Overall, I think that the magazine has turned out to be a success. I am pleased with the results, and have had incredibly positive feedback, with some people even saying that "it looks like a real magazine. I'd buy it!".
Some things that I would have improved was the quality of the pictures. Even though I used an SLR camera I still believe that if I had more time, my pictures would have looked a little better and more professional. I also would have improved my double page spread by adding perhaps a graphic or another picture to it. However, I think that I would have lost that 'high-fashion' touch that I was looking for in the first instance.
Tuesday, 16 December 2008
FEATURE SPREAD
Before writing my article I looked at the different writing styles in music and fashion journalism. I found that music journalism took a more critical approach to its writing by constantly trying to outwit its interviewee. Fashion journalism, however, takes a far more appreciative approach to its writing, yet maintains its wit and sense of humour throughout and is also far more informative. I've chosen to write my article in the style of fashion journalism as I believe it will add to the mixed genre of the magazine and be far more of a challenge to me.
CONTENTS
My contents page wasn't inspired by anything in particular. It was more of a trial and error process. I thought I'd keep it minimalist as magazines like iD and Nylon are, however still keep that abrasive quality to it by adding the logo as a watermark.
COVER
COVER IMAGE
I chose to have a shoot in which my cover star (Julian Ruiz, a musican) would be in a homely setting. In fact, the shoot was done in his own back garden. I tried to have a sense of British-ness within the image to relate to the anchoring text: "Bringing his British cool stateside" by using pictures of a washing line, potted plants and other household items within the pictures. As well as British-ness, these also portray a sense of irony; relating to the deadpan wit of the journalism and the sense of humour of the British. I took medium shots, close ups and long shots to have a good variety. I also played with different exposures and effects
Automatic settings
high exposure, slow shutter speed. Blurred effect.
Lens flare caused by slow shutter speed and high exposure
Finally, I chose this image as my front cover:
I then turned down the saturation and upped the contrast to create that old/worn looking effect on the image. I also cropped it to get Julian more centered.
By taking a slightly different approach, I've managed to use an indirect image as my cover, which I think may work surprsingly well.
COVER
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGE
I chose to have a shoot in which my cover star (Julian Ruiz, a musican) would be in a homely setting. In fact, the shoot was done in his own back garden. I tried to have a sense of British-ness within the image to relate to the anchoring text: "Bringing his British cool stateside" by using pictures of a washing line, potted plants and other household items within the pictures. As well as British-ness, these also portray a sense of irony; relating to the deadpan wit of the journalism and the sense of humour of the British. I took medium shots, close ups and long shots to have a good variety. I also played with different exposures and effects
Automatic settings
high exposure, slow shutter speed. Blurred effect.
Lens flare caused by slow shutter speed and high exposure
Finally, I chose this image as my front cover:
I then turned down the saturation and upped the contrast to create that old/worn looking effect on the image. I also cropped it to get Julian more centered.
By taking a slightly different approach, I've managed to use an indirect image as my cover, which I think may work surprsingly well.
COVER
CLICK IMAGES TO ENLARGERESEARCH + DEVELOPMENT
DEVELOPMENT
NAME 'ADDICTION' - an addiction to music and fashion, however also connotes addiction to drugs, relates to 'sex, drugs, rock and roll' lifestyle of target audience
SLOGAN 'get your hit' - A pun: to get a music hit, however again has connotations of drug use - to get a hit.
FONT Heading font will be "Birth of a Hero". An abrasive and worn looking font, however with chic feautures due to it's simple lines and off angles.
COLOUR Red, white and black - following the tradition of most other Indie/Alt magazines
COVER Anchoring text and cover image to tie in with feature spread. Mainly music puffs to be included, however small section of cover with have puffs for fashion features.
IMAGES Fashion shot with musician. Low saturation and high contrast, either busy background or completely plain background
JOURNALISTIC STYLE Continuous prose. Witty and a little pretentious, however still informative and praises the artist rather than quizzing them. More fashion side approach to it rather than musical.
PRICE £3.80 - Reasonable price for a monthly glossy magazine, similar prices to competitors
RESEARCH
Other magazines:
I have taken inspiration from other magazines of a similar genre, such as NME and Q. I have chosen to focus on an issue of the NME as its demographic is far more similar to mine.
