I think went well was my contents page. It follows my black red and white colour scheme, and it has the typical images that a contents page would have.

 









What didn't go so well?:

1. Firstly I think I could've had better structure on my cover lines. I think that it doesn’t look professional. I feel like I could've used more codes and conventions of college magazines.
2. Second thing I thought I could improve was my contents page. I didn't follow any code or conventions for my background for my contents page. I wouldn't say it’s bad but it's not conventional for a college magazine.
3. My  final flaw in my cover lines. More on the content I could've said better things that are more specific to the research i had originally done for my college magazine.

Improvements:

What i think i need to improve on is my contents page. I think I could follow more of the codes and conventions of a contents page, and the spacing between the content could be improved so it doesn't look off. I would also change the colour of the background to make it look more like a contents page.

contents page

Contents page

Front cover

Front cover

My Predicted Magazine

My preliminary plan

This is a plan of how I predict my magazine front cover and contents page will look like when I finish this task.

college magazine analysis

Research Case Studies

My coursework Genre

R.A.P

Rhythmic African Poetry 

RAP music which was originally known as Kwaito music, in Johannesburg in South Africa. it was brought about in the late 1960's early 70's.

The first or one of the first hip-hop artistes to introduce rap was, (DJ Kool Herc) he first introduce it in his parties with small and simple raps.

The first few top rap artistes were Grandmaster Flash, Afrika bambaataa and Kurtis Blow.

RAP is seen as a expressive form of music. poetry at its finest so would say!!!!!!!!!

Production schedule

My thoughts of media

Media to me

        

First of all I would like to welcome you all to my blog.=) 

I chose media as one of my courses in college because I really enjoyed it in secondary school. Also my career path is intertwined with media studies as I aspire to become a journalist. To be specific I want to be a sports journalist.

I first thought of the idea of become a journalist because I enjoy telling people about current and up to date events. my personal direction within journalism is sports. main reason I love sports, second reason their will forever be intresting things occurring in the sports world.

My top rap artists

My introduction to As Media