My Reader Profile

This is my reader profile which I designed to show interests of my music magazine target audience. By designing this I have shown that I have taken an interest into what my target audience buy and their interests.

Mixmag Presentation

Mixmag Presentation

This is the presentation that I gave to my media group to show how the magazine Mixmag appeals to its target audience. I included various different technical features that they have used and the reader profile for mixmag.

Analysis of Survey Results

Survey analysis

The above slideshow shows my analysis of my survey results. I completed the survey on surveymonkey and then got various people to fill it out. I emailed it to many people of my target audience age and also put a link to the survey on my facebook page.

Analysis of Music Magazine Mastheads.

I really like the clash magazine masthead because of the way the letters all fit together. The name ‘clash’ makes you think of the sound of cymbals clashing together so the way the ‘a’ and ‘s’ are linked in a ‘smooth’ manner whilst clash doesn’t make you think of smooth and sophisticated.

The NME magazine masthead is very bright and colourful and uses a border to ‘fix’ all the letters together. By using a bright colour, NME have been able to advertise their spot colour from the first glance. By using an abbreviation they have been able to keep it short and snappy but by quoting underneath what the abbreviation means they have made it clear to their target audience. On a shelf, a magazine full of colour will attract readers rather than a dull and monochrome front cover. Readers will glance at the name of the magazine, to see what it is called, and a brightly coloured well designed masthead such as NME’s will stick in their mind.                      

Although Kerrang is created using no colour and is completely monochrome it works well because the letters of Kerrang have different lines going through the letters, breaking them up and making them more interesting. By blocking in all the letters with a black border the creators of the Kerrang masthead have made sure this will stand out from the rest of the magazine front cover or pages where it is placed.

Music Magazine Survey

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/PPRQK3D

I designed this music magazine survey using surveymonkey. I chose a selection of questions, the first 2 being relevant to the gender and age, as from my results I will remove the answers given from those who are not my target audience of 14-20 years old. I think the questions I have asked will help me to design my music magazine. By finding out the first thing people consider when buying a magazine I will be able to include the top results on my magazine front cover which will make it more suitable for my target audience.
By asking a wide range of questions I will be able to assess my target audience's wants in a magazine, the price they would be happy to pay, their lifestyles, their ambitions and their values in life. This will help me immensely with my design.
By putting this survey on my facebook page I was able to target my audience very well and get many of my target audience to complete the survey, resulting in very useful answers.

How does the journalist use written language to appeal to the target audience?

The journalist uses written languages to appeal to the target audience in a number of ways. The journalist uses particular types of descriptive language, direct quotes and specific words. The journalist takes a tone and register on the article.

The journalist has used specific words such as “gotta” and “nah”. Words like this appeal to the target audience because it makes them think of how they speak. This article is quite obviously aimed at teenagers and young adults who use this style of words. When Usher was asked “Why didn’t your mom support you getting married?” he replied “Uh… I don’t know.” Magazines which are aimed at a more mature target audience would edit out this “uh” rather than including it because it would be seen as ‘slang’ and wouldn’t suit a more mature target audience. This kind of response to questions is what most parents get from teenagers, therefore by using these specific words the target audience can relate to the language used. Not just individual words, but the responses from Usher to the journalist’s questions make the reader think ‘that’s the kind of thing I would respond with’ and by engaging the reader with the article, the journalist is more likely to maintain their focus.

The main direct quote used is “Michael Jackson was the greatest entertainer that ever lived. I just want to be the greatest entertainer living”. By overlaying this on the photo the editor has assured people will read the quote. Because of the strength of the quote and how it relates to Usher’s article and ambitions, the target audience will want to read the rest of the article.

The editors of ‘vibe’ magazine have used a variety of design features on this double page spread to interest the reader and enhance the look of the article. Not only have they used a pull quote to focus on one of the main features of the article but they have also used drop cap on the introduction to the article. By using a stand first the journalist has encouraged the target audience to read on. By adding white space and guttering onto the page the editors have made it look less cluttered and more professional.

The overall tone of this double page spread and feature article almost forces Usher into replying with what the journalist wants. The interview questions suggest that Usher could not reply with a one word answer and also want to get inside Usher’s mind. The interview starts off asking about his career and slowly gets more personal. The tone is also quite patronising to Usher and the description given before the interview doesn’t necessarily portray him in the best way possible.