I've also drawn influence from Fashion/Music magazines such as Nylon and iD. These incorporate the chicness of high fashion with the rock and roll attitude of music by having feauture articles of both within their publications. In doing this they have managed to create a magazine with a slightly older and more 'fashion savvy' demographic, who perhaps appreciate a wittier and more cultured style of journalism and presentation.
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
Mood Board
Colours: Mainly black, white and red
Font: Chic and simple, however with an abrasive quality to look worn an scratchy
Image: Music magazines and photos use low saturation and odd angles. Fashion magazine uses brightly, high contrasted image. Both have models with a expression of attitude on their faces.
Models: Pale, thin and interesting musicians.
NAME 'ADDICTION' - an addiction to music and fashion, however also connotes addiction to drugs, relates to 'sex, drugs, rock and roll' lifestyle of target audience
SLOGAN 'get your hit' - A pun: to get a music hit, however again has connotations of drug use - to get a hit.
FONT Heading font will be "Birth of a Hero". An abrasive and worn looking font, however with chic feautures due to it's simple lines and off angles.
COLOUR Red, white and black - following the tradition of most other Indie/Alt magazines
COVER Anchoring text and cover image to tie in with feature spread. Mainly music puffs to be included, however small section of cover with have puffs for fashion features.
IMAGES Fashion shot with musician. Low saturation and high contrast, either busy background or completely plain background
JOURNALISTIC STYLE Continuous prose. Witty and a little pretentious, however still informative and praises the artist rather than quizzing them. More fashion side approach to it rather than musical.
PRICE £3.80 - Reasonable price for a monthly glossy magazine, similar prices to competitors
RESEARCH
Other magazines:
I have taken inspiration from other magazines of a similar genre, such as NME and Q. I have chosen to focus on an issue of the NME as its demographic is far more similar to mine.
I've also drawn influence from Fashion/Music magazines such as Nylon and iD. These incorporate the chicness of high fashion with the rock and roll attitude of music by having feauture articles of both within their publications. In doing this they have managed to create a magazine with a slightly older and more 'fashion savvy' demographic, who perhaps appreciate a wittier and more cultured style of journalism and presentation.
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGEMood Board
As part of my research I created a mood board of magazines, musicians and CD covers that are relevant to the Indie & Alternative genre. 
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE
CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGEFont: Chic and simple, however with an abrasive quality to look worn an scratchy
Image: Music magazines and photos use low saturation and odd angles. Fashion magazine uses brightly, high contrasted image. Both have models with a expression of attitude on their faces.
Models: Pale, thin and interesting musicians.
Wednesday, 10 December 2008
IDEA
The genre of a magazine is important for establishing its demographic. For example, a pop magazine with fashion and gossip features (like Smash Hits) would most likely be marketed at a pre-teen girl, whereas a rock magazine featuring a band from the 80's (such as Q or Rolling Stones) would be targeted at middle-aged, middle-class men.
Indie and Alternative is one of the fastest growing and most popular genre's in the charts today, thus meaning the demand for journalism in this field is high. Other magazines such as NME and Q draw in this type of readership, however I believe there is still an opening in the market for a magazine that brings elements of music and fashion together to mkae one ultimate publication.
Indie and Alternative is also my favoured genre of music. I believe it will be far easier to create a magazine that I have knowledge in, rather than choosing one where the writing style and look would be completely lost on me.
My target audience: 18 - 30 year olds, male and female, living in London, middle class, interested in music, fashion and the London/New York party scene, like to travel to and fro London and New York.
Indie and Alternative is one of the fastest growing and most popular genre's in the charts today, thus meaning the demand for journalism in this field is high. Other magazines such as NME and Q draw in this type of readership, however I believe there is still an opening in the market for a magazine that brings elements of music and fashion together to mkae one ultimate publication.
Indie and Alternative is also my favoured genre of music. I believe it will be far easier to create a magazine that I have knowledge in, rather than choosing one where the writing style and look would be completely lost on me.
My target audience: 18 - 30 year olds, male and female, living in London, middle class, interested in music, fashion and the London/New York party scene, like to travel to and fro London and New York.
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