A Level Media Studies

  This was my first draft of my front cover for my magazine, I have included a simple yet somewhat vibrant colour palette throughout and trying to create this sense of patriotism and the colours of Britain. I have used a newspaper-like background image to connote a sense of being vintage and authenticity to the magazine.  For some improvements, I think I am going to change/reword some of the cover lines and text inside of the pug/puffs. Also I will slightly move the text "Sam Fender" over to the right more as I feel the image I have used should be larger and so because its not very large this text is almost blocking a part of it.

House style in magazines is the overall design and formatting guidelines that establish its identity and make it stand out and recognisable to the audience. This can vary from its overall design, detail, formatting or even style of writing - all resonating differently with the reader. House style in a magazine ensures consistent presentation, and almost sets a certain standard of presentation from things like spelling and punctuation.   Rolling Stone ‘Rolling stone’ is one of the most effective music magazine names in the industry. The font of the masthead is cursive to highlight its more organic and classic. It reflects the words itself as the style flows well and is almost movement based like a rolling stone. Also, the vibrant, deep red colour scheme makes the reader instantly be attracted to it and makes it more recognisable.  Billboard ‘Billboards’ masthead is easily recognisable due to its unique yet simple house style. This magazine is highlighted at a young...

 Iconography is how a person interprets certain visual images or symbols. This is important because in a magazine, different photos will appeal to different people but will depend on the theme and genre of magazine at hand. Some of these reasons include: Communication - Icons are a universal language that can quickly convey complex ideas, and help people understand different and underlying meanings/messages in the magazine Memory - Images are much more memorable than words, so when combining well taken images and well thought out text in a magazine it can help significantly to attract the reader more. Brand recognition - Magazines could use iconography to create a unique identity that helps the consumers differentiate them from their competitors. Also, the effective use of iconography can guide readers interpretations and reactions of the story being told. This can include religious, political and cultural symbols or images that resonate with the audience on different levels, often...

Cover lines in magazines play a crucial role in grabbing the reader's attention and enticing them to pick up the magazine. The language vocabulary used in cover lines are carefully crafted to convey a sense of excitement and relevance to the target audience. ‘Action’ verbs - Action verbs are used to create a sense of movement, excitement, and urgency. These verbs often suggest that the reader will be missing out if they don’t read the magazine. Superlatives and Hyperbole - Superlatives (words like "best," "most," "ultimate") and hyperbolic language heighten the appeal of the content by suggesting it’s the absolute or most important information. Questions - Engage the reader’s curiosity and prompt them to want answers, making the cover line more interactive and enticing. FOMO and exclusivity - Words or phrases that imply exclusive content make the magazine feel special or privileged, enticing readers to feel they’ll be missing out on something unique if...

 

The role of mental health in the music industry Florence + The machine - Florence Welch has been open about her struggles with anxiety, alcoholism, and the pressure of fame. She frequently speaks on the importance of mental health, encouraging fans to seek the help they needed. Sam Fender - Known for his anthemic sound and socially conscious lyrics, Sam Fender addresses mental health struggles with sincerity and grit. His song 'Dead Boys' sheds light on male suicide, a topic he felt wasn't discussed enough. Fender has also spoken about his own battles with mental health and advocates for more support for young men dealing with similar issues. Matty Healy (The 1975) - Matty Healy has been candid about his battles with addiction and mental health. Through interviews, social media, and the band's lyrics, he explores themes like depression, anxiety, and self-destructive behaviour. Why is this topic so significant? The public eye may see artists/stars as living a 'perfec...

Overall, i am happy with the final result of my preliminary task. I think i managed to keep the idea and final result of the magazine. This is because i kept the main image fairly simple and easy to edit etc, but also making it eye-catching enough to actually attract the audience. My adverts final result is much better than the first couple of drafts that i initially did. The AirPod's that i edited onto my main image adds an almost comedic factor of the advert, which i feel will resonate well with my intended target audience of the younger generation. I used many skills in carrying out the operation of making this magazine, such as extensive research and editing. I researches different font styles, and used trial and error until i came across one that was best fit. I ended up settling with a modern yet formal font, which i feel suits well to the type of ad. The colour palette on this page is a nice contrast from the vibrant yet harsh red, to the bold green text, which links more to...

 

 

 

Photo construction is very important in magazines, as it can change the way different people see or interpret the image. Failing to do this could result in the audience being almost misled and drawn away from the soul purpose of the magazine and its particular images. The rule of thirds is very important to think about when taking and choosing images for the magazine for many different reasons, Some including: Helps to guide the viewers eye -  The rule of thirds divides an image into a 3x3 grid, placing key elements along these lines or at intersections. This technique naturally draws the viewer’s eye to focal points, creating a balanced and dynamic composition. Creates visual flow with text - In magazine layouts, images often coexist with text. Well-constructed photos allow space for headlines, captions, or article text without overwhelming the image or making the page feel cluttered. Enhances storytelling - Every photo in a magazine tells a story, whether it’s a portrai...

Fonts convey a magazine’s style and personality. A fashion magazine might use sleek, modern typefaces to project modernity and formality. Also a Font can convey a magazines style and personality. For example, a fashion magazine might use sleek, modern typefaces and fonts to project sophistication, whereas a lifestyle or travel magazine might opt for more relaxed and playful fonts. Also using a specific type of font consistently could help readers recognise and associate with the brand.  Also, specific fonts could enhance readability, which is critical in magazines because of the majority of people that just skim-read the pages instead of properly sitting down and reading the magazine fully. So choosing the correct font size, style and colour would ensure that the text is easy to read at a glance to help reduce eye strain and keep the reader engaged fully. Different fonts can evoke specific moods or feeling that support the magazines content. For example - serif fonts like Times New...

  This is my final draft of my magazine advert. I finalised this advert by changing the font to a much more bold - rather than just the outline of the lettering as i feel it will resonate much better with the reader and is much more eye catching with the vibrant shade of red that's very dominant at the top. I also added a spotify code, rather than a website for the release of this album - as i felt that if it were to be released on spotify it would reach the younger age demographic that my magazine is aimed at.

 This was my second draft of my magazine advert - i begun by changing the colour palette from Red/Blue to Green/Red instead, as i see it is more eye catching yet aesthetically pleasing to the audience. I also added a succinct block of text to the advert, for further information regarding the ad.

 This was my first draft of my initial magazine - using the colours red and blue to carry on the theme of 'Britain' and the UK. But after a bit of thought, although these colours would match the rest of my magazines theme/genre - i decided to go for a more appealing yet subtle colour palette on the advert.