Analysis of NME front cover, contents page and double page spread

The NME front cover is very lively and the use of bright colours attracts the target audience towards the magazine. One of the cover lines is featured in a box to the right of the masthead which means buyers of NME will look at this before looking at the smaller, less noticeable cover lines. The lead article in this issue of NME features The Arctic Monkeys. By using a bright red font and a very large font size the feature article stands out from the other cover lines. The NME masthead is very simple, following the spot colour used throughout the magazine of red. The NME masthead is placed very subtlety in the top left hand corner of the magazine front cover. The masthead doesn't particularly stand out from the rest of the magazine, but works well with the layout of the front cover. The cover price for NME is just under the masthead, and also beside the barcode. By placing this on the front cover twice NME are promoting the price of their magazine, and compared to the other music magazines I have analysed this is the cheapest, therefore they are trying to make this easily viewable and increase their readership. This also encourages downmarket people to read their magazine. The cover lines on NME are all rugged and line the bottom of the magazine front cover. The layout for NME's front cover is clear; a medium close up photo takes up the majority of the page and is centred whilst the cover lines and headline are formatted around and over this photo. There is no whitespace on this front cover, and the lack of this makes the magazine look lively and interesting. The front cover also uses different weights of text which adds emphasis to different articles in the magazine.

NME'S contents page is very busy but has quite a lot of white space but because this is spread out over the A4 contents page, it doesn't look like that much to the reader. Each of the main articles in the magazine is in a box, although not very obvious. Each photo on the contents page also has a caption which tells us about the photo and then a description of what we can expect from the article. The captions for each of the photos on the contents page are also quotes from the main body copy on each of these articles. All of the listings on the contents page have text formatted to flush left, apart from the main feature article which is the biggest in the centre of the contents page and has a ragged margin. A variety of fonts have been used on NME's contents page, which adds interest and variety. The main feature article/lead article has been placed in the centre of the contents page with the largest photo which will attract the readers to this first by instinct. The introduction to the page 'inside this week' has used an indentation on the word week to fit the layout of the page better. The masthead of NME is not actually featured on the contents page, however they have used an advertisement in the right corner of the contents page for two reasons, one to remind you that you are reading NME and two to promote their magazine. By seeing this advertisement in such bright colours it makes you think the magazine is aimed at lower class people and this is reinforced by the price of the magazine too. The lead article of the magazine uses a mug shot to advertise it and the majority of the photos featured on the contents page are mug shots or medium close up's. The spot colour of red also features on the contents page of NME. The different weights of text also create an interesting contents page.

The NME double page spread uses an interesting layout and choice of background colour. This double-page spread takes a particular angle on this story about drugs helping someone, and the title suggests that drugs can be positive. The body copy on this double page spread uses a variety of different techniques to make it interesting; it uses a drop cap at the beginning of the story which enhances the look of the story and makes it more interesting and it also uses the magazines spot colour of red for some of the text's colour which also enhances the look of the double page spread. The editors have only included text on one half of the page, and have opted for a visual aid of a photo on the right page of this double page spread. A section of the text has also been placed in a box which highlights this piece of information. There is a small caption at the bottom of the right page of the double page spread giving us a 'quirky' comment about the photo the editors have used. The double page spread uses a delayed drop by not jumping straight into the important part of the story, encouraging readers to carry on reading the article. The main body text is formatted to flush left which is the format many magazines use on their articles. The gutter in between the columns of the main body text isn't very wide however it is enough to distract the reader from reading across all the columns and almost instructs them to read down the columns. This articles intro actually comes immediately under the banner of the article, giving us a short intro about the article. The photo used is a medium close up shot which works well as there is quite a large space to fill on this page. The text on this page is of varying weights, the thicker letters by instinct are the ones the target audience will read first, and hence why the title is bolder than the main body copy.

Analysis of Music Tech front cover, contents page and double page spread

The MusicTech magazine clearly states on its front cover, "the magazine for producers, engineers and recording musicians" instantly making anyone who is not one of these think that they are not the target audience for this particular magazine. This also limits the readership for MusicTech.

Although there are many pictures on this front cover, there are no captions for the photos, instead cover lines telling the readers what they can expect to find inside. The cover price for MusicTech is just above the barcode which is where most people would expect to find it. On the left hand side of the front cover the cover lines flush left and on the right hand side of the cover the cover lines flush right. This creates a jagged look on all the text in the centre of the front cover. A number of different fonts have been used on the front cover of MusicTech. The layout of MusicTech's front cover is very busy and quite cluttered which makes the readers of it think the magazine will be quite busy and will provide them with lots of relevant and useful information. It is difficult to tell from the front cover what the lead article is in MusicTech because of the wide range of varying font sizes and weights. The masthead for MusicTech is very simple but informative. The masthead used on the front cover is not only the title of the magazine, but the explanation of who the magazine is for underneath the title too. The title actually works as WOB on this particular front cover; however this is not the case for all the issues of MusicTech. The images used on the front cover of MusicTech actually look like a photomontage rather than one image featuring all the items of technology. The spot colours for Music Tech are both mainly red and yellow as these feature throughout the magazine.

