Claire Russell Media Studies Blog: November 2020

Monday, 2 November 2020

Home page -

https://clairerussell2003.wixsite.com/my-site

(my video element is located on this page at the top, below the Issue 2 label)

Article page -

https://clairerussell2003.wixsite.com/my-site/top-article

07 PRODUCTION

cover page 1-

Cover page 2-

Contents page 1-

Contents page 2-

06 PLANNING WEBSITE

https://editor.wix.com/html/editor/web/renderer/edit/f5e1ffc2-d0f8-4f4c-b003-92c7b5a6eee1?metaSiteId=b9f48006-30c8-478a-8d85-e004737b6c37

1- I am planning on setting my website out in a structural format however, still making sure that it includes features of the Real Life magazines which I looked into. With a younger generation who regularly use social media, I think that setting out sections of it like Instagram's explore page.

2- After speaking to my teacher and getting feedback on my original design, I decided to restart my website. He pointed out that the design was too structured for a Real-Life magazine and does have enough links with the rest of my products. After this, I looked back at the other Real-life magazines which I researched, as well as my magazine cover and contents page, and started to develop my new design to make my synergy more cohesive.

This design is still more structured than the Magazine websites which I looked into, however looks more like them than my original design. I am planning on having loads of advertisements to cover this first section and then below having some articles and a meet the team video. For my second page, I am planning on developing on of the articles by doing a report page.

Second page

05 PLANNING PRODUCTION

Magazine cover page mockups

In my first set of mockups for my magazine cover, I tried a few different colour schemes. With this being the first stage of my planning, I wanted to get try out a few plans in order to discuss with my focus group and see what their overall opinions were with the colours and layout.

After consulting with my focus group, they said that they are more likely to pick up the one on the left, with the more colourful scheme. Most stated that it would stand out better even though the pastel one is more aesthetically pleasing. Due to this, I will find a set of bold colours to use throughout my magazine.

Magazine contents page mockups

In creating my mockups for my contents page, I followed my SOI by having the same proximities used in the ones which I used in my research. Most of the page is dominated by advertisements and self-promotion, with the bottom section left for the actual contents of the magazine. I initially used the same colour scheme as my first mock-up on my front cover page, however, after consulting with my focus group, I have decided to go with a brighter and bolder colour scheme.

The design for my mockup is slightly more formatted than the ones which I researched. This is due to the fact that after consulting with my focus before creating these, they had stated that they did not like the messiness in the layout and would find it more appealing if it still had the same concept to keep it in the style of a real-life magazine.

04 C AND C WEBSITE

03 C AND C PRODUCTION

Magazine Cover

Content Page

02 STATEMENT OF INTENT

Product 1- magazine cover and content page

My brief is to produce a real-life story magazine with a mass primary target audience of 16-25-year old's that expect to be engaged. Bauer publishes a wide scope of genre magazines including multiple real-life ones such as That's life and Take a Break. These magazines are similar to those which I have researched (Chat, Real People and Love it). From my research, the existing real-life magazines do not suit the primary target audience of 16-25-year olds. This is clearly distinctive from features like the main image being women who are above this demographic, advertisements for sweaters and competitions with prizes like a bag of goodies including home items. It is also clear that the magazine shows no diversity as it only features white females. Therefore, I am planning to ensure that the main image on both of my covers show diversity within my given age range, the articles and advertisements are ones which would engage the target audience and have competitions with prizes that my audience would enjoy. I think that by doing these things, it will allow the reader to connect and engage with the cover as it is specific to their needs. The research that I have completed shows mese en scene that focuses on the main image, the masthead and sell lines. Cohesively, these three factors show a common theme of being bold which is done in order to grab the initial attention of the reader. All the magazines that I looked at have very similar layouts with the main image as the initial focus, taking up roughly 1/4 of the page; the masthead is in a basic font with block letter and contrasting colours in order to stand out when on the shelves; sell lines which are in either a complementary or contrasting colour. I am going to make sure that I am incorporate these factors into my magazines whilst following my brief. From my research on the content pages of various real-life magazines, there is a clear pattern within the layouts with slight variations. Approximately 3/4 of the page is taken up by other content with the last 1/4 for the actual contents page which is clearly divided from the rest of the page. All of them also make sure that they are promoting their social media accounts as well as encouraging readers to send in stories. These factors make it clear that the magazines main aim is to get readers to engage. Due to these magazines not matching my target audience, I am going to make sure that even though I follow the characteristics of these content pages, the actual content will adapt in order to suit my target audience.