The contents page of MusicTech is actually a double page spread. This reinforces what the magazine front cover tells us about the magazine being very busy and including a lot of information. The contents page makes it slightly clearer, with links to the front cover of what the main article is; the spread on creative distortion. We see that the angles of the stories are from a music technological angle front the contents page. The MusicTech masthead has not actually been used on the contents page, however another style of font has been used to say 'MTM Contents'. The issue number and month is located on both the front cover and under the words 'MTM contents' on the contents page as well. The body copy of the contents page is featured on the far right hand side of the right page. This body copy is the text which explains which item is on which page of the November issue of Music Tech. The body copy is placed inside a box to highlight that it is all the listings of the magazine. By using pictures/relevant images MusicTech have made it very clear as to which articles they have mainly focused on and which articles they think will appeal to their target audience. There are captions with each of the photos which explain what they can expect to find out if they read the spread which relates to the image shown on the contents page. This magazine contains the majority of editorial rather than advertisements. The majority of the typeface on the contents page has been formatted to flush left. By using the headline 'Creative Distortion' and making this a different weight to the rest of the font on the page the editors have made it clear this is the feature they want their readers to read. A house style font has been used for the box of all the listing in the magazine, however hasn't been used across the whole of the double page contents spread. The creative distortion article on the left page of the double page spread's text is unjustified. At the top of both pages of the double page spread there is white space.

This double page spread of MusicTech is the lead article of MusicTech's November issue. It uses the spot colours of red and yellow and the 'MTM' masthead which featured on the contents page also features on this double page spread, however isn't the same masthead as the main one used on the front cover. The angle of this story is from a technical editor's view and the language used reinforces the target audience of this magazine.

The body copy of this double page spread uses the spot colours and WOB. The text across this double page spread also uses different weights to emphasise on different parts of the body copy. The body copy is only situated on the left page of the double page spread, and the right page features only a photomontage of relevant photos. The body copy starts with a drop cap which enhances the look of the page and the first lines of the main body copy are arranged around this. By using a spot colour alongside the drop cap the editors have enhanced the look of the page majorly.

The main body copy on this double page spread has been formatted to range left whilst also indenting the text. The layout of this double page spread is very clear; text on the left page and a photomontage on the right. The word creative has been reversed out to attract readers to the headline of this page.

Analysis of mixmag front cover, contents page and double page spread.

The cover lines on the front cover of 'mixmag' are all written in black writing which stands out to the audience. The use of a white masthead and black cover lines contrast well with each other and the background making them stand out to the target audience. Mixmag has decided to place the majority of its cover lines around the edge of the medium close up photograph, which I think works well because it highlights the medium close up photograph. The cover price for mixmag has been positioned next to the barcode in quite a small font. Mixmag's front cover has a very distinct layout; the masthead taking up approximately 1/4 of the page, the medium close up taking up the majority of the page and a house style simple font has been used. Mixmag's masthead is slightly covered by the medium close up photograph; however it is still recognisable what the magazine is called. The masthead is quite modern and unique with its curved font and instantly tells us the magazine is not mainly about rock or heavy metal music, but about a more 'delicate' style of music. On the right hand side of the front cover the cover lines use a range left and on the right hand side of the cover the cover lines have been formatted to range right. By using different weights of typeface on the front cover it has added depth and means it will catch the target audience's eye better than if it was all one weight.

The front cover of mixmag doesn't easily define its readers; therefore the readership for mixmag covers a wide range of people.

The majority of the contents page for mixmag is white on black. These contrasting colours work well to highlight the white words and the contents of the magazine. The contents page also uses a flush left which works well to give a professional look to the contents page of the magazine. The heading of each spread of the magazine has been put into a bold font to make it stand out more from the description of what the spread is about. A house style font has been used for the explanation of the free cd and the description of each of the spreads in the magazine. The masthead has again been used which adds to the house style of mixmag. The layout of this contents page includes both pictures and text which work well together and give the reader more to look at. On the contents page, the producers of the magazine want the first thing you look at to be the photo therefore they have made the photo the main item on the contents page. Again, the contents page uses different weights of text to attract the target audience to read the contents page in a particular order. The spot colour used on this page is yellow which is bright and will instantly attract reader's attention. The way the producers have only placed small pieces of text in the spot colour yellow on this page makes that particular font stand out a lot more. At the top of the page there is also a small amount of white space but I think this works well because it attracts your eyes to the word 'contents'.

The angle of this story promotes these particular nights and gives information about those featured on this double page spread. The body copy has been split into 3 sections, one for each place/night. These photos don't have captions as such, but the captions are the places where the nights are and what the nights are called. The crosshead on this page is "the big 3" and by using white and a bright pink this has been placed to try and capture the reader's attention. The editors have made the type flush left so the left margin is straight but the right one is ragged. By using the same font throughout the body copy on this double page spread they have insisted a house style. The gutter on this double page spread isn't very big between the 2 columns but is enough to define and stop the reader reading along the same line and reading down instead. There are 3 headlines on this page, one for each of the nights and the use of this has enabled the reader to be attracted to where and what the nights are before they read into the details of the different nights.

The different nights have used delayed drops to introduce the nights and the layout has been designed to include both photos and text. The lead article/night of this page is the one on the left hand page in Leeds; this is the lead because it uses up a whole page and has more text and a bigger photo than the two that are both on the right hand page. Mixmag has not placed its mast head on this double page spread but on the bottom left hand corner of the right page has put their website address. The photo on the left page uses a mug shot whilst the photos on the right page are medium close ups or again mug shots. The weight of the text across the double page spread changes.

Reader Profile- My Magazine

My music magazine will be aimed at people of the BC1 and 2 social grade. They will be male or female young adults who are currently studying or have a full time job. They will work in their lives and use magazines as their escapism route. They will also get entertainment from reading the magazine and will learn about the latest music 'fashions' from reading the magazine.

V-   People who read my magazine will think about music and their future career.

A-   People who read my magazine would like to have the stereotypical happy family, with a house- preferably in the city, a good job and watch artists live in cities e.g. London. They will also aspire to many of the musicians featured and will want well paid jobs.

L-    People who read my magazine will probabaly have a part times job, be studying and spend their weekends working or partying. Many of them will probabaly also drink regularly as teenagers tend to.

How do magazines define their target audience?

The photos that are on the front cover of a magazine can define which gender and target audience the magazine is aimed at, for example a young girl fully clothed with careful makeup and hair would be aimed at younger teenage girls, whilst a photo of a young women partly dressed is aimed at older males.

The masthead is also specific about who the magazines target audiences are, which is then reinforces by the colours and house style which is used.

These points show how even just from the front cover, buyers or other people know who the magazines are aimed at.

How do Motley Crue represent themselves in their video 'Girls, Girls, Girls'

Motley Crue- Girls Girls Girls

Motley Crue- Girls Girls Girls

-          Aggressive- chuck knife onto table

-          Main interest is women- women all provocatively dancing

-          Proud of their interest

-          Loud

-          Their ego is defined by their clothes, actions, interests

-          Think a lot of themselves

-          Shows off their gender- most men interested in women

-          Act as if their better than other males

-          Think women will give them what they want

-          Act as if they are younger than they are- like teenage boys are stereotypically seen- smoking, drinking, parties, girls

How are women represented in 50 Cents Video “Candy Shop”?

 50 Cent, Candy Shop

The portrayal of women in 50 Cents video is not just shown through the video, but also through the lyrics used in his song.

The use of the song name “Candy Shop” reminds the viewers of young vulnerable children going into a sweet shop to spend their pocket money. This creates a picture that women are vulnerable and also quite naïve.

The third line of 50 Cents song ‘Candy Shop’ is “so seductive”. This instantly, along with the visual use of a young female, creates a picture in the viewer’s mind that girls are seductive and quite slutty. Throughout the video, the girls are framed on the wall which tells the viewers that females are a possession that can be easily placed and instructed. 50 Cent walks from his possession of a car, to the females again reinforcing those females are possessions and not individuals.

The females also stand around in a lot of the video, as if they are waiting for the male, in this case 50 Cent, to arrive which makes the girls look provocative. The use of their ‘slutty’ clothes also makes the females look needy and naughty.

50 Cents song lyrics patronise and degrade the females through his use of lyrics “I'll break it down for you now, baby its simple”. He also treats the girls as if they are simple and dim.

The females in this video are all stereotypical of the ‘celebrity look’ that many girls admire to follow. They are slim, pretty, toned and tall.

50 Cent uses the girls in this video as an item, portraying them in a very negative view.  Both through his use of props such as baths and sofas linked with the lyrics of the song and the females are used to give a very stereotypical negative view.

Do We Need The Media

Entertainment and diversion- I watch eastenders as entertainment and diversion because it makes me realise how lucky I am and how much more complicated my life could be. I also watch various films as entertainment and diversion because it is an interesting way to kill time and relax.
Surveillance and information- Again, I watch eastenders for surveillance and information, and also use the internet for social networking, such as twitter and facebook to find out about other people and to satisfy curiousity and acquire new knowledge of events, birthdays or what people are up too. Newspapers and magazines such as heat and the EDP are also ways I find out about the world and what is going on in the world.
Personal relationships- I use the internet for social networking on websites such as twitter and facebook to speak to my friends, and keep in touch with people who I don't often see. This enhances my relationships with other people by being able to add another point of contact. X-factor is another example of this as I feel I have to watch it and find out how particular contestants are getting on in the competition
Personal identity- I use again, social networking to help reinforce my values and beliefs through status' and the photos I post.