Product 2- Website

When conducting my research for the websites that correspond to the magazines I have looked at, the magazine cover and contents pages closely correlate with the website. The Love it! and Real People websites are both very informal looking with busy pages (like the magazine covers) whereas, the Chat website is more formal looking with a structured format and everything split into specific sections. All the magazines include the same attributes as shown on their magazine covers which (articles, competitions, adverts and feature some of their recent magazine covers). When you first open most of the websites, the magazine name is displayed at the top of the page and to see the main design, you need to scroll down which again is something I intend to do. Additionally, all the magazines make sure that they are using cross convergence by having their social media stamps shown, as well as having a page where the readers can subscribe on the front page. This is important as you not only want people to read through your websites but sign up to get magazines and follow your social media accounts. For the writing on my homepage (captions and titles), I am going to make sure that it is using techniques such as colloquium and alliteration for it to be informal and interesting to read.

Convergence

My products will use a variety of methods to be linked in order to encourage the reader to visit the other product. The contents page of my magazine will have various calls to action such as teasers, QR codes (which will take them to the website) and invitations to share their stories. On the top of the home page of my website will be the magazines latest cover with a sneak peek to encourage the reader to buy it. Lastly, the website will have lots of self-promo for the readers to subscribe and send their stories in.

01 COURSEWORK BRIEF

You have been given the task of producing one front cover and the contents page(s) of the first two editions of a new real-life story magazine that is being launched by Bauer and two pages for the working website for the magazine. The web pages must promote the new magazine to its target audience and enable fans to interact with the content.

Summary of brief requirements:

• Statement of Intent (approx. 500 words).

• Real-life story magazine covers and contents pages: Two or three pages for each of the first two editions (based on choice of single or double page spread).

• Magazine distribution method: Content must be suitable for retail distribution.

• Number of web pages: One homepage and one linked page.

• Cross media production target audience: A primarily 16–25 year old mass market audience that expects to be emotionally engaged. There must be a clear sense of branding across the two elements of the cross-media production. Production detail that must be included The production of the magazine covers and contents pages must include (as a minimum):

• At least four different main images using original photography across the magazine covers and contents pages.

• Editing of magazine covers and contents pages (including photos, text, graphics, typography and layout).

• Written text including elements such as the masthead, main coverline, selling lines, headlines, captions, subtitles and copy.

• Barcode, date, edition and price information on each front cover.

• A different use of mise-en-scène for each cover.

• Representation of at least two different social groups (e.g. as defined by age, gender, race and ethnicity, sexuality).

• A call to action pointing readers to the online website. The production of the web pages must include (as a minimum):

• A minimum of two original images (with at least one different original image on each of the two pages). These images must be different from those produced for the magazine.

Targets:

-Complete website by Christmas.

-Complete everything by Feb half term.

Production:

-Always check your brief carefully.

-Always cross-reference between research and production.

-A good production will resemble your research with subtle changes to appeal to your target audience.

Website:

-Always check your brief carefully.

-Always cross-reference between your research and your production.

-Think carefully about the quality and content.

-A good website will resemble your research with subtle changes to appeal to your target audience.

General:

-Magazine contains call to action to visit website.

-Company logo in barcode.

-Colour scheme similarities.

-Similar language on contents and on homepage.

-Similar layout on contents page and on homepage.

-Double page layout.

Claire Russell Media Studies Blog